Most of the classes are moving into Biology this week. The seventh graders and I were talking about the importance of fire in the Longleaf Pine forest. We talked about how even though we typically think of forest fires as horrible, scary, and destructive (because of “our” homes), certain ecosystems need to burn in order to thrive. If the Longleaf Pine Forest doesn’t have a healthy burn every 7-10 years, the biodiversity is impacted and species migrate or disappear.
We have burned down our first trimester! Everyone has a hundred in every class until their first assessment for Trimester 2. The students get this opportunity to start fresh and make changes to habits, motivation, and even relationships. Now that it is getting darker earlier and cooler, it feels like we are in the middle of the school year, when we buckle down and get down to business. The burn down and restart allows us to let the first trimester drift out and settle into the next important part of the school year.
LD
Math:
This week, we practiced and applied multiplication of multi-digit numbers to real-life scenarios and next week, we’ll take this knowledge of multiplication and apply it to division concepts before practicing long division.
ELA:
5th grade writers began a personal narrative unit this week! We learned the art of “show don’t tell” and creating clear turning points in our writing. 5th grade also began a noun study in grammar, with a test coming up next week.
Next week, 5th graders will continue to prepare for their grammar test on 11/20. Writers will create first drafts of their stories and consider how to add sensory details and revise to add deeper meaning to stories.
Social Studies:
The fifth grade class did a great job on their state capitals quiz as well as beginning to learn about the geography of North America. They truly enjoyed the Animaniacs! One of my favorites as a child as well. Next week we will continue the geography of North America and begin learning about how humans have changed the landscape of the world.
Science:
Fifth graders started their Living Systems unit this week. They learned about food chains and animal adaptations. They read “Animals that Changed History,” and chose one animal that they want to learn more about. They will create a small google slide presentation about the animal’s adaptations and where they fit in the food chain. Next week, they will present their work and learn more about ecosystems.
Important Dates:
November 22: Harvest Feast @ 10:30 ( 11:30 dismissal)
November 25-29: Thanksgiving Break
