Having finished Curriculum Night, gotten into the thick of our first units of study, founded our clubs, and settled into our routines, back-to-school “to-dos” feel like they are finally complete. Back-to-school can feel like a whirlwind of crazy, but there has been something in the air at The Cooper School for the past several weeks that has made every day feel more exciting and adventurous than the day before. With students taking risks in their learning, engaging in meaningful conversations, and building intentional friendships, this first (almost) month of school has been anything but stressful. I have high expectations that every month at The Cooper School will feel as exciting and adventurous as this first month has been.
-AG
Math:
This week, we began our unit on understanding the relationship between fractions and division using models, pictures, diagrams, and real-life scenarios. Next week, we’ll begin multiplying unit fractions by whole numbers and applying this skill to finding the area of rectangles with fractional side lengths.
ELA:
This week in ELA, 5th grade readers finished Hello Universe! We all participated in “book club theater” where readers discussed topics on which they’ve been preparing notes for over the past few days. Deep analysis and thoughtful, active listening certainly took place. We wrapped up civil discourse with productive conversations about what is “normal” and how to discuss prejudice.
Next week, we transition to our first writing unit of the year. We will learn the art of essay preparation as we analyze a short film together. 5th graders will also begin their first grammar unit on the parts of a sentence.
Social Studies:
The fifth graders have begun working on their first research project which involves learning about an aspect of human geography that they have chosen. This project will allow them to dive deeper into the subject matter of their choice and see how we impact the world around us. We are also getting ready for our first test next week on geography and maps. A study guide went home with each student and can be found on google classroom. I am looking forward to seeing their finished projects!
Science:
Fifth graders explored weathering this week. They looked at how rocks can break apart physically and chemically, comparing and contrasting how the weathering changes the rock. They also looked at weathering impacts on landforms, contemplating how the land around them has changed over time. Next week, they will learn about minerals and how to identify them.
Important Dates:
October 14 & 15: Fall Break- No School
October 31: Halloween Carnival (11:30 Dismissal)
