Blog Archives

Monday, May 2, 2022

4/30/2022

Happy May! (That seems so crazy to me!) We're as busy as ever in fifth grade, but it feels amazing to be planning, preparing, and participating in all of our usual activities! Please see the pics below of our surprise Campfire Day & Flashlight Friday reading with our buddies!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK💡
MATH:
Last week in math we began Chapter 13, Properties of Triangles and Four Sided Figures. Students learned how to classify triangles based on their side lengths as Scalene, Equilateral, or Isosceles. Next, we learned how to classify triangles based on their angle measures as Right, Acute, or Obtuse. Finally, students used the properties of Right and Isosceles triangles to determine missing angle measures.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our Poetry unit came to an end last week as we completed the last of our mini-lessons. Students practiced determining themes with supporting evidence, and examined similar themes across poems.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
We continued moving through our Expository Nonfiction unit last week. Students finished up their topic research, organized their information into subtopics, and began drafting their work.

SCIENCE:
Our Ecosystems unit continued last week in science! Students explored the idea that matter in nature's waste is broken down by scavengers and decomposers.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will finish up Chapter 13. As of now, we're planning for a final assessment on Friday.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our Poetry unit will culminate with an in-depth look at Kwame Alexander's award winning poem, The Undefeated. From there, we will move into a quick, nonfiction text study focusing on the pioneers heading west.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week our writers will put the finishing touches on their expository fiction work. We will focus on creating exciting introductions, adding appropriate text features, and designing an About the Author page!

SICENCE:
We're getting close to wrapping up our Ecosystems unit. This week we will continue to examine decomposition, with a special exploration of our own worms! We will also explore changes to an ecosystem.

UPCOMING EVENTS📆
Monday, 5/2: Rocket Build
Tuesday, 5/3: TMS Summer Read Visit with Mrs. Fahnoe & the AHML
Thursday, 5/4: Rocket Launch
Friday, 5/5: Chapter 13 Math Assessment (Anderle)

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Monday, April 25, 2022

4/22/2022

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Happy Last Week of April!! It's hard to believe that our final weeks of fifth grade are here. We're all looking forward to the extra special activities that will fill our final weeks together! 💗

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK 💡
MATH:
Last week in math we finished up Chapter 12. Students examined vertical angles and practiced solving missing angle problems. We reviewed the major concepts from the unit on Wednesday and took our final assessment on Thursday.

READING WORKSHOP:
Poetry continued last week during reading workshop. Students learned that readers of poetry understand how the stanzas of a poem fit together to build the overall structure and meaning. We examined poetic structural elements and determined how these elements help build meaning. Students also learned that readers of poetry build their understanding of a poem by inferring meaning line by line. We conducted close readings of poems to determine what the poets are really saying.

WRTIERS' WORKSHOP:
Last week our writers selected a research topic for their expository nonfiction essays. Students completed a pre-researching exercise to determine their prior knowledge of their topic, and to develop questions to drive their research process. We also learned how to organize our research findings, take notes on the information presented, and cite sources for our bibliographies.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Ecosystems continued last week. Students examined the roles of producers and consumers in a food chain and food web., and created models to illustrate how energy and matter flow through a food chain. Next, students explored plants as producers. While focusing on the idea that In addition to sunlight, plants get what they need for growth mostly from air and water, students analyzed several infographics to support this claim.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS 📌
Math:
This week in math we will begin Chapter 13, Properties of Triangles and Four Sided Figures. Students will classify triangles and examine the measures of angles in triangles.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our Poetry unit will continue this week!

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Students will continue moving through the research process for their expository nonfiction essays.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Ecosystems will continue this week!

UPCOMING EVENTS 📆
Tuesday, 4/26: Author Visit (Lowey Sichol Bundy) 2:30pm
Friday, 4/29: SURPRISE Reward Day!
Monday, 5/2: Rocket Club Build Day (3:45-4:45pm)

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Monday, April 18. 2022

4/15/2022

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The weeks are flying by in fifth grade...trying to soak in every moment our class has together! We had a wonderful field trip to TMS last week, and enjoyed learning a little about what middle school life will be like!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK 💡
MATH:
Last week in math we began Chapter 12: Angles. Students examined angles on a line and angles on a point. We practiced using a protractor to measure angles, and learned how to use math reasoning to solve unknown angle measurement problems.

READING WORKSHOP:
Poetry continued last week in fifth grade! We learned that readers ask questions about poems to make connections, make discoveries, and deepen their understanding. Students also learned that readers use background knowledge and content to figure out words and phrases. We unlocked unknown words to gain a sense of the overall meaning of a variety of poems.

WRTIERS' WORKSHOP:
Last week our writers continued to examine nonfiction topics of interest. We focused on the environment and nature, and explored the format of various nonfiction texts. Students continued to have the freedom to explore topics that peeked their curiosity, and spent time recording facts and findings from their readings.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Ecosystems continued last week. Our scientists discussed the survival needs of animals, examined the link between energy and matter, and explored the survival needs of living things. Students also examined the roles of producers and consumers in a food chain and food web.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS 📌
MATH:
We will wrap up Chapter 12 this week and examine vertical angles.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our study of poetry will continue this week!

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Expository Nonfiction will continue this week. Students will select their research topic and begin note taking.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Ecosystems will continue this week!

UPCOMING EVENTS 📆
Monday, 4/18: B & B Ticket Orders Due
Visit from Representative Jan Schakowsky (pm)
Thursday, 4/21: Chapter 12 Math Quiz (Anderle)
Friday, 4/22: Candor Health Presentation Reproduction

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Monday, April 11, 2022

4/9/2022

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Thankful for another great week in 5th grade...and especially thankful for our first field trip since 2020!!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK 💡
MATH:
Last week in math we finished up Chapter 11. Students practiced comparing data using line graphs and reviewed the major concepts form the unit. We took our final assessment on Wednesday (which was also our final math day of the week due to MAP Testing and Friday's field trip).

READING WORKSHOP:
Poetry continued last week in fifth grade! We learned that readers ask questions about poems to make connections, make discoveries, and deepen their understanding. Students also learned that readers use background knowledge and content to figure out words and phrases. We unlocked unknown words to gain a sense of the overall meaning of a variety of poems, and considered similarities between poems to build bridges across our learning.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Last week our writers continued to examine nonfiction topics of interest. We focused on the environment and nature, and explored the format of various nonfiction texts.

SCIENCE:
Worms! 🐛 We officially kicked off our final science unit of the year, Ecosystems! Students began thinking about the key components of an ecosystem. We observed the living and non-living components of sample ecosystems and identified interactions between them. Students also discussed the definition of an ecosystem, and explored the grounds of Patton School to search for different interactions within this ecosystem.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will begin Chapter 12, Angles, this week. Students will examine angles on a line and angles on a point.

READING WORKSHOP:
Poetry will continue this week in fifth grade!

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Expository Nonfiction writing unit will continue this week.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Ecosystems will continue this week as students examine matter and energy in ecosystems.

UPCOMING EVENTS 📆
Tuesday, 4/12: TMS Field Trip (am)
Wednesday, 4/13: Spring Class Pics & Club Photos Day
*Students should wear 5th Grade Shirts (if possible).*
Friday, 4/15: No School
Monday, 4/18: Beauty & the Beast Ticket Orders Due
Friday, 4/22: Candor Health Presentation Reproduction

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Monday, April 4, 2022

4/2/2022

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What a great week back after spring break! 💗 It's hard to believe that there are only two months left of the school year! Time is flying by in fifth grade!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK 💡
MATH:
Last week in math we began Chapter 11: Graphing and Probability. Students practiced making and interpreting line plots and used data tables to graph equations. We also compared data using line graphs.

READING WORKSHOP:
Poetry began last week in fifth grade! Our opening interactive read aloud lessons focused on what we notice about poetry. We learned that readers pay attention to the look of poetry. Students noticed the variety of ways that poems are structured and how they affect the meaning of a poem. Next, we payed attention to the techniques writers use to create sound in poetry. Students examined the roles of rhythm, repetition, alliteration, and onomatopoeia in poetry. We also learned that readers use the words on a page to create images in our minds. Finally, we practiced visualizing as we listened to "Imagine a Place" by Sarah L. Thomas, and students determined author's purpose, inspiration, and big ideas from two poems in "Locomotion: by Jacqueline Woodson!

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Expository Nonfiction writing unit began last week! Students explored nonfiction texts and topics, and generated ideas for question/answer books.

SOCIAL STUDIES:
Last week during social studies we examined the Bill of Rights. Students explored the purpose in creating the Bill of Rights and learned about the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th Amendments.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will finish up Chapter 11 this week with a final assessment on Wednesday.

READING WORKSHOP:
Poetry will continue this week in fifth grade!

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Expository Nonfiction writing unit will continue this week.

SCIENCE:
We will shift from social studies to science this week as we begin our final unit of the year, Ecosystems!

UPCOMING EVENTS 📆
Tuesday, 4/5: Reading MAP Test (pm)
Wednesday, 4/6: Chapter 11 Math Test (Anderle)
Individual Math Contest #3 (Lunch)
Thursday, 4/7: Math MAP Test (am)
Team Math Contest #3 (Lunch)
Friday, 4/8: Rolling Meadows Courthouse Field Trip (am)
Tuesday, 4/12: TMS Field Trip (am)

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