Week of 10/27

Dear families,

October is flying by fast! A HUGE thanks to everyone who donated to our One & Done fundraiser - CAA raised over $19,000! And our homeroom raised almost $800 - hooray! We did not qualify in the Top 6 classrooms to win a party sponsored by PTA, but we came in 7th place, so rest assured... a celebration is soon approaching :)

Speaking of celebrating, we'll be having a fall-filled day on Friday, the 31st, while we read books about pumpkins and do some pumpkin math too! We'll be carving our pumpkins that afternoon and roasting the seeds. I would like to have a couple of parents come in around 12:15 to help us get our pumpkins primed for gutting and stay to help us roast the seeds. If you are able to help with that, please let me know.

Let's take a look at our week:
This Week

• Mon, 10/27: Red Ribbon Week Messy Hair/Hat Day - "Don't let drugs mess you up!"
• Tues, 10/28: Picture Day; Gently used coats due for service project; Red Ribbon Week Dress for Success Day - "Dress for Success... no time for drugs!"
• Wed, 10/29: GHS Spirit Wear Day - "Stomp out drugs!"
• Thurs, 10/30: Reading Test; Spooky stories due; Red Ribbon Week Sporty Clothes Day - "I've got better things to do than drugs!"; PTA performances at 6 pm
• Fri, 10/31: Science test; math homework due; Pumpkin Day! (no costumes!)

Reading/ELA
Standards

• RL.5.3. Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
• RI.5.3. Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.

Activities

• Becoming Good Neighbors Read this story. Choose 3 highlighters, then reread through the entire story again. Choose PINK to highlight how Billy and Roger are the same. Choose YELLOW to show how Billy is different, and choose BLUE to show how Roger is different. Be sure you make a key at the bottom.
  
• Write About It After you’ve highlighted evidence in “Becoming Good Neighbors,” write 2 paragraphs – write one paragraph about how the boys are similar. Write another paragraph about how the boys are different. Use examples from the text. Write things like: {sentence stems provided}
  
• Following Boo Complete the activity page on the story, “Following Boo.”
  
• Compare & Contrast Choose one of the following to compare and contrast in a Venn diagram: Nate and his sister; how Nate acted BEFORE he found boo, and how Nate acted AFTER he found Boo; the setting at the campground and the setting where Boo walks into the water

What We're Reading

• "Following Boo"
• "Becoming Good Neighbors"
• "One Minute until Midnight"
• One for the Murphy's

What We're Writing

• Compare and contrast paragraphs

English

• Writing spooky stories!
• Final drafts due on Thursday

Mathematics
Standards
NBT.7 Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.  
We are starting a new unit this week (it will last for three weeks). Students are still working on multiplication and division strategies they learned in the last few weeks, but we are adding a decimal place to our work. In small group, we'll be working with multiplying decimals on hundreds grids, working with the standard algorithm, and with the lattice method. 
Activities

• Stained Glass Window (multiplying decimals)
  
• Halloween Match (cut out the cards; match the problems with the answers. Once you’ve matched them, glue them on black construction paper. You may use a white crayon to decorate the paper. Color in the answers with an orange crayon – lightly!
  
• Village Bakery Prices
  
• IXL – Multiplying decimals: G.3, G.4, G.8, G.9, G.5, G.6, G.7

Homework
The math homework is a little different this week. All of the fifth grade teachers decided to change it up a little. We like having the students work on mathematics they should have mastered in fourth grade because it keeps those skills sharp. But we also value the opinions of our parents, so on the back of the review page, you'll find between 10-15 problems on the CURRENT standard we are practicing. We hope you like the change!

Science
My homeroom students are finishing their current unit of study with Mrs. Hawkins. They will have a science test on Friday.