The Putney Post
West Homer Elementary--5th Grade
Dates to Remember
April 16- Spring Pictures
April 16- Quarter 3 Awards Assembly 1:00-1:40---Families Welcome!
April 16- Early Release 1:45
April 18- Vacation Day, No School
April 21- Art Fair Project due
April 21-25- Volunteer Appreciation Week
April 22- Spring Music Concert 6:30pm @ Mariner Theater
April 29- Field Trip: Hallo Bay Bears Film @ Homer Theatre
May 2- West Homer Art Fair 5:00-7:00pm
May 8: Field Trip: Islands and Oceans
May 9- Field Trip: Homer Public Library
May 14- Sandwich Book Report Due
May 21- Our Year Together Comes to an End
Early Release at 1:45 on Wednesday
Classroom Happenings
This week we got back into our regular routines and schedule after testing week. In math we explored multiplying fractions as finding part of a number. Students drew models to demonstrate their understanding of why multiplying a whole number by a fraction results in a smaller number.
In reading and writing we brought closure to our poetry unit. Students now have a poetry notebook filled with their own poems and illustrations. We have written concrete poems, alphabet poems, onomatopoeia poems, list poems, family poems and more. On Thursday, students selected three of their favorite poems to type and display in the hallway.
In reading, students finished their book of verse along with their response booklets where they identified literary devices such as simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification and alliteration within their reading. We closed the poetry unit on Friday by creating a human continuum that demonstrated the range of interest in poetry within our classroom learning community. It was fun to see student's interest and confidence as poets grow throughout the unit.
In social studies this week students were introduced to three colonial regions: New England Colonies, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies. I encourage you to ask your child about the similarities and differences between these three colonial regions if the opportunity arises this weekend.
What's Next?
Next week is a four day week. Friday, April 18th is a vacation day. Enjoy a three day weekend your your fifth grader!
At the end of this school year I will be moving to Oregon. Living closer to family and having access to graduate schoosl is what is encouraging our move. We love beautiful Homer and its incredible schools. As a part of the job search process, my husband and I will be at the Oregon Educator's Fair in Portland next week.
There will be a substitute teacher in the room on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week. With the sub, students will continue their work with multiplying fractions, exploring the impact prior knowledge has on the reading process, and creating colonial billboards in social studies. We have a full week of learning ahead of us!
Art Fair Project
Please send your child's art fair project to school ASAP. The final deadline is April 21st, but we will take projects as soon as they are complete. We look forward to filling the gym with child-created art to display to our WHE families and Homer community at large.
Field Trip Season
We are entering field trip season!!! We have several out-of-the-classroom learning experiences available to us in the coming weeks. Ageya was our "big" overnight field trip this year, so all remaining field trips will take place within the regular school day (no more overnight trips).
Our next field trip is on April 29th. We will be going to Homer Theatre to watch a video on the Hallo Bay Bears. A Hallo Bay bear guide will be available to answer student questions after the film. A permission slip for this field trip was sent home with your child last Tuesday along with a request for $5.00. The five dollar fee covers admission to the film, a small popcorn, and a small drink. Scholarships are available. If you are unable to cover the field trip fee please write a note and send it in with your child. Also, if you are interested in chaperoning the field trip please indicate your interest on the field trip form. A limited number of parents will be able to attend the Homer Theatre field trip, so I will select chaperones on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Health Curriculum Notice
Health class begins this week. If you have questions about the content of the class, or do not want your child to participate, please contact Nurse Laura at 235-5788.
Spring Pictures---This Wednesday
Only students who have paid for pictures will get their picture taken on April 16th. If you would like your child's picture to be taken, please send in the Lifetouch picture form. Additional forms are available at the WHE office, if needed.
Thank you!
Girl Scout Summer Camps
Located on over 400 acres near Wasilla.
- Canoeing/Kayaking
- Explore the bog
- Try our 35 foot climbing wall
- Hiking and nature activities
Camp operates June-August
3 Day, 6 Day, and 12 Day Programs Available
Registration Now Open
Check out programs and register online at: http://www.girlscoutalaska.org/programs/camps
907-248-2250
Center for Alaska Coastal Studies Day Camp
June 16 - August 4
Monday- Thursday 9am-4pm
$150
Waking Up to Summer and Gardenin g
WILD about Wildfire
Flowers and Insects
Art and Nature
Trees and Birds
Streams and Fish
Music and Nature
Wilderness Survival
Edible Garden Harvest
907-235-6667
Quarter 4- Sandwich Book Report
Quarter 4 Book Report: Sandwich Report
DUE WEDNESDAY, MAY 14
For the final book report of your fifth grade year you will be creating a multi-layered sandwich. Each layer of the sandwich will cover a different story element. The outline for each of the sandwich pieces (bread, tomato, onion, lettuce…) is provided in the packet that was sent home last Friday. It is your job to insert the story element information onto each of the sandwich pieces. You will also color and cut out each of the sandwich pieces.
Once you have completed all of the sandwich pieces according to the directions below, you will connect your pieces using a hole-punch and yarn. Feel free to ask Mrs. Putney if you want to borrow her hole-punch or use a piece of her yarn.
Title, Author, Genre
Top Bread
Fill in the blanks for the title, author, and genre. Then, draw a picture that represents the cover of the book in the extra space. It can be the actual cover or a cover you invent. Either way, the picture needs to be your original art work.
Setting
Tomato
Describe the setting of your book in as much detail as possible.
Characters
Onion
Describe the main characters of your book. Use picture painting details so that your reader will be able to get a good feel for what the main characters in your book are like.
Conflict (Problem)
Lettuce
What is the problem, complication, or challenge that the main character(s) must solve or overcome? Describe the conflict of your story on the lettuce piece.
Climax
Cheese
Describe the climax of the story. The climax is the point of greatest interest or suspense in the story. It is the turning point in the story where the action reaches its peak.
Solution
Meat
Describe how the main character(s) solve the problem, complication, or challenge and how they story ends.
Author’s Style
Meat
Tell what you liked or didn’t like about the author’s style of writing. Be sure to back up your opinion with examples from the story.
Favorite Part
Bottom Bread
Describe your favorite part of the book. Draw a picture to go along with your description.
On May 14th we will have a Book Celebration. While eating real sandwiches, students will share their completed Sandwich Book Reports. After everyone has presented their book report to the class, students will share their top reads during their fifth grade year. Students will be asked to bring in 1-3 books they read during 5th grade that they absolutely loved. During the party each student will develop a summer reading list. It is my hope that students will find new books they want to read over the summer while listening to their peers share a book that they read and loved.
Happy Reading!
IXL- Math Practice Site
To get your child started on your home computer, please follow these steps:
1. Go to www.IXL.com/signin/westhomer
2. Enter your child’s username and password and click Sign in.
Username: firstinital,lastname@westhomer (EX: eputney@westhomer)
Password:firstinital,lastname (EX: eputney)
3. Choose 5th grade.
4. Find a skill to practice that relates to what we have been covering in class.
IXL Skills to Practice This Week: Multiplying Fractions