Week of 1/5 - 1/9

Important Reminder:

• We will send home graded/completed work on Wednesdays. There will be a sheet for you to sign weekly showing that you have seen (and removed) all of their work. Forms from the office will also be included. Students have labeled the front pocket in their binder "Take Home".

Language Arts- Mrs. Phelps

This week we are beginning a new unit the examines the fiction genre through the classic novel, Don Quixote. Students will focus on character and plot, as well as on literary elements such as characterization, while reading a full-length adapted version of Don Quixote. Our extended writing project includes a 4 paragraph persuasive essay arguing whether they think Don Quixote’s good intentions justify his often calamitous actions. Students will support their claims with reasons and evidence from the text.

Skills we are developing this week include:

Reading:

• identify the beginning stages of the story’s plot structure (e.g., setting, main character) in the story and make inferences regarding a character’s personality.

• compare and contrast Don Quixote’s process for becoming a knight with the process described in “Gloomy Castles and Jousting Knights” 

•  identify and explain how the author’s word choice and use of figurative language affect the text of The Adventures of Don Quixote

Writing:

• distinguish fact from opinion

• identify the structure and parts of a persuasive essay

Grammar:

• identify and form sentences in the present tense that contain noun subjects and action verbs.

Morphology:

• suffix -ness meaning "the state or condition of being" ex: happiness, sadness, 

Homework: Vocab quiz Friday, Jan 9th 

• honorable (adj.)

• idealistic (adj.)

• meddle (v)

• homage (n)

• eccentric (adj.)

• blow (n)

Math: Mrs. Bennett

In math this week, we will spend time transitioning back into routine after break! As part of our transition back into learning, students will also participate in a “Would You Rather?” math activity. In this game, students are presented with two choices and must decide which option they prefer—but the key is that they must justify their choice using math. Students will solve problems, compare quantities, estimate, and explain using reasoning. There is no single “right” answer; instead, the focus is on how students think and communicate their mathematical reasoning. For example, "Would you rather play outside for 1/4 of an hour or 20 minutes?" 

Students will then use Pic Collage to create math posters that showcases how they used math over the break! These posters will have visuals and captions that helps students recognize, even though school stopped, math didn’t. We’re going to look at how math showed up in their life—without worksheets or tests, for example when we travel, play games, build with Lego, cook, play sports, use time, and technology.

Homework: 1/5 - 1/9

We are easing back into things, and will have a light homework load this week! We will have a Simple Solutions Quiz next Friday 1/16.

• SS 47

• SS 48

Social Studies: Mrs. Crush

This week, students will begin studying Ancient India, focusing on the Indus Valley Civilization, which developed around 2500 BCE along the Indus River in present-day Pakistan. Students learned that much of what we know about this civilization comes from archaeology, since its written language has not yet been translated.

Students will also explore how the Indus Valley people met their needs through farming, raising animals, and using river resources. A major learning goal was understanding why the Indus Valley is known for its advanced city planning, including grid-like streets, strong flood protection, uniform bricks, running water, and some of the world’s earliest flush toilets.

Science: Mrs. Jackel

5th Grade Google Site Link