December
5th Grade News
As the weather gets colder and the days become “shorter”,
sometimes it becomes difficult to maintain energy and a positive
attitude toward school work. Our jobs are to be the constant in the students’ lives to guide them through their challenges. We all need to remember that family and well-being come first. We wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.
Mrs. Barrios, Mrs. Calabretta, Mrs. Finn, Mrs. Hogan, Ms. Maloney
December Curriculum Connections
Reading / Writing
Grade 5 Benchmark Curriculum
Reading:
In Benchmark, students are wrapping up a fictional unit where the focus was on character relationships. Students were taught reading skills including summarizing, main idea, theme, compare and contrast, character traits, plot, and inferencing skills. Students were also introduced to figurative language concepts like hyperbole.
Writing:
In writing, students have taken what they learned about character and plot development from their Benchmark texts to write their own narratives using the same characters from the stories we have been reading in class.
Enriched Literacy Curriculum
Students will engage in reading and writing experiences with the highly motivating genre of fantasy. Students will participate in literature circles by reading a fantasy novel of their choice for the next 4 weeks. We will also be reading and studying fantasy picture books and novels, paying special attention to how authors create descriptive settings of fantastical worlds, magical characters, and believable events in preparation to write an original fantasy story.
Right before winter break, we will read a Junior Great Book selection about perseverance and persistence. Using this selection, we will continue to develop our close reading and analytical skills, participate in discussion models, and respond to text in writing.
Math
In module 3 students will engage in adding and subtracting fractions. Students will add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators by replacing different fractional units with an equivalent fraction or like unit. To begin we will use a rectangular fractional model because it is useful for creating small units by means of partitioning. Be sure to ask your students about the homework and homework helpers that correspond with each lesson. These are a great resource to monitor your child's progress as many of the strategies and vocabulary terms are new. You can access the parent tip sheets digitally on the Great Minds Website.
Grade 5 / 6 Compacted Math
Module 1 of grade 6 Eureka Math introduces the concepts of ratio and rate. Their previous experience solving problems involving multiplicative comparison serves as the conceptual foundation for understanding ratios as a multiplicative comparison of two or more numbers used in quantities or measurement. They will begin by developing an intuitive understanding of equivalent ratios by using tape diagrams to explore possible quantities when one of the quantities is given.
Science / Social Studies
Students will investigate the structure and properties of matter. We will engage in hands on experiments to reinforce the law of conservation of matter.
Social Studies
Students will describe the varied ways multiple groups of people resisted enslavement, including in Maryland. They will also learn how people responded to the work of abolitionists, including those who were pro-enslavement.
Calendar Reminders
- December 5 PTA General Meeting 6:30pm
- December 6 Talent Show Interest Meeting for students 8:30am
- December 13 Walking Wednesday 8:00-10:00am
- December 18-22 McNair Spirit Week
- December 25-January 2 Winter Break
Fifth Grade's Favorite Festive Films:
Mrs. Finn and Mrs. Hogan: Elf
Mrs. Barrios: Home Alone
Ms. Maloney: Christmas Story
Mrs. Calabretta: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
How to Contact Us
Mrs. Calabretta: Anne_K_Calabretta@mcpsmd.org
Mrs. Finn: Kirsten_Finn@mcpsmd.org
Mrs. Hogan: Kerri_E_Hogan@mcpsmd.org
Ms. Maloney: Kristen_M_Maloney@mcpsmd.org