A special thanks to Mrs. Nardulli for the Fine Arts Lesson on Wednesday! We enjoyed viewing and discussing the artworks of Romare Bearden and making our own collages in his style. We look forward to learning more about Andrew Wyeth later this month!
Math
We have studied algebra with variables, and all compacting classes are now working on multiplication and graphing. Several methods of solving double digit problems will be presented, including the area model, partial product, and the traditional way. Don't forget to visit the math book website for extra practice. A weekly review of multiplication facts is also necessary for students to stay sharp. Check out multiplication.com for some fun games.
Spelling
We are now studying words from the Sitton Spelling Units 5-6. Tic-Tac-Toe activities are due on Thursday, October 9th, and our cloze and skill tests will be given that day after the field trip. Make sure to study words before that, however, since the sentence dictation test will be given on Wednesday. Don't forget to visit the link on the right to extra Sitton Spelling activities!
Social Studies/Science
This week we began a unit on the First Americans, and began to study the different regions of natives, and how they used the land to survive. The students studied the Northwest Indians with Mrs. Waddell - LOVED THE TOTEM POLES!- then travelled to Mrs. Fillingham's room to learn about the Hopi Indians of the Southwest Region. They will visit 4 more regions over the next 2 weeks. In our homeroom, we will begin learning about the parts of the Water Cycle, and are looking forward to our Earth Lesson this week.
English/Grammar
We continue to study the 4 main parts of speech in a sentence, the subject/predicate relationship, and are now studying proper use of quotation marks. Proofreading is a great skill that can be practiced at home too on eduplace.com/powerproofreading. We will be doing some MadLibs this week to practice parts of speech, but there are also online versions for fun at home practice. (check the links to the right)
Reading/Writing
We are continuing to work on strategies of good readers (connectiona, visualizing, summarizing) and the elements of good story. This week we practiced our engaging beginnings, and establishing a setting. Next week we will incorporate complex characters, and adding suspense/conflict to the plot. Students are rewriting a Haunted House story that will be graded for these narrative elements when they are finished.
Curriculum Review
