Friday, April 27, 2012

Newsletter for the week of April 30

Reading: This week in reading, we will continue reading  our Time for Kids magazines. We will focus on using headings to understand information, vocabulary, and inferential questions. We will also be doing a project for Earth Day.  The students will also work on a persuasive piece with their magazine about sugar.  The prompt: Should government ban the sale of sugary drinks to kids?  The students need to pick a side and argue their point of view.  They will also need to use facts from the magazine to back up their opinions.

Book Report: Your book report for April must be on a fantasy or science fiction. The presentation will be Monday, April 30. For this book report you can make a travel brochure, or you can come up with your own idea. For the travel brochure you should include the following items:
  • An illustrated cover
  • What a guest should bring
  • Why someone should come and visit this place
  • Directions on how to get there
  • Any special features that a person may want to see
  • Anything else you would like to include
Math: In math we will start unit 10 which focuses on using data, algebra concepts, and skills.  Our first two lessons will focus on using pan balances to solve problems.  Then we will focus on using algebraic expressions, rules, tables, and graphs.

Writing: This week in writing the students we will create a trash monster and write about their journey.  We will also be researching Lewis and Clark's expedition.

Science: This week in science we will continue with our small life unit.  The first lesson focused on the parts of a microscope. Then students used water drop lenses to see how a bigger lense does not magnify as good as a smaller lense. We also compared hair to thread, and learned about the range of view.  This week they will learn about plant and animal cells.  They will look at an onion cell, their cheek cells and protists.  We will use different stains to highlight the parts of a cell.

Social Studies: This week in social studies we will continue to research the Lewis and Clark expedition and with a partner they are gong to make a brochure to encourage Americans to settle in the West.

Spelling Unit 27:
aren't     couldn't     doesn't     hadn't     he'd     he's     here's     how's     she'll     shouldn't
that's     there's     they'll     we'd     we'll     weren't     what's     where's     wouldn't     you'd
celebrities     congratulations     continue     astronomer     guarantee     restaurant    
victory     delicious     jewelry     amateur     athlete     bargain     bureau     license
interference     microscope     pastels     comparison     encouraged     charcoal

READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes for this month. The incentive will be tickets to see the Joliet Lackhammers Minor League baseball team. They will also get a free one-topping personal pan pizza.  Monday is the last day to log in your minutes for April.

Important Dates:
Book Report due on Monday, April 30
Market Day Pick Up Tuesday, May 1
Spelling Test Wednesday, May 2
Volunteer Luncheon Wednesday, May 2
Paw Print Redemption Thursday, May 3
Spirit Day Friday, May 4