5th Grade
Newsletter
Social Studies
The curriculum is packed with social studies content this quarter. The students learned about
the American Revolution and the steps taken to build a new nation. We studied the Articles of
Confederation and students experienced how difficult it is to pass a law when 75% of the class
must come to an agreement! Next we learned about the Constitutional Convention and how
compromises were made when drafting the final document. The students are diligently
preparing for a test on American government. It is impressive to see how many kids are
reviewing the content each night with parents. Your hard work really shows in the classroom
when I quiz them and hands are raised all around the room.
Our inquiry project is based on the American Labor Movement. We started learning this week
about life in England and America prior to the Industrial Revolution. Then we looked at what
events occurred during the Revolution. Students are constructing timelines, reviewing videos,
and reading about this period in history. Next week we will learn about labor unions, strikes,
picketing, and collective bargaining. Then students will write a cause and effect essay. They will
also create a multimedia poster illustrating a major event from the movement.
Language Arts
We will read texts related to the labor movement and identify relationships between main
ideas. Students will explain how ideas are supported by key details. They will continue to
research information from multiple sources and locate answers efficiently. We will practice
note-taking and learn how to consolidate information into an organized essay that is supported
with a bibliography.
Math
In 5th grade math we have just finished up dividing a 4-digit number by a 2-digit number
using the standard algorithm, area models, and shading area models. If you came to the
math night on November 18th you had the wonderful opportunity to view what those pesky
area models are and how they are being used to teach your student to solve a division
problem. We are now getting into adding and subtracting fractions with unlike
denominators. We have learned to solve them using pattern blocks, number lines, and by
drawing shapes. Knowing your multiplication facts is key here, so ensure your student
keeps working on those!
Science
Students have been building working circuits in small collaborative groups and
have learned to identify conductors and insulators. In recent weeks we have begun
our study on Magnets, observing their characteristics and testing various
hypotheses. The last investigation we did was observing the amounts of paperclips
1, 2, 3 and 4 magnets would attract and plotted that data on a graph. As we
continue our scientific investigations, the students will be expected to more often
plot their findings. Please review with your students the components that a graph
must have, as without all the components, they will not earn full credit on their
investigations. All graphs must have: a title, a labeled x-axis, a labeled y-axis, a
scale (based off of data 0-?), an interval (by how many are they skip counting to get
to the top of the scale?) We also discussed how line graphs must have their plots
on the lines; whereas, bar graphs are plotted up to the number on the y-axis
horizontally. Next, students will build an electromagnet with a large nail and a
coiled wire.
Dec. 14th- Baker Field Trip
Dec. 16th- Band Concert @ 2:15pm (CES)
Dec. 16th- McTeacher’s Nite at McDonalds
Dec. 22nd- Deck The Doors, Comfy & Cozy Spirit Day
Dec. 23rd- Ugly sweater day, Damascus HS Visit (Winter Concert)
Dec. 23rd- Last day of school before Winter Break
Dec. 24th- Jan. 3rd Winter Break
Jan. 4th- 1st day back to school
Teachers’ Contact Information:
Daniella Hoffman
[email protected]
Kathleen Cumberland
[email protected]
Amanda Kessler
[email protected]
*Continue to check Classroom daily for any ongoing assignments*