December 12-16 Weekly Reminders

Rockhopper Weekly Reminders

December 12-December 15

Happy holidays! Enjoy quality time with your family!

Mark Your Calendars:

• Tuesday, 12/13 Rooms 20/21 4th grade Ch. 17/18 math test
• Tuesday, 12/13: Rooms 20/21 literature circle session #3 @8:00am
• Thursday, 12/15: Rooms 20/21 literature circle session #4 @8:00am
• Thursday, 12/15: Dear Mr. Henshaw books due in class
• Thursday, 12/15: Field Trip Permission and money for Chabot Space Center due
• Friday, 12/16: Crazy Socks Day
• Wednesday, 1/04: Geography Worksheet Due
• Thursday, 1/05: Geography Test - Southeastern States
• Thursday, 1/12 Rooms 20/21 Chabot Space and Science Center Field Trip

Curriculum Flash!

Language Arts:
This week, students will finish their literature circles. Also, vocabulary activities to gain greater creativity in our ability to express ourselves comes back to the forefront. There’s even a Comic Life application that pertains to vocabulary! We’ll begin reading Dear Mr. Henshaw after our holiday break, so books should be at school and ready for use by this Thursday, December 15.

Math

4th grade: Students will be moving on into decimals this week! We have a test on Tuesday to show our understanding of fractional concepts, then we apply this knowledge to the related topic of decimals- expressing parts of a whole as decimals, ordering and comparing decimals, and finding decimal and fractional equivalents. This decimal work will continue after our holiday break.

5th grade: Students have learned how algebraic equations, function tables, and linear graphs are all related. If given any one of these items, students should be able to find the other missing pieces. This week students are working on the most difficult part, which is determining the equation from the graph. We’ll put their knowledge to the test by having them create their own linear function scenarios containing all three components.

• Hooda Math: We recently discovered a fabulous new online resource for math practice and more specifically integers. The “games” (I like to call them learning tools) have great graphics, specific skill practice, and the best part is that the kids LOVE them! I also like the logic games, too, since they help students work on their problem solving skills. If you haven’t heard about it yet, try ‘Sugar, Sugar’. :0)

Science:

In Rooms 20 & 21, we are working on Investigation 2 in Mixtures and Solutions: Reaching Saturation. This is a great hands-on segment that emphasizes students’ discovery of the evidence of saturation, how to accurate measure the capability of a liquid to hold a solid in solution, and what terminology is needed to explain what we can observe.

Social Studies:

On Friday, students were introduced to the Southeastern States and given their geography worksheets. The CUMULATIVE test will be on Thursday, January 5. The worksheet is due on Wendesday, January 4.
Also this week we begin our “European Explorers” unit. We begin with the Vikings, the invention of the printing press, and Christopher Columbus. During this unit, we spend time ourselves, “exploring” the events in Europe and the rest of the world, leading up to the Age of Exploration!

Name that State!

• This state has 663 miles of beaches.
• With a population of about 16 million people, this state has the fourth-largest population in the United States.
• Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon came to this state looking for a "fountain of youth."
• The space shuttles launch from this state.
• Walt Disney World and Epcot Center are in this state.
• Which state is it?

December's First Weekly Reminders

Rockhopper Weekly Reminders
December 5-December 9

Mark Your Calendars:

• Tuesday, 12/6: Rooms 20/21 literature circle session #1 @8:00am
• Thursday, 12/8: Rooms 20/21 literature circle session #2 @8:00am
• Friday, 12/9: Report cards go home!
• Tuesday, 12/13: Rooms 20/21 literature circle session #3 @8:00am
• Thursday, 12/15: Rooms 20/21 literature circle session #1 @8:00am

Second Harvest Food Bank:
We will be having a Second Harvest Food Bank Drive from Monday, December 5 through Friday, December 9. The SHFB will be delivering 3 bins to our school on Monday morning.
Here are a few facts to support SHFB:

• 1 in every 10 people in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties depend on the support of SHFB
• SHFB serves over 240,000 people per month...that's a 4% increase from 2010
• The majority of people served are seniors and low-income families with children
• SHFB needs meals in a can (soups), low-sugar cereals, tuna and canned meat, 100% juices, peanut butter, canned fruit packed in juice, canned foods with pop-top lids, canned vegetables

“U.S. Presidents” Performance:
Well, our performance of “U.S. Presidents: Washington to LIncoln” is now history! Congratulations to all of the students. It was a huge success! We had a great time performing for our school audiences and our families! A great big thank you to all of the parents who helped with backdrops, costumes, videotaping and food! We couldn’t have done it without you.

Curriculum Flash!

Language Arts:
This week, students will continue to work on the craft of summary writing. Also, students are participating in our first literature circle session on Tuesday, December 6. Reading and written preparation is necessary for each session. Literature circle session #2 is Thursday for students and parent volunteers at 8:15am, so be prepared and mark your calendars!

Math

4th grade: Students will delve deeper into fractions this week. We’ll be working with improper fractions, mixed numbers, finding common denominators, and comparing and ordering fractions.
5th grade: Students are now working with integers in linear equations. They will use equations to create function tables, and use function tables to create equations. From these equations and tables, students will plots lines on coordinate planes. We will continue to reinforce our integer skills with card and logic games, and interactive web sites. The students were introduced to the hoodamath site where they played integer games. http://hoodamath.com/games/integer.php

Science:

In Rooms 20 & 21, we have begun our next unit, “Mixtures and Solutions.” Our class is working on “Investigation 1: Part 2- Separating a Salt Solution”, and we will be doing some observation and analysis on Wednesday and Thursday of this week before moving on to “Investigation 1: Part 3- Separating a Dry Mixture.” When we have enough experience with these laboratory procedures, we will check our understanding of these topics with a Response Question (Wed.) and I-Check (Fri.) As always, we will allow the use of our notes and text materials to support our responses. Knowing how to use information is a key 21st century standard for learning!

Social Studies:
Students will be taking their unit test on Native American tribes today. Everyone is doing a wonderful job on their wampum belts. Our next unit will focus on European explorers!

Name that State!

• The world's first parking meter was installed in this state in 1935.
• More human-made lakes can be found in this state than in any other state.
• Only two states have capital cities that include the state name; this state is one of them.
• This state is home to the largest Native American population in the nation.
• The National Cowboy Hall of Fame can be found in this state.
• Which state is it?