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 6. The first couple of lessons focused on using landmark data, which is minimum, maximum, median, mode, range, and mean and organizing the data. They organized the data by using graphs, line plots, and stem and leaf plots. Last week, the students worked on identifying mystery line plots. They also investigated the relationship between sample size, reliability, and analyzed the data. This week the students will continue to analyze data and work on adding and subtracting fractions.
Writing: This week in writing will be spent completing the draft of our "All About Me from A to Z" books. There will be mini lessons on peer conferencing and elaboration.
Grammar: Our focus for grammar will be learning about pronouns and prepositions.
Science: In science we will continue focusing on electricity. Static electricity occurs when extra electrons collect and stay in an object for a period of time. Electrons move from object to object through friction. As the electrons move between two objects, one object gains electrons and becomes negatively charged. The other object loses electrons and becomes positively charged. Last week, the students did two experiments focusing on static electricity. Then they learned that electricity flows and the materials needed to light a light bulb. This week the students will learn about conductors and insulators. They will also learn about parallel and series circuits. At the end of the week, the students will make a switch.
Social Studies: We finished our social studies unit and will move on to science for the rest of the quarter.
Spelling Unit 15:
translation laziness population invention generation examination situation
operation sickness kindness closeness forgiveness pollution imagination
education transportation federation subtraction smallness lateness questions
science-fiction air-conditioning scientific atmosphere apprehension
thoughtfulness appreciation illumination comprehension extension falsification
affiliation initiation negotiation mercenary Loyalist Patriot commander
revolution
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:
No School Monday, January 16
Spelling Test Wednesday, January 18
Report cards go home on Friday, January 20
Letter of intent to participate in the Young Authors Program due Friday, January 20
Math Test Tuesday, January 24
Watts Whirl Wednesday, January 25
Book Report due on Tuesday, January 31
Open House Tuesday, January 31
Hill forms need to be turned in by Tuesday, January 31
