5/6 Week 4

by | Sep 28, 2018 | In The Loop

La Lectura

Students during shared reading.

The focus of Literacy this week was on historical fiction. We read the selection Las casi siempre verdaderas aventuras the Homer P. Figg, by  Rodman Philbrick. It was such a moving story from the perspective of a 12 year old child who has to deal with very challenging life events. Students did a great job making meaningful connections and participating in the analysis of the text. Some of the objectives this week included:

  • Identify key characteristics of historical fiction.
  • Cite relevant evidence from the text to make contributions to our discussions.
  • Accurately answer comprehension questions in written form. Share answers.
  • Describe how a particular story or the plot of a text takes place in a series of episodes.
  • Describe how the characters respond or change as the plot unfolds
  • Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter or scene fits the overall structure in a text and how it contributes to the development of the theme, setting or plot.
  • Correctly use the written accent according to the tonic accent in words at the grade level applying a systematic analysis. (Palabras graves)
  • Identify subject and predicate in a sentence.
  • Correctly use commas and conjunctions in a sentence or paragraph.

We were so busy this week we run out of time for our book club discussion (this usually takes place on Fridays), so we will be having this on Monday. Be ready to participate! Also, be ready for our grammar quiz!

Students during shared reading.

 

 

 

Ciencias

Collecting twigs for our milkweed bug habitats.

During this investigation, students raise milkweed bugs in a supportive habitat to study the insect’s reproductive biology. The information from this study is used to study milkweed-bug population dynamics in future studies. Students are introduced to adult milkweed bugs in petri dishes. Students observed the milkweed bugs carefully and discussed their notables characteristics. Students followed directions of how to create and habitat for our milkweed bugs. They will be recording their observations during the next couple weeks. .

Students closely following step by step directions of “how to make a bug habitat” in Spanish!

 

Mathematics

This week we finished our first math chapter! Our objectives were:

  • the cube of a number a is a x a x a
  • the cube root of a number a is the number whose cube is a
  • review concepts learned during this chapter
  • demonstrate understanding on the chapter test

History & Geography

This week we complete our unit on World Deserts and began our unit on Ancient Greece and Rome. Our objectives were:

  • review the information learned this chapter by playing Quiz Show
  • complete the unit test
  • understand the social organization of Greek City-States that share a common language and religion
  • identify tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, and democracy as early forms of Greek government

English Writing & Spelling

Our objectives for writing were:

  • understand how and when to use transition words in paragraphs
  • know and use the 4 types of closing sentences at the end of paragraphs
  • take the paragraph/sentence quiz
  • know the 6 steps of the writing process

Our Greek and Latin Roots this week were:

  • bio: life
  • capit/cipit: head
  • carne: meat/flesh
  • ceipt/ cept/ ceit/ ceiv: to take hold/seize

Our greek and latin roots quiz is on Monday!

Specialists

Music

In September we worked on rhythm – note and rest counting, recognition, writing, and playing. We reviewed the dynamics that we learned last year, ranging from very soft (Pianissimo) to very loud (Fortissimo). We practiced working together in groups to carry a beat, and how write out rhythm patterns by ear.
In October we will delve into tonality by singing melodies, introducing harmony, and identifying major and minor chords. We will connect rhythm and melodic elements by playing the xylophone. We will also review vocal ranges Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, and Bass; and we will improve melodic and harmonic singing skills.