News 12/9/2014

NEWS FROM FIFTH GRADE

December 8-12

Merry Christmas!  May the advent of the celebration of Christmas be full of hope, joy, peace, and light in our lives!

READING

Students are reading a novel of their own choosing for silent reading.

Homework:  READING 20 minutes per night.  Students should still have a goal of reading 20 minutes or more even if they are tracking books read or pages.

We’re discovering a lot about Benjamin Franklin-- he was a very talented man who overcame a lot, but he also had flaws and made mistakes that changed his life in ways he regretted.  We talked about how choosing to make right the wrongs we do in life is a way of showing honor and virtue.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Spelling: Lesson and test 14 this week.  

Grammar- Students got acquainted with contractions and learned a little about what makes a proper contraction versus slang. (Hint: if the syllable or sound is completely gone, you’ve got a winner.)  In Colonial English, they often used ‘d instead of -ed on an ending of a verb, like endeavor’d.  

SCIENCE

We finished illustrating a side by side comparison and contrast of a plant and animal cell.

US HISTORY and SOCIAL STUDIES

Early colonies

THIS WEEK’S STATES AND CAPITALS TO LEARN: Spell them correctly and locate them on a map.

1. Olympia, Washington
2. Salem, Oregon
3. Sacramento, California
4. Juneau, Alaska
5. Honolulu, Hawaii
6. Boise, Idaho
7. Carson City, Nevada
8. Salt Lake City, Utah
9. Helena, Montana
10. Cheyenne, Wyoming

BIBLE

Mark 1:2-3  It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way- a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ “

GENERAL INFORMATION

MUSIC- Fifth graders have a great part to play in this year’s Christmas program.  Bring scripts to school and work on them at home per Miss Mazzuca’s request.

PE is Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday-- please help your fifth grade student remember athletic shoes and good clothes for running and jumping. Showering nightly is a great idea at this age and deodorant is a critical school supply.  Water bottles are also helpful.

Our next class service project will be a warm sock drive.  Both of my older kids volunteer with homeless ministries in the Olympia area, and clean warm socks are a frequent need that they see going unmet. This is a small gift that will make a big impact.  We have a very good start!  Our cart is half full!

I’d like to take the socks to Union Gospel Mission on December 18 as a class. Please consider donating or driving that morning. We’re going to have treats and a movie that morning!  If you’d like to bring cookies, cocoa in packets, cups, capri suns, fruit, chips, or crackers, let me know.

PIZZA FRIDAYS! $2 per slice. ORDER by Wednesdays.

Christmas Program is December 12, 2014 at 6:30 pm.

Auction is coming! We’ve found a great project and are working on the details.  Cost per kid should be minimum and the project is very fun.

God bless and have a great week!

Mrs. Steele