The gratitude that comes with Thanksgiving is so perfectly placed before the gifting-heavy holidays that follow it. My brain and heart are so satisfied by the practice of acknowledging abundance and appreciating what one has before we ask for anything. Should we choose to resist the cultural frenzy and rush towards Chrstmas, there is a golden opportunity to sit and be mindful of the food in front of us, the people around us, the muted yet warm oranges, browns, and reds of this holiday.
This order of thanks then giving and receiving has been a concept we’ve dug into in middle school. We’ve talked about how gratitude can change the chemistry in our brain. Gratitude sets us up to tackle work with optimism, to approach a friend with empathy, to complete an assignment on time, and to understand how powerful our giving can be.
It goes without saying but there is so much power in saying it: I am so grateful for this community. I’m so grateful for the time we get in our curriculum to not only break down proofs but also to unpack the merits of a good friend, to not just construct essays but also practice gratitude. We wish everyone the most restful break!
-Maggie
Upcoming Dates:
- November 22 – November 30 – Thanksgiving Break
- December 10 – Cluster Lunch
- December 19 – Holiday Extravaganza & PJ Day (Half Day)
- December 20 – January 5 – Winter break
ELA- 5th grade worked hard to “show don’t tell” in their writing this week by replacing vague adjectives with specific and tangible nouns and verbs. Their personal stories really came alive with visuals and action using this tool. Students also tested vocabulary on Wednesday, so be sure to check on those grades after break!
After Thanksgiving break, students will begin selecting their “spotlight story” out of all the rough drafts they played with to rewrite and edit as a published piece, due 12/11. We will also begin more grammar study after break.
Science- This week in science, fifth grade explored the systems that make up the earth. Students focused on the biosphere and investigated several types of ecosystems. They learned to differentiate between living and nonliving. Students created food webs for a forest ecosystem and the Monterey Bay national Marine sanctuary to investigate if organisms were predators, prey or both. After break, students will investigate how energy gets recycled in ecosystems by building a red worm habitat to observe decomposition.
Social Studies- I hope you all enjoy your break! One fun thing historically to do with your child would be to look up the original foods of the first Thanksgiving and see which ones they would have liked to have eaten! When we return we will be finishing our projects on European countries and moving into the major geographical features of the continent.
Math- This week, 5th grade mathematicians wrapped up unit 4 with our end of unit test which assessed their mastery of multiplication and division before we dive into decimals after Thanksgiving Break! When we return, we’ll explore place value and patterns of ten within decimals before moving into decimal operations.
