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Fifth Grade
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Photo Albums
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Helping in the Parish Garden
4 Photos
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OMSI Field Trip
3 Photos
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Preparing Ashes for ASH WEDNESDAY
4 Photos
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Burning Calories Science Lab
5 Photos
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Design and Engineering
4 Photos
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WELCOME TO THE FIFTH GRADE!
Fifth graders at Holy Family focus on the Catholic Social Justice Principle of Caring for God's Creation. This principle is woven throughout the curriculum and the fifth grade class embodies the principle through numerous activities and service projects.Updates for 5/16/19
Tomorrow, we will gather with parishioners for the Circle of Life breakfast, a time to share stories with a different generation. Thank you, parents, for helping to put it together, and thanks to our room parent, Sarah Arndt Smith, for organizing!
We are finishing up our last STAR testing of the year and I am very pleased to say that they are going quite well. Updates to come.
ELA
In addition to STAR testing, we are continuing our Word Study books with Greek and Latin affixes that can help up determine the meaning of new vocabulary words. For example, because the students had learned that "bio" means life, and "ology" means the study of, they were able to determine that the word biology meant the study of living things.
Dinner time question: What have you learned from doing your word study book?
Social Studies
Fifth graders (aka The Colonists) have been having a rough week due to the Intolerable Acts that I (aka King George) have enacted. As a result of the Boston Tea Party, the King has blocked Boston Harbor and they have not been paid in several days. I have heard rumors that they may declare their independence from my kingdom. We shall see...
Meanwhile, I, King George III of England will just stand here for my painting looking glamorous.
Dinner time question: What did you learn about the Declaration of Independence?
Science
In science we are looking at what makes up healthy ecosystems and why carbon needs to be balanced by plants in order for it to be kept in check.
Dinner time question: How did playing the game Big Fish help you to understand about carbon in a pond ecosystem?
Math
In addition to STAR testing this week, we are going back to review a few standards that were weak earlier in the year - namely, the way that decimals are related by powers of 10.
Dinner time question: What happens to the decimal 0.67 if I multiply it by 100?
Religion
The month of May is the month of Mary. This week we analyzed the Hail Mary and talked about its meaning. Then students made a poster of it and highlighted words that stood out to them in the prayer.
Dinner time question: What part of the Hail Mary stands out to you?
Spelling Words (-phon and -port)
1. phonics
2. telephone
3. homophone
4. cacophony
5. symphony
6. microphone
7. transport
8. export
9. portable
10. portfolio
11. support
12. portal
Review Words
1. misinterpret
2. mismatch
3. mismanage
Updates for 5/4/19
Tuesday we celebrated Holy Family with our annual Believe concert. It was a beautiful evening and the fifth graders sounded AMAZING. Thank you to all those who donated their time and energy to make it such a wonderful event!
Next week we start our final STAR testing window. Please make sure that your child is rested and has a healthy breakfast each morning.
Science
We learned about aquifers this week and groundwater. Students are working in groups to determine what factors are indicators of groundwater.
Dinner time question: What does the presence of a plant with very long roots tell you about the groundwater?
Math
We are working on larger number division and division with fractions. Those who have mastered those concepts already are working on understanding data sets through mean, median, mode, and range. If your child doesn't know basic multiplication, please work with them on a daily basis to help them learn these. They will have a hard time in middle school if they cannot multiply.
Dinnertime question: What is something that you are learning how to do or improving this week in math?
Social Studies
We are continuing our re-enactment of the events that led up to the American Revolution. The colonists (students) are dealing with the Intolerable Acts right now which are, well...intolerable. They are going to create interactive timelines in class to demonstrate their understanding of these events.
Dinner time question: What were the Intolerable Acts? How are they enacted in your classroom?
Religion
We are working on some of the Second Steps lessons that deal with privacy, both online and in person. We will begin our Family Life (puberty) unit next week.
Dinner time question: What can you say to someone who wants to give you a hug or a kiss if it makes you uncomfortable?
ELA
This week we finished up our business letters and are delving deep into Greek and Latin roots. An understanding of the roots of words can strongly support vocabulary building.
Dinner time question: What does the Latin root "pop" mean? (as in population, popular, populous)
Spelling Words (-ology)
5/6-5/10
1. technology
2. psychology
3. geology
4. theology
5. mythology
6. archaeology
7. ecology
8. biology
9. anthropology
10. terminology
11. meteorology
12. physiology
Review Words
1. illustrator
2. inferior
3. error
Updates for 4/29/19
Spring is in the air. We have beautiful flowers blooming outside, and lots of learning happening. Here's what we were up to last week:
Math: Unit 6 in Geometry finished up with our test on Friday. Test corrections for anyone receiving lower than a B are due next Wednesday. Your child is allowed to access all manner of help for test corrections: my help, your help, notes, etc. Please make sure not to alter the original test, but instead to write the corrections on a separate sheet of paper and staple it to the test.
Dinner time question: Why is a square always a rectangle, but a rectangle isn't always a square?
ELA: This week we worked on comparing different primary sources from the same historical account (in this case, the sinking of the Titanic), and writing our business letters. They are almost finished. It's wonderful to see what kinds of things your children are passionate about.
Dinner time question: What business are you writing to and why?
Science: Spring has sprung in the school garden as well, which means lots of weeds. We ventured to the garden this week to harvest onions and chard, and to pull weeds. We will be planning and planting very soon!
Dinner time question: What vegetables would you like to see planted in the school garden?
Social Studies: Our 13 colonies re-enactment is going well. So far, the Stamp Act has been passed, the First Congressional Congress has met, and the Stamp Act was repealed. King George (artfully played by yours truly) has passed the Townshend Acts, but they won't be for long. The colonists are getting restless. I'm thinking about maybe taxing tea next...
Dinner time question: How are you feeling about the Townshend Acts? How are the Loyalists treated differently by King George?
Religion: After the excitement of Holy Week, we are working on Archdiocesan standards of keeping children safe on the internet. I have extended that to all mobile devices and have expanded our thinking to how we interact on text with each other as it seems a majority of the class is texting - and often! Here are some of the "texting etiquette" rules we agreed upon as a class yesterday.
Dinner time question: Can you look at these pictures and talk to me about what they mean and why they might be "Dos" or "Don'ts"?
Spelling Words this week:
(-or)
1. protector
2. error
3. pastor
4. mentor
5. collector
6. actor
7. horror
8. sculptor
9. illustrator
10. competitor
11. translator
12. inferior
Review Words
1. roommate
2. headache
3. doorknob
Welcome to Holy Week.
We have a busy week this week! Monday and Tuesday we will be making sandwiches and putting together lunches for the Willamette Center Shelter, caring for those who have less than we do. Wednesday is our Rice Bowl day (no hot lunch) when we stand in solidarity with those who have less to eat than we do. That is also the day to return your rice bowl donations. Holy Thursday we will be engaging in several stations pertaining to Holy Week. Please have your child bring an egg carton for that day. Finally, Friday we will have our school version of the Living Stations of the Cross. Here's what we're up to academically:
Math
This unit is on geometry. We are learning about the different kinds of triangles and quadrilaterals as well as how to graph points on a coordinate plane. We will be having a quiz on triangles on Wednesday morning.
Dinner time question: Can a triangle be both scalene and obtuse? (Answer: yes!)
ELA
We have finished our novels and are discussing the theme and conflicts in each. Students have the rest of this week to finish their packet.
Dinner time question: What do you think is the theme in your novel? What evidence do you have?
Science
We are continuing our unit on space and Earth's place in it.
Dinner time question: What happens to gravity on different planets? How is gravity related to mass?
Social Studies
Our thirteen colonies unit is well underway and we are beginning our simulation. Students have picked colonist names and occupations. They are getting paid in British pounds according to the occupation they picked at random. King George has begun visiting our classroom and he will be enacting the Stamp Act beginning today. Through this simulation, students will have an understanding of the idea of taxation without representation and why colonists might have been upset with the British monarchy.
Dinner time question: What is your colonist's occupation? What do you think of the Stamp Act?
Religion
We have many Holy Week activities happening this week. On Holy Thursday, we will be working with 3rd and 4th grades to travel to different "stations" and experience different parts of Holy Week. In the third grade room, students will be talking about the Last Supper and looking at the famous Da Vinci painting. They will be constructing their own Last Supper lineup using an egg carton. Please bring an empty egg carton on Wednesday. In the fourth grade room, students will be ordering the stations of the cross and working with a poem about the Triduum. In fifth grade, we will experience foot washing, re-enacting when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Please be sure that your student has easy-to-remove socks and shoes that day (i.e. not footed tights).
Dinner time question: What part of Holy Week speaks most to you? Why?
Spelling Words
(-ice)
1. justice
2. office
3. apprentice
4. notice
5. novice
6. cowardice
7. malice
8. practice
9. crevice
10. service
11. pumice
12. lattice
Review Words
1. medicine
2. genuine
3. imagine
Updates for 3/8/19
This week we began our Lenten journey with an Ash Wednesday Mass. Every Friday until Easter we will participate in the Stations of the Cross. We welcome all families to come and relive Jesus's journey with us. Times will vary, so please keep an eye on the Wednesday Word for specifics. Generally, stations are at 2:30, unless it is a noon dismissal day, and then they are at 11:30.
Religion
Students created a visual reminder this week of how they plan to pray, fast, and give this year during Lent. They will bring this home and it should be put someplace they will see it regularly: on the fridge, in their room, or the bathroom mirror are common choices.
Dinner time question: What did you plan for Lent? How will you pray, fast, and give?
Math
We did a deep dive into multiplying and dividing fractions this week. We used geoboards to understand how the two fractions interact as they are being multiplied.
Dinner time question: What can you predict about the answer when two fractions are multiplied together?
Social Studies
This week we began our 13 Colonies unit. We learned about the New England colonies, who founded them, and why they were founded. We learned about how Roger Williams' ideas about religious tolerance and separation of church and state influenced our own Constitution. Students were full of insight and thoughtful questions.
Dinner time question: What was New York called before its current name and why was it called that?
Science
We began our space unit this week. Students calculated how high they could jump on Earth, and then compared that to their jump on other planets and moons based on the gravitational pull exerted by those other bodies. Their prediction was that the larger the planet, the more gravity there would be. They discovered why this isn't always true.
Dinner time question: Why isn't it always true that the larger the planet the stronger the gravitational pull?
ELA
We continued our novel studies this week, focusing on background knowledge of the time period their books are set in. Depending on what book they are reading, students learned about: the Great Depression, Jim Crow laws, and Cesar Chavez. The books are well written. Ask your child which book he or she is reading and consider getting a copy to read yourself. I have extra copies of all the books that I would be happy to loan. The kids have excellent insights and have made some discoveries about their own beliefs on race, poverty, and equality based on these books. They are worth a family discussion.
Dinner time question: What shocked / surprised you about your novel?
Spelling Words for 3/11-3/15
(-ize)
finalize
alphabetize
organize
customize
realize
recognize
stabilize
colonize
categorize
visualize
summarize
memorize
Review Words:
novel
rehearsal
horizontal
Welcome to March. Now that the snow is behind us (hopefully) we won't be missing any more days or having any more late starts. STEM night and the Invention Convention are coming up on Tuesday next week! I can't wait to share with you all the amazing inventions that this class came up with this year. They are truly innovative. Please plan to be there from 5:30-7:00. Your student will only have to be at their invention to present for 20 minutes. The rest of the time, they are welcome to eat pizza and enjoy the rest of STEM night.
Updates for 3/1/19
Today we talked about Dr. Seuss since it is Read Across America week and there are typically many activities centered around Dr. Seuss. We talked about some mature topics including racism, allowing people to change, being a product of the society you live in, and how people may or may not play into stereotypes of other groups of people. I will send you the pictures and comics that we analyzed in an email.
Important Dates coming up:
* STEM Night / Invention Convention - Tues. 3/5 - 5:30-7:00
* Ash Wednesday Mass - Weds. 3/6 - 9:15
* No Mass - Thurs. 3/7
* Stations of the Cross - Fri. 3/8 - 2:30
ELA
We have started our novel groups. The three different novel groups all center around protagonists who have to overcome difficulties, whether because of racism, or poverty, or both. We are working on character analysis, plot structure, and vocabulary as we go.
Dinner time question: What is something that has surprised you in your novel?
Math
We are multiplying fractions, and exploring how multiplying a fraction times a whole number results in a smaller number, which is often a confusing concept.
Dinner time question: What do you know you need to do when you see the word "of"?
Science
We are gearing up for Invention Convention - pictures to come soon!
Dinner time question: What is still left to do for Invention Convention?
Social Studies
We have finished our explorer board games and will start our 13 colonies unit next week!
Dinner time question: What did you learn by making a board game about your explorer?
Religion
Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. We are exploring what Lent really means and how we can use the pillars of Praying, Fasting, and Giving to participate fully in the season.
Dinner time question: What is Lent?
Spelling Words (3/4-3/8)
-al and -el
formal
towel
rehearsal
original
approval
shovel
model
jewelry
dental
neutral
novel
horizontal
Review words:
1. invisible
2. flexible
3. available
Holy Family is officially an Oregon Green School! Fifth graders do their part every week to help keep up this status. Every Wednesday, as part of our focus on Taking Care of God's Creation, fifth graders collect all the recycling from the entire school and put it in the bins outside. If we find trash co-mingled with the recycling (and we sometimes do) we sort that out as well. Thank you, fifth graders for helping Holy Family stay green!
Updates for 2/8/19
Snow is imminent this weekend and the beginning of next week. Please stay safe and watch for closures / late starts. We will have a Valentine's Party on Thursday, February 14. If students choose to bring Valentines cards, please be sure that they bring one for everyone in the class. Normally we don't have food treats in 5th grade. Valentine's Day is an exception. Feel free to have them bring a sweet treat with their Valentines as well. Please remember that we have a student who is gluten free. Thank you!
Math
The Unit 3 math test is over. Test corrections for anyone who scored below a B are due by Friday, February 15, even if we have snow days. They are a great thing to work on after some sledding...
ELA
We are learning about plot structure: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Using picture books, we are identifying the parts of the plot. Our figurative language unit is over and next up in language structure is a deep dive into Greek and Latin roots. We will increase our vocabulary of new words by identifying parts of the words that we already know.
Science
Invention convention is four weeks away. We are doing research about inventions that already exist, materials that might be useful, and inventors of the past.
Social Studies
The explorer game boards are looking GREAT! They are full of great information about the European explorers. I can't wait for the kids to play the games with each other.
Religion
We completed our ACRE assessment for the archdiocese. Next week, we will be starting a unit on prayer and the various forms of prayer. This is always a fun unit for students as they realize that there are many ways to pray.
Spelling Words (-ture and -sure)
picture
measure
mixture
treasure
closure
lecture
capture
signature
texture
literature
exposure
manufacture
Review Words
fabulous
anonymous
courageous
Updates for 2/4/2019
February is the month we really put our noses to the grindstone. We have many things to finish up and new units to start. Here's what's going on in fifth grade...
MathWe are finishing up our unit on decimals and division with a test on Wednesday. Then we move on to multiplying fractions. I am working in small groups with students today and tomorrow to prepare.
Dinnertime question: What do you always have to remember when adding and subtracting decimals? (Answer: Line up the decimals so the place values are in the same spots!)ELA
Hatchet essays are almost finished being published. We are also coming to the end of the figurative language unit. I hope your child got to show off their Alliteration Ice Cream Cones to their grandparents. The flavors are very creative! We also finished up our mini unit on Sandra Cisneros's short story, "Eleven". It's such a powerful narrative about how even though eleven is a "big kid" age, sometimes we still feel young inside. She is an excellent writer. If you would like to hear it for yourself, click this link. Next up in language arts is learning about plot structure. We will be using several short stories to help us identify the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Dinnertime question: What did you think of the story, "Eleven"? Have you ever felt three inside, even though you are a fifth grader?
Social StudiesAs a culmination to our unit on explorers, students are creating a board game to show their knowledge. We will be playing the games next week. Then, we will delve into the 13 colonies
Dinnertime question: Which explorer are you making a game about? Where did he explore?
Science
Invention convention is right around the corner on March 5. We will be working in class on problems, how to write procedures, and how to present information to help them with their work.
Dinnertime question: What problem are you going to try to solve with your invention?Religion
This week we take the ACRE (Assessment of Catholic Religious Education) test. The Archdiocese gives this test in the 5th grade and again in the 8th grade to assess what students are learning about the Catholic faith. As always, I remind students that this is one data point. A much better example of their faith is how they live their daily life and how they treat others. However, we want to know that they are understanding the background of the faith.
Dinnertime question: What is the best way you can think of to demonstrate your faith?
Spelling Words (-ous)
fabulous
ridiculous
infamous
treacherous
poisonous
anonymous
unanimous
famous
simultaneous
carnivorous
courteous
courageous
Review Words
chocolate
alternate
inappropriate
Updates for 1/11/2019
Fifth graders jumped right back into work after the new year! We are busy working hard in anticipation of our trip to Mazama Mountain Science School on January 22. Read on to see what we've been up to.
ELA
We are writing an academic essay about the theme of Hatchet and developing our skills as writers. We have also started our unit on figurative language. Students have analyzed texts looking for metaphors, similes, alliteration, and hyperbole.
Dinnertime question: What were some of the alliterative flavors you created for your alliteration ice cream?
Math
Students are working with decimals - adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing by powers of 10, and comparing. It's a quick unit because most students have had some experience working with money.
Dinnertime question: What happens when you multiply a decimal by 10?
Science
In preparation for Mazama Mountain Science School, we are learning about designing an experiment - using variables and controls to gather data. We have also begun our discussion of the Invention Convention and what students will be designing for Science Night in March.
Dinnertime question: What was the variable in your paper airplane experiment? What were the controls?
Social Studies
The Native American tribe presentations went very well! Ms. Wiltgen stopped by and was impressed with the depth of understanding students had about their assigned tribe. Next up is European exploration. We will delve into the European exploration of the "New World" and how it affected all the people involved.
Dinnertime question: What are three reasons that European explorers went to the New World?
Religion
We are learning about the parts of the Mass. Understanding the Mass will allow students a deeper connection with the sacrament of the Eucharist and the readings of the day.
Dinnertime question: What are the two main parts of the Mass?
Spelling List
(-tion and -sion)
1. definition
2. attention
3. explosion
4. precision
5. distraction
6. invasion
7. permission
8. aggression
9. professional
10. national
11. isolation
12. expression
Review Words
delicious
cautious
social
Updates for 1/02/2019
Mazama Lodge at Mt. Hood
Welcome to 2019! This month our fifth graders will be headed to Mt. Hood to the Mazama Mountain Science School for three days and two nights to experience in depth science inquiry in the snow! This special trip is one way that we implement the Next Generation Science Standards and simultaneously learn how to care for God's creation - the 5th grade Catholic Social Justice principle. January is full of exciting opportunities, including Catholic Schools' Week and Grandparents' Tea. Stay tuned for all of the details about Mazama coming up in future weeks.
Math
We return to adding and subtracting mixed fractions and will be soon moving on to multiplying fractions. In math class, we use manipulatives to allow students the tactile experience of regrouping to subtract with fractional pieces, then we move on to the representational with drawings, and finally, we use symbols when we feel comfortable understanding what they mean.
Dinnertime question: Tell me about practicing math with Prodigy. How do you like it?
ELA
This month we delve deep into non-fiction, examining the author's purpose, point-of-view, and bias. We will be using Newsela, the online news source, to learn about current events, and practicing how to cite evidence to support our claims. This month also brings us to a unit on persuasive writing. We will learn techniques and read many persuasive articles to get ideas.
Dinnertime question: How did Hatchet end? Do you think you will read the next novel in the series?
Science
In addition to heading to science school at the end of the month, we will be exploring the scientific method and how to design experiments. We will learn about constants and variables and try out some of our new knowledge.
Dinnertime question: Why is it important to have constants in an experiment?
Social Studies
After we present our Tribes slide shows and do our gallery walk, we will move on to early exploration. Students will be reading and mapping where early European explorers went and what happened when they encountered native people in the countries they colonized.
Dinnertime question: What do you already know about European explorers? What are you curious about?
Religion
This month we will be examining the Mass and learning the different parts of the Mass and understanding what they mean. This is always an exciting unit for students because they finally understand the meaning of all those things they have seen and heard at Mass throughout their time at Holy Family. I get the pleasure of witnessing many of those "Aha!" moments which I love. A scavenger hunt in the church is always a highlight for the students, too.
Dinnertime question: How did it feel to do your Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy project?
Spelling Words
(-ious and -ial)
1. conscious
2. partial
3. vicious
4. cautious
5. glacial
6. spacious
7. delicious
8. ferocious
9. initial
10. crucial
11. social
12. facial
Review Words
anniversary
ordinary
memory
Updates for 12/07/2018
This is a busy time of year, but I love Advent for the opportunity to reflect on the blessings in my life, one of which is you - the families of Holy Family. Your children are a joy to teach, and they have amazing families. Thank you for all you do both at this time of year, and throughout the year.
Reminders:
Next Monday we will be making sandwiches for the Willamette Center Shelter.
For that project, we are asking EACH FAMILY to bring in:- One loaf of sandwich bread
- 10-12 individual water bottles – I think Safeway had a good deal on them last I checked
It would be great if a few people would also bring in a large jar of jam. If we don’t have enough by Monday morning, I can go buy some more. We will need a total of 3 more jars. We will be making sandwiches Monday afternoon and packing lunches with our first grade buddies on Tuesday.
St. Vincent de Paul food drive is happening now through Dec. 18. Your child will volunteer to bring a food item and as a class, we will put together a food box for a local family that is food insecure over the holidays. Ask your child what they volunteered for.
Math
After the math test, we have moved on to adding and subtracting mixed numbers. We are using multiple strategies and playing some games in class to extend their understanding.
Dinnertime question: When would we need to add or subtract mixed numbers in real life? (Cooking, baking, measuring)
ELAWhile we continue to read Hatchet, we are also reviewing some grammar concepts that will help our writing. This week we focused on subject and predicate to determine whether a sentence is complete or incomplete.Dinnertime question: What does a predicate have to have in it? (Answer: a verb)
Science
We had two exciting things happen in science this week - hour of code and a STEM activity. The Hour of Code is a national week of focus on coding. Coding is an important skill for our kids. So many of the latest products are a result of coding: Roomba, self-driving cars, etc.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. This week's STEM activity was a lot of fun. Ask your child about the details!
Dinnertime question: Tell me about the STEM activity and how you and your team worked together to accomplish what you did.
Social Studies
We worked tirelessly on our Tribes presentations this week. They will be due before break! Stay tuned.
Dinnertime question: What are you going to do for the art piece of the project?
Religion
We learned about the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy this week and introduced the winter break project.
Dinnertime question: What corporal work of mercy is one that speaks to you most?
Spelling Words for 12/10-12/14
(-ary, -ery, -ory)1. dictionary2. slavery
3. memory
4. imaginary
5. anniversary
6. secretary
7. stationery
8. stationary
9. summary
10. gallery11. factory
12. ordinary
Review Words
temperature
century
miniature
Updates for 11/30/2018December and the season of Advent is upon us! This week we were quite busy finishing up this trimester's work. Read on for the details of what is coming up.
Important Upcoming Dates:- Saturday / Sunday, Dec. 1-2 - Advent Fair after all Holy Family Masses: come and make an Advent wreath for your home!
- Thursday, Dec. 6 - 5th Grade Mass, Reconciliation
- Friday, Dec. 7 - Report cards go home
ELA
We finished up our "Where I'm From" poems this week, which were based on the poem by George Ella Lyon. They turned out REALLY well, so I put them up on the bulletin board in the middle school hallway. Please take the time to stop by and see them. We also finished chapter 13 in Hatchet. If your child didn't get caught up in the book, they can take the weekend to get caught up. Remember that listening to the audio recording on YouTube is perfectly acceptable as long as they are following along with the text .
Dinnertime question: What was one of the things that you wrote about in your poem that would be an unexpected answer to the question, "Where are you from?"
Math
We are really developing fluency for adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators this week. We are practicing different strategies, but the most common one is finding a common denominator. We will continue to practice until we are completely fluent. This is a big standard in fifth grade!
Dinnertime question: What's a common denominator between 8 and 24?
Science
We looked at the different characteristics of life this week: growth and development, response to environment, ability to reproduce, metabolizes, maintains homeostasis, is made of cells, and passes off traits to offspring. We also learned more about how plants embody these characteristics. Namely, we looked deeper at the process of photosynthesis and did a silly play that should help students understand the process in a fun way.
Dinnertime question: What is the kind of sugar called that plants make when they photosynthesize? (Answer: glucose)
Social Studies
This week we worked hard on our tribes projects! They are developing well and we will be presenting in the last weeks of school for 2018.
Dinnertime question: Why can't you just use a Google image search for your tribe and put any picture on your slideshow?
Religion
We finished up our unit on Theological and Cardinal Virtues this week. Students came up with specific situations where they might lean on one of the virtues to help them make the best decisions. They are up on our bulletin board outside of our classroom.
Dinnertime question: During what situation might you need a little reminder about the virtue of charity or love?
Spelling Words
(-ture and -tu)
1. adventure
2. temperature
3. congratulate
4. natural
5. legislature
6. spiritual
7. mixture
8. spatula
9. century
10. miniature
11. gesture
12. capture
Review Words
1. absence
2. audience
3. balance
Updates for 11/16/2018
This week culminates with the 70th anniversary gala party. Thank you to Ashley Heichelbech and Tiffany Grabenhorst for chairing this event and for all of you parents who volunteered to put this on, and all of those who will come tonight to support our school. We truly appreciate your donations of time and treasure!
Important Reminders- TODAY! - 70th Anniversary Gala, 6pm
- Tuesday, November 20: Science Vocab. quiz
- Wednesday, November 21: Sustainable Fish Meal due; noon dismissal
- Thursday, November 22: NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving
- Friday, November 23: NO SCHOOL
ELA
This week we continued reading Hatchet. We finished reading chapter 8 and are talking about the theme of the book. So far things that students have come up with are: courage, overcoming adversity, determination, acceptance, and hope. Students are learning to back up their ideas with evidence from the text. We are also finishing up our Where I'm From poems. You are going to LOVE reading them. They are very creative!
Dinnertime question: What happened to Brian in Hatchet that surprised you?
Math
This week we worked on adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators using various methods: clocks, money mats, and converting to like denominators. Students took a formative assessment today that will determine whether or not we are ready to move on.
Dinnertime question: Which method of adding fractions do you find easiest?
Religion
We are continuing to explore the Cardinal and Theological Virtues, but we also took time to write to our Prayer Partners.
Dinnertime question: What is virtue?
Social Studies
We are working hard on our tribes research. Students are beginning to use Chromebooks to enhance their knowledge of their tribe. Students will be bringing home any leftover general tribes work to do this weekend. Most are finished but there may be a few who need some extra time.
Dinnertime question: What is something you have learned from this unit on Native Americans?
Science
We furthered our study of ecosystems this week. Students used the Yellowstone website to help them define ecosystem terms like: omnivore, primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers, keystone species, predator, etc. We also played a game called Eat or Be Eaten. It was lots of fun! There will be a vocabulary quiz on these terms next week on Tuesday. Don't forget - the sustainable fish meal is due by Wednesday. If your child hasn't planned their fish meal, maybe they can try it out this weekend.
Dinnertime question: What was it like to play Eat or Be Eaten? What did you learn?
No new spelling words this week. Spelling test on Wednesday!
Updates for 11/9/18
This week a visiting team came from near and far (from as close as Lake Oswego, and as far as Boise, Idaho) in order to assess the Self Study that Holy Family did last year and to see evidence at our school. Although they don't give grades like As or gold stars, they were very positive about our school, and said numerous times what an exceptional school Holy Family is. They especially commented on the warm and loving environment and the open communication between us all. In the spirit of gratitude, THANK YOU ALL for being the wonderful, supportive parents that you are and allowing me to guide your kids every day.
Important reminders:Monday, November 12 - VETERAN'S DAY - No school
Tuesday, November 13 - No school
Wednesday - No hot lunch / microwaves / milk due to a funeral - please plan ahead
Thursday - First Mass that kids will sit with family groups
Friday - Spelling Test; 70th Anniversary Gala
ELAWe are moving along with our novel, Hatchet. This week, we read chapters 5 and 6. If you would like to review chapters 5 and 6 over the long weekend, you can find it read aloud on YouTube for free. We also began our "Where I'm From" poems in writing. Check out the original "Where I'm From" poem by George Ella Lyon here .Dinnertime question: George Ella Lyon describes where she's from in terms of the experiences she has had instead of a location. What is something unexpected you put in your poem?
Science
At the beginning of the week, students worked with their science teams to construct a definition of "ecosystem" based on some examples and non-examples that I showed them. Then, they researched more information to revise and add to their definitions. They realized that an ecosystem is made up of both living and non-living (biotic and abiotic) factors. We explored how abiotic factors interact with the environment around them, and ended up the week with a visit from OMSI. Unfortunately, my communication about which OMSI classes this class has done was less than stellar and they ended up repeating a class "Funtastic Physics" that they have done before. However, I talked to them about the idea of going deeper once you have a basic understanding of something and that it was like watching a movie when you are really young, and then coming back to that movie when you are older. You notice so much more!
Dinnertime question: How can abiotic factors like sunlight, water, air, or rocks affect their environment?
Math
We are well under way in our study of fractions. This week we added the use of a clock to help us solve fraction equations that aren't easily solved by thinking of money - fractions like sixths, twelfths, and thirds. Math practice will be going home more often this unit. It will always be on yellow paper. Keep an eye out for it.
Dinnertime question : How do clocks help you to solve fraction equations?Social Studies
Most kids are finishing up their regional studies of tribes in the US. They are moving into research of their own assigned tribes next week. Here is a very quick overview of what we are learning.
Dinnertime question: How do different tribes adapt to their environment? (Example: How did the people of the Great Plains adapt to the fact that their food source, the bison, roamed? Hint: think about their dwellings...)
Religion
We are moving into a study of the Cardinal and Theological Virtues. Cardinal virtues are: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. The Theological Virtues are: faith, hope, and love. If at some point this week, you can work those into your conversations at home, that would be great. These are quite complex words for students this age to understand completely.
Dinnertime question: When have you demonstrated fortitude in your life?
Spelling List - 11/14 to 11/21/18 (Test on the 21st)
(Silent Letters)
1. building2. cupboard
3. raspberry
4. science
5. scissors
6. exhibit
7. rhythm
8. assignment
9. honor
10. climbed
11. guarantee
12. salmon
Review words:
immediately
loving
completelyUpdates for 10/30-11/2
This week was so full of fun. Thanks to the many volunteers who made our Halloween carnival the success that it was! On Thursday, it was wonderful to celebrate All Saints' Day with the adorable 2nd graders dressed up as saints. There was much talk among the 5th graders afterwards about the saints. Friday wrapped up with a PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) assembly. Our class won the "Hallway Angels" award, and our very own Mieke Foubert won the individual P.E. award! Congratulations, Mieke! Here's what we were up to this week:
ELA
We are continuing our novel study of Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Students are enjoying the excitement of the story line. This week we made inferences as to how Brian (the protagonist) might feel after crashing into the Canadian wilderness. We are also talking about character traits and discussing how we can find evidence (a commonly heard word in fifth grade) to support our claims.
Dinnertime question: What character trait would you say Brian has demonstrated?
Math
This week we wrapped up our study of volume and did a little bit of fun Halloween math. It was music to my ears when, on Halloween, I said it was time to clean up from math to have snack and break and I heard a chorus of, "Aw!! Can we work on this during break?" - truly a teacher's dream. Friday we began our unit on fractions. We are using specially designed "money mats" to show fractional relationships.
Dinnertime question: What was the most fun thing you did in math this week and why did you enjoy it?
Science
This week we focused on the word "sustainable" a bit more. We talked about how the word means different things in different settings. Next week we begin talking about ecosystems. This is one of my favorite units. So much to learn!
Dinnertime question: What is one thing that you think we, as a family, can do to help our planet?
Social Studies
Students learned about different groups of native tribes this week: the Ancestral Puebloans, the Mound Builders, and the Eastern Woodland tribes. We are doing some general studies before students get into their specific tribe studies in order for students to have some background knowledge about what sets their tribe apart from others.
Dinnertime question: What is division of labor and how is it represented in our household?
Religion
Students worked hard on their seven sacraments scrapbooks this week. We also invited Father Rodel to come to the classroom on Wednesday (yes, Halloween!) to pray the Rosary with us, to culminate the month of the Rosary (October) and to have the experience of praying the Rosary with our rosaries that were a gift from the Rosary Club.
Dinnertime question: What was the experience of praying the Rosary like?
Important reminders this week:- The visiting team for accreditation will be here Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. If you see someone you don't recognize in the building, please say hello and welcome them. Feel free to answer any questions they may ask you.
- The students have earned "Stuffy Day" on Thursday. Students may bring a stuffy that can fit in their backpack to school.
Spelling Words for the week of 11/5-11/9
Silent "e" plus a suffix
1. hoping
2. completely
3. loosely
4. wholesome
5. typing
6. admiration
7. loving
8. icy
9. eraser
10. definitely
11. unfortunately
12. immediately
Review words: salute*, conclusion, valuable*
*These words are a change from the printed spelling list. I will go over the new review words in class. After the last spelling test, it was evident that students needed more exposure to these words.
Updates for 10/22-10/26Can you believe October is coming to an end already? With Pajama Day, the music test, the math test, and family groups this week, we stayed BUSY! Read on to find out what we’re up to. Next week will be busy as well. With both Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, the All Saints’ Mass, and a work day on Monday, there are many announcements and special days. Please double check your calendars.
Halloween reminders: Appropriate costumes include no weapons or blood, appropriately covered bodies, and masks only for the parade. Students must also be able to sit comfortably. Please do not bring Halloween candy to school either on Halloween, or afterwards for snacks.
Reminders
* Monday, October 29 – No school – Accreditation work day
* Wednesday, October 31 – Halloween Carnival in the afternoon – WEAR COSTUMES!
* Thursday, November 1 – All Saints’ Day Mass; Bread of the Dead (Pan de los Muertos) tasting
* Friday, November 2 – Spelling Test
ELA
We are into our novel, Hatchet, making inferences and connections to the text. Students have been revising their personal narratives and making them clearer to the reader by using peer conferencing. We are also furthering our word study by adding the Greek root “hydr” and the Latin root “aqua”.
Dinnertime question: What has happened so far in Hatchet?
Math
With our math test, we culminated our unit of study. Next up is fractions. We will be adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions using a variety of strategies.
Dinnertime question: Looking ahead to fractions, how do you feel?
Science
We have talked about what the word “sustainable” means in terms of fishing practices, and will be widening the scope of our definition next week. We used the Seafood Watch Sustainable Fish card to explore why some kinds of fish are more sustainable than others, and students researched a recipe that would include a fish on the list. I am asking that before Thanksgiving, students accompany you to the grocery store with their Seafood Watch Card and help you to prepare a recipe using a sustainable fish. They have chosen one that looks interesting, but have not taken food prices into consideration. I would like students to be involved in purchasing the fish, choosing a recipe (even if it’s not the one they originally chose), and preparing the meal. It’s extra credit if they are willing to try it. ;)
Dinnertime question: What does sustainable mean? Which recipe did you choose?
Social Studies
We are beginning our unit on native tribes. I passed out and explained information about the next big project. Students will be researching a tribe and sharing information to the class via a Google Slides presentation. This project will largely be done IN CLASS. There is an artistic component, which students will need to complete at home, but the bulk of the project will be done at school. Parents will be invited to the final presentations.
I have attached the assignment with all the details to this email.
Dinnertime question: What tribe are you researching? What have you learned about them so far?
Religion
Students are finishing up the planning stages of their 7 sacraments scrapbook and will decorate next week. As we conclude October, the month of the Rosary, we will be praying the Rosary with Father. Your children have each received a Rosary from the Rosary Club and will be able to bring it home to pray with once October is over.
Dinnertime question: What are some of the symbols that you included in your 7 sacraments scrapbook?
Spelling words for the week of 10/30-11/2
Long /u/ sound- humor
- avenue
- gratitude
- solution
- duplicate
- menu
- community
- conclusion
- numerator
- lunar
- salute
- valuable
Review words:
priest
receive
weigh
Updates for 10/1-10/5
Fall has arrived in Portland! We are starting to see the beginning of indoor recess and chilly outdoor recess! Please remind your students to bring a coat every day. If it's a light drizzle we will go outside. They need the fresh air. If it's really coming down, we will be indoors, either playing intramural sports in the gym, or playing games indoors.
Here's what we were up to this week:
Religion
We hosted Mass this week on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Thanks to all those who were able to make it in person to support our students. They did a great job and were flexible with the different ways of a guest priest. Just an FYI, I do give out a 5 point test grade for participation in Mass. It's not about how well everyone reads / does their part, because I know that reading at a microphone in front of a large crowd is nerve-racking and mistakes get made. It's the only time I ever grade on behavior. The grade reflects that the students show respect for the fact that they are in church and that they model the behavior we talk about daily. If your student is ever absent for a fifth grade led Mass, they will be expected to write 2 paragraphs about the saint of the day to make up for the "test" of Mass. October is the month of the rosary. We will continue our study of the 7 sacraments, and also learn to pray the rosary. Students will be receiving their very own rosary in class as a gift thanks to the generous donation from the Rosary Club.
Dinnertime question: What was your part in Mass? Did you enjoy it? What will you choose to do next time?
Math
We are finished up our study of volume of rectangular prisms. We will be working on composite figures (more than one rectangular prism stuck together) and then having a test the week of the 15th.
Dinnertime question: How is math feeling these days? What has gotten easier for you lately?
ELA
This week we delve deep into comparing and contrasting non-fiction articles. Being able to compare and contrast is one step in the process of analytical thinking. We hope to prepare students to be able to think deeply about a topic and analyze multiple sides of an argument. It's critical in today's society when they are presented with information from multiple sources to be able to find similarities and differences and then to be able to understand the difference.
Dinnertime question: What non-fiction article set was the most interesting to you?
Writing
Students are finishing up their personal narrative essays. The focus for this essay is word choice and a focus on presenting their ideas in a logical way. Their essays look very interesting so far! I can't wait to read the finished product.
Dinnertime question: What did you change about your personal narrative to make the word choice more exciting?
Science
We started brainstorming on Friday about topics in environmental studies, which is our next unit in science. Students are very aware of issues affecting our environment, but less aware about how they are interconnected. We watched a short video about plastic water bottles. Most students beforehand said that they were fine because they are recyclable. We figured out that they are made from oil, cannot biodegrade if accidentally thrown away in the trash (which most are) and that the caps from the water bottles are a huge problem in our oceans, contributing to the micro plastics that affect fish, marine mammals, and ultimately, humans. The students are excited abut the topics!
Dinnertime question: What did you think about the video about plastic water bottles? Did anything surprise you?
Social Studies
Students are wrapping up their regions posters and will be finished by Thursday. Then we can move into our next unit, which will focus on the different native tribes that were present before English settlers arrived to what is now the United States.
Dinnertime question: How is your group working together and supporting each other while you create your poster?
Spelling Words for the week of 10/8-10/11
-au and -aw- audio
- author
- chainsaw
- awesome
- applause
- awkward
- because
- August
- audition
- gnaw
- caution
- laundry
Review words- unpleasant
- health
- breathe
Reminders:- Thursday is the cut off for late assignments before progress reports.
- NO SCHOOL this Friday for students - enjoy!
- Please sign up for conferences if you haven't already.
Updates for 9/25-9/28
I can't believe it's already the last week of September. This week flew by! The trees are starting to turn and it seems the weather can't decide if it's going to be summer still or fall. The garden is in great shape. If you and your child water the garden on the weekends, know that you are always allowed to harvest when you are there. I just ask that you leave enough of the plant to keep producing.
Please check out the important dates / reminders below and copy them to your calendar if they apply.
Thursday, October 4 – Fifth grade leads Mass – 8:15
Friday, October 5 – Blessing of the Pets – 3:15
*Sign ups for conferences have gone out to the families with multiple children and will be going out to all soon. Please be sure to schedule a conference with me during the October 18-19 conference time. I appreciate your time to be able to communicate about your child’s progress, get input from you, and generally tell you how wonderful your kiddos are!
Here’s what we’ve been up to this week in fifth grade:
Math
We solidified our understanding of volume this week through a variety of activities. We practiced building models of rectangular prisms with a certain volume, we measured objects around the classroom and discovered their volume, and we did a card sort.
Dinnertime question: Which formula for finding volume do you find easiest to use?
area of the base x number of layers / height
OR
length x width x height?
ELA
We are working on increasing our reading fluency and making inferences from their novels. Students are also working on spicing up their language in their personal narratives, changing phrases like, “really mad” to “furious” and “I walked into the room” to something more precise and related to their narrative like, “I snuck into the room.” Using language that conjures feelings or allows for readers to connect more deeply with the text is our goal!
Dinnertime question: What kinds of phrases did you find yourself replacing in your personal narrative?
Science
Students completed their posters about recycling this week and we talked about how to present the information to other classes in a positive, encouraging way. We also defined the three states of matter that we are studying (solids, liquids, and gases) and gave examples and non-examples for each. There will be a science test next Thursday on this information.
Dinnertime question: Can you tell me some examples of each of the three states of matter you are studying?
Social Studies
Students are almost finished researching their regions of the U.S. and on Wednesday we got the chance to go to the computer lab so they could explore pictures of the landscapes they were researching. I saw students reading more about and expressing an interest in visiting several of the places! There may be some requests for vacations to these locations coming your way. Here are some of the places that got the biggest Ooohs and Aahhhs: Niagara Falls, Everglades National Park, Disney World, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, the lighthouses of Maine, and the Rocky Mountains. They will be creating group posters next week.
Dinnertime question: What did you see that looked interesting from the region you are researching?
Religion
We continued our study of the seven sacraments this week. Students learned why the sacraments are grouped as they are into the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation), Sacraments of Service (Matrimony, Holy Orders) and Sacraments of Healing (Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation). Next week we lead Mass, so we will put this study on hold as we prepare our Mass in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Dinnertime question: How are Matrimony and Holy Orders sacraments of service? Who are they serving?
Spelling words for the week of 10/1-10/5
Three sounds of –ea- health
- unpleasant
- breakfast
- reason
- spread
- already
- breathe
- breath
- swear
- break
- treaty
- meant
Review words:
allowed
sour
thousand
Updates for 9/17-9/21We had a productive week! Here’s what we’re up to in fifth grade:
Math
We are talking about how area and volume are related, and how you can express those relationships by writing expressions with parentheses. We have been building rectangular prisms and showing how the volume of a rectangular prism is equal to the area of the base layer x the number of layers present. We are simultaneously talking about order of operations as it relates to volume.
Dinnertime question: What do parentheses in an expression mean? (Answer: Do that part first!)
ELA
In writing, are working on our personal narratives, using exciting word choice and spicing up our writing. We are also identifying the inferences we make when we read. Good readers infer all kinds of information from a text. Understanding character development is based on the ability to make inferences.
Dinnertime question: What are the clues that would allow someone to infer that you are in a grouchy mood? What about a happy mood?
(Clues may be: frown, stomping, looking down)
Science
We are clearly defining states of matter this week and have started making some recycling posters for the school in order to educate other students about the products that are and are not recyclable in our school. We are taking care of God’s creation through education!
Dinnertime question: What do you most often see in the recycling bin that should go in the trash?
Social Studies
Students are finishing up their research about their assigned region of the United States and will be working together on a poster about that region. Map quizzes are finished and will be coming home today.
Dinnertime question: What is one interesting fact that you have learned about the region that you are studying?
Religion
We have learned how to look up a verse in the four Gospels and have talked about the many books that make up the Bible. Today we are examining some Bible verses about peace for Peace One Day. Students have also written examples of how they embody one of the SLEs of being self-aware and engaged learners, responsible decision-makers, and faith-filled learners. They are beautiful and are up on the wall outside the classroom. Stop by and see them!
Reminders for next week:- Oktoberfest – This Saturday, September 22 from 1pm-8pm – Come and enjoy the fun!
- Picture Day – Tuesday, September 25 – Free Dress
- Noon dismissal – Friday, September 28 for staff development / FREE DRESS / PBIS assembly at 11:30
Spelling Words for the week of 9/24-9/28
-ou and -ow- hour
- boundary
- eyebrow
- county
- countdown
- anyhow
- sour
- around
- mountain
- thousand
- aloud
- allowed
- neighbor
- particular
- worship
Updates for 9/10-9/14It was so wonderful to see so many of you at Back to School night last night! Thank you for taking the time. If you think of any more questions that you may have, please feel free to email me any time. Here’s what went on this week:
Math
We started talking about volume of rectangular prisms today. In our monthly math calendar, we are looking at how fractions can sometimes be represented as money (a dime is one tenth of a dollar) and sometimes the model of a clock can be easier to understand (if you shaded from 12-4 on the clock, that would represent one third of the clock). Earlier in the week, we were still doing an inventory of what math skills students already have so I could determine where the best starting point was.
Language Arts
We spent a chunk of time this week talking about the main idea of a text. Students noticed that the main idea of a paragraph is often found in the topic sentence, or the first sentence, of the paragraph. This will guide our personal narrative writing, where we will use the same strategy – topic sentence, followed by supporting details. We had our first spelling test today!
Dinnertime question: How did the spelling test go for you today? Did your study strategy seem to work for you?
Science
We continued our study of matter this week. Students learned what the different phases of matter are, and sorted characteristics of each phase.
Dinnertime question: How is the particle arrangement in a solid, liquid, or gas different from each other? (Hint: It has to do with how closely “packed” together the particles are…)
Religion
Students have finished up their Holy Trinity pictures in class and we talked about our Student Learning Expectations (SLEs):- Faith-filled learner
- Responsible decision-maker
- Self-aware and engaged learner
Students came up with personal examples of each one for our bulletin board. They also reflected on which one they will focus their attention on this month.
Dinnertime question: Which SLE do you feel you are a good example of and which one needs some work?
Social Studies
Students completed our interactive notes about world geography and there will be a quiz next Wednesday, September 19 on it. Study guides will be going home in their home/school folders this weekend. The study guide was also emailed home.
Spelling words for the week of 9/17-9/21
/er/ spelled with -er, -ur, -ar, -or- remember
- answer
- Thursday
- worship
- surprise
- instructor
- governor
- popular
- particular
- neighbor
- anchor
- behavior
- vehicle
- assemble
- example
Successful First Week!
It has been such a lovely week getting to know your kiddos. This is an enthusiastic class of generous, helpful, and excited learners! I wanted to give you a little heads up about what went on this week in case, like me, you get the typical kid answer of "fine" when you ask about school.
We started the week with some getting to know you activities and setting the stage for a successful year: goal setting, talking about expectations, and encouraging some classroom community. We welcomed two new students to Holy Family in fifth grade: Getzemani Urena and Jack Kiesel.
We also dove right into work. We work hard during the day in fifth grade, and rest in the evenings, allowing time for family, extracurricular activities, and of course, reading! Here is what we were up to this week:
Math - We started off talking about what math class should look like and sound like and today we played the Product Game. It will be coming home next week (Monday) as a homework assignment due Thursday. One goal I have for each of them in math this year is to experience what we called "gentle frustration" in math. If they are overly frustrated, they are not able to learn, but if everything is easy peasy, they aren't learning either. What I want is that happy medium where they have a "Huh...I don't know what to do here" moment.
Dinnertime question: How did it feel playing the Product Game?
Language Arts - We started brainstorming to write personal narratives so that I can get a sense of their writing and began today to talk about the main idea in a text. I am in the middle of conducting reading interviews with each student. I'm about halfway through. I hope to use these interviews to guide them towards books that they may love, and ones that may stretch their thinking.
Dinnertime question: What are you writing about for your personal narrative?
Science - We are learning about physical and chemical changes and have started talking about matter and mass.
Dinnertime question: Can you tell me an example of a physical change and a chemical change? (If they forget, ask them about paper...)
Religion - The Holy Trinity is on the docket for this week and next week. We saw lots of beautiful representations of the Trinity in art from around the world - both simplistic and complex. Students are designing their own Holy Trinity drawings.
Dinnertime question: How can water help us to understand the concept of the Holy Trinity?
Social Studies - We have started our study of geography and maps. We talked about the hemispheres today and how maps can vary depending on perspective. Our standard Mercator projection is not the only one!
Family Study option: Look up various types of map projections. How does the shape and relative size of the continents change in the different projections?
It has been such a pleasure to be in the class with your children this week. Thanks for trusting me with them. As always, if you have any questions, please call or email any time.
Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year!
Can you believe that it's almost time for back to
school? I hope you have had a wonderful summer
and that you have had time as a family (and
individually) to relax and recharge. I am very much
looking forward to this year and I hope you are,
too!