Changing Our World

   Thursday, September 8, 2016

"Changing Our World One Step at a Time"

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, its the only thing that ever has."  -Margaret Mead

Today was marked as the day to change our world by getting ORGANIZED! Fifth graders brought all of their school supplies into the classroom for the great divide- what goes into the binder, the pencil case and stays in the locker. Of course, some wanted to do a little decorating in the mix. We now have a filing system in place for all those loose papers!!! Our lockers are a holding place for books, extra school supplies, and even binders on many nights.  To stay on track with this important skill, I provided each student with a plastic box to put in their locker that houses all extra-supplies!

We also learned the set-up system for our note-taking in math class! Take a look at the comp books that come home tonight with a homework assignment included inside! Fifth grade has taken great pride in accurately copying down notes and showing off their Singapore Math knowledge! Yay!

Finally to Annabella's great delight, schedules were handed out, and planners are now in full use.

Oh, curiosity got the best of me. . . I did popped into global language classes where students were learning to introduce themselves to each other using French or Spanish. Cutsies, handshakes and bows included! They were having so much fun.

Here's to a small group that is capable of changing the world, who will leave his/her footprint behind in time (year's theme).  Day TWO in "the best little school in the universe."

It's Official 

Happy faces make classrooms happy places!  The fifth grade had a remarkable first day of school. All showed amazing self-control as they were put through a variety of routines! Success comes with knowing the expectations!  Such a great class who loves TCS as many students stated in their survey! I greatly look forward to spending the year with this group! Cheers to our first day back!

Fifth Grade Summer Reading Expectations

FIFTH GRADE SUMMER READING

Dear Fifth Graders and Parents,

It’s summertime and “the living is easy.” Summer also provides the perfect opportunity to kick back and read, read, read!  Below you will find TCS’s fifth grade reading expectations for the summer.

The first required reading book is historical fiction, A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. This novel is a dual narrative (contains two stories). One story involves a girl  named Nya living in southern Sudan, Africa in 2008; and the other story is about a boy named Salva living in Southern Sudan in 1985 during the Sudanese civil war.  If possible, I recommend that you read this novel with a parent since it does involve scenes from war and refugee camps. There is a hopeful and positive message at the end of both stories.

The other required book is a mystery, From The Mixed-up Files of  Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. The author got the idea for this book from a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with her three children “when she spotted a piece of popcorn on the seat of a blue silk chair. There was a velvet rope across the doorway of the room. How had that lonely piece of popcorn arrived on the seat of that blue chair?” This is a story about two young runaways who hide inside the MET. Since the 5th Grade visits the MET in the spring, how fun would it be to read a mystery which unfolds inside the various exhibition rooms inside this iconic museum?

The third book choice is up to you. You may choose a book that you have been wanting to read, a Newbery or even a nonfiction book about Egypt or Greece! The choice is yours! Enjoy!

For summer reading,

Mrs. Kelly

“A Visual Journal: Walking with Nya and Salva”  

       

Project Assignment

PLEASE READ THE ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS SEVERAL TIMES AND REFER TO THE ASSIGNMENT THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT!

BEST OF ALL, HAVE FUN!!

Your summer project assignment is linked to your reading of A Long Walk to Water. Linda Sue Park, the author, was a journalist at one time in her life.

I want you to image that you are a journalist traveling with Nya and Salva. You are going to document aspects of their journey or “walk” in pictures, photos, symbols, and words. I have provided you with a sketch and write booklet for this project. It will be turned into me on the first day of school.

Your visual journal should include:

1. A cover. The title has been provided, but you can come up with another one of your own that focuses on the purpose of this assignment.
2. Your full name and date in the bottom right hand corner of the cover. You may type both and glue them on neatly.
3. Ten total events from the beginning, middle and end of the novel that relate to Salva and Nya. You will choose 5 events for Nya and 5 for Salva. Think about your event choices as you read and sticky note possibilities.  Dig deeply for unique choices. Then think about how you want to represent the event visually. Visuals may be from magazines, online, a real photo, etc. You are not to draw your visual.

4. A page for each event involving Nya or Salva that displays an image, photo or symbol representing that event. Again, you will choose 5 events for Nya and 5 for Salva.

5. On the lines of each page, list the character’s name, an original title for the  event/image, and the pages where the event can be found.

   6) Below the title on each page, write 5 or more words or phrases that explain the visual and the event.

   7) A list of the sources you used for your visuals.

   8) Use my examples on the next page to follow.

   9) A total of 12 pages- a title page, 10 event pages (5 for Salva, 5 for Nya), a page that lists the sources you used for the project.

  10) Neat and thoughtful presentation. Visuals and words/phrases are neatly cut out and glued onto page. Directions are closely followed.

Below are examples of what a page for each character should look like and the information it should include.

     

                               

Salva: “Dusty Duty”- pgs. 1-7

wealth, cattle, boys, water holes, responsibilities link

 Nya: “Strangers on Wheels”  pg. 51

shy villagers, two men, village’s chief, drinking tea, water

Source Citation

1.https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/80/95/70/809570dd04e322de615a51c419ca6341.jpg (herding cattle)

 

 2.http://image.shutterstock.com/z/stock-photo-pair-of-dirty-work-boots-172376090.jpg (work boots)

         

May through June: Out of Egypt Into Greece

May through June: Out of Egypt into Greece

The wadjet eye (protection) as it appears on a wooden coffin in the Egyptian exhibit: MET trip 2016

The Wall of Fame: Fifth Grade designs coffin lids for some of the New Kingdom's greatest pharaohs- Seti I, Ramses II, Hatshepsut,Thutmosis III, Hatshepsut, Tutankhamen,  Nefertiti, Ankheseneman , Horemheb to name a few.

Fuzzy little peeps show up to welcome Spring !

After reading buddies share poems, fifth grade shares favorite lines from their roles in the Greek play. 

Destination Ithaca: Fifth grade sketches and paints set design for the Greek play

Add caption

Classroom Heads Outdoors at Deer Lake: games, rock climbing, canoeing, night hiking, campfire, nature sightings and flashlight tag! 

                                       

Ms. Smelser teaches a brief lesson on the use of authentic Egyptian colors that students can apply to their coffin creations.

INTO THE WOODS . . .Fifth Grade and Kinder Buddies Hike the Blue Trail on Earth Day.

Buddies brought along their "binoculars" as we hiked the TCS Blue Trail on Earth Day. Nature "detectives" paused to examine, to listen to, and most importantly, appreciate the wonders of nature on our campus. 

A Pyroclastic Blast from the Past

Last Friday, Ms. Graft took us on a "tour" of the excavation site of Pompeii in a detailed slideshow that offered photos, visuals and extensive research, explaining what happened on that horrific day in A.D. 79. Ms. Graft also showed us how Giuseppe Fiorelli discovered a method for making plaster casts poured into the spaces left behind by the objects that became covered by volcanic ash and lava. These casts provided the modern world with a window into life of this ancient Roman trade center and vacation spot. Casts were made of humans, food, and everyday household items.

Ms. Grady also prepared kits so fifth graders could get a sense of the cast-making process using a variety of materials with an owl ice-cube as the "buried" shape. Hopefully, when the cast was set and ready to be taken apart, a mini version of Archimedes was turned out.  

Forming the cast around the owl cube

After the cube melts, the casting material is poured into its space and hardens. The the cast is then removed.

Archimedes is revealed! Fiorelli would be so proud!

Thank you, Ms. Grady, for our guided tour and activity that helped us to understand the tragedy and the miracle of Vesuvius' eruption!

A Heartfelt Greeting at Tuesday's Intermediate Morning Meeting

On Tuesday mornings the Intermediate team, fourth and fifth grades, join for a Morning Meeting where they greet each other in a variety of ways, share announcements and even take part in an early morning activity! This Tuesday the team watched a segment of video clips focused on "empathy" (even elephants are empathetic!) as they prepared for IDEA Day on Friday, April 27.

Breaking News from the Fifth Grade Classroom

The Process: Coffins Fit For A Pharaoh

After drafting the template for their coffin lids, fifth graders began to draw faces, hands, symbols and images revealing the story of the pharaoh or queen they chose to research.  Ms. Smelser taught the class the methods to use for drawing faces and hands. Next step this week is to further Egyptianize these lids with authentic colors. Stay tuned!

The Unbelievable Fib

The fifth grade began their week as part of the audience who welcomed former teacher and visiting author, Adam Shaughnessy, to TCS. This author event was sponsored by RJ Julia and TCS. Mr. Shaughnessy spoke about such topics as the writing process, the inspiration behind his new novel, The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable Fib, and even chose a TCS student to dress up as one of the main characters in his novel! He closed his presentation by reading a passage from his novel, which further stirred our audience of readers! If interested, his novel can be purchased through TCS, using the order form sent home with your child today. Copies of his novel will also be on sale for the remainder of the year in The Roost. Mystery and fantasy can be found behind the cover of this intriguing novel.

Spring has Arrived in the Fifth Grade

Important Dates to Note:

April 18~  No School~ Teacher Professional Development

April 21~ "Changing Bodies, Changing Selves" (Growth and                                 Development Discussion)~1 P.M.

                60th Anniversary Alumni Art Celebration and Brian                               Mummert Concert~ 6 P.M.

April 23~  First-ever TEDx TCS Spring Conference~9-4 P.M.

April 29~  60th Anniversary Talent Show, Dinner and Sock Hop~
                5:30-9:30 P.M.

April's Icy Arrival

Boys Happily Hunker Down in the Forts 

While studying the Old Kingdom of Egypt, "The Age of the Pyramid," fifth graders enjoyed a shared reading of David Macaulay's Pyramid.  During its reading, students examined the amazing illustrations characteristic of Macaulay's work and sticky noted a collection of reasons answering why the Egyptians were able to build these colossal structures. When the book was completed, the class created an information web (see above) documenting their reasons. The final outcome will be a paragraph written supporting the claim that the Egyptians indeed had many reasons why they were able to raise these 4,000+ year old architectural wonders. Today experts still do not know how the ancients built the pyramids!