April, 2015Dear Parents,

Happy Spring!! We have a very busy quarter ahead of us. Please remember to mark your calendar, our performance of “Shh… We’re Writing the Constitution,” is on Wednesday, April 22 at 7 pm.

With the warmer weather approaching, I realize that students are involved in several other activities and schedules can be very hectic. With that said, remember homework should be completed on time and students should be well prepared for tests.

Writing

• As part of the third quarter Performance Task, we are completing an interview piece and a newscast.

• Narrative and informational writing

• Finding and citing resources

• Incorporating the use figurative language into our writing pieces.

• Grammar skills will include conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections.

Spelling

• Unit 17 Vowel teams (ou, ow, oo, ea)

• Unit 18 Silent Letters

• Unit 19 Advanced spelling with ch and que

• Unit 20 Advanced spelling with ti, tu, ture, ci

Math

Unit 8 Multiplying and Dividing with Fractions (Common Core Standards: 5.NF.4a, 5.NF.4b, 5.NF.6, 5.NF.7a, 5.NF.7b 5.NF.7c)

Reading

We will start the Unit 4 reading theme: “Moving Forward, Now What?” In Cycle 1, we will reflect back on the characters from previous novels. Our reflections will include: How did the characters show courage? What decisions did they make? How are their lives moving forward? In Cycle 2, we will look at the significance of our actions across history and individually. What accomplishments have paved the paths that have allowed us to move forward?

Novel: Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

Short Texts: “We are America” by Walter Dean & Christopher Meyers

Lewis and Clark (Harcourt Anthology)

Black Elk’s Vision by S.D. Nelson

Social Studies

Unit 5, Chapter 11 “The Young United States”

• George Washington- our 1st president, organizing a new government, Thomas Jefferson, The Louisiana Purchase, War of 1812.

Science

• Complete Nutrition/Digestion unit

• “Small Life”

Parts and functions of a microscope

Compare and contrast plant and animal cells

Functions and characteristics of single-celled organisms

RemindersApril 10 3rd Quarter Report Cards can be viewedApril 22 “Shh…We’re Writing the Constitution”April 27-May 8 PARCC Testing