Thursday, December 19, 2013

Our holiday party begins at 10:30 tomorrow.  Many thanks to all parents who have planned and contributed to this celebration.

Thank you too for the terrific support you have given your children this first half of the year.  It's been a pleasure getting to know you all.

Have a wonderful winter break.   Enjoy time with family and friends, get some rest, and have lots of fun!

Homework

Finish your Middle Colonies Brochure (you should be very close to the end!)
***Remember to continue your daily reading over the break.  I will be assigning a "book talk" on one of the books you read when we return in January.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The national park oral presentations were great.  Thanks for all your hard work, everyone!

Remember that your Middle Colonies brochure is due this Friday.  I know that most of you are almost finished, but be sure to plan your completion time carefully.  If you need to complete a portion of the brochure at home, please do so.

Homework

Read: 30 min.
Brochure: Friday

Monday, December 16, 2013

Hello and happy final week of 2013!  The only homework this week is the National Park Report, both the written and oral, which is due on Wednesday.  I've attached a copy of the original guidelines below just in case anyone needs to review them.  We have also been working on a middle colonies brochure in class which is due on Friday.

I sent home corrected work today.

Homework

National Park Report:  Wednesday
Middle Colonies Brochure:  Friday


National Park Report - Guidelines

            For this report you will learn about a national park of your choice.  Using a variety of research sources, you will take notes, organize your information, write a rough draft and after careful editing, write a final draft report.

You will need to find information in each of the following areas:

*Park history (when it was established, who was responsible, original inhabitants)
    
*General statistics (location, size, lengths of rivers, heights of mountains, etc.)

*Climate (temperatures, precipitation, etc.)

*Wildlife

*Plant life

*Places of interest

*Popular activities (things that visitors can do there)

*Other interesting facts (things that are unique to this park)

*Conservation efforts

You will also include the following:

*An illustrated cover

*A table of contents

*A title page containing the name of the park, your name, your grade, and date

*A map showing where your park is located (I will help you with this)

*A chart, graph, or diagram containing information about a particular aspect of the park

*A glossary of at least 5 words and their meanings

*A bibliography (you should have at least 4 sources)


***Oral Presentation:
         You will also be responsible for a short oral presentation in which you will advertise your park. This should be a persuasive speech in which you tell about the places to see and the activities available.  I will give you specific guidelines for this soon. 
                                                                                   

Due date: ________________________________

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Homework

Read:  30 min.
National Park Report:  Write the final drafts of the "Activities" and "Other Interesting Facts" paragraphs.  Remember that I'm just setting a schedule to keep you on track.  If you need to complete any other paragraphs, spend a reasonable amount of time doing so.  You may have to spend some time this weekend working on the report cover, the map and/or the chart or diagram.  Tomorrow we will write the conclusion, and I will show you how to write the title page and the bibliography.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

I handed out the guidelines for the national park oral presentation which is due next Wednesday, 12/18.  I've included a copy of it below.

I neglected to talk earlier this week about a short week-long collection drive for Jacob's Heart, a local organization that supports families with children who have cancer.  Our Student Council students facilitated this drive calling it "Change for a Change."  Students in all classes may bring in change any day this week which will be collected school wide this Friday.  With this money we will purchase gift cards for a family we adopt for the holidays.

Homework

Read:  30 min.
Science:  Study for tomorrow's test.
Park Report:  Write the final draft of the "Plant Life" and "Interesting Sites" paragraphs.
Park Report and Oral Presentation:  12/18.


National Park Report – Oral Presentation

Give a short (approx. 1 minute) persuasive speech in which you advertise your park.  Your speech must include at least 5 reasons why people should visit this park.  Think about including the following:

·      interesting places to see
·      fun activities
·      cool animals
·      beautiful landscapes and plant life
·      any other amazing facts about your park

Of course, you may use information from your written report.  You may refer to note cards, but you should be comfortable enough with your speech to maintain eye contact with your audience.  

Have fun and be creative.  Pretend you are a travel agent or a park employee!  Your oral presentation is due on Wednesday, 12/18.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Homework

Read: 30 min.
Park Report:  Write the final draft of the "Wildlife" paragraph.
Southeast States quiz: Tomorrow.
Science test:  Thursday

Monday, December 9, 2013

I've changed the date for the Southeast States quiz from Tuesday to Wednesday.  We reviewed today and will take a practice quiz tomorrow.

Homework

Read: 30 min
Park Report:  Final draft of "Climate" paragraph.  Remember to bring your folder to class tomorrow.
Southeast States quiz: Wed.
Science test:  Thursday.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

I want to clarify that I will not be collecting the sections of the national park report that I assign each night.  I will collect the final completed report on Dec. 18.  The homework deadlines are designed to keep everyone on a reasonable track and to avoid last minute, late night writing sessions!

Thank you in advance to all parents who have volunteered to bring in goodies tomorrow for our poetry presentations.  Hope you can stay and watch.

Homework

Read:  30 min.
Poetry Cafe
Park Report:  Final draft of the "Statistics" paragraph.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

I have assigned the first two paragraphs of the final draft of the park report tonight and will continue to assign small portions of it from now on.  I sent home a final draft information sheet today for the report.  Please take a look at this as it hopefully will answer any questions you have about the final report.  I've also included a copy of these guidelines below.

We were talking today about Friday's poetry cafe and thought it would be nice to have some treats to accompany our presentations.  If you would like to send in something (muffins, bagels, fruit, etc.), please have your child let me know tomorrow.  I will provide something to eat and apple cider.  Our cafe event will begin first thing at 8:00.  Please come join us for this groovy happening if you can!

Thank you!

Homework

Read:  30 min.
Math: "Daily Routines" workbook pages 140 - odd #s, 142 - odd #s, and 143 - "Facts Practice (1-5)
National Park Report:  Write the final draft of Introduction and Park History paragraphs.
Poetry Cafe: Friday


National Park Report – Final Draft

1.  The final draft of your report may be handwritten or typed on one side of the paper only.

2. Your paragraphs should be well developed (minimum 5 sentences), containing dates, measurements, distances, and descriptive examples where appropriate.

3. Your introduction and conclusion should be written on separate sheets of paper.  The rest of the report sections may be written together.

4. Your writing must be neat and have correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.

5. Your artwork (cover, cover, map, and chart, graph, or diagram) should show best effort quality.

6. Put your completed report in a clear-cover folder before turning it in.  


                                   




Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Homework

Read: 30 min.
Math:  "Daily Routines" workbook pages 136 #6-12 and 138 #6-12.
Park Report:  Add to or start a new note card if you need to.  Spend about 15- 20 min. looking up facts.  Remember that your last time to take notes in class will be tomorrow during our computer lab session.
Poetry Cafe:  Friday

Monday, December 2, 2013

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was nice to have a bit of a break before these final three school weeks of 2013!

 We began writing the rough draft of the national park report today.  Several students did not have their notes or folders with them.  I would like everyone to have their report materials in class each day.  Part of their grade for this project is for in-class work -  the note taking and the rough draft writing piece.

I sent home corrected work today, so please review with your child.  Thanks!

Homework

Read: 30 min.
Math:  139 (all) and 140 (choose 3)
Finish the Southeast States Map if necessary.
*Bring in your National Park Report folder tomorrow.

***Some important due date reminders:
Poetry Cafe - Fri., 12/6
Southeast States test - Tuesday, 12/10
Water Cycle Test - Thursday, 12/12.  We will complete a study guide later this week.
National Park Report and oral presentation - Wed., 12/18.