La Lectura
As our literacy unit, Cambios, is coming to an end, we spend the week going back and reviewing/assessing the main objectives seen this unit (please refer back to previous newsletter for specific objectives). We also spent our week reflecting on our growth, discussing our favorite moments and topics covered, and developing our individual end of the unit projects. Students were asked to select an area of interest and work on a mini-research project to contribute to our class. Presentations will be held on Monday ,October 29th at 12:45. Families are welcome to attend!
Ciencias
This week, students constructed terrestrial ecosystems in the classroom. They made predictions of how the organisms will interact. They will observe them over time to understand their behavior in this controlled environment, and see if their prediction were accurate. They are using a group scientific log to observe, describe, and monitor changes in biotic and abiotic factors.
Mathematics
This week we continued working on Chapter 3 Multiplying and Dividing Fractions and Decimals. Our objectives were:
- Solve real-world problems involving fractions and decimals
- Divide a whole number or a decimal by a decimal
History & Geography
This week we continued learning about Ancient Greece and Rome. Our objectives were:
- Recognize mythology and early Greek philosophy as ways of explaining natural phenomena
- Explain the beliefs of Socrates and his role in Athenian society, his use of dialogue (the Socratic method), and his trial
- Recognize the painting The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David
English Writing & Spelling
Our objectives for writing were:
- Begin revising our writing using DARE
- Understand how and when to Delete part of our writing
- Understand how and when to Add parts to our writing
- Understand how and when to Rearrange parts of our writing
- Understand how and when to Exchange parts of our writing (rocking beginnings)
Our Greek and Latin roots this week were:
- Dict- to say or speak
- doc – to teach
- Cycle- circle
- Dem, pop- people
Specialists
Art with Ms. Kelly
The fifth and sixth graders have been working all month on a paper mâché vase made with balloons, paper cups, newsprint, etc. The vases are looking very creative and sculptural, and the students still need to finish up the painting part. Hopefully we can finish this project on Halloween!
In the meantime, the students have made some beautiful still life drawings, and also black glue paintings of pumpkins. Tamra’s mom Barbara has brought in several pumpkins from her garden, and she has been so helpful every Wednesday with the 5th/6th grade class. I’ll put some of the pumpkin paintings on the bulletin board soon.
In a couple weeks I’ll be sending home some of the students’ artwork that they’ve made so far. Instead of using portfolios this year, I decided it would be nice for the families to enjoy the artwork throughout the year. I really enjoy working with this creative class, most of whom I’ve known since they were K/1 students at SWS!
Music with Ms. Erin
In October we learned about half steps, whole steps, and how to use those steps to construct major and minor triads. We learned about the marimba, xylophone, and played the glockenspiel. We also worked on composing melodies, and adding harmonies to those melodies.
In November we will learn about accompaniment, and how it is used to complement melody. We will see how accompaniment is used in various styles, and with different instruments – classical music (piano accompanist, orchestra with soloist); rock/pop (guitar, piano, or full band); and jazz (band supporting soloists). We will watch famous classical musicians such as Itzhak Perlman, Hilary Hahn, and Olga Kern perform as soloists with orchestra, playing music by Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Rachmaninov.
We will build our own accompaniment to the melodies and harmonies we composed in October.