5th Grade
Keefe, Kingsley & Ward
Upcoming Events
November 16-20th- Book Fair (see below for dates and times)
November 16th-19: Fall Conferences
November 19th: Spelling Packet Due
December 11th: Christmas Clearing Coucinl Gifts due
Christmas Clearing Council
The holidays are just around the corner! Horizon will be spreading the holiday cheer by helping out families in need. Each grade level will be responsible for two children. Fifth grade is sponsoring a 13 year old girl who wants to be writer when she grows up. She is the oldest and has three younger siblings. She loves music and singing. The other child we are sponsoring is a 10 year old boy who loves football; his favorite team is the Packers! He has three sisters. Below you will find gift ideas.
If you choose to donate, please bring gifts by December 11th. We ask that you do not wrap anything, just label the age and boy or girl. If you would like to make a money donation, gifts will be purchased from them with money collected.
Thank you in advance for your thoughtful giving and making a child's holiday a little bit brighter.
For Christmas she is wishing for:
- Clothes size 10/12 in women's
- A radio
- Pens & Pencils
- Slippers
- Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
- Fuzzy blanket
- PJ's
- Nail Polish
For Christmas he is wishing for:
- Football anything (football, hats, shirts (size large), cards)
- Packer anything! (jersey)
- Movies
- Athletic pants (size 10/12)
- Socks
Book Fair
The Book Fair will once again be taking place in the Horizon Cafeteria during the week of Fall Conferences. It will be open Monday, November 16th- Thursday, November 19th from 9:00 am - 8:00 pm. Then again on Friday, November 20th from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Proceeds will be used to purchase books for reading programs, classrooms, authors visits, and more!
Also there are quite a few time spots that need a parent volunteer. All volunteers will get a voucher for $6 to use at the Horizon Book Fair for volunteering. Here is a link to sign up to volunteer.
Reading
Partner reading is going well. Goals are being achieved and reinforcing concepts are being written before we begin our second book.
We are focusing on understanding and interpreting a story and as readers, paying attention to:
* theme: What is the central idea or message? We know that it is often inferred, there is a central idea or message and a book can have more than one theme.
* characters: their traits, motivations, relationships, life lessons
* plot: How do events that happen later connect to earlier ones?
* setting: Mood, changes, how does the setting affect characters?
* repeating objects: Why is that object spotlighted? Does it stand for something?
Small strategy groups are beginning to reinforce concepts and we are building our reading goals. We will be discussing this at our conference time. Have you signed up?
Writing
The next spelling packet is due next week Thursday, November 19.
Math
This past week students spent their time finalizing their Google Site, personal goals, and growth mindset reflections for their student led conferences. They are looking forward to sharing these with you during their conference. Also we took time this week learning how to write checks and balance a checkbook. Ask your child what real-world skills they learned through this activity. Check out the video!
Next week students will be using visual models to understand why multiplying fractions works. Although the standard algorithm is easy for students to grasp, we are purposely not focusing on it. Using visual models students are able to focus on the math rather than merely the procedural steps. Take a look at the Unit 3 webpage for helpful videos, practice (more to come) and activities (more to come).
Also during this unit, students will be using their knowledge of multiplying fraction to alter the serving size of a Chex® Mix recipe. Please take a look at the recipe, and let me know if there are any allergy concerns that you might have for your child. Also, if there is a substitute I could use, please let me know. I would like every child to participate in this activity.
Social Studies
Science
Our scientists worked in lab groups to observe close up the role of worms in decomposition. We took some worms out of their worm habitat in our classroom, moved them into a cup with a few slices of cucumber, and observed them over the course of the week.
Meanwhile, students are also researching worms - their anatomy, role, and other facts - to make a worm poster. The opportunity to earn a 4 in science was given this week (this is optional). The project will be Monday, November 23. Here is copy of the requirements for this project .