Science Fair Display Boards Are IN!!!!

Due to the volume of science fair display boards that have been ordered, the bus drivers prefer students not bring them on the bus to transport them home.  Please make arrangements to pick up your child's board at school today, tomorrow or Wednesday, so they have them over Christmas break.  Each student has their board, labeled with their name on it, in their homeroom class.

Spelling Bee, Monday, December 19th!!!

The BWE Spelling Bee will be held Monday, December 19th at 2:00 p.m. in the Eagles Nest!  Please join us for this exciting academic competition!

Good luck to the following Super Speller Spelling Bee participants:
Fred Dible, Leif Anderson, Hannah Moroz, Kailon Porath, Juliana Bickel, Lauren Spangler, Ben Segars, MaryBet 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.

Special Christmas Craft

To compliment the writing project students are completing on the book The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, we are requesting each student bring in a white tube sock (no holes, please) for a craft we will complete in each class.  A clean, gently used sock is fine, and if you could spare more than one, that would be great too!  We can always put extras to good use.  Please have your child bring the sock to school no later than Monday, December 19th.  Thank you!

Merry Christmas!

Science ~ Weeks of December 12th and 19th

Don't forget.....all students should have a science fair folder and a science fair notebook this week!  Display boards will be ordered Tuesday 12/13.....if you want to order a science fair display board through school, please return the order form with payment to Mrs. Hoge.  Order forms went home last week.

We have started learning about electricity and will be exploring different kinds of circuits through investigations.  We'll also be exploring how to keep safe around electricity.

Students were introduced to electricity by learning about atoms.  please talk to your child about what they are learning in class.

Monday ~ Vocabulary words include: electricity, atom, proton, neutron, nucleus, electron, and current.  We'll be reading about how atoms are either positively charged, negatively charged or neutral.  Students demonstrated static charges using balloons in class (and yes, we got a little loud, but it was so much fun!)

Tuesday ~ We'll be reading and discussing about currents and circuits. Vocabulary to know: conductor, insulator, series circuit, parallel circuit.  Over the course of the next few days we'll be investigating an how to best build a simple series circuit.  We'll also be designing parallel circuits.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday ~ In class circuit investigations.  Vocabulary quiz on Friday.

Monday and Tuesday, December 19th and 20th ~ We'll be learning about how to keep electricity safe in our homes.  Vocabulary to know: circuit breaker, fuse, GFI.

Firchau: Social Studies (Week of December 12 & 19)

This week we will begin exploring the motivations behind European Exploration of the "New" World.

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.

MONDAY
Introduce and discuss Learning Targets (handout)

Chapter 5 vocabulary
conquistadors
Northwest Passage
contagious diseases
East Indies
colonies

Read and discuss the introduction to chapter 5.

Introduce and explain the Explorers Matrix on ISN page 20-21.

Assignment: Read History Alive! section 5.2, Christopher Columbus; complete matrix for Christopher Columbus.

TUESDAY
Review and discuss the Explorers Matrix: Columbus.

Read and discuss section 5.3 and 5.4: Cabot & Ponce de Leon

Assignment: Read History Alive! section 5.3 and 5.4, Cabot & Ponce de Leon; complete matrix for Cabot & Ponce de Leon.

WEDNESDAY
Review and discuss the Explorers Matrix: Cabot & Ponce de Leon.

Read and discuss section 5.5 and 5.6: Cortes and Cartier

Assignment: Read History Alive! section 5.5 and 5.6: Cortes and Cartier; complete matrix for Cortes and Cartier.

THURSDAY
Review and discuss the Explorers Matrix: Cortes and Cartier.

Read and discuss section 5.7, 5.8 and 5.9: Vasquez de Coronado, Hudson, and La Salle

Assignment: Read History Alive! section 5.7, 5.8 and 5.9: Vasquez de Coronado, Hudson, and La Salle; complete matrix for Vasquez de Coronado, Hudson, and La Salle.

FRIDAY
States Test: West #1

View Conquest of America: Henry Hudson
Complete analysis activity sheet

Students should begin reviewing all previous regions. 50 states tests will begin soon after break.

MONDAY (12.19)
Review European Exploration of the New World

TUESDAY (12.20)
European Exploration of the New World UNIT ASSESSMENT


WEDNESDAY (12.21)
Activities

Mrs. Hoge Language Arts ~ Weeks of December 12th and 19th

We're 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 are enjoying. Students should have a silent reading book with them every day for independent reading.

Writing/Grammar ~ DLR and mini writing assignments focusing on vivid language. We're starting a writing project based on the book, Snowman by Raymond Briggs. The students will watch the silent movie and then create a dialog they imagine would happen between the two characters after illustrating their favorite scene. This project will be worked on throughout the week. Students will present their final copy to their class next week.

Spelling/Vocabulary ~  words from the Redheaded League


1. integrate
2. directions
3. serious
4. several
5. congratulate
6. business
7. accepted
8. information
9. salary
10. archery
11. confident
12. trousers
13. function
14. traits
15. officers


Bonus ~ introduction


Assignments ~ 


Monday ~ Word meanings based on the context of the story.  Write each word in a sentence being sure to use the words correctly. Due Wednesday, December 14th.
Tuesday ~ Word boxes in class.  No homework.
Wednesday ~ Create a crossword puzzle using 10 of the spelling/vocabulary words.  Due Friday, December 16th.
Thursday ~ partner work in class.
Friday ~ Spelling SPARKLE.
Monday, December 19th ~ Spelling TEST!

The Snowman

We are using the animated silent movie, The Snowman, as the basis for a writing project that focuses on using quotations to create dialog between two characters. The students will choose a favorite scene from the story and create the dialog they imagine might occur between the characters.

For a link to the movie click here.

Firchau: Language Arts (Week of December 12 & 19)

READING
This week we will continue reading Bridge to Terabithia.  We will focus our guided reading on how the setting of a story can influence the plot, plot sequence, and language's influence on senses and mood.  Check your student's agenda for daily assignments.


WRITING
Last week the students learned the correct way to punctuate dialogue. This week they will apply what they learned about the use of quotation marks as they narrate a scene from The Snowman. The narrations will be due on Monday, December 19th. There will be time in class this week for the students to work on this writing assignment.

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

SPELLING
Spelling words from the first two chapters of Bridge to Terabithia will be assessed on Tuesday, not Monday, as previously posted.

Corven's Language Arts Class-Week of December 12th and 16th

READING
We continue reading through the novel Mr. Popper's Penguins. The focus of our reading will be over chapters 10 - 15. The students will continue researching types of penguins this week in class. They will share their research in class next week.

WRITING
Last week the students learned the correct way to punctuate dialogue. This week they will apply what they learned about the use of quotation marks as they narrate a scene from The Snowman. The narrations will be due on Monday, December 19th. There will be time in class this week for the students to work on this writing assignment.

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

SPELLING
The following 10 spelling/vocabulary words from Mr. Popper's Penguins will be assessed on Tuesday, December 20th.
        cease, sulking, mopey, stupor, solemn, indulgence, novelty, sparing, pompous, debris

MATH- Week of December 12th and the 19th

We finish our study of unit 5 this week in class. There will be a test over unit 5 on Thursday, December 15th. On Monday and Tuesday, the students will review the characteristics of bar graphs and circle graphs. In addition, students will learn how to read and create percent circles. On Wednesday, we will review all unit 5 concepts in class.

HOMEWORK (The week of December 12th)
Monday- Math Journal p. 152
Tuesday- Math Journal p.156
Wednesday- Finish review packet and review math notes for test tomorrow
Thursday- No assignment
Friday- No assignment

**There will not be any homework in math the week of December 19th. 

Fifth Grade Community Service Project

Due to time and space constraints, the fifth grade students will not be assembling the recipe jars for our annual Caring and Sharing Project to benefit our furry friends at the Delaware County Humane Society.  Our apologies to anyone who has donated jars for this project.  If you would like to have your jars back, please contact Mrs. Hoge and she will make arrangements to return them to you.  Our plan is to involve the students in a project in the spring, when we have a little more time and can be outside.

If you and your family would like to help the Humane Society this holiday season, they have some very critical needs.  Some of the items they need include blankets, bleach, kitten and adult cat food, and kongs, just to name a few.  Click on the website below to view the wish list they have compiled.  When you click on the site, look at the top of the screen and you will see "Donate". Click that for the drop down box and you will see "Wish List".  Click that to view the items they need.  You may bring those items to school and we'll deliver them to the Humane Society on your behalf, or you may deliver them directly to the Humane Society.

We wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and the healthiest and happiest of New Years!

 http://www.hsdcohio.org/

Believe.

Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said: "one can't believe impossible things."

"I daresay, you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

- Lewis Carroll, from Through The Looking Glass

Thank you, Allie & Mac!

Mrs. Hoge's Science ~ Week of December 5th

Science fair projects are due Wednesday, February 1, 2012.

This week......
Learning Targets:
I can:
~ Use evidence and observations to explain the results of investigations.
~ Describe that electrical current in a circuit can produce thermal energy, light, sound and/or magnetic forces.
~ Trace how electrical current travels by creating a simple electric circuit that will light a bulb.

Monday ~  checklists were handed out with specific due dates.  This checklist needs to be turned in with the project February 1st. Please go over this with your child.
We'll be conducting a stretch test experiment in class over the next few days, collecting data, finding averages, and constructing graphs on which to display the data.

The bottom portion of the Parent Information letter was due today.  If it wasn't turned in, it needs to be returned with a parent signature showing students have looked over the blue packet and have at least begun talking about project ideas at home.  Students that need project ideas may get a packet from Mrs. Hoge.

Tuesday ~ Review steps of the scientific method for a possible quiz tomorrow.  Continue stretch test experiment in class, collecting and recording data.

Wednesday ~   Finish the third trial of the Stretch Test experiment.  We'll be constructing bar graphs with the data collected.   Order forms for science fair trifold display boards will be sent home today.  The cost is $5 for a white 36 x 60 board, or $5.50 for a red, blue, green, yellow or black board.  Orders are to be turned in by Monday, December 12th. Boards will be available to take home before Christmas break.  You may buy your board somewhere else, but be sure it meets the size requirements.

Thursday  ~ Scientific Method Quiz. We will analyze data and construct bar graphs using the data from the experiment this week.

Friday ~ We'll begin a unit of study on magnets and electricity, learning about atoms. Vocabulary with which to be familiar : protons, neutrons, electrons, nucleus, circuit, current, conductor, insulator, parallel circuit, series circuit, complete circuit, incomplete circuit,  fuse, GFI.



Have a great weekend!

Firchau: Social Studies (Week of December 5)

This week we will finish exploring the cultural regions of North American Native Americans and begin learning about European exploration of the New World.

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.

MONDAY
Read and discuss History Alive! section 3.8 and 3.9, and complete the ISN for section 3.8

Review (students have been given a review sheet)

The unit test for Native American Cultural Regions will be tomorrow, December 6.

TUESDAY
Unit test: Native American Cultural Regions

Complete the "Native American Expert" letter activity on page 14 and 15 of the ISN (due Wednesday).

WEDNESDAY
Review test. Reteach as needed.

Share letters.

THURSDAY
Introduction of European Exploration of the New World and The Big Three ... Resources, Riches, and Religion. Discuss Learning Targets.

FRIDAY
States Test: South #3

Students should begin reviewing all previous regions. 50 states test will begin after break.

Firchau: Language Arts (Week of December 5)

WRITING
This week our writing focus will be on direct quotations and their use in writing dialog. We will be using the picture book, The Snowman, as a basis for creating dialog within a narrative.

READING
This week will begin the novel Bridge to Terabithia. We will focus our guided reading on how the setting of a story can influence the plot, plot sequence, and language's influence on senses and mood.

SPELLING/WORD STUDY
This week's spelling/word study comes from chapters one and two of Bridge to Terabithia.

crouched
despised
grit
plunked
primly
cagey
endure
hypocritical
muddled
pandemonium
proverbial
pudgy
thrashed

The students' word study challenge is to come up with an analogy for each word or form of the word. Analogies describe the relationship between two things and are written in the following format ...

________ : ________ : : ________ :________

Analogies are read, "(blank) is to (blank), as (blank) is to (blank)"

For example, human : arms :: octopus : tentacles

The spelling test will be on Monday, December 12. The analogies (completed on loose leaf) are due on that date also.

In order to increase fluency and comprehension, the students will be reading each chapter of the book the night before we read and discuss it in class.

Corven's Language Arts Class-Week of December 5th

READING
We continue our study of Mr. Popper's Penguins. As an extension of the novel, the students will research information about Antarctica and types of penguins in class this week and next. Students will share their research with the class.

WRITING
Our writing focus this week will be on the proper use of quotation marks. The students will examine the use of quotation marks in Mr. Popper's Penguins, and create a cartoon strip of their favorite event. The cartoon strip will be completed in class.

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

SPELLING/VOCABULARY
The students will have a spelling/vocabulary test on Tuesday over the following words;
    puzzled, license, belated, abandon, idle, rookery, indignant, derby, tripod, reasonable

**These words were given to students on Tuesday, November 29th

MATH- Week of December 5th

Converting fractions into decimals and percents will be our focus in math this week. There will be a quiz on Tuesday covering the fraction concepts that the students learned last week (comparing/ordering fractions, improper fractions, mixed numbers).

HOMEWORK
Monday- Finish Study Link 5-4 (This was started in class on 12-2)
                **Review notes for quiz
Tuesday- No assignment
Wednesday- Math Journal p.141
Thursday- No assignment
Friday- No assignment