Week of 10/29/07 - 11/2/07

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK OF 10/29/07 – 11/2/07

SPELLING
This week’s “Spell”-ing list will consist of spooky Halloween words!

ENGLISH
Abbreviations and Titles will be our topics this week. The chapter 5 TEST is tentatively set for Friday, November 9th. Look for "How to Study" sheets to come home this week. We will also be putting aside our English text books to do some creative writing with "bone - y" words!

READING

We will continue our study of India with a look at India's government, economy, and culture. Students will be taking notes by outlining, and then using the outlines to write descriptive paragraphs.

“Bite into a Good Book” Program
All but three students have given their book talks. The deadline for students to turn in book activities is November 16th.

SOCIAL STUDIES
This week we will be learning about colonial jobs and the students will be making a “Sign of the Times” (Due 11/1)! Our TRADE FAIR is scheduled for Friday, November 2nd!

SCIENCE - Flight and Rocketry
We will finish our study of airplane design and move on to Bernoulli's Principle! Look for information about our Paper Airplane Contest to come home this week.

MATH - Mrs. Bell's Class

We will be finishing chapter 3 on Tuesday. Wednesday will be a "Halloween Math" day. Review for Chapter 3 is Thursday, and the Chapter 3 TEST will be on Friday, 11/2. "How to Study" sheets went home on Friday, 10/26.

FYI

Picture retakes are scheduled for October 30th.

Another reminder about HALLOWEEN TREATS: If you send treats for the class, please send either non-edible goodies such as pencils, or a healthy treat, such as raisins or granola bars.

The HALLOWEEN PARTY is scheduled for Wednesday, 10/31 at 1:30. At 1:15, students will participate in the traditional PV school parade of costumes. Students will be changing into their costumes in the classrooms. Costumes might need to be simplified for school purposes, since students must be able to change in a short amount of time. Changing will take place in the classrooms. The fifth grade will have designated classrooms for girls to change in and for boys. Washrooms will be NOT available for changing. No weapons, even fake, are allowed at school.

MEET YOSHI...

This week our class welcomed a new member...a bearded dragon named "Yoshi". The students have enjoyed learning about our new "student", and taking turns caring for him. We are providing "foster" care for him until the end of the year, when he will return to his owner. Yoshi enjoys a diet of greens, crickets, and mealworms. If you would like more information about bearded dragons, please refer to the following website:

http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/BDcare.html

Enjoy your three day weekend…
Mrs. Bell

Week of 10/22/07 - 10/26/07

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK OF 10/22/07 – 10/26/07

SPELLING
This week’s “Spell”-ing list will consist of spooky Halloween words!

ENGLISH
Our study of capitalization and punctuation will continue with a look at quotations. We will be doing a "Comic Strip Quotations" activity on Thursday and Friday. Students must bring in a small comic strip by Thursday, 10/25.

READING
We will be starting our new unit, India. Outlining is one skill we will focus on during this unit. We will begin by studying the structure of outlines, learn how to write an outline, and how to take notes in outline form. Later, we will use the notes taken to write well structured paragraphs about the different aspects of the country of India.

“Bite into a Good Book” Program

Students must ALWAYS have a silent reading book at school!

SOCIAL STUDIES
This week we will begin Chapter 6, "Life in the English Colonies". Information about our in class trade fair will be sent home on Wednesday. The fair is scheduled for Friday, November 2nd !!!

SCIENCE - Flight and Rocketry
Airplane design and the Bernoulli principle will be our focus this week. We're still hoping for fair weather so that we may fly our kites!

MATH - Mrs. Bell's Class

We will continue our study of Chapter 3, Decimals. Lessons 7-9 will be our focus this week.

FYI

It was a pleasure to see so many of you at the Book Fair Thursday evening.
Thanks to all of you who purchased a book for the classroom. Your gift is greatly appreciated.

PICTURE RETAKES: are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 30th . Students must have original picture packets in hand to have a retake. If your child was absent on the first picture day, they will have to have their original order envelope with them at the time of retakes.

Due to the heightened focus on children's health by the state of Illinois, our school's Wellness Committee has made recommendations about treats for our holiday parties. If you choose to send Halloween treats for the class, please refrain from sending candy. Some alternate suggestions are non-edible treats such as pencils or erasers, or healthy snacks like granola bars.


Enjoy your weekend...

Mrs. Bell

Week of 10/15/07 - 10/19/07

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK OF 10/15/07 – 10/19/07

SPELLING

Lesson 7 – Hard and soft “G”

ENGLISH
Punctuation is our focus this week, with a look at use of commas, and Interjections.

READING
The Kid in the Red Jacket
We are finishing our study of vocabulary and summarizing in this fun novel. Summary journals will be collected on 10/16. Students will begin creating a story pyramid as a final project for this novel. I will be giving 2 full class periods to work on the pyramid in school, but time at home will still be required. It will be due on Friday, 10/19. There will also be a vocabulary QUIZ on 10/19.

“Bite into a Good Book” Program
Students should ALWAYS have a silent reading book with them at school.

SOCIAL STUDIES

The brochure project is due on Monday 10/15. The Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, October 18th. “How to Study” sheets were passed out on Thursday 10/11. We will be reviewing on Tuesday, by playing the game, “Hot Seat”.

SCIENCE - Flight and Rocketry
Kites will be our topic this week. Please keep your fingers crossed for warm, windy weather on Tuesday, when we attempt to fly our creations!

MATH - Mrs. Bell's Class

Our study of decimals continues this week. We will focus on decimals and metric measurement on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday is the midchapter QUIZ for Chapter 3. On Thursday and Friday, we will look at scientific notation and multiplying decimals.

FYI
Our class has started Junior Achievement this week, which will continue for the next 5 weeks.

Wednesday, October 17th is an early dismissal day.

Enjoy your weekend…
Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 10/8/07 - 10/12/07

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK OF 10/8/07 - 10/12/07

SPELLING
Lesson 6 – Plurals with “es”

ENGLISH
Capitalization and punctuation is the topic for our new unit in English. This week we will focus on proper nouns & adjectives, commas in a series, and writing sentences with commas. Ask your child what happened when punctuation took a vacation!

READING
We will continue our study of the novel, The Kid in the Red Jacket. This unit focuses on the reading comprehension strategy of summarizing. We are also building our vocabulary by studying words in context.

“Bite into a Good Book” Program
I have met with students who wished to adjust their reading goal for the trimester. Many students have already given book talks, and we are all enjoying learning about new books.

SOCIAL STUDIES
We will begin a brochure project that focuses on the study of the 13 original colonies. Students will receive a project information packet on Tuesday, and will be given three full class periods to work on the assignment. It will be due on Monday, 10/15. The Chapter 5 test is tentatively scheduled for 10/17.

SCIENCE
The QUIZ on activities 1-3 will be on Wednesday, 10/10. Students were given a study guide that lists topics that will be covered on the quiz.

MATH - Mrs. Bell's Class

We will be starting Chapter 3, Decimals, this week. Lessons 1, 2, & 3 cover comparing & ordering decimals, estimating decimals and addition and subtraction of decimals. This should be review for most of the students.

FYI
● Many of our students have volunteered to be helpers in the Multi-Needs Classroom at PV. Students who are involved will interact with the children once a month during their recess time.
● Just a reminder…if your child forgets a textbook or workbook at school, copies are available at our local libraries.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!
Mrs. Bell