Ms. Aldrich, Mrs. Criss and Ms. Clement

Important Dates & Reminders

• Tuesday, May 14th: Reading SOL
• Monday, May 27th: Memorial Day- No School!
• Tuesday, May 28th: Math SOL Retake
• Wednesday, May 29th: Reading SOL Retake

Language Arts What are we learning?

Reading Unit: Series Book Clubs

Students will be able to…

• Support ideas with evidence from text, experience, and background knowledge
• Build on ideas of others in order to strengthen their understanding of a book
• Carry what they know about the author and characters from one book within a series to another

Writing Unit: Independent Writing Projects

Students will be able to… 

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and standard English. 

Home/School Connection

Questions to ask your student:

• What’s worth talking about?
• What new ideas can we build through discussion?
• What do you know about how this series tends to go?
• What do you know about how this character tends to act?
• What can you predict based on what you know about how this series tends to go or what the character tends to do?
• What are you learning about characters' feelings, motivations, or struggles?
• How can other writers support me with my process and piece?
• How do I know when I’m successful?
• Tell me about a mentor you used. What observations did you make about this mentor and how did you use what you learned in your piece of writing?

Books We’ll Be Reading: 

  Math What are we learning?

Math Unit: Moving Forward and Digging Deeper

Students will be able to…

• Explore mathematical content learned throughout the year at a deeper level

Home/School Connection

Things to do with your student:

• If student has access to the computer, have them practice on ST Math, Reflex or SOLPass.org
• Practice fact fluency with flashcards

Science What are we learning?

Science Unit: Simple Machines

Students will be able to…

• Demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices.
• Investigate and understand that the direction and size of force affects the motion of an object.

Social Studies What are we learning?

Social Studies Unit: West African Empire of Mali
 

Students will be able to…

• Understand how civilizations have geographically changed over time
• Describe oral tradition (storytelling), government (kings), and economic development (trade)
• Describe and evaluate how the people of West Mali adapted to their environment
• Understand the use of natural, human, and capital resources
• Understand the concepts of specialization and trade
• Understand the concepts of opportunity cost and economic decision making.

AAP Corner What are we learning?

 Students will be able to understand that…

• A person’s culture and identity contributes to their perspective.
• A perspective forms based on interaction with a person, place, thing or idea. 
• A perspective may form on purpose or accidentally. (conscious or unconscious choice.) (with or without awareness) 
• A perspective may be self-discovered or developed.
• A perspective can change over time.
• A perspective can positively impact some people while negatively impacting others.

Specials:

What are we learning? &  Home/School Connections:

• Library: 
  • 3rd grade students are  researching different ancient civilizations, like Ancient Aksum (Ethiopia), Ancient Maya, and Ancient Persia, some of which interacted with the ancient civilizations they are learning about in the classroom (Ancient Greece/Rome/China/Egypt/Mali).
• 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 Music Classes in May:

• All students will know how to create their own rhythms and work on creating melodies.
• We will practice singing our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” All students will express themselves through playing xylophones, frame drums and percussion instruments.
• 3^rd and 4^th will be learning how to create a melody and continuing with rhythm practice.

Art: 

May 2024 Art blurb:

• 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 Kelliher, 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! 
• 3rd graders will create clay bowls with lids that are shaped like a turtle or a bird.
•  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.

STEAM:

• 3rd grade continues to work on their soil erosion repair projects.

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 __________.