Rockhopper Reminders: May 2014

Rockhopper Reminders
May News


Mark Your Calendars:
Wednesday, May 6th: Fifth grade math unit 6 test on operations with decimals
Wednesday, May 7th: Kitchen Science due
Thursday, May 8th: Geography Test
Friday, May 16th: Learning Day- No School
Monday, May 26th: Memorial Day- No School
Wednesday, May 28th: Open House!

Curriculum Flash!
Language Arts:
In addition to wrapping up our Dear Mr. Henshaw literature unit, this month in language arts, students are writing essays about their science camp experience and continuing to strengthen their knowledge of our global community. We have been reading and writing about current events both locally and around the world.

Math:
4th grade:
We are continuing to strengthen our understanding of fractions through games, visual models, and hands-on activities. We have explored equivalent fractions, common denominators, and adding fractions together using pattern blocks, iPads, and geoboards. We will cover mixed numbers, improper fractions, and relate fractions to decimals as we move forward.

5th grade:
In geometry we will do a quick review of concepts and vocabulary learned in fourth grade and immediately delve in the fifth grade standards. We will learn to figure out perimeter and area of complex figures; we will explore ways to figure out the area of a parallelogram and triangle. Problem solving will continue to be an ongoing activity related to geometry.

Social Studies
We finally made it to 50 states! The next geography test will be on May 8th and it will not require students to write all the states, but they will be required to KNOW all the states. Students will be given a US map and will be asked to identify any 10 states, their abbreviations, and their capitals, in addition to the 5 new ones. Currently they are working hard on their 13 Colonies website hopefully trying to demonstrate their understanding of how studying the past makes it possible for us to understand the human story across time. Please be aware that students may need to use a computer at home to work on their websites if they are falling behind, or, are responding to feedback. For the upcoming Open House, students will share their sites with you in a unique interactive manner. To keep the element of surprise, we will not share further details with you, however, an area that we request you to help your child with is to create a costume for the character they have chosen to be living in the 16th century- they could be slaves, indentured servants, colonists, native Americans, or a famous leader. They will have to go on the internet to research the kind of clothes people wore in the colonial era, and make a costume for themselves. Their costumes are due on Monday, May 19. We look forward to readying ourselves for Open House and presenting our knowledge of the period when the 13 Colonies were established.

Science:
We will be busy gearing up for Open House this month! Students will be working in pairs to research a natural element and create a commercial presentation! Students will be introduced to the project tomorrow! Please stay tuned; you will see the final presentation on the night of Open House (May 28th)!


Mystery State Clues:
The geographic center of North America can be found in this state.
The most rural of the U.S. states, farms cover 90 percent of its land.
Explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark wintered in this state in 1804-1805.
Among all U.S. states, this state has the third-smallest population.
Fargo is this state's most populated city.
Which state is it?