UPDATE
March 2011
Highland 5th Grade Newsletter
Literacy
The fifth graders are practicing various strategies to help them retain and
comprehend information that is read. One way the readers are interacting
with the text is to ask questions before, during and after reading. These
questions do not have to be written down, but they should be consciously on
the readers’ mind while reading fiction or non-fiction. Another strategy
includes making predictions and changing those predictions based on new
information read. In fifth grade, we ask the students to cite evidence from
the reading to support the specific predictions.
This month students are working on creating a realistic fiction story. The
students have been working hard to create a primary character, realistic
events and problems their character will encounter in their story. We have
been focusing on a character’s internal and external traits, story elements,
climax and a solution. The students have been working hard on their stories
and will soon begin revising, editing and publishing their stories. It is
exciting to see the creative story your child has come up with during this
writing project. We are excited for your child to share their finished story
with you!
Science
In science, we have just completed our unit of study on landforms. Through
investigations with stream tables borrowed from the Science Museum of
Minnesota, fifth graders continued to learn how to conduct controlled
experiments to discover how the surface of the Earth changes when a dam
is removed. The stream tables emulated a real-life situation in Washington
State as it represented the future destruction of a dam in the Elwha River
(which will happen this summer). Students put a lot of effort into learning
Highland Elementary 5th Grade Newsletter
March 2011
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about the many landforms on our earth and how to identify each one,
including the use of topographic maps.
Social Studies
We continue our journey through ancient civilizations by traveling to a land
with the tallest mountains, the largest desert, and some of the longest rivers
in the world…China! The children will learn about political developments in
China under the Zhou dynasty, and the three philosophies that attempted to
bring order to the chaos at the end of the Zhou rule. Our lessons will then
focus on the reign of Qin Shihuangdi, the first emperor of China. Students
will then learn about achievements during the Han dynasty that improved
life for the Chinese. As always, we invite you to our classrooms at any time
to share your personal experiences and artifacts that relate to the culture
we are studying.
Technology
Don’t forget to have your child work on completing multiple lessons in
Study Island! http://www.studyisland.com/ This website will help students
prepare for mastery of state standards on our upcoming MAP and MCA
tests. The goal is for students to achieve as many blue ribbons as possible.
Stress the importance of quality learning while your child is working in
“test mode”, not quick completion. The fifth grade teachers are able to see
how often students are working on this, and what scores they are getting.
Your child should know their password, but if they don’t, please let us know.
Thanks for all of your help in ensuring your child’s success.
Math
Please read the “Grade 5, Unit Six: Fractions, Decimals & Percents”
newsletter (attached) for information regarding our math focus.
Also, visit the following website for additional information, and games.
http://www.mathlearningcenter.org/resources/materials/parents/parents5
Important Dates
March 10- Music Concert 7:45p.m.
March 11- End of 2nd Trimester
March 18- Report Cards Go Home
March 21-25- Spring Break
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