5 HGC Winter
Newsletter
LANGUAGE ARTS
This quarter has flown by
in Language Arts! Our unit on
survival was a success!
Students read fantastic stories
that challenged them to think
about their own persistence and
determination. Our novel studies
allowed us to examine different
types of survival that
characters experienced;
physical, emotional, and social.
We are just about to start our
theme for Quarter 3: Change.
In writing, all students
are working hard to complete
their Graphic Stories. This was
a new and exciting writing
project which tasked students to
choose a topic learned in Social
Studies and/or Science and
create a graphic story. The
goal was to create a story told
mostly through the graphics and
techniques specific to this
genre.
Lastly, our Cereal Box Book
Reports were awesome! So much
creativity was displayed and
this was a fantastic opportunity
for your children to share their
learning in a new and different
way!
Looking forward to Quarter
3!
Math Info:
Students just finished a fun activity with
our Artist in Residence, Ms. Fierston.
Based on the work of Sol Lewitt,
students created an original piece of art
using mainly geometric shapes. They
then measured the components and
used proportions to calculate scale size.
Students were also required to create a
detailed and precise set of instructions
for replicating their art. With the artist,
students worked collaboratively to
recreate the art on a very large scale.
This proved to be quite challenging and
we learned a lot about precision of
measurement, clarity of directions, and
working as a team.
The focus at the end of the quarter will
be reviewing all four operations with
decimals.
Science & Social Studies
During Social Studies, students learned
about the weaknesses of our new country
under the Articles of Confederation.
Students also participated in a mock
debate portraying the events of the
Constitutional Convention. Each student
was given their own representative to enact
and direct quotes from that person during
the actual convention. Lastly, students
presented their Revolutionary War Battles
Board Builder Projects. They were
awesome, and the students learned a lot
from one another!
In Science, students studied magnetism and
how it is relative to electricity. They
conducted experiments investigating
different types of materials that are
attracted to magnets as well as the strength
of magnets. Students also worked in small
groups to build and test their own
electromagnets. Finally, students
investigated wave movement and explored
ways that forces can have an effect on
objects without making contact.
Some upcoming events:
Jan. 8 & 9 – Artist in Residence
Jan. 13 – Field Trip to the
Newseum
Jan. 16 – End of Second Marking
Period
Jan. 19 – MLK Day – No School
Jan. 20 – Professional Day – No
School for Students
Jan. 21 – Third Marking Period
Begins
Jan. 21-30 – Middle School Visits
Jan. 29 – Report Card Distribution
Jan. 30 – Blue & White Assembly –
Time TBA
Homework Reminder:
Students should be writing all
assignments down in their planner
daily. If your child is absent, please
see Edmodo for homework and/or
missing assignments.
Extended Absence Reminder from
Mrs. Steel:
As you are aware, travel is not considered
an excused absence. According to the MCPS
attendance regulations, students who are
absent more than 15 consecutive days will be
withdrawn from the program and will be
required to re-enroll.
We do not provide homework when students
are out of school. The child was not present
to receive instruction, therefore, the
homework isn't relevant. However, we do
suggest that the child keep a journal of their
trip, read, and practice math facts.
Family Life:
Please be on the lookout for
information regarding Family
Life. There will be a parent
meeting held here at
Clearspring, on an evening to be
announced, for parents to come
and hear what will be taught
during the Family Life Unit.
Contacting the teacher:
If you need to contact the fifth grade
teachers, email is the fastest method.
Emily Bizzell
[email protected]
Robin Weber
[email protected]
Stephanie Wilhelm
[email protected]
(There are underscores between each
part of the name.)
**In order to save paper, our monthly
newsletters will be sent electronically. If you
prefer to receive a hard copy of the newsletter,
please contact your homeroom teacher. Thank
you!!**