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

Monday, February 27, 2012

Mrs. Hoge - Health - Week of February 27th

This week we are finishing our study of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.  There will be a health test Wednesday, February 29th focusing on vocabulary we have been learned.  Handouts will serve as study guides and we will do extensive review in class.

We will be starting a new unit in Science later this week on sources of energy.  Look for updates right here in our online classroom as well as in your child's agenda.


Mrs. Hoge - Language Arts - Week of February 27th

READING
We are continuing our novel, Number the Stars by Lois Lowery.  Students will be reading and discussing chapter 13 this week during class.  We'll be discussing plot, character traits, main ideas and supporting details which are presented in the novel.


WRITING and GRAMMAR
Students will be writing responses to literature in their composition books and writing summaries of different reading selections. In addition we will be identifying the main idea and supporting details in the passages we read. 

SPELLING
Spelling and vocabulary words from chapters 11-12 in Number the Stars:
1. balance
2.  stumble
3.  quiet
4.  movement
5. casket
6.  confusion
7.  horizon
8.  exhausted
9.  imitating
10.  unfamiliar
11. desperately
12.  position
13.  winced
14.  invisible
15.  anxious*
16.  commotion
17.  tense
18.  stricken
19.  gnarled
20.  answer
Bonus:  perilous*
*   some words are repeated from previous lists


Spelling test is Wednesday, February 29th

Corven's Class Language Arts (Week of February 27th)

READING / WRITING
We will finish all of the Tuck Everlasting extension projects this week in class. The students will take a SRC test over Tuck Everlasting on Monday. On Tuesday & Wednesday, the students will read and analyze two different picture books, comparing and contrasting the themes of both books. Our writing focus this week will be on summaries. After reading the picture books, each student will write a summary of his or her favorite book.

SPELLING
The spelling words this week all end in /ar/. The spelling test over the following 20 words will be on Tuesday, March 6th.
liar,  lunar,  calendar,  familiar,  muscular,  polar,  scholar,  regular,  particular,  circular,  molar,  beggar,  popular,  peculiar,  nuclear,  solar,  burglar,  similar,  singular,  rectangular


HOMEWORK
Monday- Tuck Everlasting Bookmark due tomorrow
Tuesday- Spelling worksheet due on Thursday



MATH- Week of February 27th

We continue our study of unit 9 this week. Area and perimeter will be the focus. The students will learn two different strategies they can use to find the area of a rectangle.

HOMEWORK
Monday- Math Journal p. 248
Tuesday- Math Journal p. 306
Wednesday- Area & Perimeter practice worksheet
Thursday- No assignment

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Firchau: Language Arts (Week of February 26)

READING
This week we will finish reading Bridge to Terabithia. We will focus our guided reading on how the setting of the story influences the plot and plot sequence, and how the author's creative use of language can influence our senses and the mood of a story as we read it. We will also discuss how character motivation influences the plot in a story.  Check your student's agenda for daily assignments.

The students will integrate the writing skills into extended response comprehension assessments (watch for details in your student's agenda).

WRITING
The week's writing practice will come from extended response questions in Terabithia comprehension assessments as well as responses to quick-write prompts and will challenge the students to create quickly prepared responses to oral prompts.

We will continue with learning parts of speech, focusing on pronouns.

This week's mini-lessons will focus on analyzing character traits and feelings.

SPELLING
Spelling words from chapters 11, 12, 13 of Bridge to Terabithia. The students will create analogies, associations, or illustrations for their words.

This section's words ...
doused
dredging
relentlessly
objection
retrieved
chaos
assuring
constricting
riot
traitorous

Assignment:  
Assessment: 


The students will continue working on their in-class creation of an imaginary realm.  They are excitedly working on these ... ask your student about them!

HOMEWORK
See your student's agenda for daily assignments.  They will be posted here as they occur.

Don't forget ...
Read 20 minutes (or more!) each day

Firchau: Social Studies (Week of February 27)

This week we will shift our historical focus to the causes of the American Revolution, the colonists' growing desire for independence from Britain, and the tensions that resulted.

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

Interaction
I can ...
... Describe the experiences of African-Americans under the institution of slavery.


VOCABULARY
debts
acts
taxation without representation
protest
metaphor
The Proclamation of 1763
Parliament
The Quartering Act
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act Congress
repeal
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Tea Party
The Intolerable Acts
First Continental Congress
Students should use the vocabulary to guide their understanding of the key concepts of this unit.

MONDAY
• View The Story of Us, "Rebels"
• Discuss motivations and cause and effect relationships of early colonial protests


TUESDAY
• Discuss learning targets; Ask, "Why?"• Nystrom Historical Atlas activity
• Activity sheet 16

WEDNESDAY
• Review Parent/Child analogy as it relates to the tensions between Colonial America and England.
• Read, discuss section 10.2, "The French & Indian War," and 10.3, "The Proclamation of 1763"

• Complete note matrix for 10.3 

THURSDAY
• 
Review section 10.1-10.3, review matrix
• Read, discuss section 10.4-10.5, complete matrix

FRIDAY
• View John Adams, "The Boston Massacre"
• Discuss motivations and cause and effect relationships of early colonial protests


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Science Fair Project Display Boards

Students may begin to take their project boards home.  Check with bus drivers to be sure it's alright to take them on the bus.  If not, please make arrangements to pick the boards up by Friday, March 2.  Thanks!

Mrs. Hoge ~ Language Arts ~ Week of February 20th

READING
We are continuing our novel, Number the Stars by Lois Lowery.  Students will be reading and discussing chapters 11-12 this week during class.  We'll be discussing plot, character traits, and main ideas presented in the novel.


WRITING and GRAMMAR
Students will be writing responses to literature in their composition books and posing questions they have for the main characters.  Our focus this week is on main idea and supporting details. For our grammar focus we will be studying subject and object pronouns and the appropriate usage of each type.

SPELLING

Spelling and vocabulary words from chapters 11-12 in Number the Stars:
1. balance
2.  stumble
3.  quiet
4.  movement
5. casket
6.  confusion
7.  horizon
8.  exhausted
9.  imitating
10.  unfamiliar
11. desperately
12.  position
13.  winced
14.  invisible
15.  anxious*
16.  commotion
17.  tense
18.  stricken
19.  gnarled
20.  answer
Bonus:  perilous*
*   some words are repeated from previous lists

Assignments:  
Wednesday, February 22 ~ Choose 10 words to write in descriptive sentences.  Write the remaining 11 words in alphabetical order.
Thursday:  February 23 ~ Complete word boxes in class to better understand the meaning of each word.
Friday, February 24 ~ Complete word clues to share in class.  Students will write the meaning of each spelling word and then work with a partner to practice for the test next week.
Monday,  February 27 ~ word search puzzles completed in class
Tuesday, February 28 ~ Spelling practice in class
Wednesday, February 29 ~ Spelling test

Please check your child's agenda each night for additional assignments.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Firchau: Social Studies (Week of February 20)

This week we will continue exploring the cultural of early America by looking at Williamsburg, Virginia. Education, government, the roles of women and men, religion, slavery, food, clothing, and shelter will be discussed. 


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

Interaction
I can ...
... Describe the experiences of African-Americans under the institution of slavery.


VOCABULARY
Williamsburg
government
culture
capital
capitol

Key concepts to think about ...
• Differences in the eduction of males and females
• What is the purpose of learning about Williamsburg, Virginia?
• The early government of Williamsburg
• The role of the tavern in colonial culture
• The experience of enslaved Africans in 
• How did colonists worship in Williamsburg?

MONDAY
• Presidents' day - no school

TUESDAY
• Review History Alive! section 9.1, 9.2, 9.3,  review ISN, complete ISN, section 9.2
• Read, discuss section 9.4, 9.5 complete ISN 
questions

 WEDNESDAY

• Review 
section 9.4, 9.5, review ISN
• Read, discuss section 9.6, 9.7, complete ISN
 

THURSDAY
• 
Review section 9.6, 9.7, review ISN
• Read, discuss section 9.8, 9.9, complete ISN
• Review

FRIDAY
• UNIT TEST, Colonial Williamsburg


Firchau: Language Arts (Week of February 20)

READING
This week we will continue reading Bridge to Terabithia. We will focus our guided reading on how the setting of the story influences the plot and plot sequence, and how the author's creative use of language can influence our senses and the mood of a story as we read it. We will also discuss how character motivation influences the plot in a story.  Check your student's agenda for daily assignments.

The students will integrate the writing skills into extended response comprehension assessments (watch for details in your student's agenda).

WRITING
The week's writing practice will come from extended response questions in Terabithia comprehension assessments as well as responses to quick-write prompts and will challenge the students to create quickly prepared responses to oral prompts.

We will continue with learning parts of speech, focusing on pronouns.

This week's mini-lessons will focus on analyzing character traits and feelings.

SPELLING
Spelling words from chapters 11, 12, 13 of Bridge to Terabithia. The students will create analogies, associations, or illustrations for their words.

This section's words ...
doused
dredging
relentlessly
objection
retrieved
chaos
assuring
constricting
riot
traitorous

Assignment:  Write sentences that contain context clues for the meaning of each vocabulary word..  Due 2.24.25
Assessment: Tuesday, 2.24.12

HOMEWORK
See your student's agenda for daily assignments.  They will be posted here as they occur.

Don't forget ...
Read 20 minutes (or more!) each day

Monday, February 20, 2012

MATH- Week of February 20th

The students will spend time reviewing fraction concepts early in the week. We will then begin our study of unit 9, with a focus on identifying and creating coordinate pairs.

HOMEWORK
Monday- No school
Tuesday- Math Journal p.246
Wednesday- Math Journal p.241
Thursday- Math Journal p.247
Friday- No assignment

Monday, February 13, 2012

Mrs. Hoge Language Arts ~ Weeks of February 13th and 20th

READING
We are continuing our novel, Number the Stars by Lois Lowery.   Students will be reading and discussing chapters 8-12 this week and next during class.

Reading counts books should be finished this week and a new book will be selected to meet the requirements of our fifth grade reading challenge.  Books should be selected based on a student's lexile, and once the book has been finished a test will be given.  This is part of their reading grade, so students are encouraged to stay up with their reading!

WRITING and GRAMMAR
Students will be writing responses to literature in their composition books and posing questions they have for the main characters.  Our focus this week is on the character traits and feelings.  We'll be discussing the different character traits of the main characters in our novel. For our grammar focus we will be studying subject and object pronouns and the appropriate usage of each type.

SPELLING

No spelling assignments this week or next.

Please check your child's agenda each night for additional assignments.

Mrs. Hoge ~ Health ~ Weeks of February 13th and 20th

This week and next, we are continuing our study of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.  Our Health book is serving as a resource as is Deputy Mark Kern from the Delaware County Sheriff's Office.  Our focus this week is tobacco and health and the social issues surrounding tobacco use.

SCIENCE ~ students who presented the science fair projects at the big Walnut District Science Fair and earned a superior score are qualified to present their projects at the Central District Science Day at Columbus State, saturday, March 17th.  Registration packets have been sent home with students who quallified.  If your child would like to present their project at this esteemed academic challenge, please fill out the registration materials and return to Mrs. Hoge by February 24th.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Corven's Language Arts Class-Weeks of February 13th and February 20th

READING / WRITING
    As the plot unfolds in Tuck Everlasting, the students will analyze character traits and feelings this week as they write written responses to comprehension questions and journal prompts. Chapters 20 - 22 will be our reading focus this week. Students will finish section 4 of their Tuck Everlasting packet and begin section 5. In addition, students will continue to work on a plot bookmark for Tuck Everlasting. We will finish reading the novel sometime the week of February 20th. After the reading is completed, the students will have the opportunity to view the Disney version of Tuck Everlasting and compare / contrast the DVD version with the novel. The movie is rated PG. A permission slip with more information will go home later this week.

**The first reading counts book is due this week. Students should be prepared to take the reading counts test for their book on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of this week if they haven't already. Please see the Reading Counts post from a few weeks ago for further information.

SPELLING
The following spelling/vocabulary words will be assessed on Wednesday, February 15th. There will not be a spelling/vocabulary test next week (week of February 20th).
     queer  peril  ignorant  exertion  parched  defeated  obliging  accomplice  ebb  pry


GRAMMAR
Students will review subjects/predicates and main idea on Study Island

MATH- Week of February 13th

We complete our study of unit 7 this week in math. The students will review all unit 7 concepts in class as they prepare for the test on Thursday.

HOMEWORK- Review math notes and vocabulary each evening
Monday- Study Link 7-8 and 7-9
Tuesday- No assignment
Wednesday- Unit 7 Review sheet
Thursday- No assignment

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

A BIG Thank You from the Fifth Grade Team!!!

Thank you to all who attended tonight's Science Fair Project Showcase!  It was a pleasure to see so many families enjoy the projects the fifth graders completed.  We appreciate the active interest you show in your child's education!

Projects are being graded and will be available to take home after the weekend.

We hope to see you at the Big Walnut District Science Fair which is held at the high school Thursday evening, February 9th!

Science Fair.

Mark Twain in Nicola Tesla's lab

Please join us for the BWE Fifth Grade Super Spectacular Science Fair Showcase, Wednesday evening, February 8th, (TONIGHT!) in the fifth grade classrooms from 5:00pm ~ 7:00pm. All students, their families, and friends are encouraged to attend this exciting, culminating event in which you may view the projects students have worked so hard to complete. It is not mandatory for students to attend, but it is highly recommended. They may come for 15 minutes or stay for the entire two hours, but all students should be accompanied by a responsible adult. Students attending should plan on spending some time by their project to answer any questions visitors may have about the project they completed. There will be drawings throughout the evening for stupendous science goodies, courtesy of Lakeshore Learning.Hope we see you there!


Our Science Showcase will be followed by the annual Big Walnut District Science Fair at the high school, in which students in grades 5-12 present their projects to a team of judges, on Thursday, February 9th (TOMORROW NIGHT!).  The public is welcome to attend. Students who have returned signed registration cards should plan on being at the high school by 6:00 pm to set up their projects. 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Firchau: Language Arts (Week of February 6)

READING
This week we will continue reading Bridge to Terabithia. We will focus our guided reading on how the setting of the story influences the plot and plot sequence, and how the author's creative use of language can influence our senses and the mood of a story as we read it. We will also discuss how character motivation influences the plot in a story.  Check your student's agenda for daily assignments.

The students will integrate the writing skills into extended response comprehension assessments (watch for details in your student's agenda).

WRITING
The week's writing practice will come from extended response questions in Terabithia comprehension assessments as well as responses to quick-write prompts and will challenge the students to create quickly prepared responses to oral prompts.

We will continue with learning parts of speech, focusing on pronouns.

SPELLING
Spelling words from chapters 8, 9, 10 of Bridge to Terabithia. The students will create analogies, associations, or illustrations for their words.

This section's words ...
clambered
complacent
dread
flounce
garbled
obliged
prissy
raveled
spectacle
canopy
conspiring
discern
earnest
repented
sodden
sporadically
vanquished
flank
intently
suppress
scrawny
anxiety
absorbed
disguised

Assignment:  Create analogies, associations, illustrations, or antonyms for each word.  Due 2/7/12
Assessment: Tuesday, 2/7/12

HOMEWORK
In order to give the students time to prepare for Science Fair, there will be no out-of-class assignments this week.
Ongoing: Read 20 minutes

Monday, February 6, 2012

Firchau: Social Studies (Week of February 6)

This week we will begin examining the experience of slavery from the point of view of the Africans who faced many difficult dilemmas as a result of being taken from their homeland. 

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



Interaction
I can ...
... Describe the experiences of African-Americans under the institution of slavery.



VOCABULARY
enslaved Africans
dilemmas
Middle Passage
plantations
Americas
slave auctions
overseer


Key concepts to think about ...
• Describe West Africa in the 1500s ... what was it like to live there?
• What twas the main reason that Europeans enslaved Africans?
• What did European traders use to buy slaves?
• Describe the experience of being on a slave ship.
• Describe the African's experience when they reached America.
• What consequences did slaves face during the "breaking-in" period?
• What motivate the Europeans involved in the slave trade?

MONDAY
• Introduction to the experience of slavery, discuss.
• Read, discuss section 8.1 and 8.2, complete ISN questions 1 - 4, page 36


TUESDAY

• Review Ch. 8.1, 8.2, review ISN
• Read, discuss section 8.3, 8.4, 8.5 complete ISN 
questions 6 - 8, page 35


WEDNESDAY

• Review Ch. 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, review ISN
• Read, discuss section 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, complete ISN 
questions 9 - 12, page 34


THURSDAY
• Nystrom Atlas activity, Where did slaves work in the thirteen colonies? 
• Chapter 8 review


FRIDAY
• 50 states test (20 minutes)
• View "Up From Slavery"



The trailer from "Up From Slavery" ...





MONDAY
Unit test over Chapter 8