This Week's ELA: 12/1

Name/#: __________________________________________          Date: 12/1-5

Spelling: Transition Words

            One way to improve your writing and to move your audience through your piece is to use transition words.  These words can be classified according to their usage: contrasting, comparing, sequencing, introducing, and concluding/summarizing.  (These categories would make a great spelling choice!)  Your spelling choice activity is due Thursday.

1. although
2. otherwise
3. however
4. likewise
5. similarly
6. generally
7. afterward
8. furthermore
9. meanwhile
10. in the meantime
11. certainly
12. obviously
13. consequently
14. finally
15. in conclusion
16. therefore
17. simultaneously
18. hence
19. currently
20. immediately

Vocabulary: Out of the Dust, Winter 1934

            On your own paper, look up the definition and part of speech for each word (due Tuesday).  Don't panic if you can't immediately find the word.  You may need to drop a suffix, especially the past tense -ed.  Your vocabulary choice activity is due Thursday.

1. crouched
2. fierce
3. fidgety
4. riled
5. bounty
6. whittled
7. spindled
8. achievement
9. locomotive
10. ratcheted

This Week's IRA: Prefix Hunt

            Find at least 10 words with 10 different prefixes.  Explain what the prefix means and what the word means (due Friday).  Include your book title and the page number where you found each word.

This Week's Grammar Focus: Vivacious Verbs and the Past Participle

This Week's Writing Focus: Persuasive Writing and Transition Words

            Which special is the best?  Convince your reader that your favorite special is indeed the best.  Be sure to use transition words to help move your reader through your persuasive piece.

This Month’s Genre & Project: See recent post.

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!