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Upcoming Tests

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Writing:

The students have begun researching an inventor or explorer for their Fifth Grade Research project. The skill for each part of this assignment will be taught in class the week that it is due, however, students will need to complete work on the project at home. These skills include: notetaking and collecting information on a gathering grid; noting sources on a bibliography; outlining; and writing a research paper with an interesting lead and closing, and paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting details. The expectations for the research paper and oral presentation are explained in the link below (Research Project Info). This will also be an opportunity for students to practice using time management skills as they complete each part of the assignment on the given date. With Writing as part of our Reading/Language Arts block, students will continue to write about their reading, as well.

*If you need the hand-out sheet that explains this project, look down below because there is a link to it, labeled "Writing Research Paper Information." You can open it and print it at home.

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Social Studies:

We will be studying the Early Settlements of the US. We also will be studying the 13 Colonies. The following SOL's will be covered within the next several weeks:

The European Explorers

USI.5 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the factors that shaped colonial America by:

• describing the religious and economic events and conditions that led to the colonization of America;
• comparing and contrasting life in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern colonies, with emphasis on how people interacted with their environment;
• describing colonial life in America from the perspectives of large landowners, farmers, artisans, women, indentured servants, and slaves;
• identifying the political and economic relationships between the colonies and England.

Reading/Spelling:

Starting the first full week of May, we will be diving into Unit 6 in the Reading book. It's hard to believe we are almost finished. Please locate below the new spelling and vocabulary words.

The weekly Spelling words are located below on the link for "Spelling Words." Please review spelling words with your student. These Spelling words are listed on the "Family Times" which is sent home the Friday prior to the test, so each student has the opportunity to "study ahead" for the pretest on Monday. When a student earns 100% on the pretest, that child will only spell the bonus words (weekly vocabulary words) on Friday's post test. All students will be asked to write the bonus words, and will have an extra point for each word correctly spelled added to their test score.

As a reminder, their spelling grades go directly into their writing grades, so spelling does count. I encourage you to review the spelling words with your child on a weekly basis.

Unit 6:

1- The Baker's Neighbor: Skill- Theme

2- Andy's Secret Ingredient: Skill- Steps in a Process

3- In the Days of King Adobe: Skill- Plot

4- Is it Real: Skill- Visualizing

5- End-Of-Year Reading Test

*Note: Your child will be receiving graded papers on Mondays in an orange folder. Please make sure to review these papers with your child and sign saying you saw them.

Thank you for all your continued support as we get even closer to the end of the year!

Hopefully this information is helpful to all. I can't believe the year is almost over.

Our Resource Schedule:

• Day 1: Art
• Day 2: Library
• Day 3: Music
• Day 4: P.E.

• May 7th - Early Dismissal - 12:45
• May 7th - Twin Day
• May 13th - Interim Reports Issued
• May 15th - Carnival
• May 22nd - Field Day
• May 25th - Memorial Day Holiday
• May 27th - June 5th - SOL Testing Grades 3-5