10/30

We've had a fun day today!  Scroll down for photos of our book character friends and to the post below if you'd like a fun fall snack mix recipe.  Thanks to everyone who participated in book character day and who sent in parts of our snack mix!

Our Rascal friends, from left to right, standing: "Poe-the-Crow," "Rascal," and "Sterling"
Crouching: "Wowser" and one of the pet cats

A football player, a ninja, "George Washington," the haunted scarecrow from Goosebumps, a pirate, and a Georgia bulldog football player

Have a safe and happy Halloween weekend!  Don't forget to "fall back" and set your clocks back an hour Saturday night.

Mixtures Science Investigation

First, thank you to everyone who generously supplied materials for today's science investigation.  It was yummy!   We talked about how some of the individual items in our snack mix were made from chemical changes, like the cereal, but the mixture itself is a physical change.

Here is the recipe for the yummy mixture.
Mix one box or bag of each of the following:
Cocoa Puffs
Frosted Cheerios
M&Ms
Cheeze-Its
white cheddar popcorn
candy corn
small pretzels
peanuts [which we did not use of course]

Enjoy!

History of Halloween

Click HERE to watch a short video from PBS about the history of Halloween.

10/29

Today we participated in a snake presentation from Ms. Sheila from Smithgall Woods.  We learned a lot about the food chain in addition to snakes.  The most important lesson Ms. Sheila and I want everyone to remember is to leave snakes alone!

 We have our "sun" (the ultimate energy producer), our "corn plant" (a producer), a "rat" (a primary consumer), and a "snake" (secondary consumer), and below, a "hawk" (plus Ms. Sheila).

Another fun thing today was a "trick or treat" activity.  It was all about following directions, and most of the kids got tricked!!!  The students who followed directions also got a little treat.  Hopefully this little trick will help them remember to read and follow directions.  (I know that will benefit ALL of us!)

*Chaperone trip deposits are due tomorrow!

Tonight's homework:
Get ready for Book Character Day if you're participating.
Study spelling and vocabulary!
Get caught up in AM (45 objective goal).

We will have our mixtures edible lab tomorrow.  Bring $1+ if you'd like to help the Purple Pinkies for Polio fundraiser.

10/28

Please work on AM tonight, especially if you didn't scan today and/or have not yet this week's goal.  (Math Masters with 45+ objectives are exempt from AM homework.)

Finish spelling and/or vocabulary choices if you made less than 90% on last week's test(s).

Scroll down for CPA news! :)

CPA Congratulations!

Our students did an excellent job on their CPA presentations!  Some were thrilled just to get through the competition, and others gave speeches like professionals.  I am very proud of all of them!

Congratulations to our class winners...

*3rd place Mattie and Lexi (tie) and Brady and Devin (tie)

*2nd place Jaylen and Sydney (tie) and Trent and Kyle (tie)

*1st place Avary and Bailey (tie) and Isaiah and Eli (tie)

WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10/26

We had a great first day back from break!  It sounds like you all had fun breaks.

Please study math unit 2 (modules 4 & 5) for tomorrow's unit 2 test.

Write spelling in ABC order in your agenda.  (Scroll down for spelling & vocabulary: Rascal, week 2)

Practice your CPA for the judges Wednesday!

Finish your science WB (Ch. 2, L. 1: Matter) if you didn't finish in class.  Page 35 is an at-home bonus page!

Friday is Book Character Day!  Feel free to dress up as a character from Rascal or a book of your choosing.  Bring $1 Friday for Purple Pinkies for Polio if you can!

*Chaperone field trip deposit due by Fri. for our Big Trip to Atlanta on 5/17/16.

This Week's ELA: Rascal, Wk 2

*Due to our copy paper shortage, students will no longer be receiving a weekly spelling and vocabulary sheet.  We will take a pretest on Mondays and check our work to ensure that students have the correct spelling list.  (Words will also be posted on the blog for your reference.)  They will have time in class to copy the vocabulary words and definitions (which will of course also be posted here on the blog).  I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause, especially if students are absent the day the lists are assigned.

You can also find spelling and vocabulary choice activities on the right sidebar of the blog.

 

Spelling:

*ABC order due Tuesday.

*Spelling choice due Thursday if you made less than 90% on last week's test.

1.        advantage

2.        despite

3.        additional

4.        theological

5.        crescent

6.        bargain

7.        scramble

8.        enthusiasm

9.        unimportant

10.     representing

11.     geometric

12.     unpredictable

13.     devouring

14.     inadequate

15.     encountered

16.     pampering

17.     inhabitants

18.     impossible

19.     enlisted

20.     detective

*precipitously

*perfection

Vocabulary:

*Vocabulary choice due Thursday if you made less than 90% on last week's test.

1.        reminiscences: (n. pl.) an account of a memorable experience

2.        ravine: (n.) a small narrow valley with steep sides that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon

3.        cleft: (n.) a space or opening made by splitting : crevice

4.        precipice: (n.) a very steep and high face of a rock or mountain

5.        tranquil: (adj.) free from disturbance or turmoil : quiet : peaceful

6.        rivulet: (n.) a small stream

7.        complacency: (n.) a calm or satisfied feeling about one's self; smug

8.        surmise: (v.) to form an idea of based on very little evidence : guess

9.        divert: (v.) to turn aside : turn from one course or use to another; to turn the attention away

10.     replenish: (v.) to make full or complete once more

Purple Pinkies for Polio (Friday)

“PURPLE PINKIES for POLIO”: THIS FRIDAY, 10/30!

Our Interact Club is excited about helping raise funds for Rotary’s PolioPlus program.

Since 1985, Rotary has achieved a 99 percent reduction of polio worldwide. Polio victims in other countries are called “crawlers,” and socially are considered lower than animals in their society.

The Purple Pinkie Project helps raise funds to protect children from polio.  Millions of children and their parents in countries where polio still exists know that a freshly painted purple pinkie means the child is protected from polio.  Throughout the world, each time a Rotary International volunteer gives the polio vaccine to a child in the village, the child’s pinkie is colored purple with GENTIAN VIOLET INK. Their purple pinkie indicates they have been immunized against polio, and prevents another volunteer from giving a double dose of the precious vaccine. 

Building upon this symbolism, when our local school children make a $1.00 contribution during Purple Pinkie Project day, our Interactors will paint their pinkies with the same Gentian Violet Ink used around the world on a National Immunization Day.  Gentian Violet is used in the mouths of babies to treat “thrush,” so it is safe.  It stains the pinkie for one day, and the purple stays on the cuticle for around 5 days.  During the elections in Iraq, it was used to stain the index finger when they cast their ballot.

Since $1.00 is the approximate cost to immunize two children against polio, the students are encouraged to bring $1.00 or more to help with this cause.  Some students even bring $5 for 5 fingers, or $10 for both hands. 

On Purple Pinkie Project Day, the students bring $1, and we give them a purple pinkie using the same Gentian Violet Ink used by PolioPlus volunteers around the world.  If students prefer not to use the ink, purple nail polish on the pinkie finger can be done.   Whichever method is used, it will be that child’s personal symbol that his or her contribution has helped free another child from polio forever.  Their purple pinkie or fingernail is their “Polio Hero” badge.

100% of the funds raised go to Rotary International’s PolioPlus Program.

With everyone’s help, we can make polio only the 2nd disease to be wiped off the face of the earth (What was the 1st?  Small Pox)

BOOK CHARACTER DAY 10/30

On Friday, 10/30, UCES will be hosting Book Character Day!  Our class came up with the idea of using a class book, Rascal!  Feel free to dress up as any of the characters from Rascal.  Of course, students are free to dress up as a different book character or not dress up at all.

Have a safe and happy Fall Break!  See you Monday!

10/20

Work on AM if you have less than 43 objectives.

Next Tuesday students will take the Unit 2 math test.  CPA for the judges will be Wednesday.

Tomorrow is a half day of school with students dismissing at 11:30.  Breakfast and lunch will be served at school.  Thursday and Friday are Fall Break!

Go Noodle

As parents or students, you might like to have your own free Go Noodle account.  There are lots of fun activities to get kids moving there.  Click HERE to check it out.

10/16

*If you have not returned the field trip information, please do so by tomorrow!  I need to know if you will be paying the $35 at once, sending in monthly $10 payments, or wanting to participate in the bed sheet fundraiser.  A note in the agenda is fine.  Thank you!

Please work on AM if you have less than 40 objectives.
Study for the Mod 5 math quiz.

4-H CPA presentations will be in class tomorrow.  Please bring your poster(s) and speech for this in-class practice!  The actual judging will occur on 10/28.

Wednesday is a half day of school with students dismissing at 11:30.  Breakfast and lunch will be served at school.  Thursday and Friday are Fall Break!

Big Trip Info Letter

About half of the class has not yet returned their field trip info letter slip.  Here is another copy of the letter:

October 13, 2015

Dear 5^th Grade Families:

Fifth grade is excited to announce that we are planning a big field trip to Atlanta this spring!  Students will ride on a charter bus to the Center for Puppetry Arts to see a performance, eat lunch at the Hard Rock Café, and visit Zoo Atlanta.  The cost of the trip is $70 per student.  We are especially excited to announce that the Union County Board of Education is paying for half of each student’s trip, so your cost will be only $35.  (If you have an opportunity, please thank the BOE for their generous contribution!)  Full payment for the trip is due no later than February 17, 2016.  (We welcome your full or partial payment immediately, as outlined below.)  Please indicate your intentions for funding your portion of this field trip, below, and return the bottom portion only.

On Tuesday, May 17, 2016, the classes of Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Dyer, Dr. Martin, and Mr. Rheault will be going to Atlanta.  On Wednesday, May 18, 2016, the classes of Mrs. Cook, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Hood, Mrs. Hughes, and Mrs. Lee will go.  On both days, students must arrive at school by 7:00 AM and be picked up at school promptly at 6 PM.  (Please note that regular school bus transportation is NOT available these days for students going on the field trip; students must make alternate arrangements for this day only to get to and from school.  If they ride the regular bus to school that day, they will miss the trip.)  Also, please note that this letter is not a permission slip but rather a planning tool.  Permission slips will be sent home in May.  Only students who pay or fundraise for their portion will be able to attend.

Finally, due to bus and venue seating limitations, each class is allotted a set number of chaperones.  Being a chaperone is a great responsibility.  You will be in charge of several students at all times on the trip.  Other siblings are not allowed to attend.  Chaperones must pay the full price of $70 per person to attend the trip.  If you are interested in chaperoning your child’s trip, please send in your refundable deposit of $35 or payment in full of $70 no later than 10/30/15 (checks payable to UCES or cash in a labeled envelope).  If a classroom has more interested chaperones than spots available, a lottery-type drawing will be held to determine which chaperones may attend.  Parents will be notified after November 1 of their chaperone status, with full payment due no later than 2/17/16.  (Parents who were not drawn will be put on a waiting list in case a spot opens up, but deposits will be returned.)

If you have any questions about the trip, paying for the trip, or chaperoning, please contact your child’s teacher.  We look forward to a great day on May 17 and 18!

                                                                                                            Thank you!

                                                                                                            The 5^th Grade Teachers

Please cut and return the bottom portion by Friday, 10/16/15.

"--------------------------"--------------------------------"--------------------------------"------------------------

The family of ______________________________________________________________ will (please check one):

______    pay the $35 in full no later than 2/17/16.

______    pay $10 per month (November, December, January) and $5 in February to fund our trip.

______    participate in the bed sheet fundraiser through November 6 (and sell a minimum of two

            sets of sheets) to cover our portion of the trip cost.

End-of-Grade Resource Guides

The Georgia Department of Education has added end-of-grade resource guides to their website.  "The Study/Resource Guides are intended to serve as a resource for parents and students. They contain practice questions and learning activities for each content area. The standards identified in the Study/Resource Guides address a sampling of the state-mandated content standards. "

You can access the guides HERE and on the "Test Prep" tab above.

10/15

Finish IRA & study for your ELA tests.

Wear your sneakers tomorrow for the Rotary Walk and the picnic.

This Saturday: Pirates and Princesses Character Breakfast

The UCHS FCCLA and TSA will be hosting a character breakfast fundraiser this Saturday at the UCHS cafeteria.

"Please join our Pirate and Princess friends for a fun-filled character breakfast.  Each ticket holder is entitled to pancakes with all the trimmings and the opportunity to meet and take photos with their favorite princesses, pirates, and super heroes.  Children may wear their Halloween costumes or come as themselves."

Saturday, Oct. 17 at the UCHS Cafeteria
8:30-10:00 AM
Tickets are $8 per person

At least one adult should be present to assist their child during the character breakfast.

10/14

Thanks to everyone who was able to go to Zaxby's last night! 

*Tomorrow is picture retake.  Please return your pictures and/or money if you haven't already.  You won't be able to get a retake if you haven't returned the first package.  Thanks for understanding.

Work on CPA for in-class presentations on Tuesday.

A handful of students have spelling and/or vocabulary homework to finish tonight.

Please work on AM!

10/13

Tonight is our Zaxby's fundraiser night from 5:00-8:00!  Picture retakes are Thursday.  The Rotary Walk is Friday.

CPA will NOT be in class this week but rather on Tues. 10/20.

Students need to work on CPA posters, catching up in AM, spelling/vocab choices if required, etc.
 

10/12

Fortunately I received a good note from the sub for my absences Thursday & Friday!  I am very proud of our boys and girls.  I learned a few interesting things at the conference that I attended and look forward to implementing them in class.

Tomorrow night is our Zaxby's fundraiser night from 5:00-8:00!  Picture retakes are Thursday.  The Rotary Walk is Friday.

CPA will NOT be in class this week but rather on Tues. 10/20.

HW:
Please work on AM if you do not have at least 35 objectives mastered.  (This Friday's goal is 40.)
Write your spelling words in your agenda in ABC order.
Match the vocabulary words to their corresponding definition.

This Week's ELA: Rascal Week 1

Spelling and Vocabulary Lists from the story Rascal (Week 1)

Spelling: Words with the VCCV pattern

Monday – Write spelling words CORRECTLY in your agenda in ABC order.

Wednesday – Complete a spelling choice (due Thurs.) IF you made below 90% on last week’s test.

Study your spelling words Monday – Thursday for your test on Friday!

1. dentist                                     11. culture
2. jogger                                       12. goggles
3. fifteen                                      13. summon
4. flatter                                      14. champion
5. mutter                                     15. kennel
6. mustang                                   16. valley
7. absent                                      17. fragment
8. hollow                                     18. gallop
9. empire                                     19. vulture
10. blizzard                                   20. pigment

Vocabulary

Match vocabulary words to definitions (due Tues.).

Complete a vocabulary activity of your choosing (due Thursday) IF you made below 90% on last week’s test.

Study vocabulary words and definitions each night Monday through Thursday for your test on Friday. 

1.  exceptional  _____             A.  having or showing pleasant, good-natured personal qualities; affable;

                                                            friendly; sociable

2.  laborious    _____             B.  to harass or urge persistently; pester; nag

3.  badgered     _____             C.  having or showing good manners; polite

4.  ecstasy       _____             D.  something delightful or pleasing, especially a choice food considered

                                                            with regard to its rarity, costliness, or the like

5.  luminescent _____             E.  rapturous delight

6.  courteous   _____             F.  forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary; unusually

                                                            excellent; superior

7.  amiable       _____             G.  feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something

                                                            considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base (low, low class)

8.  indignant    _____             H.  requiring much work, exertion, or perseverance

9.  maneuvered _____             I.  the emission of light

10.  delicacies  _____             J.  to change the position of (troops, ships, etc.) by a maneuver; to steer in

                                                            various directions as required

IRA: Problem/Solution

     Describe at least one problem the character in your book faces.  How does the character solve the problem OR what steps does the character take to solve the problem (if it hasn’t been solved yet)?

Poetry Practice:

“In Flanders Fields”

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

by John McCrae, May 1915

10/7

Finish math WB p. 47 (even) & p. 48.

Study science ch. 2 (test Friday).

Finish vocabulary choice (and spelling choice if you had to complete one).

TOMORROW IS  So cool! (hat & sunglasses)
Friday: PANTHER SPIRIT DAY!

10/6

Make math Unit 1 corrections.

Finish CPA report.

TOMORROW IS  Dress Like a Hero DAY!
Thursday: So cool! (hat & sunglasses)
Friday: PANTHER SPIRIT DAY!

10/5

CPA report is due Wednesday.

Finish science workbook Ch. 2, Lesson 3.

Write spelling in agenda in ABC order.

Finish vocabulary definitions.

*Tomorrow is WaCkY tAcKy DaY!

This Week's ELA: 10/5-9

Week 9            Story: Maya Lin Architect of Memory

Spelling: Inflected Endings

*Copy words in agenda in ABC order (due Tuesday).

*IF YOU MADE BELOW 90% on last week’s test, complete a spelling choice activity (due Thursday): 3x each, spelling triangles, XYZ order, backwards spelling, or spelling code

*Study nightly (M-Th) for the sp. test on Friday.

1. jogging                                             11. deserved

2. dripping                                          12. applied

3. skimmed                                          13. relied

4. raking                                              14. renewing

5. amusing                                           15. complicated

6. easing                                              16. qualified

7. regretted                                          17. threatening

8. forbidding                                        18. gnarled

9. referred                                            19. envied

10. injured                                           20. fascinated

Vocabulary:

Write the part of speech and definition from the glossary for each vocabulary word ON YOUR OWN PAPER.  Finish for HW if you didn’t finish in class (due Tuesday).

Complete a vocabulary choice activity (due Thursday).

Study each night, Monday – Thursday, for your test on Friday.

1.     dedicated (        ) –

2.     equality (         ) –

3.     artifacts (      ) –

4.     exhibits (       ) –

5.     site (       ) –

We will read the story Maya Lin Architect of Memory in class together on Tuesday. All students should re-read the story at home Tuesday night to prepare for comprehension work (on Wed.) and the story test on Friday.

IRA: Main Idea and Supporting Details

            Read an article of your choice (from the newspaper, a magazine, a reliable online source, etc.).  Create a main idea web with at least four supporting details.

TESTED SKILL: Main Idea and Supporting Details

Poetry Practice

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Fros

10/2

Please continue to work on CPA.  Have a great weekend! 

This coming week's ELA will post a little later today if you'd like to get a jump start on next week.

Remember that next week is SPIRIT WEEK!
Monday: Favorite sports team
Tuesday: WaCkY tAcKy
Wednesday: Dress Like a Hero
Thursday: So cool! (hat & sunglasses)
Friday: PANTHER SPIRIT DAY!

10/1

Congratulations!  Our class has earned 50 stars!  (Be sure to ask your child what that means.)  In honor of this accomplishment, students may wear their PJs to school and bring a special snack and/or drink.

Also, school pictures were given out today.  The safety card is yours to keep.  Please either return the pictures or picture payment as soon as possible.  Thank you!

Study for social studies ch. 3-4 test and spelling and vocabulary tests!

Next Week Is SPIRIT WEEK!

Monday: Favorite sports team
Tuesday: WaCkY tAcKy
Wednesday: Dress Like a Hero
Thursday: So cool! (hat & sunglasses)
Friday: PANTHER SPIRIT DAY!