Homework
Homework
10/29/2025
Students have a grammar quiz tomorrow on Thursday. It will be an activity
Here is a sample quiz to help you with the concepts.
Write whether each pronoun is a singular (S) or Plural (P)
Me ___S_
Us__P___
She _S____
You __S or P____
They ___P___
It _____S__
Underline the prounoun in each sentence
Do you know much about Mount Olympus?
It is the highest mountain.
I have read my book.
They are playing.
Write a sentence using these pronouns P
I,we,us,them,her
Identify the subject pronoun
He wrote the book.
She ran to the field.
We are going to do that.
I read about volcanoes.
Usually, he encourages me to write a story.
Subject complement SC is when the subject is renamed as something else after the linking verb such as: is, was, were.
The spectators in the first row were (linking verb) they (subject complement)
The photographer at the scene was he. (SC)
The most firghtened witness was she.(SC)
Object pronouns OP is the object of preposition - verb. names the receiver of the action.
These facinating stories interest me. (OP)
This story interests me. OP
Her howling and whistling voice flows over me.OP
10/9/2025
Landforms and Water Forms to know for the test tomorrow. We have reviewed these extensively in class so they just need to study the few they do not remember.
Part 1: Landforms (Shapes of the Land)
Landforms are natural features of the solid Earth. They come in many sizes and are shaped by forces of nature.
Elevated and Rugged Land
Landform
Definition (5th Grade)
Mountain
A very large landform that rises high above the surrounding land, usually with steep sides and a pointed or rounded top called a peak.
Highland
An area of land that is generally higher or more rugged than the surrounding land, often consisting of hills and mountains grouped together.
Volcano
A mountain with a vent (opening) in the Earth's crust through which ash, gases, and melted rock (lava) can escape.
Glacier
A large, slow-moving mass of compressed ice that flows down mountains or spreads across polar regions, carving the land beneath it.
Flat and Raised Land
Landform
Definition (5th Grade)
Plain
A large, wide area of flat or gently rolling land with few trees, such as the Great Plains in the United States.
Plateau
A large area of flat land that is raised high above the land around it, like a giant table with steep sides (cliffs).
Mesa
A flat-topped hill or mountain with very steep sides, which is smaller than a plateau. The word "mesa" means "table" in Spanish.
Carved and Eroded Land
Landform
Definition (5th Grade)
Canyon
A deep, narrow valley with very steep sides (like cliffs), usually carved out by a river flowing through it over millions of years (e.g., the Grand Canyon).
Butte
A narrow hill with steep sides and a flat top, similar to a mesa but even smaller and often standing alone.
Cliff
A steep face of rock or soil, often found along coasts, rivers, or mountains.
Desert
A very dry area of land that receives very little rain and has sparse vegetation. Deserts can be hot or cold.
Part 2: Focus on Plateaus and Mesas
Plateaus and Mesas are sometimes called "tablelands."
Plateau
Definition: A large, high, flat area of land.
Where Found: Plateaus are found on every continent. Famous examples include the Tibetan Plateau in Asia and the Colorado Plateau in the western United States.
Mesa
Definition: A smaller, isolated, flat-topped hill with steep sides.
Where Found: Mesas are very common in dry regions (like the Southwestern United States in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico), where a hard layer of rock on top (caprock) protects the softer layers beneath from erosion.
Part 3: Land and Water Interactions
These features combine land and water in unique ways.
Feature
Definition (5th Grade)
Island
A piece of land that is completely surrounded by water.
Archipelago
A group or chain of many islands clustered together (e.g., Hawaii).
Peninsula
A piece of land surrounded by water on three sides, but still connected to the main landmass (e.g., Florida).
Isthmus
A narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and has water on both sides (e.g., the Isthmus of Panama).
Delta
A triangle-shaped piece of land formed at the mouth of a river, made from dirt and sand dropped by the river.
Atoll
A ring-shaped coral reef or chain of islands surrounding a central pool of water (lagoon).
Part 4: Water Forms
These are major features made of water.
Water Form
Definition (5th Grade)
Ocean
The largest body of salt water on Earth, covering most of the planet.
River
A large natural stream of water that flows across the land, usually into a lake or ocean.
Lake
A large body of water that is completely surrounded by land.
Gulf
A very large inlet of the sea that cuts deep into the land (e.g., Gulf of Mexico).
Bay
A broad area of water that is partly enclosed by land, usually smaller than a gulf.
Strait
A narrow strip of water that connects two larger bodies of water.
Bayou
A slow-moving stream or a swampy area common in flat, low-lying regions, such as Louisiana.
Fjord (Fiord)
A long, narrow inlet of the sea with steep cliffs on both sides, created by a glacier.
Social Studies Lessons 1 - 5 Test Friday
Where in the world is the Western Hemisphere
Bew able to identify continents, oceans, Prime Meridian and Equator on a map and the compass rose. Be able to locate hemispheres, a place using latitude and longitude, cardinal directions.
Know the regions of the Western Hemisphere
and then know in detail the landforms and water forms which I have listed above.
It is not a hard test but a bit long so know each area in detail.
10/2/2025
Test tomorrow rescheduled from Thursday on Chapter One Grammar
common nouns such as car and park and boy
Proper nouns such as Phillies and Eagles and White House and Pennsylvania and Kobe Bryant
Singular, Plural and collective nouns such as child (singular), children (Plural) and class and committee (both of the last two are collective nouns)
Nouns as subjects - A noun can be the the subject of a verb.
Example: Andy Davis is my brother. The subject is Andy Davis.
Nouns as objects - a noun can be a direct object of a verb. The direct object answers the question whom or what after the action verb.
Carlos plays guitar. What does Carlos play? guitar is the direct object.
A noun can also be the object of the preposition. See a song about prepositions on Youtube. A flute is played with the lips.
Nouns as indirect objects
Methods for Finding the indirect object
Mrs. DiIorio baked Matt and Chase cookies.
Verb: baked Subject: Mrs. DiIorio Direct Object: cookies
Indirect objects: Matt Chase
Order to determine the indirect object:
Verb: -
What happened
Subject:
what did the action
Direct Object:
Who or what received the action
Indirect Object:
To whom, to what or for whom was the action done.
Another example:
Mrs. Diorio baked Ms. O'Hara cookies.
The indirect object is Ms. OHara. The direct object is cookies because thats what the verb refers to first.
Vocabulary Test Unit 2
abandon
assault
convert
dispute
impressive
justify
misleading
numerous
productive
shrewd
strategy
villain
The writer's goal is to share an experience they have had with the reader.
includes a clear beginning, middle, and ending.
it is a true story about something that happened to the writer.
The author's thoughts and feelings about the event are a major part of the story.
It has a sequence of events (order). The author uses transition words as the story unfolds.
Has dialogue (conversation), descriptions, and sensory details.
Has a clear setting described in detail.
(courtesy of Simplify Writing, 2019)
Prepositional phrases: begin with a preposition and end with the object of the preposition (noun or a pronoun that comes AFTER the preposition). They include all of the other words that modify the noun or the pronoun. around, about, over, under, through for example.
Figurative Language: using words or phases in writing that do not use their usual, literal meanings. Writers will use figurative language to make their writing more visual and interesting to their readers. Readers need to be able to tell the difference between figurative and literal language in order to understand what they are reading.
Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Hyperbole
Alliteration
Onomatopoeia
Imagery
Idiom
Mrs. DiIorio baked Matt and Chase cookies.
Predicte: baked Subject: Mrs. DiIorio Direct Object: cookies Indirect objects: Matt Chase
Order to determine the indirect object:
Predicate - What happened
Subject
what did the action
Direct Object
Who or what received the action
Indirect Object
To whom, to what or for whom was the action done.
9/29/2025
Spelling:
We will begin using the 5th grade Horton Mifflin Spellling Units next week to ensure that we have a good grasp on spelling more complex words.
ELA Personal Narrative
Students are currently typing their final copy of their personal narrative this week in class. You are welcome to review their owrk this week. The final submission is due Friday. We learned about the elements of a a good personal narrative which should describe one point in time and be a real event that happened in their lives. Some students chose event during a weekend or during a tournament which is ok. Students learned how to create an interesting introduction, include at least 3 paragraphs that are focused on only aspect of the event and include a concluding paragraph of at least three sentences. The project should include no less than 400 words and nor more than 1200 words. All submissions must be on the student's chromebook and submitted to my assignement that I created on 5th Classroom.
Eleven Novel Study:
We are continuing to enjoy reading the Novel Eleven and learn about literary devices to tell the story. We will learn about plot development, how the author uses 3rd person voice to tell the story, compare and contrast characters, learn about figuartive language, foreshadowing and think about essential questions as well as develop an expanded vocabualry.
Study Guide on Landforms and information that they are using in class to create a group slide show on their chosen landform and a poster for the hall to inform our school community about the importance of understanding landforms.
Landforms information for the First Social Studies Test next Tuesday Oct 4
A landform is a naturally-formed feature on the surface of the Earth. It often has a recognisable shape like a valley or mountain. Landforms can range in size and be small like hills or much bigger like mountains.
These geographical features are found all over the world. Apart from being different in their shapes, they also have different effects on the ecosystem, climate, and weather of the place. For instance, you may have noticed that in the plains, the weather can be much warmer on the same day when it is a bit cooler on a hill station. Some crops grow better in a particular region, while others are better suited for the rest.
Below is a student‑friendly list. Each entry has:
A definition (what that landform or feature is)
An example from the Western Hemisphere
Its location and a fun fact or extra detail
Definition: A mountain is a landform that rises high above its surroundings, usually with steep sides and a distinct summit (top).
Rocky Mountains — Western U.S. and Canada
Location: from New Mexico through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana into Canada
Fun Fact: Many peaks are over 14,000 feet high.
Appalachian Mountains — Eastern U.S.
Location: runs from Alabama up through New England and into Canada
Extra: These are older mountains, so they are more rounded and lower than the Rockies.
Andes Mountains — Western South America
Location: along the western edge of South America (Chile, Peru, Ecuador, etc.)
Fun Fact: Longest continental mountain range in the world.
Sierra Madre Mountains — Mexico
Location: two main ranges (Occidental on the west, Oriental on the east)
Definition: A volcano is an opening in Earth’s crust that lets out molten rock (lava), ash, and gases.
Popocatépetl — Central Mexico
Active volcano near Mexico City.
Cotopaxi — Ecuador, in the Andes
One of the tallest active volcanoes on Earth.
Definition: A desert is a very dry area where little rain falls, so plants are scarce.
Atacama Desert — Northern Chile, South America
Known as one of the driest places on Earth (some parts rarely see rain).
Sonoran Desert — Southwestern U.S. and Northern Mexico
Hot and dry, with unique plants like the saguaro cactus.
Definition: A plain is a broad area of relatively flat land with little change in elevation; often covered by grass.
Great Plains — Central U.S. and Canada
Huge flat region good for farming and grazing.
Pampas — Argentina (South America)
Fertile grasslands used for cattle ranching and farming.
Definition (Plateau): A plateau is an area of high, flat land (a “high plain”).
Definition (Valley): A valley is a low area between hills or mountains, often with a river running through it.
Colorado Plateau — Southwestern U.S.
High, flat land with deep canyons (like the Grand Canyon).
Central Valley — California, U.S.
A long, flat valley between mountain ranges that’s full of farms and orchards.
Definition: A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, sea, lake, or another river.
Mississippi River — Central U.S.
Flows from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
Amazon River — South America
Flows through Brazil, Peru, and several other countries; huge in volume and biodiversity.
St. Lawrence River — Border between U.S. and Canada
Connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
Definition: A forest is a large area covered in trees and other vegetation. A rainforest is a forest in a region that gets heavy, frequent rainfall.
Amazon Rainforest — Northern South America
The world’s largest tropical rainforest.
Boreal Forest (Taiga) — Canada
Cold forest with evergreen trees and animals like moose, bears, and wolves.
Definition: Coastal waterways are bodies of water along coasts, such as bays, inlets, gulfs, or seas. Islands are land surrounded by water.
Gulf of Mexico — between U.S., Mexico, Cuba
An ocean basin partly enclosed by land.
Chesapeake Bay — Eastern U.S.
A large bay with lots of marshes and estuaries.
Caribbean Islands — Between North & South America
Many tropical islands like Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico.
Galápagos Islands — Off coast of Ecuador
Famous for unique animals found nowhere else.
Definition: A watershed (or drainage basin) is an area of land where all the water (rain, streams) drains into a common outlet (river, lake, or ocean).
Mississippi River Watershed — Much of central U.S.
All rivers and streams in that region eventually drain into the Mississippi River.
Here is a sample format you can use. (You can copy this into a document and print it.)
Part A: Match the definition
Draw a line matching the landform name to its correct definition:
Landform / Feature
Definition
Mountain
___
River
___
Desert
___
Valley
___
Plateau
___
Watershed
___
Volcano
___
Forest / Rainforest
___
Coastal Waterway / Bay / Gulf
___
Definitions (list these out for students to match):
A high area with steep sides and a summit
A low area between mountains, often with a river
A place that receives very little rainfall
Flat or gently sloping land, usually good for farming
High flat land, sometimes called a “tableland”
Area where water drains into one shared river or body of water
Opening in Earth’s crust releasing lava and gases
Area covered densely with trees and other vegetation
Water body along the coast, often partly enclosed by land
Part B: Fill in the blank / Short Answer
The Andes Mountains are located along the _______ coast of South America.
The Atacama Desert is known for being one of the _______ places on Earth.
The Great Plains are important for _______ (two things).
The Amazon River flows largely through _______.
A watershed is important because _______.
The Colorado Plateau has deep _______ like the Grand Canyon.
In Mexico, Popocatépetl is an example of a(n) _______.
The Gulf of Mexico is a type of _______ (coastal water feature).
9/29/2025
Grammar Pages Workbook (Copies)14 and 15 due Tuesday and Study
Grammar Pages Workbook (copies) 16 and 17 Due Wednesday and Study
Due Grammar Test Thursday on Unit 2 Thursday
Vocab test Friday All students without a book (there are just s few) were given a copy of Vocab Unit 2. Students will bring home their vocabulary book to study the words for the test. I emphasize being able to understand the words using context clues.
Social Studies Test Next Tuesday Oct. 7th on Continents, Oceans, Equator, Prime Meridian, Lines of Latitude, Lines of Longitude, finding locations using latitude and lingitude and the compass rose. Also Landforms and types of maps such as political map, geographical map, and landform map will be on the test including what they are. I will post a list of landforms next.
9/17/2025
Vocabulary Word for Unit 1
blundered
cancel
continuous
distributed
document
fragile
wither
rejected
scuffled
solitary
temporary
veteran
See 9/16 for assignment
9/16/25
Grammar Quiz Thursday 1.1 to 1.6 - recommendation : Study for a minimum oof 30 minutes
Vocabulary Test Thursday - We reviewed for two days in class- recommendation - study for a minimum of 25 minutes
9/16/25
Grammar Quiz on Wednesday
Nouns - Common, Proper, Singular and Plural
Collective Nouns and Possessive
Nouns as Subjects and Subject Complements
Vocabualry Thursday Chapter 1
9/15/25
ELA
Vocabulary
Please use all vocabulary words from Chapter 1 in our Vocabulary book. Write 12 sentences tha demonstrate your understanding of each vocabualry word; you must write one sentence for each word. due 9/16
9/10/25
ELA Homework Assigned 9/10/2025 - Due 9/11/2025
All students are to write a definition entry ( use an at home paper dictionary is prefeered but you can use the Webster's online dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com/ - this is the link - to look up all vocabulary words from chapter one of their blue vocabuuary workbook. for each entry a student should write the vocabulary word, write the part of speech such as noun, adjective or verb, and then write down one definition for the word. Students are completing this homework to meet our objective of expanding their vocabulary and too demonstrate their ability to use a dictionary. The vocabulary word should be underlined and this is a handwritten assignment which can be written in script or print.
Example:
1. blunder, adjective, a stupid mistake.
2.
3.
...
until the last vocabulary word for Chapter 1.
Please see the email sent home on 9/10/2025. Thank you!
Welcome to Mrs. O'Hara's 5th Grade
I am very excited to have this year's fifth grade class. They are kind, funny, curious and they work hard. It's a pleasure to have your child in my class. I hope we have a happy, healthy year and a year full of growing and learning.
The students are getting settled into their new routine this week and next week and learning how to work in the classroom during homeroom, ELA, Social Studies and at the end of the day. They have been learning quickly and are eager to get the hang of changing classes. The students are also working on a writing assessment which consists of a formal letter to their teacher about their hopes and worries for 5th grade. This year, as part of their writing grade, all students must submit a brainstorm page, a rough draft and a final draft of every paper they write for ELA and Social Studies.
Notes for parents: Please make sure your student turns in their summer work and the pink emergency card no later than Friday, September 5th. All students will need a switch bag - a canvas bag that can fit a few text books and supplies for the afternoon. All students may bring a water bottle to class for the morning and lunch if desired. Please make sure students also have a few sharpened pencils.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email me at lohara@stjamesregional.com.
Best,
Lisa O'Hara