Behind the Scenes - Week of November 19

Weekly Spotlight:
*John Lynn Appalachian Trail In-School Presentation on Monday.
*Weekly vocabulary quiz on Tuesday.
*Chapter 1 (lesson 3) and Chapter 2 (lessons 2 and 3) Science Test on Tuesday.
*No school on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

Coming Attractions:
*Southeast Map test on Thursday, November 29.

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - The children will take a test on chapter 1, lesson 3 and chapter 2, lessons 2 and 3 on Tuesday. Children should review the following concepts for the test:
*Define vertebrate and invertebrate.
*Describe characteristics of vertebrates. Which animals are vertebrates? What are the 5 classifications of vertebrates?
*Describe characteristics of invertebrates. Which animals are invertebrates? What are some of the classifications of invertebrates?
*Define photosynthesis and life cycle.
*Describe the stages of the life cycle of flowering plants. See tomato plant life cycle.
*Describe how plants reproduce using only spores. See fern life cycle.
*Define direct development and metamorphosis.
*Describe and order the stages of an animal's life cycle.
*Describe how some plants grow and develop.
*Describe the stages of the human life cycle.
*Describe the difference between simple and complete metamorphosis.

Social Studies - We will continue our study of the Southeast on Monday, November 26.  Students should be reviewing their Southeast states for this test.  They will need to know the location and spelling of all 12 states.  They will need to label (with correct spelling) the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Mississippi River.  Capitals will be worth 1/4 point bonus each.  Students should spell the capitals as best as they can.  The Southeast test will be on Thursday, November 29.

English - We will learn about declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences.  The children will make a flip book to help them learn this new terminology.  We will also write an opinion paragraph this week.  The children will take the turkey's perspective in “Eat More _____?_____ Not Turkey”.  Students will need to justify their opinions in their writing.

Spelling - We will continue spelling on Monday, November 26.

Reading - The students will continue reading the novel A Family Apart.  Hopefully by now your child knows all the vocabulary that goes along with this novel.  If not, please have them continue to review these words.  They will be on the novel test after we finish reading the book.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Class:

Monday - No math due to John Lynn Assembly.

Tuesday - Continue dividing by 1-digit division (long division).  No Homework.

Behind the Scenes - Week of November 12

Weekly Spotlight:
*No school on Monday - Veteran's Day.
*Spelling pretest on Tuesday.
*Chapter 5, lesson 1 (open-book) social studies quiz on Tuesday.
*SE Map due on Thursday.
*Chapter 2, lesson 3 (open-book) science quiz on Thursday.
*Bears Spirit Day on Friday.
*TFK quiz on Friday.
*Spelling test and challenge test on Friday.
*Bingo Night on Friday - Hope to see many of you there!!

Coming Attractions:
*John Lynn - "Life on the Appalachian Trial" In-School Presentation on Monday, November 19.
*Weekly vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, November 20.
*Chapter 1 (lesson 3) and Chapter 2 (lessons 2 and 3) Science Test on Tuesday, November 20.
*No school on Wednesday, November 21.
*No school on Thursday, November 22.  Happy Turkey Day!
*No school on Friday, November 23.
*Roller Skating Party on Monday, November 26.
*Fourth Grade Field Trip and In-School Learning Experiences money due by Wednesday, November 28.

Homeroom Happenings:
Spelling - We will take a spelling pretest on Tuesday.  On Friday, regular spellers will take the weekly test.  Challenge spellers will take their alternate tests on Friday.

English - Your child now has their English contract in their English pocket.  Our new unit is on Sentences.  We will begin with lesson 1 on Wednesday.  This lesson will review sentences vs. fragments.  We will also explore the four different kinds of sentences this week:  statements, questions, commands, and exclamations.

Reading - We will continue reading A Family Apart.  Ask your child about this historical fiction novel.  This week we will also work on our second week of vocabulary.  The children will define the words on Tuesday.  They should review the definitions and think of examples for each.  We will take a quiz on these words on Tuesday, November 20.  Finally, the children should read their weekly TFK magazine.  The children will take a quiz on this magazine on Friday.  They are allowed to use their magazine during the quiz.

Science - Our focus this week will be on metamorphosis.  The children will take an open-book quiz on chapter 2, lesson 3 on Thursday.  We will also fill out a "how to study" sheet on Thursday.  Our test will be on Tuesday, November 30.  The test will cover chapter 1, lesson 3 and chapter 2, lesson 2 and 3.

Social Studies - On Tuesday, the children will take an open-book quiz on chapter 5, lesson 1.  This will conclude our unit on the Northeast Region.  The children will receive a Southeast map assignment on Tuesday.  It will be due on Thursday.  The Southeast Map test will be on Thursday, November 29.  They will need to correctly locate and identify all the Southeast states.  They can identify the capitals for 1/4 point bonus each.  We will explore the land of the Southeast by making an elevation diagram.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Spotlight:
Monday - No school, Veteran's Day.
Tuesday - Understanding Division.  HW: WB 26.
Wednesday - Division Patterns and Review of Exponents.  HW:  WB 27.
Thursday - Order of Operations.  HW:  WB 38.
Friday - Three-digit quotients.  HW:  Finish WB 28 (if not finished in class).

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

Behind the Scenes - Week of November 5

Weekly Spotlight:
*No school on Monday.
*No school on Tuesday - Teacher Institute.
*Vocabulary quiz on Wednesday.
*Chapter 2, lesson 2 science quiz on Thursday.

Coming Attractions:
*No school on Monday, Nov. 12 - Veteran's Day.
*Bingo Night on Friday, Nov. 16 - Mrs. Sulima will be there.
*No school Nov. 21 through 23 - Thanksgiving Break
*Rollerskating Party on Monday, Nov. 26, 3:45-6:30.

Homeroom Happenings:
English - The children will take the next English pretest.  We will also share our enrichment from Unit 3.

Spelling - Due to the shortened week, we will not have a spelling unit this week.

Reading - We will begin a new novel this week - A Family Apart by Joan Lowery Nixon. This (historically accurate) heroic tale follows the adventures of six children who are sent out west on the Orphan Train by their impoverished mother in hope that they will find a better life. Frances Mary, the eldest of the Kelly children, shepherds her siblings through the Orphan Train trip and struggles to find them good homes. Frances Mary and Petey are adopted by the Cummings' and find themselves involved in the Underground Railroad movement. This book, as well as the accompanying activities, will challenge your child in various ways. Be sure to ask your child about this story. Find out more about the Orphan Train and other historical events that we will encounter while reading A Family Apart. Visit these websites: 
http://www.orphantraindepot.com/OrphanTrainHistory.html
http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/about/history/orphan-trains
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/orphan/
http://www.kidskonnect.com/subjectindex/16-educational/history/274-orphan-trains.html

Science - The children will take an open book quiz on chapter 2, lesson 2 on Thursday.  We will also continue lesson 3.

Social Studies - We will learn about a Northeast Native American tribe - The Narragansett.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Spotlight:
Monday - No school.
Tuesday - No school.
Wednesday - Review for Chapter 2 test.  HW:  Study for Chapter 2 test tomorrow.
Thursday - Chapter 2 Test with Extended Response.
Friday - Pretest and "Math Square" celebration.

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