Hey Mr. Gray

 May 15-19, 2023

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Need to Know

Reader’s 

Workshop

We will continue our unit on Fantasy Books unit. The kids will continue reading their fantasy novels. I am not sure yet what I’ll be teaching. It will be based on how much state testing we still have to do. We may discuss the complicated nature of fantasy characters and/or symbols in fantasy novels. 

Read Aloud

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis serving to connect with our study of Fantasy novels.

Writer’s 

Workshop

The kids will keep working on their Fantasy Stories.  The kids will publish their stories, review them with their writing partner and with me, will use Open AI’s DALL-E 2 to make a cover for their fantasy novel.

Maths

We will move onto our next unit Shapes on the Coordinate Plane depending on our testing schedule. We will explore and review the coordinate grid and plot points and shapes.

Social Studies

We will continue to work on a project called, Fortunately, Unfortunately where the students are writing a book with a partner recapping the important parts of the American Revolution following the structure of the book Fortunately by Remy Charlip. 

Read Aloud

The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud by Brad Meltzer

Science

The kids will, of course, see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.

Vocabulary

Nothing this week.

May 8-12 2023

Need to Know

The kids will be working on their All-APAAS project (Project Convention open to parents Tuesday May 23rd)

State Testing: May 1-4, and May 9- No Devices. Bring colored pencils, books to read.

District Honors Art Show May 19-20 at Portola HS

5th Grade Pool Party Fri Jun 2 9:00-pickup from pool at 1:44

Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop

Final Chit Chat Speeches of the Year will Take Place the Week of May 15

Talent Show May 18 5:30p

Reader’s

Workshop

We will continue our unit on Fantasy Books unit. The kids will continue reading their fantasy novels. I am not sure yet what I’ll be teaching. It will be based on how much state testing we still have to do. We may discuss the complicated nature of fantasy characters and/or symbols in fantasy novels.

Read Aloud

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis serving to connect with our study of Fantasy novels.

Writer’s

Workshop

The kids will keep working on their Fantasy Stories. The kids will add to their fantasy story by writing 2 more sections. The first will be twists and turns leading up the final showdown with the villain and the second will be the climax and conclusion where the protagonist faces off against the villain in a final battle and the story concludes.

Maths

We may do some decimal review or move onto our next unit: Shapes on the Coordinate Plane depending on our testing schedule.

Social Studies

We will continue to work on a project called, Fortunately, Unfortunately where the students are writing a book with a partner recapping the important parts of the American Revolution following the structure of the book Fortunately by Remy Charlip. The kids will study the capitals and take the capitals test on Friday, May 12.

Read Aloud

The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud by Brad Meltzer

Science

The kids will review forces, watch a demonstration about Earth's gravity, complete a close reading, write a scientific argument and observe a video and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.

Vocabulary

Nothing this week.

 May 1-5 2023

Need to Know

Reader’s 

Workshop

We will continue our unit on Fantasy Books. Next week the kids will learn about readers learning real life lessons from fantastical characters, how quests can be internal as well as external, and comparing themes in fantasy and history. I am reading out loud the book: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe to help connect our learning with a real example.

Writer’s 

Workshop

The kids will start our last unit of the year writing Fantasy stories. The kids will add to their fantasy story by writing 2 more sections. The first will be rising action where the protagonist faces yet more obstacles and the second will be the turning point where the main character fully steps into the role of hero and the final showdown is just over the horizon.

Maths

We may do some decimal review or move onto our next unit: Shapes on the Coordinate Plane depending on our testing schedule.

Social Studies

We will continue our unit on the important battles of the Revolutionary War. The kids will study Yorktown and the end of the war. They will turn in their digital battle map and also work on a project called, Fortunately, Unfortunately. The kids will study the capitals and take the capitals test on Friday, May 12.

The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud

Science

The kids will start continue the unit: “Galactic Guidebook” by studying an interactive of constellations as they appear in the sky at different times, then reading an article about how stars have helped farmers. Students review what they've learned about why stars seem to move and how people can use stars to track time and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.

Vocabulary

Nothing this week.

 April 24-28, 2023

Need to Know

Reader’s 

Workshop

We will continue our unit on Fantasy Books. Next week the kids will learn about characters and places not always being what they seem, and how to think metaphorically as we ready fantasy books. On Thursday, the kids will turn in a short reflection piece on their learning for a grade. I am reading out loud the book: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe to help connect our learning with a real example.

Writer’s 

Workshop

The kids will start our last unit of the year writing Fantasy stories. The kids will add to their fantasy story by writing 2 more sections. The first will be where the reader learns about the new world and the villain. The second will be where the protagonist reluctant accepts their calling and faces obstacles. 

Maths

The kids will study division of decimals in the context of area and volume. They will also take a short decimals quiz on Thursday.

Social Studies

We will begin our next Unit on the important battles of the Revolutionary War. The kids will study the capitals and take the capitals test on Friday, May 12.

The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud

Science

The kids will start our final unit of the year, “Galactic Guidebook” by reviewing their prior knowledge about the solar system and looking at patterns in the solar system and their own life and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.

Vocabulary

Nothing this week.

 April 17-21, 2023

Need to Know

Reader’s 

Workshop

The kids will finish their Theme Park Project related to “When You Trap a Tiger”. Then, we will start our last full unit of the year: Fantasy Books. We will spend the week getting oriented to Fantasy Books by book shopping, learning alongside the character, and keeping track of problems. 

Writer’s 

Workshop

The kids will start our last unit of the year writing Fantasy stories. We will start off by getting oriented to fantasy writing by brainstorming ideas and discussing the elements of fantasy stories: normal worlds vs. fantastic worlds, characters, hardships, problems, and introducing the new world and the problem. 

Maths

The kids will study decimals on a number line and take a quiz on adding, subtracting, and multiplying decimals and the number line on Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday, the kids will take the end of year 5th grade math assessment given to all 5th graders in the district. At the end of the week we will start dividing decimals.

Social Studies

We will begin our next Unit on the important battles of the Revolutionary War. The kids will study the capitals and take the capitals test in a few weeks.

The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud

Science

The kids will start our final unit of the year, “Galactic Guidebook” by reviewing their prior knowledge about the solar system and looking at patterns in the solar system and their own life and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.

Vocabulary

Nothing this week.

March 27-31, 2023

(At School 11:00a-12:00p and 6:00-7:00p)

Open House Comparing Characters Project

Information Book and Podcast

Volume Humanoid Robot

The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Read Aloud

Students watch a video about water shortages in California and define their marketing campaign problem. They discuss criteria for their design solutions, plan their designs, then discuss ideas for marketing the campaign and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.

Nothing this week.

 March 20-24, 2023

Open House Thursday, March 30 

(At School 11:00a-12:00p and 6:00-7:00p)

Mar 27-31 all minimum days

Yearbooks are on sale and must be ordered in advance. 

Go to treering.com and use the code: 1015857553713697

Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop

Mar 23- Guys Stuff- 5:30p in MPR

Irvine Junior Games Sign-Up!

Author Katherine Applegate visiting Tustin Library on Saturday, April 1

Our learners will focus their attention on a character project. The kids will choose characters from different books and spend their time making a poster comparing and contrasting the characters.

The students will publish and turn in their information books about the American Revolution. Next, the kids will record a podcast related to their information book. They will have to adapt their writing to a more script-based form. They will plan out the show and eventually record it.

The mathematicians will do some CML practice and then take their last CML test of the year on Thursday. Throughout the week the kids will be painting, assembling and working on their volume robots.

No Social Studies this week. The students are listening to me read a book about a secret conspiracy to kill George Washington during the Revolutionary War!

Students watch a video about water shortages in California and define their marketing campaign problem. They discuss criteria for their design solutions, plan their designs, then discuss ideas for marketing the campaign and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.

The kids will take a Wordly Wise test on Lessons 3 and 4 on Tuesday.

March 13-17, 2023

Go to treering.com and use the code: 1015857553713697

Our readers will spend this week to choosing books from our American Revolution book club collection and choose projects to demonstrate their knowledge.

We will continue our new unit: Bringing History to Life! Our writers will take a day for peer editing and focused revision. They will spend the rest of the week publishing. They will add interesting and informative text features, and use an editing tool, Paper, to get feedback on their piece before finally turning it in.

The mathematicians will review some of the work we have studied regarding volume and look at real-world problems. On Tuesday, the kids will take their second volume quiz focusing on finding volume with fractional edge lengths and finding missing edge lengths. On Thursday, the students will temporarily assemble their humanoid robot using materials from home. This will help them plan their next steps.

Our historians will continue studying the Declaration of Independence. Their analysis will help them plan their own personal declaration of independence. They will plan and write their personal declaration and publish it. On Friday the kids will stand up and read their work, declaring their independence.

The kids will research and write about why the Mojave Desert is so dry and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.

We will turn our attention to Wordly Wise finishing up lesson 3 and starting lesson 4.

March 6-10, 2023

Go to treering.com and use the code: 1015857553713697

We will spend this last week reading about the American Revolution. The students will read with a partner. They will choose from a variety of American Revolution books. They will have this week to finish another book and create an individual project for the book and a partner project. They will turn this in at the end of their reading time. At the end of the week they will finish up with their partner and choose books as an individual.

We will continue our new unit: Bringing History to Life! The kids will bring history to life writing informational pieces about the American Revolution. They add an essay to their information book and continue drafting sections.

The students will begin our next unit on Volume. We will spend our math time checkin in on the stock market, finding the missing side length of a rectangular prism given the volume, and begin an exciting volume project!

This students have completed the study of the events leading up the revolution. The war has started. We will spend the next couple of weeks studying the Declaration of Independence. Next week the kids will look at some of the important figures that were positioned to make a large impact on the beginning of the country and carefully study the structure of the declaration.

The kids will consider why there is so little rain in the Mojave Desert. They will review and discuss data cards and are introduced to the geosphere.  Using their knowledge of rain and sphere interactions, they investigate the conditions of the Mojave Desert and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.

We will finish Classical Roots Lesson 4 and take their 2nd Classical Roots Quiz on Tuesday. They will also have to turn in their choice activity on Tuesday. All students will give their chit chat speeches next week where they teach the class something.

February 20-24, 2023

We will spend the next several weeks reading about the American Revolution. The students will read with a partner. They will choose from a variety of American Revolution books. They will have 2 weeks to ready one or two books and create an individual project for the book and a partner project. They will turn this in at the end of their reading time.

We will take a day to celebrate the student’s 3rd argument essay. The kids will get to share their topics and writing and give positive comments to others during a gallery walk. We will start our next unit where the kids will bring history to life writing informational pieces about the American Revolution. They will just being that work next week but eventually the students will write an informational piece and then record a podcast.

The students will take a mid-year basic skills test on Wednesday which will be their final grade for trimester 2 in math. On Thursday, the students will take their next CML test and on Tuesday, we will give an introduction and start this year’s stock market game!

This students will continue our Social Studies unit exploring the events leading up to the revolution. We will focus first continental congress and the first battles of the Revolutionary War (Lexington and Concord). The students will be continue a digital timeline to help them keep track of all the acts and events. We will also take a quiz on the location of the 50 states on Wednesday. The students who have already tested out of the 50 states will move on to studying state capitals and state flags. Finally, the kids will finish their great state project. They need to bring their posters to class on Thursday. We will put all the posters up in the MPR and the students do a scavenger hunt of the different states.

The kids will begin to research the ways in which communities protect Earth's limited water resources and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.

We will start Classical Roots Lesson 3 and the kids will continue to work on their Chit Chat Speech #3.