Fifth Grade Newsletter: November 2023
5th Grade Families,
Can you believe quarter 1 is ending? We are in full swing of the school year and really beginning to see your children shine! Let’s get ready for what we will be learning in quarter 2!
Mrs. Henceroth, Mrs. Jackson, & Ms. Tran
Important Dates & Reminder
- Friday, November 3rd-End of 1st Quarter and 2 hour early dismissal at 1:35 p.m.
- Monday, November 6th-No School, Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Tuesday, November 7th-No School, Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Wednesday-Friday, November 22-24th-Thanksgiving Break, No School
- Reminder: Please do not send soda, candy or gum to school with your child.
- Students should be reading at least 30 minutes each night.
Language Arts What are we learning?
- Reading: Critical Literacy
- Readers consider potential bias in texts.
- Readers consider what the author wants to believe.
- Readers think about how different people, ideas and issues are represented in texts.
- Readers think about how their own power, privilege, and position influences their thinking.
- Writing: Memoirs
- Writers analyze the significant moments in their lives for larger lessons and ideas.
- Writers revise their piece using literary techniques to elaborate on the message.
- Memoir writers use a combination of narrative and expository writing to develop their message.
- Writers discuss, share ideas, and provide feedback with community members who can provide support on specific aspects of their piece or process.
Home/School Connection
Continue to read to your child-they love it!
Have your child read to you and other family members!
Questions to ask your student:
- What book are you reading independently?
- What does the author want me to believe or think?
- Whose voice is heard? Whose voice is not heard?
- Who seems to have power? Who does not?
- What does that make me think about the topic?
Books We’ve Been Reading
- The 6th Grade Nickname Game
- Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
- A variety of picture books of different themes
Math What are we learning?
- Applying the distributive property and the order of operations
- Recognizing the order of operations
- Solving single-step multiplication and division word problems
- Solving two-step word problems
- Coming soon: Fraction and decimals computation
- Advanced Math:
- Multiply and divide fractions and mixed numbers.
- Solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions and mixed numbers.
- Solve multistep practical problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of decimals.
Home/School Connection
Have the students help you solve day-to-day math problems
Questions to ask your student:
- What is the order of operations?
- When would you do subtraction before addition?
Science What are we learning?
- Coming soon-Landforms
Home/School Connection
Questions to ask your student:
- How does the structure and movement within Earth impact changes on the surface?
- How does Earth’s surface change over time?
- What are plate tectonics?
Social Studies What are we learning?
- Coming up-Mesoamerica
Home/School Connection
Questions to ask your student:
- How does where a person lives affect how a person lives?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of Mesoamerica continue to influence the world today?
Specials What are we learning? & Home/School Connections:
- Library: 5th graders will continue exploring the concept of books as mirrors and windows (books can be mirrors, reflections of their own identity and experiences, and windows, ways to see and understand the identities and experiences of others), and how they can find stories that are mirrors and windows for them. They will also dive deeper into the features of the library catalog that can help them select books that meet their needs for informational and pleasure reading.
- PE: After mastering our first unit- “Rules, Routines, and Expectations,” all classes are progressing to the next unit. Students in grades 3-6 are mastering throwing and catching concepts and proper form. Our connection to FCPS’ “Portrait of a Graduate” is currently connected to “Communicator” traits. Please contact Ms. Brod or Mr. Bergin for any questions or concerns.
- Music: Ms. Shaw’s Music Class 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th Grade: Recorders! We are building our music theory knowledge and repertoire of recorder music!
- Music: Mr. Sawasky’s class: K – 6th grade will continue to explore traditional Hispanic music for Hispanic heritage month.
- CHORUS 5TH & 6TH: Falcon Singers have been getting to know each other and learning how to blend our voices. We have been practicing the Star Spangled Banner for our performance with Lewis High School on Oct 13, 2023. (Participation is optional for this performance)
- STEAM: 5th graders will continue to apply force, motion, and energy concepts as they improve delivery device designs.
- Art:
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 October all students will be wrapping up their printmaking units and doing their planning drawings for the upcoming painting unit!
- 5th graders made marker prints of their favorite flower using Presto foam printing plates.
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 November, we are highlighting the language of inquiring. Here are some questions you can ask your students to help them practice how to inquire.
- What are you wondering about?
- What questions do you have about that?
- I wonder why __________?
- Who __________?
- What __________?
- When __________?
- Where __________?
- Why __________?
- How __________?
