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Language Arts
·         In language arts class this week, we worked more on making inferences, understanding what we read, highlighting key details, and briefly summarizing new knowledge.
·         We also worked on finishing our first drafts of our writer’s workshop stories.  Next week we’ll be revising, editing, sharing, and publishing!


Science
·         In science class, we continued working on research skills.  We spent quite a bit of time learning to search for information and evaluate websites for quality.  We also practiced taking notes (through highlighting) when online.
·         Next week, we’ll be working on:
              o  science fair procedures
       o   hypothesis
       o   materials lists

Social Studies
·         We learned how Sir Walter Raleigh lost a lot of money when the colony he funded (Roanoke) failed.  In fact, the Roanoke colony is known as the Lost Colony today.
·         We learned the difference between Sole Proprietors and Joint Stock Companies.  As part of a game, we made our own colonies, decided whether to use a joint stock company or sole proprietor to fund the colony, and created colony goals.  Then our colonies learned their fate: some were attack by natives.  Some traded with natives.  Others grew lots of crops and made money, while some colonies went hungry.  In the end, most of our colonies did not make much of a profit, but also did not suffer big financial losses.  A few colonies did end the game without any money, and one colony struck it rich!  5th graders, share with your parents how your colony did, and whether or not your choice to be part of a joint stock company (or be a sole proprietor) was a wise choice.
·         We also played a simulation about Jamestown.  In this activity, we needed to select a smart settlement location, determine how to interact with the Powhatan Indians, plant crops, and decide who would do the work.  We learned how the different choices we made affected the success of our colony.

Language Arts:
·         We learned about inferences.  After discussing how and why we infer in everyday life, we practiced inferring while reading.  Finally, we wrote paragraphs that require the reader to infer.  Check out samples of our work by visiting the “Author’s Spotlight” page of this site.
·         We continued learning how to “show, not tell” in our writing.  There are also student samples of show, not tell on the Author’s Spotlight page.
·         We discussed how to find quality web sites when researching.
·         Many students finished the first draft of their writers’ workshop story.

Social Studies:
·         We continued working on our Discovery Scrapbooks during computer lab time.
·         Due to science fair activities, we did not have regular social studies this week.

Science:
·         We finalized our science investigation questions.
·         We began learning how to use keywords when on search engines.
·         We learned about the stages of the scientific method (and how even the Mythbusters follow this method)!
·         We evaluated websites according to their value as research sources.

Language Arts:
We’re in the midst of our first unit, “The Role of Readers and Writers,” and the students are doing a great job.  This past week, we learned:
·        What types of entries we might write in our writers’ notebooks 
(wondering lists, sensory observations, writing from the heart, etc.)
·        How to respond positively to our peers’ writing
·        How to choose a “just right” book
·        Keeping a record of our book choices
·        Genres of books
·        Fiction vs. nonfiction
·        Buzzing about books
·        Using text clues to support our ideas
·        Thinking as we read
·        Rereading with fluency and expression (prosody)

Science:
In science, we continued our problem-solving skills as we tackled an online physics-based problem.  We discussed cause and effect, and predicted the outcome of virtual structures we built.  In addition, the students modified their work based on their results.  5th graders, show off your skill at: http://magic.pen.fizzlebot.com/magic-pen.swf.

Social Studies:
How did the first Americans get to North America?  They walked, of course!  After discussing several possible ways the natives may have arrived in America, we learned that scientists studied artifacts and believe that:
·        The first Americans were hunters.
·        They followed the woolly mammoth across a land bridge that connected Russia and Alaska.
·        The land bridge (called Beringia) is now under a body of water called the Bering Strait.
·        As the woolly mammoth went extinct, the first Americans had to adapt.  They grew crops, hunted smaller animals, and began to build settlements.
·        A group of Native Americans, called the Mound builders, buried various objects in large mounds of earth.  By studying these artifacts (objects from long ago), we can learn about their culture.

Math:
We began switching for math this week.  All classes are heterogeneously grouped, and we will cluster group within classes based on each unit’s inventory data.  In addition to taking the place value and whole number computation inventory this week, we also began working on math fact fluency, problem solving, communication skills, and introductory place value concepts.

This week, we discussed our hopes and dreams for our lives.  Some of our classmates hope to play in the little league world series, become a marine biologist, go to Penn State, work for the FBI, become an author, and much more!  We discussed how school is a place to learn all the tools we’ll need to achieve our hopes and dreams.  Then, we talked about what our goals are for this school year.  Some people want to feel more comfortable with math, some kids want to meet new friends, and others want to become more responsible and organize.  In order to be certain that all students can reach their hopes and dreams, we create a set of expectations, or a class constitution.  We’ll be finalizing this document next week, so check back to see our final draft!

We also spent a lot of time working on our teamwork and problem solving skills.  In the highest structure challenge, one team built a tower out of ONLY straws, toothpicks, and paper that was self-standing and reached over 40 centimeters high!  More importantly, every team did a fantastic job listening to their peers, including all members, and sharing their ideas.  Those important skills will allow the students to succeed in math, science, language arts, and social studies.  Well done, 5th grade!

We also completed a math challenge called “Petals Around the Rose.”  The students kept records of the outcomes and created lists of questions as we worked on the activity.  They worked in small groups to discuss their ideas until they were able to uncover the pattern or rule for the game.  Congratulations to all the students who achieved “Ruler of the Rose” status during this challenge.  (Want to play the game with your parents?  Check it out here: http://illuminations.nctm.org/Lessons/Petals/Petals.htm.) 

In math we also created surveys, collected data, and made pictographs to represent our classes likes and dislikes.  These pictographs will be hanging in the hallway for parents to view at Back-to-School night on September 16th.

In language arts, we began talking about strategies readers and writers use.  This includes picking a “just-right” book, discussing what we’re reading, reading for a sustained amount of time, and telling stories orally.  We also began to discuss the purpose of a writer’s notebook.  The students personalized their notebooks, and I learned so much about their personality through this activity!  I can’t wait to read what they write inside!

 This was a great first week, and I’m really looking forward to week two! 

This is an exciting year for both students and teachers at East Vincent.  We'll be welcoming many, many new students, as redistricting occurred over the summer.  We're so happy to welcome all the new students!

This year, we'll learn how to discuss literature, become authors, think like scientists, and analyze history.  But first, we'll be spending this week getting to know one another, developing a community of respectful learners, learning to work in cooperative groups, and discovering how readers select and share good books for their personal interests.

Stay tuned for more updates!