Jan. 25-29

This week was an unusual week, as the grade 6s were at Mono Cliffs for 3 days. We began our week together on Thursday with community circle and discussed our highs and lows of the 3 days apart. While the grade 6s were at Mono Cliffs, the grade 5s had scientists in the school and focused on energy. They also learned to measure time in math. On Thursday we began a new math unit on patterning. We continued with literature circles, using novels that have a common theme of freedom. Students are working on a movie poster that will advertise their book if it were turned into a movie. 

 Homework for this week:

1) Finish your literature circle book and complete your role sheet for Tuesday's final meeting.  

2) Complete the math work on patterning.

3) Complete the spelling work.

4) Complete the cursive practice. 

Important upcoming dates:

Tuesday, Feb. 2: finish literature circle book

Thursday, Feb. 4th: homework due

Friday, Feb. 5th: super swim meet PM 

Friday, Feb. 12th: PA day

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Jan. 17-22

This week in math students continued to calculate the perimeter and area of different shapes. Grade 5s focused on rectangles and irregular shapes, while grade 6s learned how to calculate the area of parallelograms and triangles. The quiz on these concepts went home today to be signed. We corrected it in class. There will be a re-test for anyone who would like to write it next Friday. 

We continued with our inquiry entitled, "What is Freedom?" Students learned how to text code, and we applied those text codes to two poems with the theme of freedom.   We continued with literature circles, using novels that have a common theme of freedom. We  looked at the key features of a movie poster, as students will create a poster for their novel.  Students also handed in a piece of independent writing that has the theme of freedom. 

In science students worked on their project and tested their plane or device. Students then completed a self evaluation and reflection on their project. 

Homework for this week:

1) Read your literature circle book and complete your role sheet for Friday's meeting.   

2) Complete final draft of independent writing with the theme of freedom if it has not been handed in yet. 

Important upcoming dates:

Jan 25-27: Mono Cliffs for grade 6, grade 5s will be combined with rm. 26 grade 5s for those 3 days
Monday, Jan. 25th: extra pool for grade 5s, with room 26

Friday, Jan. 29: pool, literature circle meeting 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Jan. 11-15

This week in math students we continued to work on algebra, practising how to solve for unknown variables. Students also reviewed how to calculate the perimeter and area of different shapes. There will be a quiz on algebra, perimeter and area next Wednesday. 

We continued with our inquiry entitled, "What is Freedom?" We now have many picture books in the class for students to read that will help support their understanding of the concept.  We continued with  literature circles, using novels that have a common theme of freedom. Students are also working on a piece of independent writing that has the theme of freedom. That piece of writing is due next week.

In science students worked on their project and many were able to test their plane or device. After Friday students may take their project home to continue with final revisions and testing. We will test the planes and devices as a class next Thursday. 

Homework for this week:

1) Read your literature circle book and complete your role sheets for each meeting. 

2) Complete math- perimeter and area.  

3) Complete final draft of independent writing with the theme of freedom. 

Important upcoming dates:

Tuesday, Jan. 19: literature circle meeting #4
Wed., Jan. 20: math quiz (algebra, perimeter and area) 

Thursday, Jan 21: literature circle meeting #5, homework due, pool, science project due
Friday, Jan. 22: PA day
Monday, Jan. 25th: extra pool for grade 5s, with room 26

Jan 25-27: Mono Cliffs for grade 6, grade 5s will be combined with rm. 26 grade 5s for those 3 days
Friday, Jan. 29: pool

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Jan. 4-8

Happy New Year to all the room 21 families! I hope that you all had a great holiday. We've been busy this week, starting off the new year with a new inquiry and new concepts. 

This week in math students have been working on algebra and learned how to solve for unknown variables. This will be a short unit that will lead into perimeter and area next week. The next quiz will cover algebra and perimeter and area. 

We started a new inquiry this week, entitled, "What is Freedom?" Students worked in groups to brainstorm subquestions that we will investigate throughout the unit. I was so impressed with the depth and breadth of the questions that the class created! Students have begun their independent writing for the month on the topic of freedom. We also began a second round of literature circles, using novels that have a common theme of freedom. 

In science we have begun to discuss the strands of Forces Acting on Structures, (gr. 5)  and Flight, (gr. 6). We developed success criteria for a design and make project. Grade 5s will create a structure that can protect an egg when dropped 3m. Grade 6s will create a paper airplane that flies as far as possible. Project will be completed at school, but testing can be done at home. Students need to bring in materials for their project by next Thursday. 

Homework for this week:

1) Read your literature circle book and complete your role sheets for each meeting. 

2) Complete math- algebra. 

3) Complete the cursive. The goal is to start writing most work in cursive this month. 

4) Go to the website, "Teaching Kids News". http://teachingkidsnews.com/ Read the four featured articles. Evaluate them and decide which article you enjoyed the most and why. Be prepared to talk about all 4 articles. 

Important upcoming dates:

Tuesday, Jan. 12: literature circle meeting #2
Thursday, Jan 14: homework due, pool, science build

Friday, Jan. 15: literature circle meeting #3

Jan 25-27: Mono Cliffs for grade 6

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson