Behind the Scenes - Week of February 6

Weekly Spotlight:

*Chapter 10, lesson 1 Open Notes Social Studies quiz on Tuesday.

*Chapter 11, lessons 1-3 Open Book/Notes Math Quiz on Tuesday.

*Spelling test on Friday.

*Chapter 11, lessons 4-6 Open Book/Notes Math Quiz on Friday.

Coming Attractions:

*Unit 6 Pronoun Test on Monday, February 13.

*Valentine's Day Challenge due on Monday, February 13.

*Valentine's Day Party on Tuesday, February 14, 1:30.

*No School on Monday, February 20 - Presidents' Day.

*Spring Pictures on Thursday, February 23.

*39 State Test on Tuesday, February 28.

Homeroom Happenings:

Science - We are now studying electricity. This past week the children investigated four ways to light a bulb. This week, we will take that knowledge of simple circuits to begin exploring series and parallel circuits.

Social Studies - On Tuesday, the children will take an "open notes" quiz on Chapter 10, lesson 1. They will not be allowed to use their textbook. We will then continue with lesson 2 which focuses on the climates of the Southwest. At the end of the week, the children will be introduced to their next social studies project on deserts. This will be a technology project.

Spelling - Our vocabulary words for the week are: melancholy, insignificant, absorbed, dilapidated, manipulate, pompous, precocious, and scheme. Begin using these words with your child. Give sample sentences for each word. Try to use the words in every day conversations with your child. Our spelling test will be on Friday. There will be spelling words and vocabulary words.

English - We will finish our Pronoun study this week. Our last two lesson include contractions with pronouns and homophones. We will fill out a "how to study" sheet on Wednesday. Our Pronoun test will be on Monday, February 13.

Reading - This week we will begin our study of poetry. We will focus on some of the elements of poetry including rhyme, sensory words, figurative language, and wordplay. The children will also begin a poetry project. In this project, the children will be learning about and writing nine different kinds of poems. Time will be given in class, but students will also need to work on this project at home. We will be working on poetry and figurative language for the next few weeks.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Class:

Monday - Customary Weight & Trivia Challenge.

Tuesday - Quiz on lessons 1-3 (open book/notes). Temperature.

Wednesday - Units of Time & Time Zones.

Thursday - Compute with Customary Units.

Friday - Quiz on lessons 4-6 (open book/notes).

Behind the Scenes - Week of January 30

Weekly Spotlight:

*Last day to donate for Cancer Smasher on Monday.

*Math Quiz on Tuesday, Chapter 10, lessons 6-9 (open book/notes)

*Great America Read to Succeed sheets are due Wednesday.

*Southwest Map on Thursday.

*Dear Mr. Henshaw Quiz on Thursday.

*Spelling/Vocabulary Test on Friday.

Coming Attractions:

*Movie Night on Friday, February 3.

*Valentine's Day Party on Tuesday, February 14.

*No School on Monday, February 20 - Presidents' Day.

*Spring Pictures on Thursday, February 23.

*Early Dismissal on Tuesday, February 28.

*P.T.O. Dine Out at Chili's on Tuesday, February 28.

Weekly Happenings:

Science - This week we will begin our Electricity Unit. Students should review their notes each evening. We will focus on simple circuit, static electricity, and current electricity.

Social Studies - We are moving on to the Southwest. The Southwest Map project will be assigned on Tuesday and due on Thursday. We will practice taking notes in an outline format this week.

Spelling - This week we will only have vocabulary words on our spelling list. You may begin practicing the following words: hoist, jubilee, unremitting, scruples, nudge, tranquil, rejuvenate, and eccentric.

English - We will continue our unit on Pronouns.

Reading - The reading strategy that we will be studying next week is summarizing. When reading passages, it is not necessary to recall every word. Instead, we will practice using main ideas and supporting evidence to summarize a passage. While reading, a good reader finds the main ideas, whether they are stated or implied. Then, the reader must find supporting evidence to support the main idea. This support may be in the form of details, examples, explanations or descriptions.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Spotlight:

Monday - Transformations. The kids enjoyed this game today! Transformation Golf Game: http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/freesite_tour/gamesroom/transform/golftrans.html

Tuesday - Open book/notes quiz on lessons 6-9.

Wednesday - Begin Chapter 11, Customary units of length. Please practice measuring with a ruler to the nearest 1/8 in or 1/10 cm.

Thursday - Customary units of capacity.

Friday - Customary units of weight & Trivia Challenge.

Behind the Scenes - Week of January 23

Weekly Spotlight:

*Midwest Map Test on Tuesday.

*District Spelling Bee on Tuesday, 1:00 in PV gym. Good Luck, Saahil!

*Early Dismissal on Wednesday, 11:00.

*Chapter 4 Science Test on Thursday.

*Bingo Night on Friday, 7:00-8:30 in PV Multipurpose Room.

Coming Attractions:

*Movie Night on Friday, February 3.

*Valentine's Day Party on Tuesday, February 14.

*No school on Monday, February 20.

*Spring Pictures on Thursday, February 23.

*Early Dismissal on Tuesday, February 28, 11:00.

*End of 2nd Trimester on Friday, March 2.

Homeroom Happenings:

Science - We will finish our study of the human body this week. Our test on chapter 4 is scheduled for Thursday. A "How to Study" sheet will be filled out and sent home on Monday. Items to study include:

*how tissues and organs form systems

*how the respiratory and digestive systems work

*how the circulatory system carries oxygen and nutrients

*Key words in lesson 1: tissue, organ, esophagus, stomach, diaphragm, artery, capillary, and vein.

*how the nervous system acts as the body's control system

*the jobs of the bones

*how muscles work with bones to move the body

*Key words from lesson 2: spinal cord, bone, joint, and muscle.

Social Studies - We are finished with chapter 8. Since we took a quiz on each lesson, we will not take a test on chapter 8. We are going to move on to chapter 9 and do lesson 1 only. This lesson focuses on a Native American tribe of the Midwest called the Ojibwa.

Spelling - We will have our test on Friday covering 10 spelling words and 8 vocabulary words. The vocabulary words this week are: capable, emanate, distinguish, tendency, detect, mundane, revelation, elicit.

English - This week we will begin a unit on Pronouns. Our lessons will include: What is a Pronoun, Subject Pronouns, and Object Pronouns.

Reading - The reading skill that we will work on this week is the identification of character, setting and plot. Students will fill out story structure maps as they read fiction to help them organize their thoughts and identify the main characters, setting & plot.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Class:

Monday - Perimeter

Tuesday - Circles

Wednesday - More Circles & Circumference

Thursday - Lines of Symmetry & Trivia Challenge

Friday - Transformations