- We are starting a unit on economics called the Classroom Economy. Through this unit students will be learning valuable life skills in an experiential way. They will take part in a simulation of real-world economic activity; learn the value of earning a paycheck, as they bank salaries from classroom jobs; learn how to budget their spending, balance checking accounts, and make scheduled payments; discover the importance of saving money to obtain what they want; find out that every decision has an opportunity cost. Look for a handout explaining the program to be sent home on Monday.
- We will also begin a unit on geography. Students will be reading maps and answering questions.
Reading
- Unit 2 is entitled Catching the Light. Students will be working to answer the question: What is the power of the sun? This unit will focus on science concepts as well so some of the assignments during this unit will count toward students' science grades.
- Students will be reading the myth, Ten Suns retold by Eric A. Kimmel.
- Comprehension skills for this week are: analyze characters, ask questions, analyze visual elements, describe features of myth. The test over these reading comprehension skills will be on Thursday, September 3.
Writing
- Unit 2 is entitled Catching the Light. Students will be working to answer the question: What is the power of the sun? This unit will focus on science concepts as well so some of the assignments during this unit will count toward students' science grades.
- This week's writing assignment will be to write a story ending. This is the prompt: At the end of "Ten Suns," a messenger snatches Hu Yi's arrow just in time. But what if he hadn't? Using descriptive words and details, write a new ending that shows what else could have happened. You and your classmates will read your stories aloud at a writers' conference.
- We will work on this project during class, however, students may need to work on some of the assignment at home. Students will be graded according to the writing rubric posted on the top right column of this page.
- This assignment is due on Thursday, September 3.
Spelling
- This week we will be working on spelling words with short e and using commonly misspelled word correctly.
- The words are: avenge, ceremony, comet, chemical, constellation, density, excessive, intense, penetrate, prominent, sensory, splendor, temperature, translucent, vessel, desert, dessert, intense, intents.
- The spelling test will be on Thursday, September 3.
Grammar
- Students will be working on using introductory elements and participial phrases.
- Students are encouraged to take good grammar notes and to review their notes before each test.
- The grammar test will be on Thursday, September 3.
Math
- Chapter 2 will cover dividing whole numbers.
- We will complete lesson 2.9-Chapter 2 Test this week.
- The test will be on Wednesday, September 2.
- On Thursday, we will begin Chapter 3, which will be adding and subtracting decimals.
- There will be one page of math homework assigned nightly, except for the test day.
- There are many resources available on ThinkCentral to help students.
- Every Friday, we will be having a multiplication timed test. Students should be practicing their multiplication facts daily.
Small Group Reading
- Students will be placed into leveled small groups based on the results of their Unit 1 scores.
- Students will be reading the following books this week: Thomas Edison and the Lightbulb, Ben Franklin's Fame, Little Blog on the Prairie.
- Students will also be completing learning stations during our small group reading time. All of these activities go along with our Unit 2 theme of catching the light. Students will turn in a packet of their work which will also count toward their science grades.