I wanted to thank the parents that went to the University of Utah Engineering Day with us. It was lots of fun and the weather even cooperated so we could eat outside on the patio and lawn. The students got to participate in the catapult - one from each of our 5th grade classes. They also built straw towers as tall as possible, that had to resist 3 wind gusts, out of straws and paper clips. The final activity was the fish pull. Groups had to create either a fast or slow fish out of a ball of clay which was then pulled through the water.
Our class did very well. Nicole and Alexis took their catapult and did so well they had a shoot off with another one for 1st place in accuracy. The other catapult was deadly and hit 7 of 10. But not to worry, Nicole and Alexis won 1st place for the entire day in aesthetics. Ethan, Graden, Drew, Tate, and Eric won the fastest fish in the red group, and also fastest fish for the entire day. Their time was 0.94 seconds. Yea! We are the best!!! We are going to have a competition at school this Friday, April 8th for a Catapult Long Shot. Students can bring their catapults back and those who didn't participate before are welcome to make one as long as it follows the specifications previously set. (It must be at least 5x5x5 and no bigger than 12x12x12. It cannot be made out of a kit and it cannot use a mouse trap.)
Students are working hard on their state reports. Their Symbols and Maps are due Thursday, April 7th. I have planned extra library and computer time to help them with their deadlines. The Notecards are due on Thursday, April 14th before we go on break.
So you will know, this is how the state reports will be graded:
Language Arts
Reading: We are finishing our Survival Units by mapping the novels. Next we will read stories out of our basal readers that go hand in hand with our Western Unit and Civil War Unit.
Writing: We are spending a lot of time in the library and with the computers doing research for our state reports. The students are doing a great job with them. I will be checking their note cards and making sure they have all the necessary information. We are going to use Inspiration to put the information into outline form. When finished, the students can start on their rough drafts. After these are edited, they will begin the final draft.
Social Studies
We have just learned all about the Westward Movement - about the trails the explorers took, the hardships the people faced as they made their way west, the items they needed to take with them, and then the problems that arose with their new homesteads. The students did a great job with their reports and projects.
Their President reports are finished and each student will give an oral report in class. I have been grading them and then the reports are being sent home for you to see.
The State Reports are in full swing. We are spending quite a bit of time of them in class, but there may be some work a student may need to do at home because he/she was unable to finish in class.
We are starting our study of the Civil War.
Math
We are working with measurement and geometry. I know some of the students struggle at times, but I will hold special sessions to help them. They can also use other students who do understand - sometimes the way a student explains it helps them. Another possibility is help at home. I know several of you have been working with your child and it certainly gives them the little extra they need. Thank you. They can get onto the computer online at https://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com and review the little teaching videos we watch in class. The user name is their student number and the password is csdmath.
Science
Our class is going to Mrs. Taylor's room to study electricity. They get to do several exciting experiments. When this session is finished, we will begin our science review for CRT testing.
April Calendar
4/5 P.E. Physical Fitness Champion Assembly
4/7 State Symbols and Maps Due
4/6 Boys' Maturation
4/12 & 4/14 PE Testing - Mile Run
4/14 State Notecards Due
4/14 Girls' Maturation
4/15 Super Hero Day
4/18 - 4/22 Spring Break :-)
A look ahead to May:
5/5 State Rough Draft Due
5/9 - 5/12 CRT Testing
5/19 State Final Draft Due
5/27 State Fair and Program
I can't believe it is getting so close to the end of the year. We have had a great "ride".
No comments:
Post a Comment