Mme Miller and Mme Ottobre are implementing a newsletter for the second semester of the 2015-2016 school year. Please check back for updates about what is going on and upcoming in 5th and 6th grades.

April 9 - 7th Grade Vaccine Forms Due (see below for more information)

April 11 - Ohio's State Test 5th English Language Arts

April 14 - Ohio's State Test 6th English Language Arts

April 15 - Debate Essay due (6th),

April 18 - Opinion Essay Due (5th)

April 22 - Chinese Research Project Due (6th)

April 25 - 7th Grade Vaccinations (6th)

May 3 - Ohio's State Test 6th Math, Quarter 4 Interims go home

May 4 - Ohio's State Test 5th Math

May 5 - Ohio's State Test 6th Social Studies, Columbus Museum of Art Field Trip (5th)

May 6 - Ohio's State Test 5th Science, Inca Research Project Due (5th)

May 17 - 5th Grade MAP testing - Math and English Language Arts

May 18 - 6th Grade MAP testing - Math and English Language Arts

May 20 - Final Book Report Due on Google Slides (5th and 6th)

May 21 - Le Fancy Fair 3-6

May 26 - Bounce Club (6th) 10:00-12:50

May 31 - Field Day - please see letter that went home

June 2 - Last day of School, 6th Grade Promotion

This months Scholastic Reading Club Fliers will go home this week.

They will be due on April 22.

There are multiple ways to order:

1. online at scholastic.com/reading club, put in the class code PJHJ8

2. send in cash and the order and I will place all the orders online

3. send in a check written to Scholastic Reading Club and the order and I will submit the order and send in the check.

All orders earn points towards our class rewards, which can be used to purchase new books for our classroom library. Our classroom library gets quite a lot of use. I want to ensure the students have variety of books available to them :)

Thanks so much for your orders!!

As the end of the school year is rapidly approaching, we are starting to think about the 6th Grade Promotion Celebration.

The celebration will be held on the afternoon of June 2, during the academic school day.

Parent volunteers are needed to make the event a success.

In past years, parents have organized an incredible ceremony for their children: -planning refreshments (cake, drinks, ...); designing programs; -creating slideshows of music and photographs of the sixth grade class; -decorating the venue; -laundering gowns; -and more.

We hope to begin coordinating the event soon.

The contribution of your time and resources will help our students retain fond memories of their many years at Ecole Kenwood. If you would like to volunteer to plan this wonderful event, please email Mme Ottobre at eottobre@columbus.k12.oh.us

We will also be taking the 6th grade on an end of year field trip. We are working out the details and location. If you have any suggestions please email me.

Ohio Law now requires that all students entering the 7th grade in the 2016-2017 school year have Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines.

A form went home on Tuesday, March 8 with information about the vaccines. Columbus Public Health and CCS are working together to provide these vaccines for the 6th graders at school. There is paperwork that needs to be filled out and returned, whether you are choosing to have the vaccines at school or if you are choosing to opt out.

For each form returned (whether or not the student is going to receive the vaccine at school) they will be entered to win a pair of Beats Dre Tour2 Headphones. The winner will be randomly drawn from the group of students that has turned in their paper work. There is one sixth grade winner per school. Since our 6th grade class has only 17 kids, they have a pretty decent shot at free headphones!

If your child has already been vaccinated for Tdap and Meingococcal then please send in shot records with the completed form and I will get that information to our school nurse, Mme Fire.

Forms must be turned in before April 9 at 9:00am in order to be eligible for the headphone drawing. I would be happy to collect them sooner than that. Forms may be submitted after April 9 to receive the vaccine.

The vaccines will be administered to students that signed up for them on April 25.

Please feel free to visit this website for more information: www.columbus.gov/kicksick

This year we have decided to visit the Bounce Club. Please see more information at http://www.thebounceclub.com/

We are set to arrive at 10:30. Students will jump for 1 hour then have lunch for 50 min. The cost provides 4 pizzas and 4 pitchers of soda.

The cost will be $20 per student. This will help cover the cost of the venue and food.

Each student will need to bring the money to Mme Ottobre by May 24. There will also be a waiver going home with the students that must be signed to participate.

French -

• Reading & comprehension
• Agenor & Abelard episodes 4
• Twins in myths

Literature-

• We are finishing writing opinion pieces beginning this week. The assignment is due via Google Docs on April 18.
• Students will have to complete a Final Book Report project. The assignment is due via Google Slides on May 20. There will not be much class time to complete this project, as we will be working on other topics. Please ensure that your student is reading a novel of their choice (minimum of 150 pages). I have sent them the Google Slide template. All they need to do is fill it out with the necessary information from their novel.
• Poetry and short story unit. We will be looking different genres of poetry and short stories over the course of the next few weeks.

Math-

• Chapter 12: Geometry, Lessons 6-9
  
• Multiplying and dividing fractions
• Please ensure your student is completing homework nightly

Science/Health-

• Solar system continued
  
• Individual projects on a planet within the solar system due Wednesday April 27
• Student jigsaw presentations of planet research & slides

Social Studies-

• We will be starting a short unit on the Incas. Please look for a menu or rubric this week on Google Docs

French -

• The News: Students should have selected an article about a current event in Science, written in French. Work will focus on creating quality summaries, drafting & presenting a skit as a newscaster to share the news story they selected with the class in an exciting and dramatic format

Literature-

• Students will have to complete a Final Book Report project. The assignment is due via Google Slides on May 20. There will not be much class time to complete this project, as we will be working on other topics. Please ensure that your student is reading a novel of their choice (minimum of 150 pages). I have sent them the Google Slide template. All they need to do is fill it out with the necessary information from their novel.
• Poetry and short story unit. We will be looking different genres of poetry and short stories over the course of the next few weeks.

Math-

• Chapter 7: Equations
• Essential Question: How do you determine if two numbers or expressions are equal?
• Test on Chapter 7: Tuesday, April 19
• Chapter 8: Functions and Inequalities
• Essential Question: How are symbols such as >, <, and = useful?

Science/Health-

• Mitosis continues... foldable due Wednesday April 27
• Exploring bacteria and mold: good and bad, around us & in our school. Collecting samples and growing cultures to experience cell division in action

Social Studies -

• We will be using this time to prepare for the upcoming state test. Please look for practice packets. They usually have one chapter a week due. Most of this work needs to be done at home.
• Chinese Research Project Due April 22 via Google Slides or a booklet.

French -

• Reading & comprehension
• Agenor & Abelard episodes 3 & 4

Literature-

• We are finishing writing opinion pieces beginning this week. The assignment is due via Google Docs on April 18.
• Students will have to complete a Final Book Report project. The assignment is due via Google Slides on May 20. There will not be much class time to complete this project, as we will be working on other topics. Please ensure that your student is reading a novel of their choice (minimum of 150 pages). I have sent them the Google Slide template. All they need to do is fill it out with the necessary information from their novel.
• Poetry and short story unit. We will be looking different genres of poetry and short stories over the course of the next few weeks.

Math-

• Chapter 12: Geometry, Lessons 2-7
  
• Please ensure your student is completing homework nightly

Science/Health-

• Solar system continued
  
• Individual projects on a planet within the solar system begin this week

Social Studies-

• We will be starting a short unit on the Incas. Please look for a menu or rubric this week on Google Docs

French -

• The News: Students will select an article about a current event, written in French, read the article and respond to prompts to draft a summary before presenting the news to the class

Literature-

• Students will have to complete a Final Book Report project. The assignment is due via Google Slides on May 20. There will not be much class time to complete this project, as we will be working on other topics. Please ensure that your student is reading a novel of their choice (minimum of 150 pages). I have sent them the Google Slide template. All they need to do is fill it out with the necessary information from their novel.
• Poetry and short story unit. We will be looking different genres of poetry and short stories over the course of the next few weeks.

Math-

• Chapter 7: Equations
• Essential Question: How do you determine if two numbers or expressions are equal?
• Test on Chapter 7: Tuesday, April 19
• Chapter 8: Functions and Inequalities
• Essential Question: How are symbols such as >, <, and = useful?

Science/Health-

• Quiz on Cells / Organelles Tuesday April 19
• Modern Cell Theory
• Mitosis

Social Studies -

• We will be using this time to prepare for the upcoming state test. Please look for practice packets. They usually have one chapter a week due. Most of this work needs to be done at home.
• Chinese Research Project Due April 22 via Google Slides or a booklet.

French -

• Oral fluency and expression
• Readings and short dramatizations

Literature-

• We will begin writing opinion pieces beginning this week.
• The final writing assignment will be due on April 15.

Math-

• Chapter 8: Decimals and fractions continued
  
• Please ensure your student is completing homework nightly

Science/Health-

• Physical Science: force, speed, gravity and the solar system
• Brief quiz on the solar system, Tuesday, April 11

Social Studies-

• We will be starting a short unit on the Incas. Please look for a menu or rubric this week.

NOTE: State tests (Ohio AIR) in English Language Arts will take place on the morning of Monday, April 11. Please ensure your student has eaten breakfast, is on-time and gets plenty of rest several days prior to testing.

French -

• Focus on oral fluency and expression
• Readings and short dramatizations

Literature-

• We will be working on writing a debate piece.
• This will be due on April 15.

Math-

• Chapter 7: Equations
• Essential Question: How do you determine if two numbers or expressions are equal.
• We will be working on Lesson 1: Equations, Inquiry Lab: Solve and Write Addition Equations, Lesson 2: Solve and write addition equations

Science/Health-

• What is a cell? Where are cells found? How are plant and animal cells distinct?
• Completing the cell as a factory activity; note-taking; creating a cell foldable; activity stations
• Cell Quiz on Tuesday, April 11

Social Studies -

• We will be using this time to prepare for the upcoming state test.
• We will also begin our China project that was postponed in March.

French -

• -ir verbs
• Reading and text comprehension questions

Literature-

• reading non-fiction articles from newsela.com
• Determine: main idea, evidence, and details.
• Look at content specific vocabulary for the article
• Form an opinion on a topic

Math-

• Multiplying and dividing decimals review (Chapter 6)
  
• Chapter 6 Test Retake on Tuesday, March 15
• Chapter 8: Introducing decimals and fractions
  

Science/Health-

• Monday: Street Smarts with Deputy McDowell
• Physical Science: force, motion, and speed
  

Social Studies-

• We are continuing our Biz Town Unit
• Students were sent home with a request form for volunteers to attend Biz Town with us on March 23
• Each student must return the Photo and Video Permission Slip before we go to Biz Town
• Please note: There will be a research project on the Incas after we have finished our Biz Town Unit.

French -

• -ir verbs
• Reading fictional stories, responding to comprehension questions

Literature-

• reading non-fiction articles from newsela.com
• Determine: main idea, evidence, and details.
• Form an opinion on a topic
• Find more articles that support your thoughts on a given topic

Math-

• We will begin Chapter 6: Expressions
• Essential Question for Chapter 6: How is it helpful to write numbers in different ways?
• We will have a test on Chapter 6 Monday, March 21.
• We have been using Khan Academy in class lately to get more practice on current skills and to review past skills in preparation for the upcoming Ohio's State Test. All students have logins and passwords. You can also put in the parent email so you can see what they are working on and their mastery of different skills. Please encourage them to use this at home, perhaps 10 min a day, or up to an hour a week. You can find the site at https://www.khanacademy.org.

Science/Health-

• Street Smarts with Deputy McDowell
• Introducing the cell
  

Social Studies -

We are continuing our Biz Town Unit

We are also going to work on reviewing Map Skills, Longitude and Latitude

Students were sent home with a request form for volunteers to attend Biz Town with us on March 23

Each student must return the Photo and Video Permission Slip before we go to Biz Town

Please note: There will be a research project on the Ancient China after we have finished our Biz Town Unit.

French -

• -ir verbs
• Reading and text comprehension questions

Literature-

• There is a final test over the books they have been reading on Monday.
• We will be using the books: Inkheart, Lunch Money, and Lawn Boy
• We will be working on reading nonfiction, research, and writing informational/argumentative essay

Math-

• Completing chapter 6: multiplying and dividing decimals
• Test on Wednesday, Chapter 6

Science/Health-

• Monday: Street Smarts with Deputy McDowell
• Tuesday: Columbus Zoo at Kenwood & Momentum presentation for families 2:30-3pm
• Brief study of heat and heat transfer

Social Studies-

• We are continuing our Biz Town Unit
• Students were sent home with a request form for volunteers to attend Biz Town with us on March 23
• Each student must return the Photo and Video Permission Slip before we go to Biz Town
• Please note: There will be a research project on the Incas after we have finished our Biz Town Unit.

French -

• -ir verbs
• Reading fictional stories, responding to comprehension questions

Literature-

• There is a final test over the books they have been reading on Monday.
• We will be using the books: Lawn Boy and Fever, 1793
• We will be working on reading nonfiction, research, and writing an argumentative essay

Math-

• We will begin Chapter 6: Expressions
• Essential Question for Chapter 6: How is it helpful to write numbers in different ways?
• We have been using Khan Academy in class lately to get more practice on current skills and to review past skills in preparation for the upcoming Ohio's State Test. All students have logins and passwords. You can also put in the parent email so you can see what they are working on and their mastery of different skills. Please encourage them to use this at home, perhaps 10 min a day, or up to an hour a week. You can find the site at https://www.khanacademy.org.

Science/Health-

• Street Smarts with Deputy McDowell
• Distinguishing elements from molecules, compounds and mixtures
• Quiz on atoms and elements
• Introducing the cell

Social Studies -

We are continuing our Biz Town Unit

We are also going to work on reviewing Map Skills, Longitude and Latitude

Students were sent home with a request form for volunteers to attend Biz Town with us on March 23

Each student must return the Photo and Video Permission Slip before we go to Biz Town

Please note: There will be a research project on the Ancient China after we have finished our Biz Town Unit.

French -

• -ir verbs

Literature-

• We are continuing to look at literary techniques for characterization, plot, and setting
  
• We will begin analyzing words, sentences, paragraphs, etc. to see how the novel is influenced by the author's choices
• We will be working more on complete responses with text evidence as support
• This week they will have another test on their books, no exact date yet, probably Friday
• We will be using the books: Inkheart, Lunch Money, and Lawn Boy

Math-

• Chapter 6 continued: multiplying and dividing decimals
• Please review these concepts with your students

Science/Health-

• Monday: Street Smarts with Deputy McDowell
• Tuesday: Momentum
• Introducing Light: how it travels, reflection, refraction, etc.
• Light readings, labs & making holograms

Social Studies-

• We are continuing our Biz Town Unit
• Students were sent home with a request form for volunteers to attend Biz Town with us on March 23
• Each student must return the Photo and Video Permission Slip before we go to Biz Town
• Please note: There will be a research project on the Incas after we have finished our Biz Town Unit.

French -

• -er and -ir verbs
• Our study of food waste / food staples around the world continues

Literature-

• We are continuing to look at literary techniques for characterization, plot, and setting
  
• We will begin analyzing words, sentences, paragraphs, etc. to see how the novel is influenced by the author's choices
• We will be working more on complete responses with text evidence as support
• We will be having a test on the books this week, no date yet, probably Wednesday or Friday.
• We will be using the books: Lawn Boy and Fever, 1793

Math-

• We will begin Chapter 6: Expressions
• Essential Question for Chapter 6: How is it helpful to write numbers in different ways?

Science/Health-

• Street Smarts with Deputy McDowell
• Building a model atom
• A closer look at atoms, molecules, compounds and mixtures

Social Studies -

We are continuing our Biz Town Unit

We are also going to work on reviewing Map Skills, Longitude and Latitude

Students were sent home with a request form for volunteers to attend Biz Town with us on March 23

Each student must return the Photo and Video Permission Slip before we go to Biz Town

Please note: There will be a research project on the Ancient China after we have finished our Biz Town Unit.

French -

• reviewing -er verbs endings present tense with songs, games
  
• quiz on -er verbs, present tense
  
• street safety worksheet

Literature-

• We are continuing to look at literary techniques for characterization, plot, and setting
  
• We will begin analyzing words, sentences, paragraphs, etc. to see how the novel is influenced by the author's choices
• We will be working more on complete responses with text evidence as support
• We will be using the books: Inkheart, Lunch Money, and Lawn Boy

Math-

• continuing with Chapter 6: multiplying and dividing decimals

Science/Health-

• Momentum (Monday & Tuesday) - students to dress in pants/leggings and bring tennis shoes
• Studying sound through hands-on experiments, virtual activities, readings and video clips to experience how sound is created, travels, and is interpreted by our body (brief introduction to the anatomy of the ear); quiz on Wednesday
• Introduction to light

Social Studies-

• We are continuing our Biz Town Unit
• Students were sent home with a request form for volunteers to attend Biz Town with us on March 23
• Each student must return the Photo and Video Permission Slip before we go to Biz Town
• Please note: There will be a research project on the Incas after we have finished our Biz Town Unit.

French -

• Le Defi final quiz
• -er verbs present tense & crossword
• street smarts safety handout

Literature-

• We are continuing to look at literary techniques for characterization, plot, and setting
  
• We will begin analyzing words, sentences, paragraphs, etc. to see how the novel is influenced by the author's choices
• We will be working more on complete responses with text evidence as support
• We will be using the books: Lawn Boy and Fever, 1793

Math-

• Chapter 5 Test on Monday, February 22.
• We will begin Chapter 6: Expressions
• Essential Question for Chapter 6: How is it helpful to write numbers in different ways?

Science/Health-

• Street Smarts with Deputy McDowell
• Atoms family notes & activities
• Introduction to the Periodic Table of the Elements

Social Studies -

We are continuing our Biz Town Unit

Students were sent home with a request form for volunteers to attend Biz Town with us on March 23

Each student must return the Photo and Video Permission Slip before we go to Biz Town

Please note: There will be a research project on the Ancient China after we have finished our Biz Town Unit.

French -

• Reading, viewing and interpreting video clips on hearing & sound, including headphone use and volume selection
  
• Creating a comic strip on hearing/hearing loss using -er verbs

Literature-

• We are continuing to look at literary techniques for characterization, plot, and setting
  
• We will begin analyzing words, sentences, paragraphs, etc. to see how the novel is influenced by the author's choices
• We will be using the books: Inkheart, Lunch Money, and Lawn Boy

Math-

• Chapter 6, Lessons 3, 5 & 6 with a focus on multiplying decimals by whole numbers, and other decimal numbers

Science/Health-

• Momentum - students to dress in pants/leggings and bring tennis shoes
• Studying sound through hands-on experiments, virtual activities, readings and video clips to experience how sound is created, travels, and is interpreted by our body (brief introduction to the anatomy of the ear)

Social Studies-

• We are beginning our Biz Town Unit

French -

• Completing our reading of Le Defi (a novel). Answers to chapter questions continue to be due by the following class period
• Friday: Test on Le Defi

Literature-

• We are continuing to look at literary techniques for characterization, plot, and setting
  
• We will begin analyzing words, sentences, paragraphs, etc. to see how the novel is influenced by the author's choices
• We will be using the books: Lawn Boy and Fever, 1793

Math-

• We are finishing up on Chapter 5 about Integers and the Coordinate Plane, there will be a test this week on Chapter 5 (I am not sure of the day at this point, most likely Wednesday or Thursday)

Science/Health-

• Exploring matter with a focus on atoms and molecules through lab activities, data analysis, readings and brief video clips

Social Studies -

• We are beginning our Biz Town Unit

French

• -er verbs, conjugation games & comic strips

Literature

• We are continuing to look at literary techniques for characterization, plot, and setting
  
• All 5th grade will have a test on the novel they have been reading in class on Wednesday and Thursday

Math

• Chapter 7, Lessons 8, 9 & Review & Reflect
  
• Test Wednesday on all of Chapter 7
  
• Review decimals and place value
  

Science/Health

• Street Smarts with Deputy McDowell -- Monday
• COSI visit review & post-test
• SEED wrap-up
• Momentum -- Tuesday
• Introduction to Sound

Social Studies

• We are beginning to look at biased vs unbiased information in preparation for our Inca Research Project - this does not have a due date yet, since we will be interrupted by our work for Biz Town

French

• Le Defi reading, vocabulary and question prompts
  

Literature

• We are continuing to look at literary techniques for characterization, plot, and setting

Math

• We are working on Chapter 5: Integers and the Coordinate Plane

Science

• Wrapping up our study of Motion, Speed, & Distance-Time Graphs
• Introducing Matter & Density

Social Studies

• We are beginning research for our Chinese Research Project - This does not have a due date yet since we will be interrupted by Biz Town and come back to it later.

French

• La Mosaique de Neptune handout
  
• La Terre et le recyclage

Literature

• Studying literary techniques for setting, characters, and plot
• Please look for daily reading, associated questions and vocabulary
• Test on required reading book, Monday, February 7

Math

• Chapter 7 continues; Lessons 2-7; Test next week
• Focus on recognizing patterns and ordered pairs

Science/Health

• Street Smarts with Deputy McDowell -- Monday
• Ecosystem Review
• Momentum -- Tuesday
• COSI preparation & field-trip
  
• Personal Health & Ecology

Social Studies

• Complete Titanic brochure
  

French

• Le Defi reading and question prompts
  

Literature

• Studying literary techniques for setting, characters, and plot
• Please look for daily reading, associated questions and vocabulary

Math

• Studying integers on the coordinate plane

Science

• A closer look at motion and speed: creating and interpreting graphs

Social Studies

• BizTown Prep
  

This year we have started using Google Drive and Documents as a way for students to complete assignments. At times this is a voluntary way for students to do their work instead of doing something handwritten. Other times this is a required way that assignments need to be done (for example, the narrative project). The advantage to using this program is that students are able to access their documents at any time so long as they have access to the internet. It also allows them to practice their typing skills. Once they share their document with their teachers, the teachers can see how they are progressing, make comments and suggestions, and recover lost information. Other advantages to using this medium are, students are less likely to loose their work if it is saved in an electronic format, teachers can assist students throughout the process of the learning, students are becoming more proficient at their typing skills, use as a way to turn things in when they cannot be printed, etc.

We have been using Google Documents for most of second quarter. The students are familiar with out to use this application.

The username for all students is their personal student id # (ex. 123456) and the columbus email tag.

username: 123456@columbus.k12.oh.us

The password is their birthday with dashes (ex. January 9, 2015)

password: 01-09-2015

Students should share their documents with their teacher using the emails below.

Mme Ottobre: erinottobre@gmail.com