Lakers News
February Newsletter
LINKS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS
http://parcc.pearson.com/sample-items/
Puctuation of Titles cheat sheet:
https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/Punctuating_Titles_chart.pdf
Science and Social Studies practice tests:
Reading
6th Grade
Reading- Non- Fiction has been the focus in the last few weeks. Students have been comparing and contrasting theses texts , along with providing author's point of view, and summarization. Fictional text is the next genre of focus. Figurative language and connotative meaning will be analyzed in the author's word choice. We will also be working on point of view and how that impacts the text.
Grammar- Dialogue is the focus this month. Students are learning the many rules of inserting dialogue into their writing. They will first practice the punctuation and then use the proper form in their writing.
5th Grade
Edcite- The kids are also reading and writing using the new website, "edcite". This site is set up similar to the PARCC style assessments and has proven to be quite a valuable tool. Many are enjoying the ability to use the chrombooks to complete assignments.
Grammar- This month, the 5th grade will be practicing using interjections correctly in sentences. We will also be working on the many ways titles are punctuated in sentences.
Punctuation of Titles
UNDERLINE BIG STUFF, QUOTATION MARKS ON SMALL STUFF
That’s the simple rule. If it’s a long work, italicize/underline the title. If it’s a short work or a section of a longer work, put the title in quotation marks.
That means you italicize or underline book titles (e.g., The Great Gatsby, Moby Dick) magazine titles (e.g., World, Sports Illustrated), newspapers (e.g., The New York Times, The Washington Post), plays (e.g., Hamlet, Our Town) movies (e.g., The Matrix, Spider-Man II), TV shows (e.g., The X-Files, Lost), and long poems (e.g.,Song of Myself, The Inferno).
Use quotation marks for chapter titles (e.g., “My Life Begins”) magazine articles (e.g., “Top Dogs in Corporate America”), newspaper articles (e.g., “Hamsters Attack Detroit”), songs (e.g., “The Birthday Song”), short stories, (e.g., “To Build a Fire”), and most poems (e.g., “Mending Wall”).
See? It’s not that complicated. When you refer to the title of any kind of work in something you are writing, help your reader identify it as a title by capitalizing correctly and using proper punctuation. Pretty please?
Social Studies
6th Grade
5th Grade
Science
5th Grade
Content Statement: The amount of change in movement of an object is based on the mass of the object and the amount of force exerted.
This is the concept that we have been focusing on in fifth grade science. Students recently used independent inquiry projects to explore different ways of changing the speed of a toy car. (See our pictures on Laker Pride's Facebook page!)
The 5th Grade Science Performance Based Assessment is quickly approaching on March 3rd. Want to take a look at the types of questions the students should expect to see on the Science PBA? Click the following link and then click on "Practice Tests" in the lower right hand corner of the screen: http://oh.portal.airast.org/ocba/
Before the PBA, we will also spend time reviewing concepts such as food webs, the flow of energy, and light energy. Want to help out at home?? Have fun with your child by exploring the review games below!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/index_flash.shtml
https://www.brainpop.com/games/foodfight/
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/food/food_menu.html
http://science.sbcc.edu/physics/flash/LengthofDay.swf
Why not also pop some popcorn and check out the Bill Nye on Food Webs together!
6th Grade
Math
5th Grade
Fractions, fractions, fractions! We will continue to explore fractions in preparation for the first round of state testing. Specifically, we are currently tackling these standards:
- Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators. Use this strategy to solve word problems.
- Interpret a fraction as division of the numerator by the denominator (a/b = a ÷ b). Solve word problems involving division of whole numbers leading to answers in the form of fractions or mixed numbers, e.g., by using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem.
- Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction or whole number by a fraction and solve real world problems by using visual models.
- Apply and extend previous understandings of division to divide unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions.
There is an immense amount of fraction games on the Internet, but here are a few options that offer a wide variety of practice. Please consider checking these out at home for extra practice!
http://www.math-play.com/math-fractions-games.html
http://www.maths-games.org/fraction-games.html
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/menus/fractions.htm