Behind the Scenes - Week of January 7

Weekly Spotlight:
*Spelling pretest on Monday.
*Reading MAP test on Wednesday, 1:00-2:00.
*TFK Quiz on Friday.
*Spelling Test/Challenge Test on Friday.
*Math MAP test on Friday, 1:00-2:00.

Coming Attractions:
*End of 2nd Quarter on Friday, January 18.
*No School on Monday, January 21.
*Bingo Night on Friday, January 25.
*Early Dismissal (11:00) on Wednesday, January 30.

Creature Feature:
I would like to thank everyone for your support with this creative project.  The children really enjoyed making, writing about, and sharing their creatures.  It was so wonderful to see so many of you here supporting your children during our "Creature Feature."

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - We will begin our study of the Human Body.  Our unit will begin with the children finding the answers to this question:  How does your body get oxygen and nutrients?  We will be exploring the digestive system, the respiratory system, and the circulatory system.

Social Studies - The children will finish their Southeast Farmer project this week.  They will be writing a story from the perspective of a cotton, peach, peanut, or orange farmer.  After this project, we will be moving into the Midwest Region.

English - We will take our next pretest this week on Wednesday.  The children will receive their contracts on Thursday.  At that time, they will choose their enrichment projects.  We will not begin this new unit until the week of Jan. 14.

Spelling - We will continue to follow our Second Quarter procedure this week and next week.  Starting the week of January 21, we will begin our 3rd Quarter procedure.  More information will be coming soon regarding this new procedure.

Reading - The children will finish a group extended response on "The Raven and the Star Fruit".  Each evening, the children will have an assignment in our COACH book.  This book will help expose children to questions that are similar to those on the ISAT test.  We will review the pages in school the following day.
We will begin a novel called Matilda this week.  Post comments, questions, and new vocabulary on Wall Wisher:  http://wallwisher.com/wall/MatildaUnit  

Mrs. Sulima's Math Spotlight:
Monday - Review all Chapter 9 lessons from before break.  HW:  Review for chapter 9, lesson 1-4 quiz tomorrow.
Tuesday - Chapter 9, lesson 1-4 Quiz.  HW:  None.
Wednesday - No math due to MAP testing.
Thursday - Dividing Decimals by Whole Numbers.  HW:  WB pg. 107 (due Monday)
Friday - No math due to MAP testing.

Behind the Scenes - Week of December 17

Weekly Spotlight:
*No spelling pretest on Monday.
*Creatures due on Monday.
*Chapter 3, lesson 2 and 3 Science Quiz on Monday.
*All-school holiday concert on Tuesday at 8:05.
*Weekly vocabulary quiz on Tuesday.
*Chapter 6 Social Studies quiz (open book) on Wednesday.
*Bowling Field Trip on Wednesday (12:00-2:00).
*Chapter 3 Science Test on Thursday.
*Creature Feature on Thursday from 1:40-2:10.
*Time For Kids Quiz on Friday.
*Tivoli Field trip on Friday (all afternoon).

Coming Attractions:
*Return to school on Monday, January 7.
*Spelling Pretest on Monday, January 7.
*DuPage Children's Museum In-School Presentation on Thursday, January 31 (Wheels, Levers, and Pulleys).

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - We will take a chapter 3, lesson 2 and 3 open-book quiz on Monday.  We will also fill out our "how to study" sheet for our chapter 3 Test.  The test will be on Thursday.  Creatures are due to school on Monday.  I am looking forward to meeting all these creatures.  In class, we will work on writing a description of our creature and preparing for our informal presentations on Thursday.  If possible, please try to join us anytime between 1:40-2:10 on Thursday, December 20 for our "Creature Feature."
Items to review for the Chapter 3 Test:
*Key vocabulary - basic needs, adaptation, natural selection, instinct, hibernation, migration, learned behavior, fossil, & extinction.
*What basic needs are shared by all living things?
*How do adaptations allow living things to meet their needs? Give examples.
*How do instinctive behaviors help animals meet their needs? Give examples.
*How do learned behaviors help animals meet their needs? Give examples.
*How do living things of long ago compare with those of today? Give examples.
*What can we learn from footprints, bones, impressions, and petrified wood? How are these formed?
*What is a living fossil? Give examples.
*Describe the causes of extinction.

Social Studies - The children will take an open-book chapter 6 quiz on Wednesday.  We will not take a "test" on this chapter.  Also this week, we will continue working on our Southeast Farmer Projects.
Items to review for the Chapter 6 (open-book) quiz:
*Key words: barrier islands, hurricane, wetlands, hurricane season, key, fall line, fossil fuel, Piedmont, Inner Coastal Plains, Outer Coastal Plains, endangered species, extinct, & pulp.
*Why are hurricanes dangerous?
*Name some crops from the Southeast. Why do these crops grow well in the Southeast.
*If you were going on a trip to the Southeast, where would you go and why? All theme parks (Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, etc.) are closed!!!!

Spelling - We will have a special spelling unit this week.

English - We will begin a new unit in the NEW YEAR.

Reading - We will use some of our reading time to work on our Southeast Farmer projects.  Also, the children will be reading a readers' theater of A Polar Express on Wednesday.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Spotlight:
Monday - Begin unit on Multiplying and Dividing Decimals.  Multiply and Divide with 10, 100, and 1000.  HW:  WB pgs. 101 and 106.
Tuesday - Estimate Decimal Products and Multiply a decimal by a whole number.  HW: WB pgs. 102 and 103.
Wednesday - No math due to Bowling Field Trip.
Thursday - Multiplying Decimals by Decimals.  Zeros in the Product.  HW:  WB pgs. 104 and 105.
Friday - No math due to Tivoli Field Trip.

Behind the Scenes - Week of December 10

Weekly Spotlight:
*Spelling pretest on Monday.
*Chapter 6, lesson 3 Social Studies quiz on Monday.
*High Touch, High Tech In-School Presentation on Tuesday.
*Vocabulary quiz on Tuesday.
*Unit 1 English test on Tuesday.
*Spelling test on Friday.
*Time For Kids Quiz on Friday.

Coming Attractions:
*Chapter 3, lesson 2 and 3 Science quiz on Monday, Dec. 17.
*Creatures arrive to school on Monday, Dec. 17.
*Weekly vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, Dec. 18.
*Chapter 6 Open-Book Social Studies quiz on Wednesday, Dec. 19.
*All-school concert on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 8:30.
*Chapter 3 Science test on Thursday, Dec. 20.
*Bowling Field Trip on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 12:00-2:00.
*Tivoli Field Trip on Friday, Dec. 21.  Bring a sack lunch.

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - We will explore how living things of the past compare with those of today.  Our test on Chapter 3 will be on Thursday, December 20.  The children will also receive the Creature Feature assignment this week.  They will need to creature an imaginary creature that is perfectly adapted to survive in Prairieview School.  They will use their understanding of adaptations in their planning.  Creatures should arrive to school on Monday, December 17.  Please use items around the house to build your creature. 

Social Studies - The children will take the chapter 6, lesson 3 quiz on Monday.  The rest of the week, we will focus on our Southeast Farmer Project.  The children have each chosen a crop from the Southeast.  They will research their crop and then write a story as a peanut, peach, orange, or cotton farmer.  The children will be taking an open book quiz on chapter 6 on Wednesday, December 19.  We will not take a test on this chapter.

English - We will take the Unit 1 - Sentence test on Tuesday.  Enrichment projects will be due on the day of the test.  We will not start a new English unit until after winter break.  We will be using our English time to complete writing activities in science and social studies.

Spelling - We will take a spelling pretest on Monday.  Regular and Challenge spellers will take their test on Friday.

Reading - We will continue working on reviewing how to write an Extended Response.  Students will work in groups to write an extended response using "Our Recipe."  We will also learn about point of view and author's purpose.

Mrs. Sulima's Math:
Monday - Dividing Money.  HW:  WB pg. 37 & study for chapter 3, lessons 6-10 quiz tomorrow.
Tuesday - Chapter 3, lessons 6-10 quiz.  HW:  Practice Multiplication Facts.
Wednesday - Fill out "how to study" and complete an extended response example.  HW:  Study for chapter 3 test on Friday.
Thursday - Review for chapter 3 test.  HW:  Study for chapter 3 test.
Friday - Chapter 3 Test with an extended response.  HW:  None.

MAP Practice Sites:
http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/reading.htm

http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/

http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/Pages/studentlinks/math/4-5math.htm

http://www.belleplaine.k12.mn.us/se3bin/clientgenie.cgi?schoolname=school357&statusFlag=goGenie&geniesite=133&myButton=g5plugin&db=g133_b545

http://www.linnmar.k12.ia.us/schools/westfield/westweb/NWEA_Math_RIT_Sites.html

http://www.linnmar.k12.ia.us/schools/westfield/westweb/NWEA_Rdg_RIT_Sites.html