Fifth Grade Newsletter
March 2016
Reading/Language Arts
This month, Mrs. Tascillo's class has completed their study of fantasy work in literature pieces. We have dissected the American classic "The Walrus and the Carpenter" as well as concluded our work with The Phantom Tollbooth. We continue to work on writing traits "Ideas" and "Organization" and using new spelling and vocabulary words accurately in writing. Additionally, we are continuing with our study on Latin roots and prefixes and their correct meanings and applications. Coming up, we will be reading the prize-winning novel The Old Man and the Sea as we prepare for our trip to Sea Camp. Students will learn all about Ernest Hemingway and what a Pulitzer Prize means, as well as how to win one. Students are very excited to "dive" right into their new novel!
In Ms. Casale's class, students are continuing to study the Westing Game to improve their skills in analysis, drawing conclusions, and making inferences. They're enjoying acting as detectives to solve the mystery! In language arts, we work on accuracy in grammar daily in isolation to improve grammar and sentence structure in our writing. Students have learned how to write an effective introduction, body and conclusion of an essay, and will continue to practice in the third trimester while incorporating all the traits of writing.
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Junior Achievement - Biztown
The trip would not have been possible without our amazing parent volunteers--Liz Becker, Caroline Perloff, Sharon Kaplan, and Boris Tabak. We cannot thank you enough for making this event a success!
Hebrew
During the joyful month of Adar, our students will welcome Purim with holiday songs and dance, will review the main Mitzvot and Minhagim of the holiday, and will recite the blessings before reading the Megilah. Our students will also compare and contrast Haman with Amalek, by comparing the text of the Megilah story to other sources in the Bible. They will also discuss similar stories in Jewish and world history and will explore what can be done today in order to defy hatred and intolerance to others.
Following the holiday, our 5th grade students will continue working on our movie project by adding more written content to their part and practicing reading and speaking of their role.
Chag Purim Sameach!
Torah
In our Torah class we will be investigating Parashat Beshalch. The students will describe different events and miracles that occurred at several places during Bnai- Israel’s early wandering in the Sinai desert. The students will discover how these events demonstrate the special relationship between G-d and Bnai- Israel. Students will explore the sequence of events and will discover that in each of the stories there is a similar cycle of events that take place.
For home work, the students should review Parashat Beshalch vocabulary using flash cards on their Study Stack game. We will continue to write a D'var Torah on weekly Parasha and, in addition to Torah study, we will celebrate the holiday of Purim with food, fun, and joyful activities!
Spanish
After celebrating our unit about comidas y bebidas (foods and beverages) with such a delicious fun activity, students will be working on reviewing concepts necessary to transition into middle school Spanish. They will review phrases for greeting people and saying good bye, introducing themselves and others, and saying where they are from. They will work on activities for Purim as well.
Mandarin
Exploratorium
Students have been offered a rich science experience that integrates core content areas with technology and engineering. This month students will have the opportunity to explore STEM challenges that allow students to create, construct, estimate, and invent.