WEEK 35

Homework Monday
Read Chapter 26
Math Daily Routines Workbook-p.5,6 & 10
Practice Songs, Get costume
Book Project
Practice your lines/songs for the play
Put together a costume for the play

Dear Parents,
Here is a quick overview of what is happening in Room 12:
* We are resuming math review and reading Thief Lord.
* Students chose their book projects + books so they should be working on these.
* We are learning about the Bill of Rights and the Civil War right now in Social Studies.
* Our class is rehearsing the play and their acting and singing skills are amazing!
* In writing our class is doing animal poems along with art. I think you will love these ;>)

TESTS WEEK #2

CLASS ART PROJECT

Dear Parents,
This is a quick e-mail to remind you of a couple things:

As many of you know, I decided to do an end-of-the year Beach Party for the Online Auction. The $20 for each child that comes will go to the Parent Alliance. On Sunday, June 13th at 3-6pmish, we will play sports, a tug-of-war, parachute games, water balloons, pizza/ s'mores and we will go in the water, (with parent supervision along with Scott and Denise Russo, who just so happen to be professional swimmers), If you are unable to make it to the Golf Tournament to get your slot at the party, you can let Denise know before Sunday, June 13th and we'll plug you in. Parents, of course, are invited too along with other 5th graders.

On Thursday, May 21st we are short drivers for the Roaring Camp trip. This is probably the best field trip of the year so hopefully we can get enough drivers.

Tomorrow will be our first day of Family Life/Sex Ed. I will ask her for a copy of her materials and will have them on hand for parents that are curious. I need them because it looks like 5th teachers will be doing this next year because of budget cuts with nurses.

This Friday we will have our Science Test of Structures of Living Things. I sent home the study guide last Friday. I will post to the blog for the 5th graders who mysteriously lose things.

Thank you to the parents who will help me with the play. Thursdays-Linda F. at 1:00-2pm, Friday - 11:15 - 12:15pm (Kelly Gackle w/child), Mondays 1:00-Denise Russo?, Tuesdays starting next week: Linda F.?
I'll have one group while the other parent will work with the other cast of characters.

That's it for now...let me know if you have any questions.

See you at school!
Mr. Sweet

UNIT 2 STUDY GUIDE-The Structure of Living Things
Test: Friday, May 8th.

Vocabulary
transpiration vascular tissues lungs cells tissues
photosynthesis kidneys cellular respiration organs

Systems
Circulatory Respiratory Excretory Digestive

What does the small intestine do?
What is the most important organ of the Excretory System? Why?
What is the purpose/product of cellular respiration?
Why do cells work together as tissues and organs?
What is the difference between vascular/nonvascular plants?
How is the heart involved in the respiratory system?
What organelles make up a plant/animal cell? How are they different?
What is the difference between a dependent/independent variable in an experiment?

ESSAY
Understand and be able to explain the parts and processes of each human organ system

How are photosynthesis and cellular respiration alike and different? How do they work together to keep plants and animals alive?

TESTING WEEK #1

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Reading-Ch. 12-THIEF LORD
Math-p.83, 195, 213 HW WKBK
Choose book for final book project
Testing starts Thursday

TUESDAY
READING-Ch.13
Math-p.127,167+239 in HWBK
Science-L5 of packet
Practice Songs/lines for play

WEEK 33

THE NEW 3-D Glasses
Dear Parents,
Wow! What a wonderful spring break! I hope you and your loved ones enjoyed time off and time together. My family went to San Francisco to celebrate Hilary's birthday by going to a fancy restaurant. We saw Monsters vs. Aliens while she went shopping. Next, we went to the CA Science Academy, which was busy, but amazing. Finally, Josiah and I just got back from a father-son fishing trip w/a couple buddies. He caught 9 Bass while I caught 17. It was a wonderful vacation and I am excited to be back.

As we transition back to school, many exciting things are happening in our class.
* Over the break I found a great play about American History entitled: 13 Colonies by BadWolf Press. It involves a lot of characters, humor and singing, which is right up this class's alley. We will be practicing this week and giving out roles. The class will perform the play at Open House.
* This Friday, April 24th, our class will be going to the Santa Cruz County Courthouse for a mock trial about stolen cookies. This field trip gives us a wonderful opportunity to learn about our legal system in action. I NEED DRIVERS ON THIS TRIP. PLEASE REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL if you can drive. We will leave at 11am and return at 1:30pm. I will send home the permission slips on Monday.
* As many of you know, it is the magical time of testing coming soon. Therefore, our class will be reviewing the next two weeks. Specifically, we will focus on Science, Math and Language Arts.

More to come!






Mr. Sweet

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Read Ch. 2 of The Thief Lord
Math=p.186, 191 HW Wkbk
13 Colonies Play-Review script and choose your top 3 roles
Sign and return Courthouse Field Trip Permission Slip


HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Read Ch. 6 of The Thief Lord
Math=p.192-194 HW Wkbk
VOCAB Due Friday-Word, read sentence, guess in (), write definition #1-10


HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
Read Ch. 9-11 of The Thief Lord
VOCAB Due Friday-Word, read sentence, guess in (), write definition #1-10
BRING LUNCH AND STUDY COURT SCRIPT!

WEEK 32

SPORTS DAY
Passover Quote
“Passover affirms the great truth that liberty is the inalienable right of every human being” Morris Joseph

Easter Quote
Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. ~Clarence W. Hall

Dear Parents,
It's hard to believe that it is already Spring Break starting this Good Friday! Spring has certainly sprung and the teacher, I mean the class, is definitely ready for Easter
Break! ;>)

* Last Friday our class had a wonderful "Sports Day" Party w pizza, ice cream and soda. The trifecta of health!
* Our class is almost finished with recording our 3 Things project. Thus far, they are very touching and creative.
* As you know, in Science we are studying cells and the basic structures of living things right now. This coming Thursday each student will present their 3-D/Edible Cell to the class.
* In Geography we will be starting to learn all of the states and capitals together. I'll be sending home a packet they can work on at home.
* We will continue to study graphing on a coordinate plane this week which, in this new curriculum, is basically algebra w/out the slope.
* Our class wrote these amazing 5-paragraph essays to their future grandchildren. I will laminate them and hand them out at Open House in May.
* In other news, I was able to purchase a new document projector for our classroom. Check it out the next time you come by!

See you at school!
Mr. Sweet

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Read 20 min.
Math-p. 253+254
Spelling-Right a sentence with each vocab word (p21-30 on pre-test)
3-d/Edible Cell due Thursday

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
READ 20 min.
Math-p.622-623
Spelling-Sentences due Thursday
Plant/Animal Cell Due Thursday

HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
READ 20 minutes
PLANT/ANIMAL CELL

WEEK 31

Homework Monday
Read 20 Minutes
Write a paragraph about a virtue and why it is important to you.
Create a story/skit to explain the virtue

Homework Tuesday
Read 20 minutes
Math Wkbk-Daily Routines p. 273-275
Begin 3-D cell project

Homework Wednesday
Read 20 minutes
Math finish p. 607-609
Science Packet first page, L1
3 Things Prep.
Begin 3-D cell project

Homework Thursday
Read 20 minutes
Math finish p.611, 612
Begin 3-D cell project
WEAR SPORTS STUFF
BRING SECRET SNACK

WEEK 29

HOMEWORK MONDAY
READ 20 MINUTES
COME UP WITH THREE THINGS + CREATIVE IDEAS FOR VIDEO DEPICTION
FINISH CHARACTER VIRTUE SENTENCES
MATH-P.250-251 IN DAILY ROUTINE WKBK + NCAA PROBABILITY OF 2 TEAMS MEETING

Homework Wednesday
Read 20 minutes
Math finish page in book and do wkbk page that goes with Ch. 26 lesson 2
NEWS TEAM SUMMARY

Homework Thursday
Read 20 minutes
Math p.569-570
Study for test on Integers
Practice News Team Speech
Bring items, if necessary, for 3 Things Video
DLR/Spelling/Vocab Test Friday




MONTEREY WEATHER STATION
Weekly Quotes: Spring
“Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.”

“Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'"--Robin Williams

Dear Parents,
* We had quite a fun learning experience on our field trip to the Monterey Bay Weather Station on Friday. This trip was a perfect end to our unit of study about weather.

* This week our class will be sharing our President Cubes that we worked so hard on the last month in computers.

* Room 12 will also resume News Teams this week. Because of the budget crunch, local businesses have stopped donating the newspapers to our school. Consequently, we will use the computers in the lab to look up current news and print the stories for our teams to present next Monday.

* After recently purchasing a digital video camera for our class and the after school program, I have planned a new project entitled, "My Three Words." Ask your child about the powerful video we saw together to understand the project a little more. To go along with this project, we will learn 15 virtues/values this week. For instance, integrity, perseverance, honesty, etc.

* In math we will be studying Statistics/Probability this week, so we will talk about the odds and potential pairings for the NCAA Finals. We're down to the Sweet 16!

* I will be researching 5th grade American History Plays this week for a drama performance at the end of the year. Please let me know if you know of any good plays.

* In writing we will be doing a 5-paragraph narrative essay.

That's it for now. See you at school!
Mr. Sweet

Week 28

Homework Monday
Read 20 minutes
Math-Team A Daily Routines Wkbk p. 170-172, Team B-p.171-173
WEAR GREEN
BRING CUBE

Homework Tuesday
Finish writing final draft of Limerick + Color Pic
Write an Irish Fairy Tale

Homework Wednesday
Read 20min.
Social Studies Take Home Test
Ch. 9 use book
St. Patrick's Day Quotes

Oh, the music in the air!
An' the joy that's ivrywhere -
Shure, the whole blue vault of heaven is wan grand triumphal arch,
An' the earth below is gay
Wid its tender green th'-day,
Fur the whole world is Irish on the Seventeenth o' March!
~Thomas Augustin Daly

When Irish eyes are smiling,
'Tis like a morn in spring.
With a lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
~Author Unknown

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing
Dear Parents,
I am very proud of each child's progress this last trimester and if you have any questions, or would like to schedule a time to meet, please let me know. This week we will be setting our goals for the last trimester for Accelerated Reader. The goals are set based on their reading level and previous point totals. This Tuesday in the computer lab we will hopefully finish and print our President Cube project. Next week we will share them with the class. Please make sure your child brings a box of tissue for the assignment if they have not already done so. This coming week our class will continue our creative writing assignment. We are all writing our own American Revolution lyrics to our favorite songs. Some of these songs are: Ring of Fire, In Bloom, Breakaway, Hey Jude and many more. It is quite a fun project and the students will perform them for extra-credit. This project will take the place of the Chapter 9 test. (I know we are sad about this).

This Friday we will be going to the Monterey Bay Weather Station. We will need to be back for the big spin at 1pm. We are short one driver (4 students) at this point so if you can drive please let me know. Here are the drivers that have signed up: Kean (3), Linda (4), Kristin (4), Tara (5), Diane (6), Lisa (3). It would be great to get two more drivers because Kristin was a last resort driver who has gone on almost every trip and probably needs a break.

Our next field trip will be on Friday, April 24th when we go to the county courthouse for "Cookie Court." Keep an eye out for the permission slip.

Here is a list of the students that HAVE (less than half) paid the $28 for the Roaring Camp Field Trip. If your child is not on the list, please send it in by Friday. It is on my credit card. I know money is tight for all of us, so if you need a scholarship, please let me know. Also, here is the link to this amazing field trip. http://www.roaringcamp.com/schlgrps.html
Dante, Graham, Rachel F., Christopher, Jack H., Haley, Jade, Kate, Daniel, Jack O., Olivia, Rachel S., Alyna

That's it for now!
Mr. Sweet

P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day! Our band is playing at the Crow's Nest on Tuesday for those parents who can get away on a date.

WEEK 27

HOMEWORK MONDAY
Reading 20 min. A.R.
Math-Finish p.305+p.129in HWWKB
Science-Do study guide-Test Thursday on Weather Unit of study
Social Studies-finish p. 92,93
BRING CUBE TO CLASS FOR PROJECT-We'll work on it at the lab.

Thursday Homework
Read 20min.
Study for tests

WEEK 26

NEWSPAPER BOOK REPORT EXAMPLE
HOMEWORK MONDAY
Read p. 76-88
Math - Finish Ch.3 test (No parent help)
Finish p. 89
Writing-Finish Rough Draft of American Revolution Story
Newspaper Book Report Due Thursday

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Read p. 97-111
Math - Team A-p. 121HW WKBK/p. 134 Daily
Team B- p. 170 Daily/157, 158 Hw Wkbk
Newspaper Book Report Due Thursday

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
Finish Math - p. 301-302
Finish Bookmark
Finish Final Draft of Revolutionary Writing

Weather Unit Review…Test-Thursday, March 12th.

1. Describe the three levels of the Earth’s atmosphere. Which level has the most pressure? Thickest? Where does most of the weather take place?

2. Why is air pressure highest at sea level?

3. Describe what happens in an area of high pressure.

4. What are convection currents?

5. What happens to cause a sea breeze?

6. Describe the flow of the California current.

7. Where on Earth does the water evaporate the fastest?

8. Understand: humidity, current, precipitation and wind.

9. Understand the difference between: cirrus, cumulus, cumulonimbus and stratus clouds.

10. What are condensed small water droplets that are near ground level?

11. Describe what a barometer, hygrometer, anemometer and thermometer measure.

12. Every air mass has two characteristics…what are they?

13. Understand different air masses and the type of weather they bring.

14. What is the difference and what results from a cold/warm front?

15. How does wind interact with a tropical depression?

16. Describe what happens in a hurricane. On land, at sea, how fast are the winds?

17. If air pressure is going up each day what can you infer about the weather that is coming? Why? Explain.

PRESIDENTIAL CUBE

This project will give you the opportunity to research one of our nation's past presidents! You will present and explain your cube in front of the class for an oral grade.

Directions: You may gather information about your president using your Social Studies book, encyclopedias, other books, the Internet, or any other appropriate resources. Neatly type or write the information onto a separate piece of paper and glue it to the cube. Cover a square tissue box with white or colored paper. Decorate your cube with borders and accents. You may use colored pencils, markers, crayons, stickers, construction paper, or any other appropriate materials.

Your cube has six sides. Below is a list of the information that must be on the cube.

Side 1: The President's Name (in large letters)
• The years he served as president
• His numerical order (Washington was the 1st president)
• The number of terms in office (each term is 4 years)
• Optional information: political party (republican, democrat, etc.) and vice presidents
Side 2: Previous life experience
• This side should include any information about previous jobs held by this president (lawyer, governor, actor, etc.)
Side 3: Major Historical Events during the president's term
• List any historical events that occurred while that president was in office (was there a war during his term, etc.)
• This side should also mention any well-known policies enacted by the president such as FDR’s "New Deal."
Side 4: Personal Information
• This information must include the date of birth and death (if applicable), the cause of death, and information on his family (wife, children, etc.)
Side 5: Map of your president's home state
• This map should be hand drawn, in color, include the capital and the city of the president's birth
Side 6: A picture of the president
• A hand drawn picture of your president
• This picture can be traced or sketched free-hand. It cannot be a photocopy, a photo from a book, or printed from a computer.
Remember: Neatness and Creativity Count