This Week in Room 33! Dec. 8-12

As we continue to learn and work hard these last 2 weeks of school before break, we have also been discussing random acts of kindness! Ask your student what their thoughts are on the following video (we watched this in class last week). Enjoy!

Here's what to expect this week in 5th grade:

Science- We are continuing to study how scientists classify organisms. We will wrap up lesson 2 on animals and begin lesson 3 on classifying plants! Looking ahead, our chapter 3 test will be on Thursday, Dec. 18th.

Writing- We are ready to wrap up our research reports! I am SO proud of all the hard work we have put into these reports so far and am already looking forward to our celebration! We will be revising, editing, and publishing on the google drive this week. Our final research report will be due Wed. Dec. 17th for our celebration. Don't forget, students should be spending 10 minutes each night on writing. This is a fantastic opportunity for them to share their work with you! 

Math- We are finishing up our chapter on multiplying and dividing decimals. Our lessons this week cover dividing decimals by decimals with hands on models, learning the algorithm of dividing decimals, and dividing decimals by powers of 10. Our chapter 6 test will be on Tue. Dec. 16th.

Reading- This week we will focus on tackling complex texts in the company of friends. We will work on some passages and higher level thinking questions in small groups and present our thinking to the class. We will also begin a shortened version of literature circles with historical fiction picture books. We will notice how physical details create an emotional atmosphere, support one another in our book clubs by listening and building on each other's comments, and keep track of important details by creating a mental bulletin board.

Check out the following article that we read and discussed in class last week- please discuss with your child! VERY interesting! Science Shows Something Surprising About People Who Still Read Fiction

Social Studies- We will continue to discuss and learn about topics such as Marco Polo, the Silk Road, African trading companies, European ideas and technology in the 1400s and their contributions to overseas exploration.

Reminders:
Wed is Early Release!
12/17- Caroling Field Trip- Please wear Leader in Me shirts and holiday hats.  We will leave school at 9:15 and go to Delmar Gardens at Meramec Valley at 9:30 a.m.  We'll perform and visit with their residents.  Board busses at 10:30 and head to Friendship Village.  We will perform there at 11:00 and visit with their residents and return to school by noon.
12/19 Half Day and Winter Party!