Unit 7 Math Test

The Unit 7 math test will be this Friday. The following skills will be assessed:

• Multiplying mixed numbers by fractions, whole numbers, and mixed numbers
• Finding the areas of rectangles with fractional side lengths
• Using common denominators to divide fractions
• Using categories and subcategories to think about properties of shapes
• Classifying figures in a hierarchy
• Using rules to continue patterns and write rules for relationships in in/out tables
• Writing ordered pairs from a table and graphing the points

Ecosystems!

Our ecocolumns are thriving! Well, some of them are....  We have live organisms such as mosquito fish, snails, duckweed, and elodea in our aquariums, and crickets, isopods, rye grass, alfalfa, and mustard seed in our terrariums. We have now connected the two in order to simulate a natural pond ecosystem similar to one we might find here in Vermont. We are learning about how a healthy ecosystem is self-sustaining with no human interference. Therefore, we don't take the dead or decaying matter out of our ecocolumn. In nature we don't remove these things. We are learning about how nature handle such things. For example, there are scavengers (the clean up crew) such as snails in the aquarium. We are also learning all about producers, consumers, and decomposers, and watching them at work in our ecocolumns. 

We are currently learning about the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, and all the problems it is facing. The students in the class have been divided up into five different groups that live or work in the Chesapeake Bay area. These groups include dairy farmers, fishermen (watermen), recreational boaters, land developers, and ordinary citizens. The students are learning about how their group is contributing to the problems in the Chesapeake Bay, and they are coming up with solutions to the problems. They are learning that there are quite a few trade offs though. What might be good for the health of the bay's ecosystem, may not at all be good for their group's livelihood. Each group will present their findings to the 'Chesapeake Bay Environmental Board'. Stay tuned....

Ask your child about their group and how they plan to help the bay!

Theater in the Classroom

The Flynn Center for Performing Arts has brought the performing arts into our classroom through Flynn Companion Workshops. Here is how the Flynn describes companion workshops:

"Highly interactive matinee companion workshops turn student matinees into more meaningful learning experiences for your students. Before or after the show, professional teaching artists visit your class and lead activities designed to give your students insight into the artists’ creative choices, arouse curiosity about the performance’s themes, and help students reflect upon and understand the show’s content."

For the past few weeks, The American Revolution has come alive in our classroom. During four sessions, both before and after attending The American Revolution performance by Theater UnSpeakable, our class has worked with Joan, a wonderful teaching artist from the Flynn. She has guided the class through performances of The Boston Tea Party, The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga, and the Battle at Valcour Island. We have had so much fun discovering our inner actors and actresses!

Unit 6 Math Test

The Unit 6 math test will be given on Friday. The following skills will be assessed:

• Multiply and divide decimals by powers of 10
• Convert between measurement units in the metric system
• Represent fractional data on line plots
• Answer questions about data on line plots
• Estimate answers to decimal multiplication and division problems
• Multiply dicimals
• Divide decimals.

Clear Plastic Two-Liter Bottles Needed

We are beginning our Ecosystem unit in science next week. We are in need of many plastic two liter bottles for this unit. They must be clear (as opposed to green), and the straight sided ones are preferred over the style that curve in the middle. Please send in as many as you can as soon as you can. Thanks so much!!

Also, with all the colds that have been going around, we have gone through all our boxes of tissues. Please consider donating some more boxes to the classroom! Thank you!

New Format for Reading Log

We are changing the format for how we do our weekly reading log. The students will now complete their weekly entries digitally, on their blog, instead of in their blue composition reading log books. The requirements are much the same as before.

• Read for a minimum of half an hour each evening.
• Complete two reading log entries each week.
• Your entry should include the title and author of the book.
• Write a paragraph including a brief summary, and some of your thoughts about what you have read.

Thoughts may include:

• Why you like or dislike this book.
• Text to self, text to text, or text to world connections.
• Questions you may have, or anything that confuses you.
• Predictions
• What kinds of feelings does this book bring out in you?
• What you wold do if you were one of the characters...why?
• Any advice you would give to one of the characters.
• What you would change if you were the author.
• Something you learned.
• Your favorite or least favorite part of the book...why?
• What is the theme of the book?
• Why or why wouldn't you recommend this book to a friend.

Here is an example of Aiden's reading log from today:

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid - The Long Haul

The Heffley Family is going on a road trip. None of the family was expecting it when there mom said “we're going on a road trip”. None of them want to go except there mom. I think that its unfair because shes the only one who wants to go. And she only lets them go were she wants to go. AND she doesn’t let anyone bring anything to entertain themselves on the multiple hour car ride. It feels like she doesn’t let anyone do anything. its like she has control over everyone.

Hero Project Open House