The Cooper School Daily
March 1, 2024
Cooper School Sonnet
This unit in ELA is all about Shakespeare and sonnets for every grade! As students began sonnet writing this week, I thought it would be fitting to write a sonnet about learning at The Cooper School.
Shall I compare school to a big textbook?
Middle school has more pages to flip through.
It’s pages more than words with closer look
The final page turns, lessons stick with you.
One poor chapter may carry a dark stain,
It’s but bacteria ripe for study.
Another excerpt vandalized in vain,
S’deep knowledge hidden behind the muddy.
Once extra weight to a droopy backpack,
Now stored in one’s head, new knowledge so light.
I’m happy to share the greatest life hack;
Those gritty, dull pages when read, shine bright.
The great textbook that is course after course
Is middle school magic gathering force.
We’re in the nitty gritty of February work. Spring Break still feels far away. We’ve all kept our heads down in the daily grind of learning, but so much new knowledge and wisdom is filling these kids’ brains, even if they haven’t yet ‘looked up’ to notice it! Their work is magical and lasting!
MC
What’s happening in Science?
Fifth graders learned more about pollination and plant reproduction this week! They also worked diligently on their bacteria lab projects as they completed their reports and polished up their slideshows. Next week, we look forward to sharing our work with you. Our next unit will be an engineering unit. We will be talking about the importance of technology and ways it impacts our everyday lives.
What’s happening in Math?
This week 5th graders made and interpreted line plots with fractional data numbers before taking their quiz on Tuesday. They spent the rest of the week comparing products from multiplication problems! Next week, 5th graders will review for their test on Thursday, March 7th before diving into coordinate planes!
What’s happening in ELA?
5th graders began the week studying Shakespeare’s “Sonnet #18.” We successfully interpreted Shakespeare’s work and began picking apart the elements of a sonnet like meter, foot, and iambic pentameter. This helped us prepare the initial parts of our own sonnets! We continued to read A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well, studying the elements of comedies vs. tragedies and stock characters. 5th grade practiced formatting titles and identifying different types of nouns in grammar this week.
Next week, 5th graders will revise and polish their sonnets, further discussing sonnet and poetry structure. We’ll discuss themes in both sonnets and Shakespeare’s plays.
What’s happening in Social Studies?
On Thursday the fifth graders presented their European Country presentations in front of their peers. This allowed the class to learn about life in different countries and regions of Europe. Students were then asked to work through their new vocabulary words focused on the Eurasian World!
Next week, we will dive into Russia and talk about their revolutions and communism! Students will learn about life today in Eurasia before ending the quick unit with a quizz! This will lead to the transition into Asia!
Important Dates:
March 4th & 5th- Self-Assessment Conferences (11:30 dismissal)
Shall I compare school to a big textbook?
Middle school has more pages to flip through.
It’s pages more than words with closer look
The final page turns, lessons stick with you.
One poor chapter may carry a dark stain,
It’s but bacteria ripe for study.
Another excerpt vandalized in vain,
S’deep knowledge hidden behind the muddy.
Once extra weight to a droopy backpack,
Now stored in one’s head, new knowledge so light.
I’m happy to share the greatest life hack;
Those gritty, dull pages when read, shine bright.
The great textbook that is course after course
Is middle school magic gathering force.
We’re in the nitty gritty of February work. Spring Break still feels far away. We’ve all kept our heads down in the daily grind of learning, but so much new knowledge and wisdom is filling these kids’ brains, even if they haven’t yet ‘looked up’ to notice it! Their work is magical and lasting!
MC
What’s happening in Science?
Fifth graders learned more about pollination and plant reproduction this week! They also worked diligently on their bacteria lab projects as they completed their reports and polished up their slideshows. Next week, we look forward to sharing our work with you. Our next unit will be an engineering unit. We will be talking about the importance of technology and ways it impacts our everyday lives.
What’s happening in Math?
This week 5th graders made and interpreted line plots with fractional data numbers before taking their quiz on Tuesday. They spent the rest of the week comparing products from multiplication problems! Next week, 5th graders will review for their test on Thursday, March 7th before diving into coordinate planes!
What’s happening in ELA?
5th graders began the week studying Shakespeare’s “Sonnet #18.” We successfully interpreted Shakespeare’s work and began picking apart the elements of a sonnet like meter, foot, and iambic pentameter. This helped us prepare the initial parts of our own sonnets! We continued to read A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well, studying the elements of comedies vs. tragedies and stock characters. 5th grade practiced formatting titles and identifying different types of nouns in grammar this week.
Next week, 5th graders will revise and polish their sonnets, further discussing sonnet and poetry structure. We’ll discuss themes in both sonnets and Shakespeare’s plays.
What’s happening in Social Studies?
On Thursday the fifth graders presented their European Country presentations in front of their peers. This allowed the class to learn about life in different countries and regions of Europe. Students were then asked to work through their new vocabulary words focused on the Eurasian World!
Next week, we will dive into Russia and talk about their revolutions and communism! Students will learn about life today in Eurasia before ending the quick unit with a quizz! This will lead to the transition into Asia!
Important Dates:
March 4th & 5th- Self-Assessment Conferences (11:30 dismissal)