Week of February 2

This week in math, the students will test on chapter 8 on Wednesday.  This was a tough chapter, as the fractions were very involved.  The following two chapters are also fraction-based.  So they won’t be going anywhere soon. 

Next Thursday the Math Recipe Project is due.  The kids can present however they choose as long as they meet the requirements on the rubric.  Cooking and sharing their recipe is entirely optional.

The students are working hard in science as they complete their menu choice board.  Your child has been learning some really cool information about the Solar System.  I am sure they will be more than happy to share these facts with the family.  Also, the phases of the Moon and Space test will be next week.

Valentine’s Day-We are going to pass out Valentine’s next Friday February 13^th.  The kids will decorate a brown paper bag in the classroom.  If your child would like to participate, please be sure they have enough for each student.  Desin's class size is 28 and Gordon's is 26. We are just planning to do the exchange for our homerooms.

Reading-We are reading two perspectives of the Boston Massacre to discuss the different versions of the accounts. We are practicing the "Close Reading" strategy which includes reading multiple times (three times, specifically). Each time the students read, they are asked to focus on a different skill. Work on Writing will be introduced on Thursday. Students will be asked to complete the writing by the following week. It will be related to this week's reading skill.

Social Studies- This week, we are finishing up the causes of the American Revolution. We will read about the Boston Massacre, analyze two primary sources (Revere's and Chappell's rendering of the Boston Massacre), completed a Reader's Theater on the Boston Tea Party, and finish up with The Intolerable Acts. Students are collecting information about each event and reflecting on it in their Social Studies notebooks. We have a project coming up, so look for more information on Thursday.