Winter with Five in Pictures and Captions

                                                                                                                                        March 2016

Dear TCS Families,

As winter finally comes to a close, I want to share a variety of archived photos of activities that have occurred in the fifth during January and February. Please take a moment to scroll through some of the highlights of the second trimester! As you will note, "we expect much of our students, as they have much to offer."

As we pop our heads out of hibernation, spring welcomes us as a time of rejuvenation and growth. Fifth graders have many adventures in store as they head into the final phase of their year. Here is a sampling of what lies ahead:  traveling out of ancient Egypt into Greece; reading and viewing the movie, The Odyssey; touring the Egyptian and Greek exhibits at The Met; journeying to Deer Lake for an overnight outdoor adventure: and performing several key scenes from The Odyssey on stage! Stay tuned for more photos that offer a window into our exciting learning experiences!

Dr. Kent Weeks,world renowned Egyptologist, speaks at a January All School Meeting about his discovery of KV5 in the Valley of the Kings. He also described the library he has created to help Egyptian children learn more about their heritage with the hope that they will appreciate and preserve their own history. Fifth grade raised approximately $200 through farm market sales and donated the proceeds to the purchase of books for his library. They will continue to support this cause as a service initiative.

                                      

Fourth and fifth graders open their first Farmer's Market in support of Dr. Week's library in Luxor, Egypt. For sale: fresh eggs, handmade soaps and seeds. Stay tuned for more markets to come at pick-up time!

Fifth graders rejoice as fort building resumes!!!!

A fourth and fifth grader win the Intermediate team class drawing to interview Chris Grabenstein, author of Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library. Prior to his RJ Julia appearance on Feb 9th, Mr. Grabenstein fielded some tough questions prepared by his interviewers. His novel was selected for MAD about One Book (one book, one town reading event)by the Scranton library. TCS Intermediate team and guests took part in this event by reading and discussing Lemoncello's Library during a series of three book club meetings held in February through early March. 

A fourth and fifth grader win the Intermediate team drawing to formally introduce Mr. Grabenstein to a standing room only audience at RJ Julia.

The Intermediate team gather for one of three book club discussions of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. Students and guests were divided into three groups and discussions were lead primarily by the students who had marked questions, observations, and comments in preparation for the meetings.

                                                           

As a culminating event to a series of etiquette mini-lessons for various occasions, fifth graders enjoyed a semi-formal luncheon organized by room parents and volunteers. The luncheon theme was "Celebrating 60 Years of Brilliance" in honor of TCS's 60th birthday!!!!

Table Talk with Friends and Faculty

As part of a series of etiquette lessons,"Mind Your Manners," Mr. Leidt prepares to discuss social and computer etiquette with the fifth grade. Technology class is scheduled first period on Mondays.

In celebration of Read Across America, TCS (students, faculty and staff) enjoys a 30-minute school wide "Drop Everything and Read." 

The fifth grade enters Egypt by locating and labeling over 40 key places on a map of modern day and ancient Egypt! They learn that the Nile is the lifeline of life of the development of one of the greatest civilizations in the ancient world!

Fifth graders are invited to test out the various tactile musical instruments that eighth graders designed in Ms. Flynn's science class as a result of studying the physics of music. Students were asked to evaluate each instrument.  The steel drums were one of many main attractions!

Such rewarding learning moments! Look forward to more to come.

For 5.

Kerri Kelly

                                             

Fifth Grade with Buddies on Friday, December 4

Fifth graders read aloud, built tall structures, painted with watercolors and cut out snowflake patterns!

....Oh,what fun it is to join our buddies on Friday!

Dice, Cards and Gameboards

Dice, Cards, and Gameboards

The fifth grade were invited to test out the gameboards the fourth grade had created based on their study of the Revolutionary War. Around tables and on the rug, students gathered to answer trivia questions, play "Go to the Revolution (a 1700's take on"Go Fish") and tackle a colonial version of "Headbands"("Bonnets and Tricorns"). Not only did TCS students have a fun time, but these games would have delighted the young and old of the Revolutionary days!

 "Bonnets and Tricorns"

    "Tough Times"

"Go to the Revolution"

"Blast from the Past"

"Revolution Ride"

TIME designers in the STEAM lab

                                                             

TIME Designers
  

Fifth grade TIME designers are hard at work in the STEAM lab preparing for their October 29th event, honoring TCS's 60th anniversary!  Lots of measuring, planning and coloring went into executing the border and title layout for their magazine covers!

Hollow Hiking Highlights

Hiking the Hollow

Last Friday, the 4th and 5th graders headed to Chatfield Hollow in Killingworth to hone their hiking skills. Under the guidance of the Bushy Hill staff, they made observations while silently walking through the marshland on the boardwalk, bounded over boulders seamlessly on the white trail, learned how to identify trees by their leaves and made connections to Donn Fedler's experience from the novel, Lost On A Mountain in Maine. All done of this was done while carrying backpacks for the entire day! Building stamina was one of our goals in preparation for the more challenging outdoor adventures to come. Tour our photos to enjoy some of the highlights of day in the woods.

Fifth Grade "Firsts"

Last week was filled with introducing routines, holding our first Intermediate class meeting, visiting with our reading buddies and undertaking our first service learning project of the year- all done with energy and enthusiasm in a heat wave!

On Friday afternoon, we tackled the Kitchen garden with the fourth grade, service to our TCS community.  Many hands were weeding, hauling, digging, sweeping and best of all, observing what was growing in the garden besides crabgrass. Fourth and fifth graders shared how fun it was to "clean up" the garden and make improvements to our campus. Enjoy the photos from this project.

Summer Reading Reminder

    July 28, 2015


Hello Rising Fifth Graders,

Just checking in on my summer readers.  Don't worry, you have plenty of summer vacation left to enjoy! Dr. Seuss and my nephew, Aidan, have inspired me to write this short poem to remind you to read every day, no matter where you are.

You can read on a beach
You can read eating a peach.

You can read under the sun
You can read when you run.

You can read at dawn
You can read mowing the lawn.

You can on a boat
You can read when your afloat.

Just read, read, read
Because it is the TCS creed.

For 5,
Mrs. Kelly

P.S. I look forward to reading your postcard about one of your choice reading books. They are due to me by August 25!!!  Click on link for the attached supply list for the start of school.