Happy Thanksgiving!

First, thank you to our helpers today!  Craft day was a huge success thanks to Lawson, James, and Joseph sharing their moms with us and for snacks from Emma P., Emily F., & James!

I wish each of you a blessed Thanksgiving.  I am very grateful for my students and their families.  Enjoy your time off and stay safe!

Computer Group Today

Brainpop.com- Social Studies- U.S. History- Harlem Renaissance and Jazz

     Science- Energy- Electric Circuits

11/18

Please study times tables because everyone will be taking the multiplication benchmark speed test tomorrow.

Read/reread the story The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring.
 
Historical fiction genre project time travel brochures are due NO LATER THAN next Tuesday, 11/25.  A few students have told me that they will be out next week, so plan to turn them in early.  Thank you!

Please sign & return signed papers and progress reports.

Work on spelling & vocabulary choices.

Science Lab: Circuits & Electricity

You may enjoy "playing" with these labs.  We will be using some of them in class.

Intro to electricity: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/physics/electricity.html

Build a virtual circuit: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/electricitycircuits.html

Circuits & conductors: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/circuitsconductors.html

Virtual circuit lab: http://gtm-media.discoveryeducation.com/videos/dsc/externalApplications/virtual_labs/GettingConnected/index.html

This Week's ELA

Spelling/Vocabulary 6.1: The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring

Greek Roots: Based on your spelling list and prior knowledge, what do you think each root means?  Fill in the blanks in pencil!  We will check your predictions Tuesday.

astr/aster = ________________________ photo = ________________________

tele = ________________________  phon =________________________

mech = ________________________ myth = ________________________

Spelling choice is due Thursday.  (Categories would be a great choice.)

1.     myth

2.     telescope

3.     astronomer

4.     homophone

5.     automatic

6.     telegraph

7.     disaster

8.     autograph

9.     mechanic

10.  telephoto

11.  astronaut

12.  telephone

13.  mythical

14.  phonics

15.  television

16.  photograph

17.  automobile

18.  photography

19.  telegram

20.  mechanical

*photogenic

Vocabulary choice is due Thursday.  (One of the best ways to study for your test on Friday is to be able to use these words in sentences!  That would make a great choice this week.)

1.     dismiss: to take away the job of, fire

2.     intentions: plans to act in a certain way; purposes

3.     despair: complete loss of hope

4.     bridle: the part of a horse’s or donkey’s harness that fits over the head and is used to guide or control the animal

5.     descended: moved from a higher place to a lower one

6.     accompany: to go together with

7.     delicacies: rare or excellent food

8.     consented: gave permission or agreed to

IRA: Author's Craft

            Look for at minimum a sentence and better yet a passage that really impresses you with how the author writes.  Was it their word choice?  How they slowed down a moment?  Their “show don't tell” technique?  On Friday, be prepared to share your author's cool craft with the class.  You need to turn in a copy of this author's craft with the passage highlighted (or feel free to hand copy the passage and include the page number).  Write down what struck you about this particular part.

Grammar Focus: Adverbs

*Genre projects (historical fiction brochures) are due NO LATER THAN 11/25!

Story Jumper

Here is a cool new site, Story Jumper, that I found where kids can create books online!  I believe that it is free to use and then you have the option of purchasing a book.  I would love for some of you to check it out, create a book, and review this site.  Happy writing!

Veterans Day Assembly

Today we honored our country's veterans with a special ceremony in the stadium.  Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country!

We were also privileged to have a visit from our very own veteran, Hunter's Dad.  He shared how he joined the military, his branches of service, and some of his experiences.

Author Lois Ruby Visits!

Today we were blessed with a visit by author Lois Ruby and her husband.  She was very informative and entertaining.  She talked about how she became a writer and her writing process, she shared some "teasers" (but not spoilers) of a few of her books, and she answered many students' questions.  (Our own Hunter and Emily F. were able to get their questions answered!)  She concluded with a tale about Myrtle Plantation, the setting of her book, The Secret of Laurel Oaks.

I think she has definitely inspired our children to read and even a few of them to write!  We were amazed to learn that she rewrote Steal Away Home twelve times before it was published!  We had hoped to finish the novel before her visit, but we ran out of time.  We will enjoy figuring out her original ending to the story.

Vocab Quizlet

Thank you, Emma R., for making a Quizlet for this week's vocabulary words, Steal Away Home part 3.  Click HERE to access them.

Free Reading App Today Only

A teacher friend passed along today's Free App of the Day: Scholastic Reading Timer which helps kids track reading and offers parental tools.  I am not familiar with this app myself, but you might like to check it out.

11/3

Work on AM if your work is "old" or if you have less than 55 objectives.

Write spelling in ABC order in your agenda.

Study for your Ch. 5 & 6 social studies test (westward expansion, cowboys & cattle trails, inventions, and immigrants)!  The test is Tuesday!

Click HERE for Ch. 5 & 6 Quizlet to review for your test.

You will have a science ch. 3 test Thursday over states of matter and physical/chemical changes.

This Month's Genre: Historical Fiction

*Genre and project assigned 11/3/14.  The brochure is due NO LATER THAN 11/25.

As you read your historical fiction novel, design a tri-fold travel brochure to entice people to read your book and “travel” back in time!  Use your novel’s setting during the historical time period.  You are basing this project on the book that you read.  (It is not a social studies research project.)  Be creative, be neat, and have fun!

1.             Fold a sheet of paper into thirds to create the brochure.  (Please do not use notebook paper.)

2.             On the front flap of the brochure, write the title and author of the historical fiction novel you read.  Also include the setting of the novel (the name of the place featured in your book and the time period).  Illustrate the front flap with one or two of the main attractions of this place mentioned in your book during this time period.  You might add a sentence or two to entice time travelers to read this brochure.

3.             On the other flap, include as many attractions (or reasons to visit) as you can.  Write reasons that travelers would want to visit each attraction.  If there is not a lot to see or do in your book’s setting, be creative and think about how you could make this place and time period appealing to tourists.  If you use illustrations to showcase these attractions, be sure to include a brief caption for each one.

4.             On the inside (three panels), create a timeline of events from the story.  Include at least 5 different important events to help retell the story.  If your book uses dates, please include them.  Sequence the events in order from the beginning to the end.  Be sure to include the main characters since these events were happening to them.  Label any illustrations you use.   (Plan out this section before you begin your final brochure.)

5.             On the back, rate this book from 1-10 (1 is the worst ever; 10 is the absolute best ever) and give reasons for your rating.  Please include the book’s Lexile level and/or AR level & points.  (Bring the book to your teacher if these aren’t available.)  Include any additional information that might persuade travelers to visit or readers to read your book.  Be sure to write your first and last name and number back here too!

This Week's ELA: Steal Away Home 3

We hope to finish Steal Away Home before Lois Ruby's visit Thursday.

Spelling: Suffixes –tion, -sion, -ture, -tive

Monday: Write your spelling words correctly in your agenda in alphabetical order.

Tuesday-Wednesday: Complete a spelling choice activity to turn in Thursday.

Thursday: Study! 

1.     function

2.     tension

3.     vulture

4.     protective

5.     infection

6.     dimension

7.     posture

8.     primitive

9.     competitive

10. fracture

11. expansion

12. tradition

13. compression

14. mission

15. expectation

16. miniature

17. alternative

18. constitution

19. collaborative

20. legislature

Vocabulary: Steal Away Home, part 3

Monday-Wednesday: Complete a vocabulary choice activity.

Thursday: Study!  These are challenging words!

1.     covetously (adv.): wrongfully desiring; greedily

2.     discreet (adj.): modestly unobtrusive; careful

3.     flagrant (adj.): shockingly noticeable; obvious; scandalous

4.     indignation (n.): strong displeasure at something unjust; righteous anger

5.     lament (v): to feel, show, or express sorrow, grief, or regret

6.     putrefaction (n.): the act or process of decay

7.     resolute (adj.): firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion

8.     sear (v.): to burn or char the surface of; to make callous or unfeeling, harden

9.     unscrupulous (adj.): without scruples; conscienceless; unprincipled

10. veritable (adj.): being truly or very much so

Grammar: conjunctions, interjections, and prepositions

IRA: Wonderful Words

            As you read this week, find five “wonderful” words: words that are new to you, words that are fun to say, or words that are interesting to you in some way.  Write down the word, the page number you found it on, and what it means.  Then, either draw a picture to go along with your wonderful word or use it in a fabulous fifth grade sentence.