Yeah! It looks as if Spring has finally decided to arrive. I know the class and I have been sharing our wishes of sunny days and warmer weather and it looks as if our wishes have been granted- for this week at least. I hope you and your family had a chance to get outside and enjoy the warmer days. I will try to do the same with the class- it is not often we can just get out and run through the grass or read a book under a tree. That is my plan for one of our days together.
This week is busy, but manageable. We have an all day field trip, a math olympiad test (our final) and many projects in action. Here is a quick outline of this week:
Monday- students will work in their colonial groups to continue their research board. The class was divided into 3 groups- the New England, the Middle and the Southern Colonies. These groups will read, watch a series of information films, take notes and then present information on colonial region to the rest of the class. Finally, each group will create a mural of a typical town in their particular region including people and daily dialogue. The date for this project is tentative. If enough work time is given this week in the afternoon, I think the following week is a reasonable time. I know that all the students are eager to wrap this up because once we have finished and presented the boards, they will begin the next simulation game called, “Discovery: Early American Colonization.”
The final Math Olympiads Quiz will be given on Tuesday. After I enter the scores, the program will calculate the average for the school, class and students and will then send out prizes. I must say that regardless of our scores, the students did a tremendous job and I am so proud of everyones efforts. I know that we all walked away with more strategies and stronger confidence in the area of math problem solving due to our experience.
The new literature book groups will begin at the end of this week. Our next historical fiction centers on the Colonial period right before the Revolutionary War. I have given the students two book choices, “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” and ” A Break with Charity.” Both novels are challenging and intriguing. Please look for these books to begin to come home and future weblog information.
FIELD TRIP THURSDAY- March 18th from 8:00-2:00 (ish) We will be back before dismissal.
Bring- bag lunch, comfortable shoes (no money- no gift shop visit- no time!)
Dear parents, we have more than enough drivers, so I am going to list the drivers from first to reply to the earlier emails as well as yellow form returns. If you would rather not drive and you signed up as a volunteer, email me right away and I will take your name off of the list. I am going to take too many drivers because Mrs. Rumwell does not have enough, so we might be transporting some of her class as well.
Drivers:
Nitay G- 5 students
Anya- 3 students
Liz- 3 students
Patricia- 5 students
Gioia- 5 students
Rhesa- 5 students
Suzie- 6 students
Annie- 3 students- total 35 people
***If I do not have your name down and you returned your form, please email me. So far, all are needed to help cover the other 5th grade class. We can mix it up.
Have a great week!
