Spring Break officially begins on Friday! I hope you all have a safe and restful break; this blog covers content for this coming week and also the week after Spring Break. A new classroom blog will not be posted until Sunday April 18.
Ren Baldwin Student Technology Festival:
The 2021 Ren Baldwin Student Technology festival wants to see YOUR projects! Entry deadline is April 15th. Please visit our informational website to learn more.
Daily Student Health Screener:
Click here for a checklist of symptoms and situations to keep a focused eye on this year. The teachers are logging daily health checks, as well. We are doubling down on health and wellness in efforts to protect our ability to meet for in-person learning. Thank you for your cooperation on this.
Mrs. Bawks' Brown School Family Blog:
Please don't forget to take a peek at Mrs. Bawks' Brown School Family Blog each week. CLICK HERE to read it.
Important Upcoming Dates:
Wed. 3/31 - Late Start - school begins at 9:45am
Thurs. 4/1 - "Be a Bright Reader" Day - wear neon today and Read-a-Thon to celebrate Bucks for Brown! Bring a pillow or blanket to cuddle up with as we read!
Fri. 4/2 - No School (start of Spring Break)
Mon. 4/5 through Fri. 4/9 - Spring Break (No School)
Wed. 4/14 - Late Start - school begins at 9:45am
Thur. 4/15 - Ren Baldwin Student Technology Festival projects due (see information above)
Fri. 4/16 - 5th grade bottle and can drive collection begins
Mon. 4/19 - 5th grade coin war begins
Wed. 4/21 - Late Start - school begins at 9:45am
Wed. 4/28 - Late Start - school begins at 9:45am
Mon. 5/3 - No School
Wed. 5/5 - Late Start - school begins at 9:45am
Fri. 5/7 - Popcorn Friday!
This week's learning:Positivity Project (P2): This coming week we will be focusing on the character strength of "Humor" - You like to laugh and bring smiles to other people."
During the week after spring break, we will focus on the character strength of "Fairness" - You believe that all people have value. You approach situations with an unbiased mindset and treat everyone with respect.
ELA & Writing: Our nonfiction text structure focus for this week is problem and solution. Problem and Solution is a pattern of organization where information in a passage is expressed as a dilemma or concerning issue (a problem) and something that was, can be, or should be done to remedy this issue (solution or attempted solution).
After spring break, we will focus on chronological order. Chronological Order is used when information in a passage is organized by the time in which each event occurred, it is organized chronologically. Key words include time markers like “first,” “next,” “then” and “finally.”
Math: This week (as well as the week after spring break) we will continue to work through our unit on adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers:
Monday: I can add unlike fractions with tenths and hundredths.
Tuesday: I can subtract fractions (of the same whole, with like denominators) to solve number stories.
Wednesday: I can decide how to divide an area of land into parts based on a number story and write a fraction addition.
Thursday: March is Reading Month Celebration
Friday: No School
Week after spring break:
Monday: I can learn multiple strategies to add mixed numbers with like denominators.
Tuesday: I can subtract mixed numbers by writing equations, drawing diagrams, and solving number stories.
Wednesday: I can record data on a line plot and answer questions regarding the data.
Thursday: I can explore rotation, iteration of measurement units, and angle measures.
Friday: I can understand that the degree is used as a unit to measure angles.
Looking to extend your child's learning in math at home?
I highly recommend having them work on Khan Academy (we use this in class)! Students have access to the assignments that I've put onto Khan Academy for them (they use these during our math workshop time) and they can also work on their "course mastery." Khan Academy will continue to work them through 4th grade concepts and beyond (for those students who are ready to begin learning skills beyond the elementary level) and provides video explanations to help them work through the content. They also have courses to practice reading and language arts, computer programing (Pixar in a Box has historically been very popular with students in my classroom!), growth mindset, careers and much more!
Science: This week in science we will learn about how roller coasters move so fast, all without a motor (the motor is in the track of the first hill). We will learn about how hills can store energy. The higher the hill, the more energy, the faster the coaster can go! We will solve the mystery, “How do roller coasters move so fast?”
You can support this week’s learning by watching a video with your child of the coaster we will study in class, the Goliath (http://safeYouTube.net/w/BUj). It’s the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world! You might also want to share your experiences riding roller coasters or other amusement park rides.
After spring break, we will continue our study of roller coasters as we solve the mystery, “Why is the first hill of a roller coaster always the highest?” Your child will learn about how the first hill gives the coaster the energy it needs to go through the whole track. Since hills can’t give enough energy to climb a higher hill, the first hill has to be the tallest.
The same idea applies to swinging at the playground. You can support this week’s learning by taking your child to the park, pulling them back on the swing and letting them go. Before you release, you can ask your child, “will you swing back and crash into me if I stand still? why not?” Then try adding energy by pushing your child and talk about what happens. Have fun!
Social Studies: This week we will finish our last lesson in our unit focusing on human geography of the United States. Big ideas from this lesson are:
- The United States is rich in natural resources which include fertile soil, water, forests, and a wide variety of minerals.
- These resources have greatly influenced the growth and development of the country.
- Many important human activities have developed from the use of these resources including farming, mining, lumbering, and manufacturing.
After spring break, we will begin a new unit focusing on our federal government. The big ideas from the first lesson are:
- Political scientists ask questions about what governments do, how governments are organized, the values and principles connected to government, and the role of citizens in government.
- There would be many serious consequences if schools, communities, and our country tried to function without government and rules or laws.
- People institute governments for many reasons such as safety, promoting the common good, and protecting individual rights.
- The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution describes the purposes of our federal government.
Homework: Homework each week consists of reading 20+ minutes at home (this can be a library book, magazine, newspaper, online book, etc) and practicing multiplication and division facts 1 through 12. Mastering multiplication and division facts is vital to our learning this year.
Mrs. Hassenger
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