Writing: Students have taken a dive into the literary essay and are in the process of sifting through their chosen text and collecting evidence to support their thesis statements. Tomorrow, students will begin drafting their literary essay. During drafting, students will be using their organizers to refer to their thesis statement and supports and crafting thoughtful paragraphs that combine essay, narrative and opinion writing elements. Repetition and revisiting your thesis statements has been a huge emphasis during our workshop. Rereading your thesis statement and supports helps writers stay focused on their claim and keep evidence relevant to supports.
Reading: Students have been reading nonfiction texts on European explorers during the Age of Exploration and practicing both note-taking and summarizing. A presentation on a chosen explorer is the “finish line” to this nonfiction reading unit. By summarizing information and presenting it to an audience, students are putting into practice the information they have gathered through reading, note-taking and summarizing. Currently, in honor of Black History Month, students have also been reading about various African American figures, their background, and their accomplishments and effects on American history. This informational reading is linked with reflecting on a spoken quote by the figure. Students are working to create a brief written piece on their chosen leader and a quote spoken by him or her. Students selected quotes from a variety of people such as Coretta Scott-King, Thurgood Marshall, Jay-Z, and Michelle Obama. Fantasy Book Clubs will begin next week!
Math: Our mathematicians have been working hard to master the skills of finding a common denominator, identifying an improper fraction, renaming an improper fraction to a mixed number, and comparing fractions. Strategies for finding a common denominator include the Quick Common Denominator (QCD) that is the product of the denominators, and listing multiples of both denominators until a least common denominator is found. This unit focuses on these skills, along with addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers.
Social Studies: Our European Explorers unit is approaching its end as we hear from students on their chosen explorer and his accomplishments and discoveries. During social studies, we have conducted a reenactment of the Columbian Exchange. Students were assigned to the “Old World” (Europe) or the “New World” (the Americas) and given an item that was traded or exchange during the age of exploration. Students learned about their item and how it could affect its recipient in a new land. Items included indigo, cotton, quinine, tobacco, gold, corn and horses/livestock, iron edged tools, gunpowder, malaria, and small pox.
Looking ahead, we will study the original 13 colonies and in science, electricity and magnetism!
Reading: Students have been reading nonfiction texts on European explorers during the Age of Exploration and practicing both note-taking and summarizing. A presentation on a chosen explorer is the “finish line” to this nonfiction reading unit. By summarizing information and presenting it to an audience, students are putting into practice the information they have gathered through reading, note-taking and summarizing. Currently, in honor of Black History Month, students have also been reading about various African American figures, their background, and their accomplishments and effects on American history. This informational reading is linked with reflecting on a spoken quote by the figure. Students are working to create a brief written piece on their chosen leader and a quote spoken by him or her. Students selected quotes from a variety of people such as Coretta Scott-King, Thurgood Marshall, Jay-Z, and Michelle Obama. Fantasy Book Clubs will begin next week!
Math: Our mathematicians have been working hard to master the skills of finding a common denominator, identifying an improper fraction, renaming an improper fraction to a mixed number, and comparing fractions. Strategies for finding a common denominator include the Quick Common Denominator (QCD) that is the product of the denominators, and listing multiples of both denominators until a least common denominator is found. This unit focuses on these skills, along with addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers.
Social Studies: Our European Explorers unit is approaching its end as we hear from students on their chosen explorer and his accomplishments and discoveries. During social studies, we have conducted a reenactment of the Columbian Exchange. Students were assigned to the “Old World” (Europe) or the “New World” (the Americas) and given an item that was traded or exchange during the age of exploration. Students learned about their item and how it could affect its recipient in a new land. Items included indigo, cotton, quinine, tobacco, gold, corn and horses/livestock, iron edged tools, gunpowder, malaria, and small pox.
Looking ahead, we will study the original 13 colonies and in science, electricity and magnetism!