A Note From Your Fifth Grade Teachers
Fifth Grade Connections
March 16th, 2017
What We Have Been Learning

Social Studies

The students have enjoyed "living" the life of a colonist. In our colonial simulation, the students pull "fate cards" to determine how their colony survives. Each group can choose to attack or trade with natives or other colonists. Like our first settlers, colonists need to plan their daily labor, ration food and supplies, and make life or death decisions. 

This Friday, March 17th, is Colonial Day! Students will dress up and live the life of a colonist for a day. We will end the day with a "Liber-Tea" and dance. Students should bring their own light snack and lunch. Please see below for dress guidelines:

~Boys need to wear a white long sleeve shirt. Any pants that they can tuck into long socks works as "short pants". Vests are a bonus. We provide the hats. 

~Girls need to wear long skirts and long sleeve blouses. Waist aprons are a bonus. We provide the bonnets. *Coastal Rep will provide skirts. Please do not go out and purchase anything for this day.
Writer's Workshop

Students are working on their second essay with a focus on organizing our reasons and making strong points. Additionally, students will write a letter back home to the "Old World" about what life is/was like in the New World.
Reader's Workshop

We have been exploring the different characteristics of a trustworthy and reputable website in preparation for the research for their essays. Students will next be reading and analyzing articles as part of the research.

This week I've been assessing students' reading this week, giving them specific feedback on how to improve.

Math

Students are adding and subtracting unlike fractions, and using the Singapore Math strategy called bar modeling to visualize word problems, such as: 

James had some marbles. He gave 2/7 of them to his friends and had 35 marbles left. How many marbles did he have at first?

Science

While the gym was humming with rehearsals, the 5th graders had to deal with the aftermath of Oompa Loompas mixing up the chemicals at Wonka's Chocolate Factory. They were tasked with identifying the various white powders armed only with the knowledge that different substances have different chemical properties.

No one knows why the Oompa Loompas do what they do, but ask any 5th grader how solubility helped the class distinguish between sodium bicarbonate, citric acid and sodium chloride.
Scratch Coding

Fifth grade students have been working with Mrs. Kohrs coding Math games with Scratch since mid-December. Take a look at some of the Math Games they have created by visiting these studios: 

Ask Your Child About

Talking with your child is the best way to support classroom learning. The following questions can help you get started.

  • What's the easiest way to subtract 1/3 from 3/6?
  • What's 1 + 8/8 + 3/8?
  • How many ways can you break apart 3 2/5?
  • What's more soluble: citric acid or salt? Look up the reason together.

  • What were some of the reasons for people to come to the New World? Is that still happening today? 
  • Talk with your child about where their family orgins came from. 10% of Americans can trace their family back to Jamestown.

Your child should be reading for 30 minutes each day!
Tomorrow
Athletics Recognition Assembly, Friday March 17th, 8:30 a.m., Kohrs Family Center.

Colonial Day, Friday March 17th. 
Distraction, Multi-Tasking and Time Management,  Friday, March 17th, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Think Tank. Research shows that media multitasking while studying and learning can have a negative impact on our children's academic performance. Speaker Laurie Schoeffler, Student Support Coordinator, will provide tools to work around media disruption. 
Upcoming Events
Año Nuevo Field Trip, Wednesday March 22nd.

Report Cards Emailed Home,  Wednesday March 22nd.

Conference Days, Thursday March 23rd (minimum day) and Friday March 24th (no school). You can review our sign-ups and Extended Day offerings below.
Extended Day Program
Noon Dismissal and Conference Day
Our Extended Day Program (EDP) will be open: 
  • Minimum (Noon Dismissal) Day, Thursday, March 23rd, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Theme: Go Fly A Kite! Cost: $11.00 per hour. 

  • Conference Day, Friday, March 24th, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.Theme: Let’s Go Ride! Bikes & Scooters (Helmets required). Cost: $11.00 per hour. 
"Spring is nature's way of saying "Let's Party"!" ~ Robin Williams
Musical Photos
Only Today: You Shop, Amazon Gives 5%
Thursday, March 16th, Amazon will donate 5% (10 times the usual donation rate) of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Sea Crest School as they celebrate their #1 ranking in customer satisfaction by the ACSI.  Click here, shop and HELP US RAISE FUNDS FOR THE SCHOOL!
How to Reach Us

If questions ever arise, please do not hesitate to reach out! We are available by email at: [email protected] and/or [email protected]. Email is our preferred method of communication. We will check our email after school daily. If there is an emergency, please call Cathy at the front desk, at 650.712.9892.
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