Touchstone School
October, 2016
5-6 NEWS
Calendar
Study Hall: Wednesdays 3:15-4:00
Thurs. 10/6- Tech Night, 6:30-7:30
Fri. 10/14- No School: Teacher
Planning
Fri. 10/28- All School Sing
Mon. 10/31- Classroom Halloween
Party & School Parade, 1:30-3:00
Special Events
On October 31st, the fifth and
sixth graders will have their
Halloween Party. We will need
food, supplies, and helpers for this
event. As we get closer, we will
set up a sign-up for party supplies
and volunteers on
www.signupgenius.com. Once the
sign up goes online, you will
receive a notification and link for
signing up if you would like to
provide treats or volunteer for the
Halloween Party.
FYI
- Spelling City is now available as a study tool for weekly
spelling quizzes. This is an online program which has a
variety of engaging, interactive spelling activities.
- Geography Quizzes begin on October 11. Students have study
maps and an app for helping them prepare. Study Maps are
also available on Mrs. Moore's Webpage in the Resources
Section.
- Keep an eye out for our student generated classroom website!
Fifth and sixth graders are currently writing articles which
will provide detailed descriptions of what they are learning
here at Touchstone. We will notify you when our classroom
website is up and running.
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Touchstone School
October, 2016
Math
Math 5:
• Place value from billions to
thousandths
• Comparing and ordering whole
numbers and decimals
• Rounding whole numbers and
decimals
• Estimating sums and differences
• Developing problem solving
strategies to solve multi-step
word problems
• Statistical analysis through math
game "Digit Place"
Math 6:
• Math test for Ch. 1 next week.
• Powers and exponents
• Perfect squares and square
roots
• Order of Operations
• Properties of Addition and
Multiplication: distributive,
associative, commutative, and
Identity Properties of 0 and 1
• Variables and Expressions
• Substitution of a variable for a
given number to simplify and
expression
• Arithmetic sequences
• Function tables and function
rules
Math 7:
• Translating verbal phrases into
math expressions
• Order of Operations review
• Defining a variable to translate a
word problem to an equation
• Substitution Property
• Review of Addition and
Multiplication Properties
• Ordered Pairs/Relations
• Recognizing a Function
• Function Tables
• Graphing a Function on a
coordinate plane
What's Happening in the 5/6 Classroom
Language Arts:
• Weekly vocabulary lessons, assignments, and quizzes which focus on
Greek and Latin roots and their derivatives
• Written profiles and development of "Social Justice Superheroes" whose
powers are connected to actual character traits of 5/6 students
• Development of note-taking skills and analysis of short non-fiction
passages through guided practice
• Grammar: Reviewing basic parts of speech, identifying subjects and
predicates (verbs), introduction to Stylistic Techniques (strong verbs,
quality adjectives, "ly" adverbs)
• Practicing "Active Listening" by listening to and discussing various NPR
Story Corps segments
Reading:
• Reading Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo, for our current novel
study
• Tracking main events, as well as questions, predictions, and responses
through Double-Column Notes
• Sharing questions and responses through online discussion forum,
edmodo
• Expanding vocabulary by identifying unfamiliar words, using contextual
clues, and looking up definitions in dictionary
Integrated Studies:
• Worked in teams and used the Design process to try to make a helium
balloon "blimp". Lots of iterations!
• Working on a Maker Space Halloween project to design a Halloween
prop which will have LED pulsing lights - Arduinos will be used for the
pulsing lights.
• Studying the geography of Europe over the course of the next six weeks
using tools such as Google Earth, Tap Quiz Countries app and Keynote
Presentations. We'll by tying this to our study of the World's Biomes.
• Started our biology study with a look at our own region. Students are
learning to use a Dichotomous Key to identify local plants and trees.
Poetry:
• Exploration of the Japanese form of poetry, Haiku, through crafting "Fall
Haikus" in the garden
Drama:
• Weekly drama class focuses on building creativity, oral speaking and
projection, and basic theater skills is a workshop environment. Lots of fun!
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