Schofield Elementary 5th Grade - Mr. Moretti
MATH
We wrapped up our multiplication and division unit last week and have started
our new unit, Growth Patterns (patterns and functions). In the unit, students
will learn about situations that involve change and ways to mathematically
describe and represent this change. They use tables, graphs and equations to
represent how one quantity (such as height) changes in relation to another
quantity (such as age). Students also compare situations with different rates
of change.
WRITING
We are currently working on poetry in 5Mo. We have selected big topics that
give us big, strong feelings (watermelons) and then we discovered smaller
objects or moments or details that hold the big feeling (seeds) that we can
write poems about. For example, a watermelon might be summer and one seed
could be swimming in a pool.
We will be starting our turf projects this week. By ‘turf’ I mean an area
outside of their house in which they play, hang out, move around freely in and
feel safe. They will draw and label this area in map form.
To go along with this assignment will be an “I am From” poem. The watermelon
idea for this poem will be about them and their life experiences. There will
be six seeds:
• Items found around your turf
• Items found around your home:
• Family Sayings
• Names of relatives, especially ones that link them to the past:
• Names of foods and dishes are served in your house
• Reason(s) why you feel safe around your turf
READING
5Mo has started a guided reading unit with a theme of courage. The three books
we are reading are “When the Soldiers Were Gone” by Vera W. Propp, “Number the
Stars” by Lois Lowry and “The Upstairs Room” by Johanna Reiss. The books show
examples of how seemingly ordinary people display feats of courage that are
inspirational.
We will be working on reinforcing the skills we have learned this year by
making connections, looking at conflict within the story and studying the main
characters among others.
LANGSTON HUGHES
We just completed our poet study of Langston Hughes with an outstanding
presentation from the class. At the beginning of the unit each student chose a
poem of Mr. Hughes. As we approached the end of the unit, they were given an
assignment to discuss the mood, theme and what Langston was saying about the
African American experience and complete a picture of what the poem ‘looked
like’ to them. The students then presented the poems and pictures to the
class. It was amazing to see them all get up in front of the group and recite
their poems (from memory!!) and then discuss their pictures.
CHINA
We worked in small groups and researched some important facts about four
dynasties from ancient China – the Shang, the Zhou, the Qin and the Han. We
then discussed the mandate of heaven and how it allowed power to pass from a
dynasty that was ruling unsuccessfully to a new dynasty that would reestablish
order. We also discussed the dynastic cycle and tracked how most dynasties
went through a predictable cycle of events. The class engaged in an
enlightening discussion about how both of these concepts could be applied to
the government in the USA today.
Next we will be learning about China’s first official emperor, Qin (pronounced
Chin) ShiHuangdi.
Dates to Remember:
Field Day – June 4th (rain date=June 5th)
Spring Concert – June 8th
Thompson Island – June 9th – 12th
Fifth Grade Trip – June 16th
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