Christmas spirit is in the air in Ms. Alley's classroom! We will decorate our classroom, listen to Christmas music, and start the novel, A Christmas Carol.
This past week we finished up our division unit and science unit over weather. This week we will move on to new units and work on our explorer research paper.
Religion:
We will begin chapter 6.
Reading:
We will begin reading, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This novel has 5 "staves" or chapters. After we finish a stave, I show that part to them in the new Christmas Carol movie with Jim Carey. We discuss similarities and differences and it is fun for them to pick out details that they read about in the book. This is a very challenging book, but the kids also enjoy it!
We will be completing some reading comprehension activities to help strengthen the children’s comprehension skills. This will be very similar to what they will complete in the reading comprehension part of the ITBS. I will be sending this home for you to see after I finish looking over them.
We will complete another issue of Scholastic News.
We will be reading many books about volunteering to help prepare for our study trip to Harvesters on Wednesday when we give back to our community by volunteering at the food shelter.
Math:
We will start chapter 5, Fractions, Decimals, and Percents. We are back to the normal routine of SMJ and SL (no more division worksheets).
The kids have until Tuesday to turn in any chapter 4 assignments that they want to correct. Their division test will be returned on Monday.
Social Studies:
The kids have been working VERY hard on their 80 note cards.
This week, the kids will learn what a bibliography is and why they need to include it in their research paper. Please make sure that they have all of their sources with them next week. We will complete their bibliographies on Monday and Tuesday. The kids need to have their final copy of their bibliography typed, so they will be asked to take them home to type them. The typed bibliography is due on Wednesday. Please make sure to save it on the computer your child types it on, as the format of a bibliography is very complicated and they may need to go back and make changes.
This week we will also be working on organizing their paper into paragraphs. The kids will also learn what an outline is and the importance of an outline when writing a research paper. The kids will write their own outline. The typed outline is due on Friday. They will need to type this outline at home as well.
Science:
We will start our science unit over the classification of animals. We will study the system to classify all living things (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.)
Vocabulary:
There is a vocabulary test on Friday.
FYI:
· I am missing a book that I checked out from Mid-Continent Library. It is called, Weather. The author is Seymour Simon. The kids used them for science literature circles and I guess that a child borrowed it to read it again at home. Now it is missing. Please check your child’s backpack and your house to make sure it is not there. My late fee charge is starting to add up. L
· Study trip to Harvesters on Wednesday, November 30th. Let me know if you would like to come and help us volunteer!
· No school on December 8th.
Table Talk Questions:
1. Ask your child about the books we have been reading about volunteering and the homeless. Have a conversation about Kansas City and how they can help the many people in need. Also discuss the study trip to Harvesters. How did “giving back to the community” make them feel?
2. Discuss Stave One of a Christmas Carol. Have them describe what Marley looks like. Talk about their favorite part of Stave 1.
Have a wonderful week! It is getting COLD out! It wouldn’t hurt to send a hat and gloves for the kids to keep in their locker just in case they forget them in the mornings.
-Ms. Alley
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