Hello Everyone!
It has been a great transition back from vacation. The kiddos jumped right back into our daily
routines while beginning a new unit in math as well as wrapping up a unit in
writing.
In math, we began our study on the concept of volume. In this unit, students are learning how to
calculate the volume of rectangular prisms.
Some of the strategies that students have been learning are to build the
rectangular prisms with unit cubes, find the base of the shape and multiply by
the number of layers, and lastly, use the formula of L x W x H.
In reading, we are continuing our study on the genre of
fantasy. I have been so excited to the see how engaged that the kiddos have
been while reading their fantasy novels. Last week, students wrapped up their
first fantasy novel in guided reading and will begin new novels this week. Some of the books that students will be
reading include:
Warriors by Erin Hunter
The Cabinet of the
Earths by Anne Nesbet
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPRAU
In writing, we are working on revising and editing our
informational texts about Westward Expansion.
Last week, the students worked on revising their introductions and
conclusions, adding transitions words and revising to make sure that their
sentences are clear and make sense. Next
week, we will move into the editing phase with a focus on using commas.
In science, we have started a new unit which focuses on
relationships within ecosystems. The
students have learned how energy is moved through a food chain by playing a
food chain card game. Students have also
created their own food chains using Google Drawing Tools by choosing an animal
and asking what it eats and what its eat.
This week, we will learn about plants and what they eat. We will do an experiment to prove that plants
take in air and that air has weight.
Students will then develop their own testable questions about the needs
of plants, such as: do plants grow better in the light or dark? Or Do plants
grow plants better with plant food or without?
We will conduct these experiment by planting lima beans, making
observations and collecting data!
Since spring is such a busy time here at school, I am including a list of dates that you might want to be aware of below.
May 10/11: MCAS Math
May 22/23: MCAS Science
May 23rd: Café Sunset: 6:30 pm
May 26th: Spring Fun Run - 1:45 pm
May 30th: 5th/6th Grade Tsongas Center
May 31st: SES Spring Concert – 1:30 pm
June 1st: Sunderland In Action Day (Rain Date: June 9th)
June 5th: 5th/6th Grade Jr. Olympics
June 7th: Spring Carnival
June 8th: Spring Walk and Roll Day
June 20th: 6th Grade Graduation
June 26th: Last Day of School – ½ Day
Let’s have a great week!
Ms. Phillips
Solving for Volume with Unit Cubes!
Does Air Have Weight?
