Book Report: Your book report for January must be a mystery. The presentation will be Tuesday, January 31. For this book report you will create a detective's report and treasure map. This should be done as you read. Don't wait until after you are finished with the book. You will be identifying clues to solve the mystery that is unfolding in your story. Keep notes. You will use your detective's report to create a treasure map. You will later turn in notes (detective's report) and the map. The notes do not have to be in final draft form.
You need the following information in your notes: the place where the main character starts (beginning setting), a list of where he or she goes, what clues are found there, where he or she ends up with the climax and solution of the story.
You will use your dectective's report to make your map. Draw out your character's path. As the path on your map continues, your readers will be unraveling the main events and the mystery!
Places and clues are marked with something to open. It could be a door, tree, book, or something that represents a clue.
On the door: the setting where the clue was discovered (ex. bookcase, a tree, a desk, an underground city)
Behind the door: phrase, picture, or word that represents the clue (ex. candlestick, "ran away")
Under the door: why it is important to the story (ex. "finds a note" or "locates a sound")
Math: In math we started unit 7. The first two lessons focused on standard notation, exponential notation, and number word notation. This week the students will learn about scientific notation and using parentheses. They will also learn about the order of operations. The order is parentheses, exponents, multiplication/division, and addition/subtraction. On Thursday, we will make line graphs and work on short answer responses. On Friday, we will work on another extended response.
Writing: This week in writing the students will finish "All About Me from A to Z" books. This week in writing the students will also be working on researching an event in history. Our prompt is: If you could go back in time and change an event in history what would it be. They will have to research the event and create a parallel timeline showing how the "worm hole" can change the path of history.
Grammar: Our focus for grammar will be identifying root words, prefixes, and suffixes.
Science: In science we have started our digestion unit. Last week the students learned about their teeth and oral health. This week they will learn about their stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and the accessory organs. These organs are the liver, gall bladder, and the pancreas.
Social Studies: We will start social studies after our digestion unit.
Spelling Unit 17:
engineer dentist librarian director customer pioneer counselor tourist scientist
visitor investigator senator astronomer character refrigerator guardian commander
physician leader historian performer volunteer disaster spectator electrician
custodian aviator chemist philosopher pharmacist comedian orator veneer
genealogist executive legislative judicial statehood Bill of Rights
BOX TOPS:
The PTA is always collecting box tops. They can be found on many different products such as: Progresso soups, Kleenex boxes, Suddenly Salad, Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, and many more products. Check all of your purchased goods and send in your box tops. This is an easy way for the school to make money to enrich our children at May Watts.
READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 360 minutes for this month. The prizes this month will be a ticket to Great America & a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut.
Important Dates:
Book Report due on Tuesday, January 31
Open House Tuesday, January 31
Hill forms need to be turned in by Tuesday, January 31
Spelling Test February 1
Digestive system diagram quiz Thursday, February 2
