Day 54 (November 20, 2015)

SHIP-FIGUREHEAD PROJECT

Discovering Ourselves through Early Exploration

In the fifth grade class at St. Joseph School, students learned how the 1400-1500s was a great time of discovery throughout the world. Many European countries were in a great race to see who would be the first to find a western water route to Asia. In the process, many explorers intentionally, or more often than not, unintentionally, discovered what we know as the North and South Americas. 

At the end of this unit, students had an opportunity to explore their own heritage. In our day to day lives, it is easy to forget that we have our own story of how we ended up in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Throughout this project, students were able to build a boat with an appropriate ship-figurehead, map out the route of travel, write a letter detailing the journey, ask interview questions to a family member, and bring in a culturally relevant item to exchange with others. The assignment provided to be an enlightening journey for students, parents, and teachers. As we continually try to define ourselves, we must remember we have a long heritage that already has contributed to who we are.

Other Highlights of Day 54:

• Morning Reading: Predictions
• Father Tim's Blessing of Canned Goods
• Treasures Reading: "RATTLERS!" Summary
• Social Studies: Early Exploration Study Guide
• Grammar: Unit 2 Nouns Review
• Religion: Sacrament of Confirmation with Father Andreas

Homework

- Math: Divisibility Worksheet

- Reading: "RATTLERS!" Summary

- Social Studies: Study for Early Exploration Test on Wednesday

- Grammar: Finish pages 68-69

- French: Puppet Paper (Last Day Monday)

Notices

- SANTA PARADE on Sunday

- Pirate Day on Monday

- Barnes and Noble on Monday Night

Day 53 (November 19, 2015)

Highlights of Day 53:

• Morning Reading: Predictions
• Treasures Reading: "How Poison Came Into the World"
• Main Ideas: Folktales, Heroes, and Personification
• Genre Reading: "The Time Hackers"
• Chapters Fourteen and Fifteen
• Social Studies: Mayas, Incas, and Aztecs / Ship-Figureheads
• Identify the major achievements of the Maya, Inca, and Aztec cultures.
• Demonstrate the similarities and differences between Maya, Inca, and Aztec cultures.
• Describe the impact of Europeans on Inca and Aztec cultures.
• Grammar: Lesson 14 - Appositives
• Computer with Mrs. Boyd!

Homework

- Math: Worksheet

- Reading: "RATTLERS!" Summaries

- Social Studies: Ship-Figurehead Project

- French: Puppet Project

Notices

- "Santa Parade" Form

Day 52 (November 18, 2015)

Two-Point Evening Question
Which famous English poet wrote the famous poem about Kublai Khan's palace, the "stately pleasure dome" in Xanadu, that Marco Polo spoke of in his travels?

Highlights of Day 52:

• Morning Reading: Author's Purpose
• Vocabulary: Unit 5 Test
• Genre Reading: SciFi - "The Time Hackers"
• Chapters Twelve and Thirteen
• "I am thankful for..." Newspaper Statements
• Cierra: I am thankful for my life and those in my family because without them I would not be here to leave my mark on the world!
• Cassie: I am thankful for a wonderful school because some people do not have wonderful schools to go to with caring teachers.
• French with Madame Auclair!

French pronunciations to exchange fruit!

• Gym Class with Coach Samaha!
• Social Studies: 
• Ship-Figurehead Projects
• "Once Upon a Time...The Travels of Marco Polo"
• Music with Mrs. Navien: Practice for Christmas Pageant

Homework

- Math: Finish eight (8) problems

- Social Studies: Ship-Figurehead Project

- French: Puppet Paper

Notices

- Sign "Float Form" if child is walking 

- Please bring in CANNED GOODS!

Day 51 (November 17, 2015)

...And let us not forget about the terrible tragedies happening elsewhere.

Highlights of Day 51:

• Morning Reading: Author's Purpose
• Treasures Reading: 
• "RATTLERS!" - Main Idea and Details
• "Rare Rattler Rescue" Pop Quiz
• Genre Reading: Science Fiction - "The Time Hackers"
• Social Studies: Early Explorers
• Marco Polo An Italian explorer who inspired a majority of explorers after him. Though he was not the first explorer, Polo was the first to document his travels to Europe, China, and India (1271-1295) in great details. 
• Prince Henry the Navigator This individual was fascinated with ships, maps, and riches, so he started a school to teach navigation. His students included Christopher Columbus and Bartholomeu Dias.
• Christopher Columbus This individual sailed west in 1492 hoping to find Asia, but actually discovered the Bahamas.
• Amerigo Vespucci America was named after this man because his name was written on a map in 1507 after discovering the land.
• Jacques Cartier This French sailor claimed Canada for France. He thought St. Lawrence would lead him to Asia.
• Vasco da Gama A Portuguese explorer (1497) who reached India by sailing around the southern tip of Africa.
• John Cabot An Italian explorer (1497) who reached Canada, not Asia. He went back in 1498, but never returned.
• Pedro Cabral A Portuguese explorer (1500) sent out to copy da Gama’s voyage, but claimed South America instead.
• Vasco Nunez de Balboa A Spanish explorer (1501) who settled in Hispaniola, but in 1513 he noticed the Pacific.
• Ferdinand Magellan A Portuguese explorer (1519-22) He lead eighteen individuals around the world for the first time!
• Giovanni da Verrazano An Italian explorer (1524) who was hired by the French King to find a northwest passageway to Asia around Canada. However, it could not be found!
• Hernando de Soto A Spanish explorer (1539) who claimed current southeastern United States for Spain.
• Fransico Vasquez de Coronado A Spanish explorer (1541) who desperately wanted to find the  Golden Cities claimed southwest land such as New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas for Spain.
• Henry Hudson An English explorer (1610) trying to find a northwest passageway to Asia, however, he found what was later the Hudson Bay.
• Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet These French/Canadian explorers (1673) tried to see if the Mississippi would lead to Asia; it only lead to the Gulf of Mexico. 
• Students discussed how their words can positively or negatively influence people. Additionally, we discussed how we must be humble to admit we are not always the best.
• Students worked on their Ship-Figurehead Projects.
• Students studied for tomorrow's Unit 5 Vocabulary Test.
• Art Class with Mrs. Smith!

Homework

- Math: pg. 30 (odds)

- Social Studies: Ship-Figurehead Project

- Vocabulary: Study for Unit 5 Test

- Grammar: Possessive Nouns Quiz

- French: Puppet Project

Notices

- Bring in canned goods for Food Drive!

- "Texas Roadhouse" Forms

Day 50 (November 16, 2015)

"Once again we've seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris, it's an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share." - President Obama on Paris Attacks

Highlights of Day 50:

• Corrected Work:
• Spelling Make-Up Unit 5 Test
• Reading Week 8 - Good Luck Charm
• Reading Week 9 - An Unusual Goat Hoarder
• Reading "Sleds on Boston Common" Summary
• Reading "Hidden Worlds" Summary
• Grammar Irregular Plural Nouns Quiz
• Science "What are forces?" Test Corrections
• Morning Reading: Character and Setting / Theme
• Treasures Reading: "RATTLERS!"
• Elements of Expository Text / Main Idea and Details
• Genre Reading: Science Fiction - "The Time Hackers"
• Chapters 6, 7, and 8
• Social Studies: 
• Christopher Columbus Posters
• Age of Exploration: Ship-Figurehead Project

• Vocabulary: Unit 5 Review - Sparkle and Around the World
• Grammar: Possessive Nouns Quiz
• Computer: Halloween Creature Graphic Design

Homework
- Math: Worksheet
- Reading: "Old Man at Crater Lake" Worksheet
- Social Studies: Continue to work on Ship-Figurehead Project
- Vocabulary: Unit 5 Test
- Grammar: Possessive Nouns Quiz

Notices
- "Ship-Figurehead" Form
- "Ski Club" Form
- "Shutterbug Club" Form

Day 49 (November 13, 2015)

Five-Point Weekend Question
Which Student Council position did Mr. C. hold in the sixth grade?

Highlights of Day 49:

• Student Council Speeches and Voting
• 5C Room Representative Speeches and Voting

MEET THE CANDIDATES!

• Treasures Reading: "Poisonous Snakes" / "RATTLERS!"
• Main Focus: Main Idea and Supporting Details
• Make-Up French Class with Madame Auclair!
• Social Studies: "Christopher Columbus -- Hero or Villain?!" poster
• Vocabulary: Confused Words / More Precise Words
• Grammar: Possessive Nouns

Homework

- Math: pg. 30 (evens)

- Reading: "Hidden Worlds" Summary / Copy of "The Time Hackers"

- Social Studies: Continue to work on Ship-Figurehead Project

                             A Christopher Columbus picture for poster

- Vocabulary: Unit 5 Test (Tuesday 11/17)

- Grammar: Possessive Nouns Quiz  (Monday 11/16)

Notices

- Libary Book for Monday!

Day 48 (November 12, 2015)

Two-Point Evening Question
Which of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is oldest?

Highlights of Day 48:

• Morning Reading: Character and Setting / Theme
• Treasures Reading: 
• Key words of "Hidden Worlds" Summary: affect, algae, asking questions, bacteria, bugs, cells, college, crustaceans, Dennis Kunkel, discoveries, endless, eruption, exploring, farm, fish, fungi, gave, geologist, insects, inspired, life, learning, microscope, Mount St. Helens, observing, Ph. D., plants, pollen, professor, scientist, studied, teacher, ten, twenty-five years, University of Hawaii, University of Washington, and volcano.
• Assess Prior Knowledge of Slithery Snakes
• Genre Reading: Science Fiction - "The Time Hackers" 
• Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5
• Social Studies: 
• Ship-Figurehead Project 
• Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?!

• Vocabulary: Unit 5 - Sparkle
• Grammar: Possessive Nouns
• Computer: Graphic Designing Creatures

Homework

- Math: pg. 28 all

- Reading: Revise "Hidden Worlds" Summary

- Social Studies: Ship-Figurehead Project (sign form!)

- Vocabulary: Study for Unit 5 Test (Tuesday)

Notices

- Room Representative

- Ski Club Form