Week of 2.3.20

Highlights for the Week of 2/3/20
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 16 - Greek Roots
This week's list includes words with the Greek Roots micro, mega, hydro, astro, hydra and path. Students will study the meaning of these roots and words that contain them. The final TEST for this lesson will be on Friday, 2/7.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage" - Profiles in Courage Culminating Project

Students will begin the research and the slideshow for the Profile in Courage project. They will be given time in class to work, however, they should expect to also work on it at home. The tentative due date for the slideshow is Monday, 2/10. Presentations will begin that day.

We have completed Unit 1 (Courage) in Reading, so it is time to take the unit posttest. On Wednesday, students will take the informational text portion of the unit posttest, and on Friday, they will take the literary text portion. These tests are simply a data-gathering tool for teachers in order to measure student growth. They will not be entered in the grade book.  

 Our final mythology project was presented on Monday. The presenters are pictured below.

"Cyclops"

Social Studies - Bountiful Midwest Farms
The crops of the Central and Great Plains will be our focus this week. Be sure to ask your child why certain crops grow better in one area than another and about why farmers use crop rotation. Look for the Chapter 8 TEST to be scheduled for the week of 2/10.

Science - Energy Conversions
We will work on refining the design of our wind turbines. The first attempt at building a model of a wind turbine was a lot of fun. Below are photos of our "engineers" working together to build their turbines.

SUCCESS!!!

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) - Managing Anxiety

This week's lesson focuses on how effectively managing your anxiety makes it easier to focus and succeed in social and academic situations. The objectives are that students will be able to identify situations that cause anxiety and to apply what they've learned about calming down to anxiety-provoking scenarios, including academic challenges. 

In an effort to connect what we talk about in class to your home, the Home Link that accompanies each lesson in the Second Step curriculum is going to be part of your child's homework. The Home Link typically includes a conversation or short activity that your child will complete with an adult or another family member. My hope is to increase awareness of language and techniques that your child learns about at school regarding their social-emotional learning and health. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers and Decimals

We will prepare for the Unit 4 TEST which is scheduled for Thursday, 2/6. 

FYI...

2/11-2/12 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (Focus on math)
2/13 - Valentine's Day Celebration - 1:30
2/14 - No School
2/17 - No School - Presidents' Day

CODING is the new passion in our homeroom classroom. Coding is the process of using a programming language to get a computer to behave how you want it to. Students have had a ball creating dance parties and working with Star Wars and Minecraft figures. Ask your child about it...they're completely absorbed with this mind-stretching activity, as you can see below!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 1.27.20

 

Highlights for the Week of 1/27/2020
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 15 - Greek Roots
This week's list includes words with Greek roots. Students will study the meaning of the roots audi, bio, geo, ology, meter and thermo, and words that contain them. The final TEST for this lesson will be on Friday, 1/31.

Reading - Unit 1 - Courage

Students will begin the research and the slideshow for the Profile in Courage project. They will be given time in class to work, however, they should expect to also work on it at home. The tentative due date for the slideshow is Tuesday, 2/4. Presentations will begin that day.

We will also spend some time working with the Time for Kids magazine. Students will practice using the text to find answers to text-dependent questions. 

The mythology projects were a huge success! It was a joy to watch students work together to create their presentations. I was amazed by their creativity and enthusiasm, and proud of their effort and collaboration.  I'd also like to thank parents for the support that you provided for the children with this project. From amazing slides to special wardrobes to fun props and at home rehearsals, the students were well prepared to give their best. I appreciate everything that was done outside of school so that they could rock this project! We still have one more group to share their project, but below are photos of students that have presented... 

Theseus & The Minotaur

Atlas

The Midas Touch

The Trojan War

The Midas Touch

Pandora's Box

Medusa

The Trojan Horse

Cyclops

Pandora's Box

English - Explanatory Writing

Adding transitions and final paragraphs to our hero essays will be our focus this week. 

Social Studies - The Midwest / The Badlands of South Dakota
We will continue our study of the amazing geography of the Badlands.

Science - Energy Conversions
Our classroom engineers will have an opportunity to read and learn about engineering practices and to apply that knowledge by designing wind turbines.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) - Calming Down Anger

Students will learn that calming down emotions that are getting out of control can help you think clearly so you can avoid negative consequences. The objectives for this lesson are for students to be able to identify situations in which they might need to calm down, demonstrate the technique for deep, centered breathing & identify and demonstrate other ways to calm down. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers and Decimals

The multiplication algorithm CHECKPOINT is scheduled for Monday, 1/27. Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in all of the multiplication strategies that we have studied in Unit 4. They have a study sheet with examples in their binders. Multiplying to divide will be our focus for the rest of the week. 

FYI...

1/29 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
1/31 - Museum of Science & Industry Field trip 

We are all looking forward to our field trip to the Museum of Science & Industry on 1/31. We will be participating in the "Future Energy Chicago" program that relates to our Science curriculum. We will also have some free time to explore the museum exhibits. Students will not be allowed to go into the gift shop, so no money is necessary. Please see that your child brings a completely DISPOSABLE sack lunch that day. They will not be able to purchase lunch or beverages at the museum. 

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 1.20.20

Highlights for the Week of 1/20/20
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  None

There will be no spelling lesson due to the short week.



Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"

The Greek Mythology Project is due on Tuesday, 1/21. Students will present their projects that day. It's been a pleasure to see their excitement over this project. I'm looking forward to seeing their final products.

Time for Kids - We will be reading an issue of this magazine that reviews the events of 2019. Students will reread the magazine at home to prepare for related activities during the week of 1/27.

English - Explanatory Writing

Work will continue on the explanatory essays. Students will add support and elaboration for the key ideas in their hero essays.

Social Studies - The Midwest
The Midwest map QUIZ is scheduled for Wednesday, 1/22.  We will study how the Badlands were formed. 

Science - Energy Conversions
Backup electrical systems and engineering practices will be our focus in Science this week. Below are photos of students working with partners to create electrical systems using a digital simulation tool. 

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) 
There is no specific SEL lesson scheduled for this week. Instead, we will participate in some fun team-building activities including "Going on a Field Trip" & "The Human Knot".

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers and Decimals

This week's focus will be on practicing the standard algorithm for double-digit multiplication, reviewing the strategies we have studied in Unit 4 and deciding how to choose a strategy when problem-solving. The second CHECKPOINT in this unit is tentatively scheduled for 1/27.

FYI...

1/20 - No School - Martin Luther King Day

1/29 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 1.13.20

Highlights for the Week of 1/13/2020
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 14 - Soft "g"

This week's list will consist of words that contain the soft "g" sound like fragile and giant.  The final TEST for this lesson will be on Friday, 1/17

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage" 

The Greek Mythology Project is due on Tuesday, 1/21. Students will present their projects that day. There will be some time given during the week to work. It's been a pleasure to see their excitement over this project. I'm looking forward to seeing their final products. 

English - Explanatory Writing

Students will learn about key ideas and how to write them. They will add their own key ideas to their hero essays. 

Social Studies - The Midwest
The next stop on our journey through the regions of the U.S. is the mighty Midwest! We will begin by creating MW maps and learning how the Great Lakes were formed. Look for a Midwest Map quiz to be scheduled for the week of 1/20. 

Students enjoyed sampling the resources of the Southeast at our feast which included rice cakes, clementine oranges, peach cups, and orange juice...

Science - Energy Conversions
Our focus in Science will be on investigating energy sources via digital simulations and text. 

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) - Managing Strong Feelings
Managing strong feelings is our topic for the week of 1/13. Students will learn that staying in control of your emotions and actions helps you get along better with others and be successful at school. My objective is that students will be able to demonstrate the ability to interrupt escalating emotions, determine a personal "signal", and identify and name strong feelings as they occur.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 - Multiplying & Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals
A multiplication and division CHECKPOINT is scheduled for Monday, 1/13. The rest of the week will be spent breaking apart the standard multiplication algorithm in an attempt to increase student understanding of why it works the way it does. 

FYI...

During the week of 1/13, our class will take two reading common assessments and one math common assessment. The purpose of these tests is to provide data for the teachers that will help to drive instruction. The results will not be entered into the grade book. Students are encouraged to do their best and to NOT stress!

1/20 - No School - Martin Luther King Day

1/29 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00

1/31 - Museum of Science & Industry Field Trip

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell