5th Grade Families, 

They’re almost 6th graders!

Mrs. Henceroth, Mrs. Jackson, & Ms. Tran

Important Dates & Reminder

• Thursday, May 16th:  Reading SOL test
• Monday, May 27th:  Memorial Day-No School
• Reminder: Please do not send soda, candy, large bags of chips, or gum to school with your child. 
• Students should be reading at least 30 minutes each night.

Language Arts 

What are we learning?

•   Testing as a genre/Functional Texts
  •  Readers actively prepare for test questions using everything they know about tests and the genre. 
  •  Readers monitor for understanding throughout the testing experience (before, during and after reading test questions and the passage). 
  • Readers use test-taking strategies to select correct answers.

Home/School Connection

Continue to read to your child-they love it!

Have your child read to you and other family members! Have your child then write about what they read to practice their writing skills.  

Questions to ask your student:

• What is important to pay attention to when reading this type of passage?
• What is this question asking you?
• What strategies can be used to find the best answer or answers?
• What parts of the text and background knowledge can be accessed to help answer this question?

Math 

What are we learning?

• Geometry
  • Classifying and measuring angles (acute, right, obtuse)
  • Classifying triangles by angle (acute, right, obtuse) and by sides (equilateral, isosceles, scalene)
  • Identifying the missing angle in a triangle
  • Identifying parts of a circle
  • Recognize and apply transformations, such as translation, reflection, and rotation
• Data and Probability 
  • Interpreting data represented in a variety of graphs and tables
  • Describe the mean, median, mode, and range for a set of data
  • Determining a probability of an outcome
• Advanced Math: 
  • Identify and describe the diameter, radius, chord, and circumference of a circle. 
  • Classify and measure right, acute, obtuse, and straight angles. 
  • Classify triangles as right, acute, or obtuse and equilateral, scalene, or isosceles. 
  • Investigate the sum of the interior angles in a triangle and determine an unknown angle measure. 
  • Recognize and apply transformations, such as translation, reflection, and rotation. 
  • Investigate and describe the results of combining and subdividing polygons. 
  • Derive (π) pi 
  • Solve problems, including practical problems, involving circumference and area of a circle. 
  • Solve problems, including practical problems, involving area and perimeter of triangle and rectangles. 

Home/School Connection

Have the students help you solve day-to-day math problems

Questions to ask your student:

• What is the mean amount of chicken nuggets you eat in a year? 
• What is the probability of someone picking vanilla ice cream at an ice cream shop?
• How is the radius related to the diameter?
• How is the diameter related to the circumference? 
• How is the radius related to the area of the circle? 
• What shapes do you see in the real world?

Science 

What are we learning?

• Light and Sound
• Spiral review of 4th through 5th grade material

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• How can a scientist plan and conduct experiments in order to produce valid results?
• How does energy behave when it meets matter? 
• How does energy travel?
• How do the characteristics of light waves affect what we observe?
• How do scientists make sense of the world and apply that knowledge?

Social Studies 

What are we learning?

• Global Awareness Technology Project (GATP)

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• How do cultural universals (art, leadership, government, innovations, geography, etc.) influence a society or culture? 
• How did certain cultural universals from the past influence modern day cultures around the world? 
• What connections can be made between aspects of ancient civilizations from the past to our modern day world?
• How have technology and innovations within certain cultures changed over time? 
• How do innovations from ancient cultures continue to influence our modern day society?
• How can you as a researcher develop and grow ideas about a topic?  
• How can you as a researcher demonstrate your depth of knowledge?

Specials

 What are we learning? &  Home/School Connections:

• Library: 
  • 5th grade students are continuing their Global Awareness Technology Project (GATP). They have chosen topics whose history they will explore from ancient civilizations to today, and are researching, taking notes, and citing their sources. 
• PE: 
  • Families,
    The final quarter in PE includes learning units called “Fitness and Nutrition” and “Outdoor Pursuits & Recreational Activities.” We will also conduct a biking unit for students in grades 3-6. Athletes will participate in many relays soon (to prepare for Field Day), as well as stations (to keep their various skills practiced).
  • Forestdale students are invited to Lewis HS this Friday, 4/26 for FREE admission to the boys’ soccer game! Students can get a FREE shirt, too. Please see Talking Points for more information.
  • Family volunteers will eventually be contacted for Field Day. Adults will find that information in Thursday folders and Talking Points when the time comes.

  Thank you and talk soon!
Ms. Brod (@email)

Mr. Bergin (@email)

• Music: 
  • Ms. Shaw’s 3^rd, 4^th & 5^th graders are using music centers to explore composing their own music rhythmically and melodically, and learning more notes and new songs on the recorder.
  • Mr. Sawasky’s class:
    • All grades will continue our work on the frame drumming composition.  All students will know how to create their own rhythms and work on creating melodies.
    • We will practice singing the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” All students will express themselves through playing xylophones, frame drums and percussion instruments.
    • 5^th and 6^th will also be adding to their theory knowledge by composing their own melodies. We will start learning about the blues and musical form.
• STEAM: 
  • 5^th grade is reviewing for the science SOL and starting makerspace projects.
• Art: 
  • The BIG ART news is the Pyramid Art Exhibit that was held at Key Middle school! 46 Forestdale students were represented in this huge annual event that included Lewis High School, Key Middle School and eight elementary schools, including Forestdale Elementary! The artwork from Forestdale was admired by hundreds of people, and the event was attended by over 50 Forestdale students and their families! Thanks to Ms. Judy Kelleher, Ms. Kenan Brod, Ms. Stacy Booth, and Ms. Annie Ormsby for their help in putting up this exhibit.
  • In the Forestdale art program, the primary goal is to create an environment in which every student feels confident, safe, and supported by Ms. Barrett and by the other students. The goal is that each student will reach a level of technical mastery and self-confidence that allows them to take risks with their own artwork and create work that they value. In May,  all students will be finishing clay art projects! 
  • 5th grade students will create clay gargoyles. They have studied the history of gargoyles in world cultures and have many questions about the strange creatures.
  •  All clay projects will last at least a hundred years if cared for carefully.
  • All students’ ceramic pieces are delightful.
  • Thank you to all families for returning the Parent Interview Forms for each art unit! Students in grades 1st - 6th continue to use their Art Planning and Reflection Books, increasing their literacy skill practice during art classes!
  • As always, Ms. Barrett ([email protected]) is here for any questions or concerns regarding the art program.

AAP Corner 

• Hammurabi’s Code Document Based Question
• Concept based learning-Systems
• Socratic Seminars
• Project/Problem-based learning

ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages

During the month of May, we are highlighting the language of cause and effect. Here are some questions you can ask your students and sentences you can use to help them practice identifying cause and effect relationships.

• What happened?
• What caused it to happen?
• Why do you think that happened?
• If __________, then __________.
• The effect of __________ is __________.
• One reason that __________ happened is __________.

Looking for books to read at home with your students? Unite for Literacy has free audio books with many language options to choose from! You can access them at https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/.