5th Grade Math -
This week we continue adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators. This week we began working on finding common multiples for factions with unlike denominators.
Alder East Reading -
This week we started reading The Kid Who Ran for President, by Dan Gutman. This fun and funny book is extending our study of Presidential elections, and is serving as springboard to our study of different presidents next week. Students are reading aloud with partners and at home. This weekened at home students should be finishing chapters 4-7, and doing research about topics we found in the book. We have made a list of some the Presidents mentioned in the book, or some other historical connections mentioned in the book like: "Who is John Wilkes Booth?", "Is there a bowling alley in the White House." Researcher is just one of the jobs from our Lit Circle book studies. Researchers gather more information about nonfiction character, real historical time periods or events, or real world places so that the class can extend our knowledge about the books we are reading. Any reading from our novel study that are done after school at home can count towards weekly Reading Log requirements.
At Home: Students should still be doing independent reading at home - a chapter book, graphic novel, biography, or non-fiction that isn't too focused on pictures and graphic information. This year, students will track all the books they read and use that info to evaluate their reading, and set reading goals.
A shortened Reading Log will be sent home Friday and is due 12/9.
Alder East Writing -
Students are brainstorming ideas for finding personal stories that they can write about. Before Christams we will be writing at least two Personal Narratives - stories from your life or your own experiences usually told in first person. We have been collecting memories about special people, special places. At home this weekend, I asked students to look for objects around the house that remind them of story memories.
Alder East Humanities -
Alders will be wrapping up our Presidential Elections unit on Tuesday. We have six groups that represent a different political party (Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green Party, Constitution Party and America First Party). Each political campaign has been researching the platforms of their party and creating campaign literature for their mock candidates. On Tuesday at 12:2o we will hold our political convention where each party will show their campaign commercial and each candidate will give a speech outlining their policies on the campaign issues of terrorism, civil liberties and education. Students will then vote for the candidate who has run the best campaign and elect a President.
Next week we will do some research about different Presidents from US history, and then we will be doing State research posters after that.