Week of 4/2/18

Highlights for the Weeks of 4/2/2018
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 24 - Greek & Latin Roots

This week's words each contain the root "auto", "homo", "tract" or "phobia". We will study the meaning of these roots and how to determine the meaning of a word that contains them. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 4/6.

Reading- Unit 2 - "Journeys" - The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

As our novel study continues, students will have several opportunities to independently complete written responses to the text. The expectation is that they will provide text evidence to support their response, and will also be able to interpret and extend that text proof. We have practiced this skill several times as a class, and now it is time for them to "show what they know". This week they will respond to a prompt from chapter 3. 

We will also read a Time for Kids magazine in which the main article focuses on how Cape Town, South Africa is dealing with a severe drought. The comprehension QUIZ for the TFK is scheduled for Thursday, 4/5.

Social Studies - "Land and Resources of the Southwest"



Our focus in SS this week will be in the Grand Canyon and how erosion impacted its formation and still changes it today. We will also work on several projects related to the Navajo culture. 





Science - "How Does Your Body Get Oxygen and Nutrients?"
Circulation is the last body system that we will study in this lesson. A QUIZ on chapter 4, lesson 1 is tentatively scheduled for 4/9. The quiz will be open book / open note.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class -Unit 6 - Graphing, Geometry & Volume
Graphing patterns is this week's topic. A CHECKPOINT on this topic is scheduled for Monday, 4/9.

Now, this is what I call "showing your work"...

FYI...

4/2 - No School - Spring Break

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 3/19/18

Highlights for the Weeks of 3/19/2018
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 23 - Words with "oi" and "oy" & Proverbs

 This week's list includes words with the letters "oi" and "oy". Students will learn that these letter combinations make the same sound and are both diphthongs. "Oy" is usually found at the end of a syllable and "oi" is usually found in the middle of a syllable. We will also study proverbs - what they are and what some of them mean. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 3/23.

Reading- Unit 2 - "Journeys" - The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

We have had many interesting conversations about vocabulary and use of language within the novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Our "Executive Archeologists" will continue to dig into chapters 1-5 of the novel during the week of 3/19. There is a QUIZ on using context clues to determine the meaning of vocabulary from chapters 1-2 scheduled for 3/21. 

This photo is a copy of the Edward Tulane excerpt that we worked on last week in school. I wanted you to see an example of how students annotate text when we close read.  

Social Studies - The Navajo 

The Southwest Map QUIZ is scheduled for 3/20. We will also study the culture and traditions of the Navajo people. 

Science - "How Does Your Body get Oxygen and Nutrients?
The respiratory system will be our focus the week of the 19th. Students will create a model of the respiratory system using a water bottle and balloons. Be sure to ask your child to demonstrate and explain it to you when it comes home!

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 5 - Multiplying & Dividing Fractions
The Unit 5 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 3/19. Students should review their notes and workbook pages to prepare for the test. We will begin the next unit, "Graphing, Geometry & Volume" on Tuesday. This unit starts with a look at the four quadrants of the coordinate plane.


FYI...

The "Wheels, Levers & Pulleys" in-school field trip was a huge success! Students learned about simple machines and had a chance to participate in hands-on activities to enhance their learning. THANK YOU to the parent chaperones who helped out at the stations. I hope you enjoy the videos and pictures below from this event...

Discovering how adding wheels makes work easier!

Using a ramp / inclined plane

How does changing the position of the fulcrum impact the effectiveness of a lever?

Investigating friction

Pulleys in action

Does an inclined plane reduce the amount of effort?

                                                 Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 3/12/18

Highlights for the Weeks of 3/12/2018
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 22 - Adjectives

An adjective is a word that describes a noun. This week's lesson consists of a collection of adjectives and a review of similes and metaphors. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 3/16.

Reading- Unit 2 - "Journeys" - The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Our "Executive Archeologists" will begin digging into chapters 1-2 of the novel. Vocabulary and text-dependent questions will be introduced as well as a written response. Look for a QUIZ on the vocabulary from chapters 1 & 2 to be scheduled for the week of 3/19.We will be pairing the poems Words as Free as Confetti and I Love the Look of Words with the novel to study the use of figurative language and common themes.

Below are some photos of students using whiteboards to respond to questions about relative adverbs in class. I like using this strategy because it gives me instant feedback about student understanding of the topic...plus, it's fun!

Science - "How Does Your Body Get Oxygen & Nutrients?"
We will continue our study of the human body with a deeper look at the digestive system. This unit began with an investigation that focused on how activity impacts your pulse rate. Here is a video of students running in place to test our hypothesis that our pulse rate would increase after we ran. We were correct!

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 5 - Multiplying & Dividing Fractions
We will continue to focus on fraction division. The Unit 5 TEST is tentatively scheduled for 3/19.

Using Geoboards to represent area models with fractional dimensions helps us to understand multiplication of fractions.

Lauren leads a discussion on patterns and how to write them as equations.

FYI...

3/14 - "Wheels, Levers & Pulleys" - In school science field trip
3/26 - Spring Break begins

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 3/5/18

Highlights for the Weeks of 3/5/2018
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 21 - Relative Adverbs, Relative Pronouns, Reading content words

This week's lesson will include the spelling and use of relative adverbs, relative pronouns, and content words. A relative adverb relates back to a time, place or reason to provide more details about a noun. A relative pronoun relates back to something or someone else. The reading content words are familiar to students, and they should be able to spell them and to apply them (Example: identify a simile or a metaphor.)The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 3/9.

Reading- Unit 2 - "Journeys"

We will begin reading the novel The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. This story tells the tale of a china rabbit who goes on an adventure and learns how to love. We will begin by close reading an excerpt from the first chapter. This novel is rich in vocabulary and underlying themes, and I look forward to sharing Edward's journey in our classroom.

Social Studies - The Midwest Just Look Book Project
We had so much fun creating the Midwest Just Look Books. Students have shown tremendous growth in the use of Google Slides and in their presentation skills. Some photos from the fabulous presentation day...

Science - "How Does Your Body Get Oxygen and Nutrients?"
Our study of the human body begins with a look at the respiratory and digestive systems. We will also complete a lab in which we study the impact of movement on pulse rates.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 5 - Multiplying & Dividing Fractions



A CHECKPOINT on multiplying a fraction by a fraction is scheduled for Wednesday, 3/7. We will also take a look at fraction multiplication story problems and the difference between "sharing" division and "grouping" division.

Mrs. Karen Bell