5B News for the Week of 05/21/2012

Hello Parents & Students:

Here's what's going on in 5B this week! 

Reading:  During reading this week, we will be working on a combination of things.  First, we will be exploring the picture book, Courage, by Bernard Waber.  We will read it, list some awesome kinds of courage and everyday kinds of courage.  We will discuss the types of courage that we have read about in books this year.  Finally, we will write our own version of Courage in which we will list ways that we have personally shown courage.  We will also continue to read our Time For Kids magazines which focus on current events.  We may need to squeeze in some social studies time during reading to tie up some loose ends.

Flex:  We will be flexing on Monday and Tuesday this week.  We will be watching a couple of interesting videos that tie into the topics we've discussed these past few weeks.  We will also have some game time to celebrate our reading successes! 

Writing:  We will be using our reading time to do research on inventions that changed our lives.  During social studies this week, we have been talking about the Industrial Revolution and how inventions during that time changed our lives.  The students will be presenting information about at least one of the inventions that they researched. 

Math Accel.:  We will be finishing up Unit 9 soon and students will be receiving a study guide on Monday.  The Unit 9 test will be on Thursday of this week. 

Science:  We are moving right along with our microscope unit.  On Tuesday this week, the students will be quizzed on the parts of a microscope.  They have a study guide and we have also been reviewing it in class.  This week, the students learned how to properly prepare a slide for viewing.  We cut out tiny letters from papers and magazines and placed them onto the divet on the slide.  We used a medicine dropper to put water on it.  Then, we placed the protective cover on top.  The students practiced viewing the speciman through the lens, which wasn't always easy to find.  Next week, we will continue to view specimans under the lens which will include hair, thread, and an onion.  This is a fun unit.  The kids are really enjoying it!

Social Studies:  We finished up Chapter 12 this week.  We will be having an open book test on Tuesday. 

It's a packed week in 5B!  We're getting there!  Enjoy the weekend!!

Mrs. Bennick