January Updates

January 2018 Updates

Important Dates

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018: Topic Sheet is due with parent signature.
Friday, Jan. 19, 2018: Final day to change science fair topic.
Monday, Jan. 22, 2018: List of Materials is due.
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018: Hypothesis (Experiment) or purpose (Model or Demonstration) is due.
Monday, Jan. 29, 2018: Procedure (Experiment) or Subtopics (Model or Demonstration) is due.
Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2018: Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018: References and Research are due.
Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018: Unit 3 Test, part 2
Friday, Feb. 2, 2018: A board is given to students who have completed all assignments. (Board Colors are first come, first serve, random selection.)
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018: Science Fair Boards are due by 9:00 AM.
                                            Science Fair is 6:00- 7:30 PM.

Forget Me Not Dates 

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018: Field Trip, Healthy Hearts 101 Workshop @ St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ypsilanti
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018: NWEA Reading, Session I, 2:00 PM (Lab A)
Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2018: NWEA Math, Session I, 9:00 AM (Lab A)
Monday, Jan. 29, 2018: NWEA Reading, Session II, 9:00 AM (Lab A)
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018: NWEA Math, Session II, 9:00 AM (Lab A)
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018: Early release day, Elementary schools 1:31 PM
Friday, Feb. 9, 2018: Talent Show, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, Feb. 14, Valentines day, card exchange, 10:00 AM (Optional)
Friday, Feb. 16, 2018: No School, mid Winter break
Monday, Feb, 19, 2018: No School, Mid Winter break

Subjects at a Glance

Math: Unit 3,  part II: adding unlike denominators with fraction tiles, fraction of a fraction and fraction word stories. Students will review division of fractions.
Language Arts
                 Reading: Students are studying historical fiction as well as mood and tone.
                 Writing: Students will continue our study of how to expand writing with details as we write posthumous letters to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. about the progress of equality in America. Students will video tape their comments and post on the blog. Students will begin their study of persuasive writing in early February.
                 Word Study: Students will review parts of speech as well as students will begin studying                                          Greek and Latin roots. Students are learning symbolism.
Social Studies: Students are learning the positive and negative impact of the Columbian Exchange and the Age of Exploration.
Science: Students learned the difference between a scientific method experience and a demonstration experiment: independent variable, dependent variable, and constant. Students will continue our study of matter. We will also study the heart and the cardiovascular system.

Science Fair

Students were given permission to complete either a scientific method, research or demonstration model project. The purpose of the science fair is to learn how to plan long term projects as well as showcase science knowledge. Students will be graded based upon execution of the type of project, effort, neatness, knowledge presented and required parts. Students are not required to attend the science fair; however, attendance is recommended. During the science fair, students will have an opportunity to explain and showcase their projects.

Winter Survival 

Winter Survival was a success. We had one of the warmest days in early January of 2018. Every group was able to gather wood, build the fire and cook their meal. Students learned how to barter for scarce items. There were only a few students who complained of cold feet due to one layer of socks and uninsulated boots. To add to all of our successes, our class made history and earned a perfect clean up score.

Valentine's Day Card Exchange

Students will drink milk or juice and feasting on cookies while reading classmates card exchanges.
Please plan ahead for the card exchange. If a student desires to participate, he or she must bring one for every student in the class. If a student does not bring one for every student, he or she forfeits one's participation. There are no exceptions to this rule. I will send home a list of the first names only of classmates via email.