Waters Landing Elementary School
Fifth Grade Newsletter
December 2013
Important Dates
December 2nd
Reflections Reception
6:30-8:00 APR
December 3rd
PTA Meeting
7:00-8:30
December 6th
Interims Go Home
3-5 Town Hall Meeting
2:00-2:30
December 11th
Individual Picture Make-Up
day or Picture Re-take
December 12th
Winter Concert
7:00-9:00
Dec 23rd-Dec 31sr
WINTER BREAK
Reading
We begin this month by wrapping up our study of myth and mystery. While
doing this students will be comparing two or more characters, settings, or
events from the same or two different texts from within the same genre. Students will also be comparing text structure, point of view, and tone. We then
move into the study if informational texts. With many of the informational
texts we will be looking at individuals that had an impact on the formation of
the US Government and/or those who helped to change the US Government.
Students will be asked to identify main idea, key details, relationships amongst
people, comparison of movements and people and the impact they had on the
US Government. This includes, but is not limit to comparison of structure in
texts, information location in multiple resources, integration of information
from texts on same topic.
Writing
During the month of December students will
continue their research on a movement of history that had an impact on the formation or reorganization of the US Government. This writing piece includes research on the topic from multiple sources, defining/explaining the
movement, explaining how the movement had an impact on our government, and then an opinion piece about the movement. The opinion
piece should state if the movement did enough for the advancement
of the target group, and whether or not the way the government was
altered is still valid today. Students will need support for their opinion.
Contact your child’s teacher for due dates. We will also write a mystery
this month as a second narrative.
Social Studies
Instruction focuses on The Bill of Rights in its original form, The Bill
of Rights today., and the Amendments to The US Constitution. The above instruction will assist in the research needed for the inquiry project. A great deal
of time will be identifying and discussing the conflicts and compromises that
were needed in order to have a functioning government.
Science
We will complete our study of electricity at the beginning of December, we will then begin our study of magnetism. We will be conducting investigations with a focus on magnetism, magnetic forces, electromagnetism, and wave energy.
5th
Grade
Math
In math we continue with the addition and subtraction of fractions.
We move from fractions with like denominators to fractions with unlike denominators where students must find the denominator in order to complete
the operation. Students will work with equivalent fractions as a strategy to
solve word problems, and estimation & reasonableness of answers of responses to discuss their work.. We will then move onto the multiplication
of a whole number and a fraction (partitive, whole number products) and
problem solving, using length models,, number line models,, and set models.
Multiplication of a fraction by a fraction (where the numerator of one factor
is a multiple of the denominator of the other). factor): problem solving .
6th Grade Math/Math A
After completing the assessment for the first half on Unit 2, Students in Math 6
will develop the understanding that fractions, decimals and percent's are three ways to
represent the same quantity. Also, students will extend their knowledge of computation
by applying strategies to solve problems involving fractions, decimals, and percent's.
Students will be expected to multiply and divide fractions, using estimating to determine if an answer is reasonable.
Birthday Celebrations
REPLENISH
If you wish to send in celebratory treats for your
child’s
birthday please send in cookies or doughnuts, both must be purchased from
a store. Larger treats students do not have enough time to eat and are creating
a serving nightmare. Thank you for your support in this matter.
Please check with your child. Many of them need to replenish supplies needed for school: erasers, pencils, spiral
notebooks, etc.
Also if possible most of us are in need of tissues with the cold and
flu season upon us.
Thanks,
Ms. Cook, Mr. Evans, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Chechik