Mrs. Porisch's 5th & 6th Grade Class: January 2012

Monday, January 30, 2012

I'm sure this is something we all can relate to as we see the science fair around the corner!

Some dates coming up:

Problem, hypothesis, and background information is due today.

Next week: Materials list

Spelling Bee: Monday, February 6^th @ 9:30 in the gym.

Talent Show try-outs will be February 2 for 4-6 in the library at 3:00. If your child cannot make it on Thursday, they can come on Tuesday.

Students may enter the AGATE Scholarship opportunity. Winners are awarded $400. I shared with the students a winning entry from the 7^th or 8^th grade level. It takes a LOT of thought and preparation. The link to access the application is http://www.mtagate.org/scholarships/summer_scholarship.html. If you have a child in high school or middle school that has been identified as gifted, they, too, can apply for their grade level. AGATE does not receive as many applications from those grade levels as we do from the elementary level.

The annual Read-a-thon kicked off on Friday, January 20^th. Each student has a packet. Please look over the envelope with your child.

READING

Students have begun reading their new novels. The groups have a mix of 5^th & 6^th graders in them.

MATH

Moving on to percents.

LANG

Writing and diagramming.

SOCIAL STUDIES

5th grade: Slavery

SCIENCE

January 30^th: Science Fair question, background, and hypothesis is due. http://www.billingsclinic.com/scienceexpo

Newton's Laws and analyzing data. Lots of whacking, tracking, and speeding balls!

LWR astro

Prefix

Root

astro star, heavens

geo earth, ground

graph write, written

metr measure

naut sailor, ship

nom law, order

Suffix

-ics science related to

-ology study of, science

-y state, quality, act

SPELLING

5th grade

U 23 Suffixes: Words from other languages

Dictation Sentences

1. A siesta after lunch restores energy.

2. The tsunami was a wave fifty feet tall.

3. Sam wore dungarees instead of slacks.

Basic:

mattress, tycoon, poncho, lasso, cargo, plaza, hammock, burrito, bandanna, tomato, patio, vanilla, iguana, caravan, pajamas, tortilla

Challenge:

mosquito, cathedral, alligator, tambourine, sombrero

Real World Vocabulary Music: Music Appreciation

concert, quartet, harpsichord, oboe, viola, congas, accordion, harmony

6th grade

U 23 Prefixes: dis-, ex- inter-

Dictation Sentences

1. Grains of salt will dissolve in water.

2. The cord won’t extend any farther.

3. Search by computer on the Internet.

Basic:

disobey, dispute, distract, dispose, distress, discount, experience, exactly, experiment, extreme, exclaim, expensive, explanation, interview, interest, interact, interstate

Challenge:

extinct, distort, intermediate, expiration, dissent

Real World Vocabulary Life Skills Road Map Key

legend, federal, toll road, multilane, secondary, interchange, junction, gravel

Saturday, January 21, 2012

It has been fun and interesting to watch the kids invent new games to play at recess. One is "Straightjacket Tag." J

I've had to stand guard to make sure things don't get out-of-hand, and also to relieve anxieties of the other teachers on recess duty. I'm erring on letting the kids create and invent vs. squelching their ingenuity.

Talent Show try-outs will be February 2 for 4-6 in the library at 3:00.

Report cards came out Thursday, January 19th. Please sign the envelope and return it.

Reminder: You can check your child's grades online at any time. If you need the instructions again, just shoot me an email.

READING

Students have begun reading their new novels. The groups have a mix of 5^th & 6^th graders in them.

MATH

More and more fractions (m/ 4 ¾ = 38 ) & fraction story problems.

LANG

Writing and diagramming.

LWR: I'll put it up later. I forgot to bring it home.

SOCIAL STUDIES

5th grade: Slavery

SCIENCE

January 30^th: Science Fair question, background, and hypothesis is due. http://www.billingsclinic.com/scienceexpo

Newton's Laws and analyzing data. Lots of whacking, tracking, and speeding balls!

LWR psych

Prefix

Root

psycho mind, spirit
bio life
graph write, written
metr measure
nom law, order
somat body

Suffix

-ic like, related to
-ology study of, science
-osis condition

SPELLING

5th grade

U 22 Suffixes: -ful, -ly, -ness, -less, -ment

Dictation Sentences

1. Did Mac speak calmly or nervously?

2. The songs made the play delightful!

3. Don’t fear that harmless snake.

Basic:

watchful, countless, forgetful, effortless, plentiful, lately, steadily, noisily, settlement, closeness, government, agreement, cloudiness, tardiness, forgiveness, enjoyment, appointment

Challenge:

suspenseful, merciless, seriousness, contentment, suspiciously

Real World Vocabulary Science: Snakes

slither, constrict, burrow, venom, fangs, viper, poisonous, antidote

U 23 Suffixes: Words from other languages

Dictation Sentences

1. A siesta after lunch restores energy.

2. The tsunami was a wave fifty feet tall.

3. Sam wore dungarees instead of slacks.

Basic:

mattress, tycoon, poncho, lasso, cargo, plaza, hammock, burrito, bandanna, tomato, patio, vanilla, iguana, caravan, pajamas, tortilla

Challenge:

mosquito, cathedral, alligator, tambourine, sombrero

Real World Vocabulary Music: Music Appreciation

concert, quartet, harpsichord, oboe, viola, congas, accordion, harmony

6th grade

U 22 Plurals

Dictation Sentences

1. We ate fish, spinach, and potatoes.

2. Artists are working in their studios.

3. She ate both halves of the pear.

Basic:

solos, cliffs, pianos, sheriffs, cellos, ratios, stereos, studios, echoes, heroes, potatoes, volcanoes, tomatoes, halves, leaves, scarves, calves, wolves, yourselves, bookshelves

Challenge:

vetoes, mosquitoes, avocados, wharves, sopranos.

Real World Vocabulary: Math Probability

mathematical, outcome, likely estimate, prediction, proportion, inequality, occurrence

U 23 Prefixes: dis-, ex- inter-

Dictation Sentences

1. Grains of salt will dissolve in water.

2. The cord won’t extend any farther.

3. Search by computer on the Internet.

Basic:

disobey, dispute, distract, dispose, distress, discount, experience, exactly, experiment, extreme, exclaim, expensive, explanation, interview, interest, interact, interstate

Challenge:

extinct, distort, intermediate, expiration, dissent

Real World Vocabulary Life Skills Road Map Key

legend, federal, toll road, multilane, secondary, interchange, junction, gravel

Friday, January 13, 2012

Quick update

LWR graph

Prefix

Root
bio life
geo earth, ground
graph write, written
macro large, great
mono one
neo new, recent

Suffix
-ology study of, science
-y state, quality, act

Spelling Words

5th grade

U 21 Changing final "y" to "i"

Dictation Sentences
1. Which monster mask is the scariest?
2. Your duties include weeding the garden.
3. Ken's bad manners horrified his friends.

Basic
denied, ferries, terrified, abilities, trophies, enemies, victories, memories, strategies, earlier, loveliest, sunnier, dirtier, scariest, cozier, iciest, greediest, drowsier

Challenge
unified, dictionaries, boundaries, satisfied, tragedies

Real World Vocabulary
History: The Civil War

battlefield, infantry, regiments, cavalry, skirmishes, troops, retreat, military

6th grade
U 21 /sh/

Dictation Sentences
1. Do you know which direction is east?
2. Air is crucial for human survival.
3. I have a suspicion that he is thief.

shallow, selfish, astonish, bashful, establish, section, position, attention, emotion, situation, musician, official, delicious, ancient, pressure, admission, permission

Challenge
diminish, beneficial, efficient, potential, compassion

Real World Vocabulary
Science: Rocks

cleavage, crust, formation, igneous, granite, sedimentary, mantle, metamorphic

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Hopefully, this is not what your child's science fair project will result in.

click to enlarge

6^th grade parents

Another special event!!

The 6^th graders at Poly Drive are featured in the Poly Drive Talent Show every year. They will be dancing to Footloose on the Lewis & Clark auditorium on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23^RD. They are practicing with a choreographer (for a short time) during 6^th grade PE times and again at recesses. You may have heard about this??? J

And a reminder: For the 6^th grade yearbook, send photos to Sherry.Ross@bresnan.net.

READING

Students are working on in-class projects for the final aspect of the reading. They are due on Monday. They may need to work on it this weekend.

MATH

More fractions & fraction story problems.

LANG

A reminder: Students have Latin Word Root ws and spelling books. If I make a mistake or do not get something posted, they are still responsible for the correct assignment/work. :-)

Writing will be focus these next few months. Diagramming sentences will pick back up.

SOCIAL STUDIES

5th grade: On to the colonies and slavery.

SCIENCE

We are done with Acid, Acid. We will be moving into a more activity based unit on Newton's Laws and analyzing data. Lots of whacking, tracking, and speeding balls!

Science Fair notes were in the Wednesday Watch. Please sign and return them.

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

Students will also be required to complete a science fair project for me. They may work in pairs or alone. Entering the Billings Clinic Science Fair Expo is optional (March 23^rd & 24^th). For elementary and middle school students, the deadline for submitting the paperwork for the Billings Clinic Science Expo is Friday, February 24^th (pgs 17 & 18 of the pdf document). The science fair project does not need to be completed by that time. More information is available @ http://www.billingsclinic.com/scienceexpo .

My timeline for completing the science fair project is as follows. Please note that I will be at the school 2 days on the weekends for students to come and get help or use materials.

	January 30^th	February 6^th	February 13^th	February 20^th

Assignment due dates—>	Question, Background knowledge, Hypothesis	Materials	Bring in science fair notebook with your parents’ signature. Make sure there is a DATE next to each entry.	Procedure Rough data table


Dates I will be @ school to help with materials or assemblyà	Saturday, February 4th from 10 AM -2 PM		Sunday, February 19th from 1-4 PM

Science Fair project is due the week of February 27^th .

Science Fair display boards can be purchased at Michaels or Home Science Tools located at 665 Carbon Street. You can also purchase foam board @ WalMart and tape it together.

I have read the information about accessing the math book online as well as the information regarding the science fair project that is required.

Student’s name Parent’s signature

LWR nom, naut

Prefix

Root

nom /o law, order

astro star, heavens

auto self

graph write, written

hydr/o water

naut sailor, ship

Suffix

-al like, related to

-ology study of, science

-y state, quality, act

-er one who

-ic like, related to

-ics science related to

-ous having the quality of

SPELLING

5th grade

U 20 Suffixes: More -ed & -ing words

Dictation Sentences

1. Isn't Mt. Rushmore an amazing sight?

2. I can't believe you two are related!

3. The band is practicing for an audition.

Basic: tiring, freezing, losing, decided, damaged, united, amusing, borrowed, delivered, whispered, performing resulting, attending, remarked, supported, expected, repeated

Challenge: assigned, entertaining, operated, rehearsing, donated

Real World Vocabulary: Basic Chemistry

matter, particles, gaseous, evaporation, cooling, condenses, substance, density

6th grade

U 20 Suffixes: -able, -ilbe, -ate

Dictation Sentences

1. Let's celebrate the win with a party.

2. That tall tale was incredible!

3. Who is responsible for cleaning up?

Basic: enjoyable, valuable, washable, capable, miserable, noticeable, visible, horrible, audible, sensible, celebrate, desperate, cooperate, appreciate, considerate, delicate, graduate, fortunate

Challenge: evacuate, irritable, exaggerate, improbable, elaborate

Real World Vocabulary: Noise & Hearing

exposure, acoustics, vibration, sound waves, amplify, decibels, tinnitus, auditory

From an email regarding the science fair:

The Billings Clinic Research Center Science Expo is scheduled for

Friday, March 23 (judging day)

Saturday, March 24 (awards presentation day)

Application booklets are available in two forms:

On-line: www.billingsclinic.com/scienceexpo

Printed copy : send request to:

Marietta Reviczky-Dolan

Science Expo Coordinator