*Spelling pretest on Monday.
*Introduction to Invention Convention on Monday.
*No school on Tuesday - Teachers' Institute.
*Chapter 10 Social Studies Test on Wednesday.
*Invention Contract due Thursday.
*Chapter 4, lessons 5-8 Check Your Progress Math quiz on Friday (open book/notes).
*Spelling test on Friday.
*Reading Vocabulary Test on Friday.
Coming Attractions:
*Spring Break - Week of March 26-30.
*Return to school on Monday, April 2.
*No school on Friday, April 6.
*Spring Open House/Book Fair/Ice Cream Social on Thursday, April 12, from 6:30-8:00
Homeroom Happenings:
Science - We will finish chapter 15 this week. The children will have a take-home quiz covering all of chapter 15 on Thursday night. The quiz is open-book and notes. The children will have time to start the quiz in class. It will be due on Friday. We will begin a new study of simple machines when we return from Spring Break.
In addition to finishing Chapter 15 in the text, we
will begin working on our “Invention Convention” project. The students will be
asked to identify a problem in their lives and come up with an invention that
helps solve this problem. Think simply. This does not have to be a complex
invention. An informational letter, project timeline/calendar, rubric, and
contract will be handed out in science class on Monday, March 19th.
All students will be expected to complete this assignment. The contract, or
plan, for the invention is due in class on Thursday, March 22nd. I
will then meet with each student to make sure they are on the right track. Once
I confirm they are on the right track, students are free to begin constructing
their invention. Inventions aren't due until after spring break, but the
construction of the invention will need to be done at home.
Social Studies - Our chapter 10 test will be on Wednesday at 1:20. Please reschedule band lessons, if they conflict. To review for this test, please study the following concepts:
-Describe how the Grand Canyon was carved out by erosion caused by the Colorado River.
-Describe how erosion by water, wind, and sand continues to shape the Grand Canyon.
-Explain the the Grand Canyon is a magnificent landform that provides beauty and adventure.
-Explain why the Grand Canyon has been made a national park.
-Key Words: adobe and pueblo
-Describe different climates found in the Southwest.
-Describe how the saguaro has adapted to a desert climate.
-Explain why the saguaro is important to desert animals.
-Key Words: arid and savanna
-Identify a nonrenewable natural resource in the Southwest.
-Describe how the technology of the Southwest has impacted the United States.
-Key Words: gusher and refinery
-Essay Questions: 1) How do oil and technology play an important role in the economy of the Southwest? 2) What is the Grand Canyon and why do so many people travel to the Grand Canyon each year? 3) How does the climate of the Southwest vary?
English - We will begin our unit on Adjectives. This week we will cover the following lessons: What is an adjective?, Adjectives after Be, Using a, an, and the, and Making Comparisons with adjectives. We will finish this unit after Spring Break.
Spelling - Our pretest will be on Monday and our final test will be on Friday. Students with 100% on the pretest will not have to take the test on Friday. They will choose challenge words to work with throughout the week. Challenge spellers may take a test on the 2 Bonus Words on Friday to raise their score to 21/20.
Reading - Next week in reading, students will be focusing on the skills of identifying fact and opinion, and evaluating. A fact is a statement that can be proven to be true. An opinion tells what a person thinks, believes or feels. Good readers should be able to identify when an author is using a fact or an opinion in a story. Evaluating text involves considering how well the author expresses and supports ideas. Students will be practicing these skills while reading the third story in our “Heroes” theme, Lou Gehrig, The Luckiest Man.
Mrs. Sulima's Math:
Monday - Finish LCM and LCD. Lesson on Mixed Numbers.
Tuesday - No School - Teachers' Institute.
Wednesday - Fractions Greater Than or Equal to One.
Thursday - Compare and Order Fractions.
Friday - Check Your Progress Quiz on lessons 5-8.
