Reading for Meaning
Mrs. Perkins’ reading classes read the realistic fiction novel, Hatchet, written by Gary Paulson. Gary Paulson has written many novels about adventure and survival. Her students learned about this genre, new vocabulary words, and the author's point of view. They focused on the problems and consequences of the main character, Brian. As a summative project for this novel, the students wrote a summary of the book and created a cover for his or her project. Most of her students enjoyed the novel, Hatchet.
Science Fun
Students are learning about energy in Mr. Smith's science class. In this inquiry-based investigation, students were determining the effects of a steel ball as it collides into a wooden block. They tested this using three conditions. The conditions were having a slope one block high, two blocks high, and three blocks high. Students completed three trials on each condition and recorded their findings in a table (if you look closely at the photo you can see the data table). The students learned that as the slope rises the energy level increases and the wooden block moved a greater distance.
HOOO!
Biosphere, one of the four spheres of the Earth that students learn in 5th grade science, was deeply studied this year in Mrs. Koledo’s class. After spending time learning and reviewing food chains and ecosystems, students delved deeper into the world of owls. Time was spent dissecting owl pellets, attending a field trip to the Howell Nature Center to observe owls in captivity, and finally writing their own informational books about a Michigan owl. It was a lot of hard work and time, but worth every second! Next week during March is Reading Month, students will share their owl books with each other during a planned author day. Mrs. Koledo remarked that she is incredibly proud and impressed at the level of attention and hard work that the kids showed.
Reader's Theater
Mrs. Sulick's class read the book "Chocolate Touch" by Patrick Skene Catling. Students kept a journal throughout the novel to keep track of new vocabulary, writing, and comprehension questions. We practiced our fluency at the end of the book with a Reader's Theater Play and celebrated finishing the novel and play with a chocolate party on Valentine's Day. Students brought in different items to try in chocolate fondue. Some of the items were pickle flavored potato chips, strawberries, bananas, cookies, marshmallows, rice krispie treats and even some hot Mexican candies!
Newton's Law
Mr. Sinn's Science students have been studying a unit on forces. They have been studying everyday forces that act on objects, such as gravitation, magnetism, and friction. They then studied and learned more about motion and speed. This included key concepts such as acceleration, speed, velocity, and momentum. Finally, they learned about motion as it pertains to Newton's Laws. As a culminating activity they had to design an amusement park ride using materials from home. They then had to present to the class their ride and how forces acted/played a role in each of these amusement park ride designs. The models were a fun, engaging way to show what the students had learned in this unit while keeping a focus on the engineering aspects of the science curriculum.
Author, Author!
We can add one more name to the author list in the world of children’s books - fifth grader Will O’Dell. Will’s first publication, “Grandpa Pepsi” was happily received by his classmates at a book launch last week in Mrs. Koledo’s class. Grandpa Pepsi is the fictional, main character of the book styled in the same genre as Dogman and Big Nate. Will has been busy writing and creating for his book since the third grade when he and some friends came up with the character idea. At Christmas time, the class presented him with a special character doll (made by Lori Thome) in the exact likeness of Grandpa Pepsi. Will, his special classmates, and book were all featured on the cover of the Tri-County Times last week.
Up Coming Dates
March 10 Shamrock Shuffle
March 10 Spring Pictures
March 25 End of Third Marking Period
March 28 Spring Break
April 4 Return from Spring Break
Email: mgagne@lindenschools.org
Website: Lindencommunityschools.org
Location: 7199 Silver Lake Road, Linden, MI, USA
Phone: 810-591 8412