WELCOME!

Welcome to the Big Walnut Elementary 5th Grade website!All assignments are grouped by teacher and are organized in descending order.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

HUGO 3~D Ticket Prices

Tickets for the HUGO 3-D Sunday matinee are $9.50 for children 11 and under and $10.50 for all others.  Rave Cinemas recommends that you purchase your tickets in advance to be sure you get a seat for the show. You may purchase tickets directly from Rave Cinemas at Polaris or go to the following website to order your tickets online:

http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?exid=rmp&house_id=9694

Once you get to the website, choose the December 4th date we're seeing the movie, scroll down to the HUGO 3-D selection, click on it, and you'll be taken to the page to order your tickets for the 1:10 p.m. showtime.  There is a $1 handling fee (per ticket) for online orders.

Please contact your child's teacher so we may have an idea of how many people will be joining us Sunday.  Remember, children must be accompanied by an adult, since this is not a sanctioned Big Walnut function.

See you at the movies!

Mrs. Hoge's Science ~ Week of November 28th

We've finished our Body Systems unit of study and will be starting a unit on the Scientific Method in preparation for my favorite time of year SCIENCE FAIR!!!  This year's projects are due Wednesday, February 1st....seems like a long way off, but time goes quickly, so it's important to start planning now.

Over the next few weeks, students will be learning the steps of the scientific method and conducting investigations in class using this particular method of inquiry.  We'll be using the computer lab to explore topics for projects and gathering research on those topics.  The projects will be completed at home.

Please join us for our special guest speaker, Mrs. Linda Martin, Monday, December 5th at 1:30 in the Eagles Nest.  Mrs. Martin has been a science teacher in the Big Walnut Schools and is a coordinator of our local Science Fair, held at the high school each year.  She will be giving students ideas on how to do a quality project as well as give them some examples of projects that have been done in the past.

BWE fifth graders will have our own Super Spectacular Science Fair Wednesday, February 8th in the fifth grade classrooms.  More details to come.

Look for Science Fair packets of information to come home at the end of the week!

Mrs. Hoge's Language Arts ~ Week of December 5th

We'll be reading The Redheaded League, adapted from a story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  This story is a mystery and is written in a play format, which the students will enjoy.

Vocabulary and Spelling Words:
1. criminal
2. identity
3. perplexing
4. reputation
5. examines
6. bizarre
7. encyclopedia
8. force
9. detective
10. notorious
11. speculate
12. reveal
13. assistant
14. president
15. dialogue
16. league
17. mystery
18. resist
19. conclude
20. confirm

Bonus - literature

Assignments:
Thursday, 12/1 - Parts of speech and word meanings in class.  Look for words in print media for homework or cut out letters to make words. An example will be shown in class.  Bring magazines and newspapers to class from home so we may complete this assignment.  Due 12/7
Friday, 12/2 - Review parts of speech and word meanings.  Begin word study boxes in class.
Monday, 12/5 - Finish word boxes in class finding synonyms and antonyms and creating analogies for each. Choose 10 words from list to write in sentences for homework.  Each sentence should contain at least 10 words and include descriptive language.  Due Tuesday.
Tuesday, 12/6 - Use the remaining words in a word search puzzle that includes a key.  Will be started in class and finished for homework.
Wednesday, 12/7 - Whiteboard practice in class.  Study words at home to prepare for test.
Thursday, 12/8  TEST!

Writing/Grammar - DLR and mini writing assignments focusing on vivid language.

HUGO

Mrs. Corven, Mrs. Hoge, & Mr. Firchau
cordially invite you & your family to join them for …

 HUGO 3-D
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2011
Rave Theaters, Polaris
Showtime 1:10 p.m. (Please arrive early)
Ticket purchases will be the sole responsibility of those attending.

Students must be accompanied by an adult, please.
*** This is not an official Big Walnut field trip.
Attendance is NOT mandatory.

Snow.

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields,
Seems nowhere to alight ...


- Ralph Waldo Emerson, from "The Snow-Storm"

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Firchau: Language Arts (Week of November 28)

READING
Text-to-media comparison: Use the movie version of The Sign of the Beaver to make and analyze comparisons, make inferences as to why this happened, and reflect on preferences.

We will begin our reading of the novel, The Bridge to Terabithia.

WRITING
Friendly letter practice

SPELLING
The Bridge to Terabithia-based vocabulary/spelling

GRAMMAR
Daily Language Review, completed, discussed, and assessed, daily.

Firchau: Social Studies (Week of November 28)

This week we will begin exploring the cultural regions of North American Native Americans.


LEARNING TARGETS
Chronology
I can …
create time lines and identify possible relationships between events.

Settlement
I can …
explain how American Indians settled the continent and why different nations of Indians interacted with their environment in different ways.

explain why European countries explored and colonized North America.

describe the lasting effects of Spanish, French and English colonization in North America including cultural patterns evident today such as language, food, traditions and architecture.

explain how the United States became independent from Great Britain.

Growth
I can …
explain the impact of settlement, industrialization and transportation on the expansion of the United States.

People in Societies
Cultures
I can …
compare the cultural practices and products of diverse groups in North America including:
a. Artistic expressions;
b. Religion;
c. Language;
d. Food;
e. Clothing;
f. Shelter.

Word Study format
Students will use this format to deepen their understanding of vocabulary.

Word study:
• Context: (the source/sentence where the word was found/used)
• Meaningful definition: (in your own words)
• Synonym
• Antonym
• Analogy/association/illustration (choose one)

Here is an example of how to use the format …

origin stories
• CONTEXT
- “Most Native Americans tell origin stories to explain where they came from.” (pg. 21)
• DEFINE
- The origin of something is where it begins.
• SYNONYM
- source, beginning
• ANTONYM
- goal, end, prediction, prophecy
• ANALOGY
- origin story : beginning :: prediction : end

MONDAY
No school

TUESDAY
History Alive! Chapter 3, sections 3.1 - 3.3
Read, discuss, take notes (don't forget vocabulary), complete Interactive Student Notebook (ISN), sections 3.2 and 3.3. Also complete word study for bold faced vocabulary terms on page 29: nomads, cultural regions, artifacts.

WEDNESDAY
History Alive! Chapter 3, sections 3.4 - 3.5
Read, discuss, take notes (don't forget vocabulary), complete Interactive Student Notebook (ISN), sections 3.4 and 3.5. Also complete word study for vocabulary terms: mesas, pueblos, gorges

THURSDAY
History Alive! Chapter 3, sections 3.6 - 3.7
Read, discuss, take notes (don't forget vocabulary), complete Interactive Student Notebook (ISN), sections 3.6 and 3.7. Also complete word study for vocabulary terms: teepees, wigwams.

FRIDAY
History Alive! Chapter 3, sections 3.8 - 3.9
Read, discuss, take notes (don't forget vocabulary), complete Interactive Student Notebook (ISN), sections 3.8. Also complete word study for vocabulary term: chickees.

The test for this unit will be on Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Sunday, November 27, 2011

MATH- Week of November 28th

Fractions continue to be the focus this week in math. Students will learn several different rules to consider when comparing/ordering fractions. In addition, the students will explore equivalent fractions using models.
There will be a quiz over fractions on Monday, December 5th.

HOMEWORK
Monday- No school
Tuesday- Comparing fractions worksheet
Wednesday- Math Journal p.133
Thursday- Math Journal p.135
Friday- No assignment

Corven's Language Arts Class-Week of November 28th

READING
We continue our study of Mr. Popper's Penguins. Our focus will be on chapters 8 & 9.
Using words and pictures, the students will explore the meaning of vocabulary found in chapters 8 & 9 based on the context of the story.

SPELLING
The spelling and definitions of the following 10 words will be assessed on Tuesday, December 6th. These words are found in chapters 6-9 of Mr. Popper's Penguins.
     puzzled, license, belated, abandon, idle, rookery, indignant, derby, tripod, reasonable 


GRAMMAR
The students will complete Daily Language activities each day in class.

WRITING
Students will share their "Turkey Trouble" picture books in class this week.

HOMEWORK
Wednesday- Comprehension Worksheet (chapters 8 & 9) due Friday
                  *** Study spelling and vocabulary 10 minutes each evening

Friday, November 18, 2011

Congratulations BWE Spelling Bee Qualifiers!!!

Congratulations to the following fantastic fifth grade students who qualified for the BWE Spelling Bee!

Fred Dible, Leif Anderson, Kailon Porath, Juliana Bickel, Lauren Spangler, Hannah Moroz, Ben Segars, Mary Beth Brown, Anna Cryan, Matt Pushkin, Hunter Blair, Justin Hess, Tim Lotts, Willow Janson, Mikayla Colvin, Nathan Lawyer, John Drake, Dylan Howe, Kyle Baer, Colin Furr, and  Peyton Woodard.

The BWE Bee will be held Monday, December 19th at 2:00 pm in the Eagles Nest.  Families are invited to attend.
Mrs. Hoge will conduct Spelling Bee practice sessions on Thursdays, beginning December 1st from 3:45-4:30 in the computer lab.  We'll have mini spelling bees, get familiar with the rules of the bee and learn different strategies to use.
A permission slip for parents to sign granting permission to attend the practice sessions will go home on Monday, November 21st with additional information about the bee.  You may go to the following website to start looking at the words we'll be studying during the bee practices.  Pay particular attention to the Words You Need to Know section.  This website is used to generate the words for the national spelling bee, and the one we'll be using during practice sessions.  Students who do not have access to the Internet at home will receive a spelling bee word packet.  All others may access the words via computer.

http://www.myspellit.com/

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Firchau: Language Arts (Week of November 14 and November 21)

WRITING
This week we will spend time working on our Book Jacket drafts and final project

The students will also respond in their journals to various literary, artistic, and musical prompts in order to practice and apply their growing understanding of vivid language.

SPELLING/ VOCABULARY
review spelling/vocabulary from The Sign of the Beaver.

READING
This week we will definitely finish reading the novel, The Sign of the Beaver. We will discuss conflicts and the themes of the novel and wrap up our reading.

See your student's agenda for daily assignments.

Our Unit Test for The Sign of the Beaver will be Friday, November 18.

MONDAY

TUESDAY
• Read and discuss, The Sign of the Beaver, chapter 23, 24,

WEDNESDAY
• Read and discuss, The Sign of the Beaver, chapter 25

THURSDAY
• Review The Sign of the Beaver

FRIDAY
• The Sign of the Beaver Unit Test

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Mrs. Hoge ~ Health ~ Weeks of November 14th and 21st

We are continuing our Health unit on Body Systems. For the next two weeks we'll be learning about the  Circulatory, Respiratory, and Nervous systems.

This week our focus is on the Circulatory and Respiratory systems. Vocabulary: artery, vein, capillary, plasma, platelets, blood vessels, red blood cells, and white blood cells.

Monday    We looked at diagrams of the heart and learned about how blood circulates throughout the body.  We learned about the prts of blood and their functions. Homework assignment:  finish the Efficient System worksheet from class.

Tuesday   Students wrote questions in class yesterday which will be used as a review for a quiz on Thursday. We'll "test our knowledge" in class today!  We'll also learn about the parts of the Respiratory System and the functions of each.  We'll be reading in our text and using supplemental material in this study.  Vocabulary: alveoli, bronchial tube, trachea, diaphragm, and lungs.
Homework - worksheet Breathtaking System.  Read the selection and fill in the blanks.  Do not do the back side of the sheet.  That will be completed in class.

Wednesday  We'll continue our circulatory system and respiratory system study.  Quiz tomorrow.

Thursday   Quiz on circulatory and respiratory systems.  We'll begin learning about the Nervous System and continue that study through next week.

Friday   We'll be reading in our text and using supplemental material through next Tuesday.  Vocabulary to know: cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla, spinal cord, brain stem, neuron.

Firchau: Social Studies (Week of November 14 and November 21)

This week we will continue our exploration of Native Americans and their interaction with their environment.

Chronology
I can …
create time lines and identify possible relationships between events.

Settlement
I can …
explain how American Indians settled the continent and why different nations of Indians interacted with their environment in different ways.

explain why European countries explored and colonized North America.

describe the lasting effects of Spanish, French and English colonization in North America including cultural patterns evident today such as language, food, traditions and architecture.

explain how the United States became independent from Great Britain.

Growth
I can …
explain the impact of settlement, industrialization and transportation on the expansion of the United States.

People in Societies
Cultures
I can …
compare the cultural practices and products of diverse groups in North America including:
a. Artistic expressions;
b. Religion;
c. Language;
d. Food;
e. Clothing;
f. Shelter.

Word Study format
Students will use this format to deepen their understanding of vocabulary.

Word study:
• Context: (the source/sentence where the word was found/used)
• Meaningful definition: (in your own words)
• Synonym
• Antonym
• Analogy/association/illustration (choose one)

Here is an example of how to use the format …

origin stories
• CONTEXT
- “Most Native Americans tell origin stories to explain where they came from.” (pg. 21)
• DEFINE
- The origin of something is where it begins.
• SYNONYM
- source, beginning
• ANTONYM
- goal, end, prediction, prophecy
• ANALOGY
- origin story : beginning :: prediction : end

vocabulary
Section 2.1 - 2.3
• origin stories
• migrate
- migrants
- migration
- migration routes

Section 2.4 - 2.5
• environments
• adapt
- adaptations
• goddesses
• big game
• grasslands
• deserts
• mountains
• arctic ice fields
• driftwood

• process of revolution
- change
- adapt
- culture
- sophistication

MONDAY
• Introduce and discuss vocabulary and word study format.
• Read, take notes on sections 2.1 - 2.3 in History Alive!.
• Complete word study for sections 2.1 - 2.3

TUESDAY
• Review word study
• Discuss sections 2.1 - 2.3
• Read, take notes on sections 2.4 - 2.5 in History Alive!.
• Complete word study for section 2.4 - 2.5

WEDNESDAY
• Review word study
• Discuss sections 2.4 - 2.5
• Complete word study for The Process of Revolution

THURSDAY
• Summary activity in Interactive Student Notebook (ISN)

FRIDAY
• States test (South, #!)

MONDAY (11.21)
• Review chapter 2, Native Americans and Their Land

TUESDAY (11.22)
• Unit Test, chapter 2, Native Americans and Their Land

Monday, November 14, 2011

Mrs. Hoge's Language Arts ~ Week of November 14th and 21st

Scholastic Book Club order forms have been sent home......please return order and payment to class no later than Monday, November 21st.  Thank you!


Reading: We will start reading a Native American story from our Literacy Place Reading Program titled Fox Song by Joseph Bruchac.  This story is a bout a young girl named Jamie, whose great-grandmother has recently passed away, the memories she has of her, and the life lessons she has learned.  This is one of my favorites!

We are also watching the movie version of From the Mixed-Up  Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler  by E.L. Konigsburg, starring Lauren Bacall.  The students are so excited about this! We'll be comparing and contrasting the movie to the book.

We are working on book jacket projects in class this week.  Work not finished by Friday will be taken home to finish over the weekend.  Presentations will be in class Monday and Tuesday.

Spelling: Our spelling/vocabulary list this week is:
1. dream
2. imagine
3. explaining
4. memory
5. vision
6. reverence
7. inspired
8. actually
9. loneliness
10. emotions
11. especially
12. tobacco
13. ninety
14. earlier
15. happiness
16. experience
17. gratitude
18. galoshes
19. insisted
20. realistic

Bonus: metaphor

Assignments :
Monday -  Choose 10 words from the spelling list to write in complete sentences.  Each sentence should contain at least 10 words and incorporate vivid language (adjectives, adverbs).  This is due Wednesday, 11/16.

Tuesday - identify the parts of speech for each spelling word.

Wednesday -  Choose the remaining 10 words to develop a fill in the blank crossword puzzle.  Crossword grid will be provided in school.

Thursday - write the meanings of the spelling words from the context of the story.

Friday - whiteboard practice test in class

Spelling/Vocabulary Test will be Monday, 11/21

Writing/Grammar: Our writing prompt this week is to write about a happy memory from a favorite family member.


Always check the agenda for daily assignments!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Corven's Language Arts Class-Week of November 14th and November 21st

READING
We continue reading Mr. Popper's Penguins. Chapters 5-7 will be the focus of our reading this week and next week. The students will focus on cause and effect events in the story.

WRITING
Based on the picture book, Turkey Trouble, the students will work with a partner to write another version of Turkey Trouble. This activity will be completed in class this week and the stories will be shared next Tuesday, November 22nd.

GRAMMAR
Pronouns will be the focus in grammar this week and next week.

SPELLING
On Wednesday, the students will be tested on the spelling and the definitions of the following 10 words:
calcimine,  absent-minded, spectacles, cross, heathen, meekly, inquisitive, toboggan, hasty, icebox

HOMEWORK (Week of November 14th)
Monday- Study spelling/vocabulary words
Tuesday- Study spelling/vocabulary words
Thursday- Comprehension Worksheet over chapters 5-7 of Mr. Popper's Penguins

**No homework the week of November 21st

***Please remember that the Book Jacket Projects are due Monday, November 21st.

MATH- Week of November 14th and November 21st

We will finish our study of division this week. On Monday, the students will explore division number stories and interpret the remainders. On Tuesday, we will review all of the division concepts from unit 4, and on Wednesday, the students will take the unit 4 division test. Fractions will be our next unit of study.

Homework (November 14-18)
Monday- Study math notes for test on Wednesday
Tuesday- Study math notes and finish the division review sheet
Wednesday- No assignment
Thursday- Math Journal p.122
Friday- No assignment

Homework (November 21st & 22nd)
Monday- Math Journal p.128
Tuesday- No assignment

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Book Jacket Project Due November 21st!

All fifth grade students are currently reading a book they have selected for a project that will be worked on at school and finished at home.  Each student will create a book jacket for the book they are reading.  Students should be finished reading their books this week to give themselves plenty of time to work on this project.


Book Jacket Guidelines:
Cover ~ Neatly write the title of your book and the author's name.  Draw a picture to describe the story that is not a copy of the cover of the book you are reading.  Be creative!  Different art media may be used to illustrate the cover.  Be sure to write your name at the bottom of your cover.


Back cover ~ Write a summary of the story.  The summary should be one page in length.  Remember to include events from the beginning, middle and end of the story.


Inside front flap ~ Write a paragraph description (5-8 sentences) about the main character in your story.  Remember to use vivid language in your descriptions (adjectives and adverbs help). The inside front flap is shown on the left of the image below.

Inside Back Flap ~ Write a paragraph description (5-8 sentences) about the setting of your story.  Remember to help the reader visualize what you see when you think of the setting.  The inside front flap is shown on the right of the image below.




Middle opening of Book Jacket ~ Illustrate an important scene from the story, one that stands out in your mind.  Write a brief caption (1-2 sentences) under the illustration describing the scene.




Book jacket paper will be provided in class.  Students will be shown an example to help them formulate their ideas.  Book jackets will be presented during regular class times.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Mrs. Hoge's Language Arts ~ Week of November 7th

Reading: We are finishing the Newbery Award winning novel From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. The novel is about a young girl named Claudia who decides to run away from her home in Connecticut to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. But she needs someone to accompany her, so she convinces her younger brother Jamie to go with her. The adventure begins!

There will be an open book test on chapters 9-10 on Tuesday.

Spelling: There are no spelling assignments this week.

Writing/Grammar: We continue to identify parts of speech as we complete our novel.  Particular focus is on adverbs and adjectives.  Students complete a Daily Language Review sheet each day to reinforce correct punctuation and capitalization, analogies, using context clues to derive meanings from words, spelling, and contractions.

We'll be reading the fictional story Fox Song by Joseph Bruchac from our Literacy Place program this week.  The story is about a young girl's memories of the times she spent with her great-grandmother, and all the life lessons she learned from her.  Look for spelling words to come home at the end of the week.

Always check the agenda for daily assignments!


Monday, November 7, 2011

Firchau: Language Arts (Week of November 7)

READING
This week we will finish reading the novel, The Sign of the Beaver. We will discuss the themes of the novels and wrap up our reading.

See your student's agenda for daily assignments.

WRITING
Subject, predicate, adjective, and adverb will be our continue to be the focus in grammar. We will also be working on techniques to make writing more vivid. The students will continue their writing pieces within the Writer's Workshop. Daily Language Review will accompany our grammar discussions.

The students will also respond in their journals to various literary, artistic, and musical prompts in order to practice and apply their growing understanding of vivid language.

SPELLING/ VOCABULARY (TEST on Friday, November 11)
resolved
scorn
unhampered
chinked
meager
gaping
feat
prowess
floundered

MONDAY
• Introduce spelling list, assign vocabulary activity, due Tuesday, November 8
• Read and discuss, The Sign of the Beaver, chapter 21 and 22

TUESDAY
• Read and discuss, The Sign of the Beaver, chapter 23, 24, 25

WEDNESDAY
• Comprehension assessment

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Corven's Language Arts Class-Week of November 7th

READING
We begin the novel, Mr. Popper's Penguins. It is a Newbery Honor Book about a dreamy house painter named Mr. Popper. He longs to be an explorer, have adventures, and most of all, visit the polar regions. He eventually gets his wish, but not in exactly the way he had hoped. Our focus in reading will be on chapters 1-4.

SPELLING/VOCABULARY
The students will receive a spelling/vocabulary list on Wednesday. All of the words can be found in chapters 1-4 of Mr. Popper's Penguins. The students will be tested on both the spelling and the defintions of the following words on Wednesday, November 16th.
calcimine, absent-minded, spectacles, cross, heathen, meekly, inquisitive, tobaggan,
hasty, icebox

GRAMMAR
We will complete together Daily Language #9 this week in class.

HOMEWORK
Wednesday- Comprehension questions over chapters 1-4 of Mr. Popper's Penguins, Due Friday
Thursday & Friday- Study spelling and vocabulary

MATH-Week of November 7th

We continue our unit 4 study of division this week in math. The students will learn to use 3 different division algorithms. There will be an assessment over division next Wednesday, November 16th.

HOMEWORK
Monday- Math Journal p.108
Tuesday- 10 division review problems using partial quotients
Wednesday- 10 division review problems using the traditional method
Thursday- Division Worksheet and Math Journal p. 114
Friday- No assignment

Friday, November 4, 2011

Voyage.



When Serge Bromberg learned that a color version of Georges Melies’ 16-minute silent film Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon)--a rendering that had not been seen in almost a century--had been found in Barcelona, he had to have it. That the celluloid relic had deteriorated into a solid decomposed mass and was damaged beyond all likely repair only made the film preservationist’s resolve deeper. “When you have a piece of the Holy Grail in your hand,” declares Bromberg, in a phone call from Paris, “you say, We have to save it!”

So he did. A decade later, Bromberg is putting finishing touches on The Extraordinary Voyage, a documentary that chronicles both the making of Melies’ groundbreaking 1902 film and the meticulous, against-all-odds process of restoring it to its full-color glory. The documentary, which closes with the color A Trip to the Moon, complete with a new soundtrack by the electronica group Air, will have its world premiere November 11 at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art (the restored short itself debuted at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year).


Read the rest at Fast Company.

Georges Méliès at MoMA.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret author Brian Selznick's website is here. It's such a great book and a wonder-filled way to begin the year. Snatch one here.

Hugo opens over Thanksgiving ...



An interview with The Invention of Hugo Cabret author, Brian Selznick ...

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Firchau: Social Studies (Week of November 7)

This week we will conclude our exploration of geography with an summative assessment over all geography content. We will review on Monday the concepts and targets for which the students will be responsible.

MONDAY:
• Geography review
• learning targets, concept map study guide

TUESDAY:
• Geography unit test

WEDNESDAY:
• Review and correct geography unit test

THURSDAY:
• "America Before Columbus" discussion

FRIDAY:
• "Native Americans and Their Land"
• vocabulary activity

migration (migration route, migrants)
environment
adaptation
origin stories
Siberia
grassland
desert
mountain
Arctic Ice Field
Inuit
shelter