Ms. Sutherland's 5th Grade Class

August

ELA:   In reading, we will begin working in Unit 3, Heritage.  Our primary focus will be enhancing comprehension strategies such asking questions, making connections, drawing conclusions, visualizing and making inferences through journals.   Students will also create a self portrait regarding their heritage; these will be displayed on our blog.  Our language focus is grammar; students will review by learning the “Rappin Grammar”song.  In writing, we will be reviewing the 8 steps to writing.

Book club:  Students will begin the year by reading From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  Students will be sequencing, finding main idea and details, and reinforcing their skills with regards to story mapping (setting, characters, plot, resolution).

Math:  Chapter 2  is a hard one.  Students will be studying ways to create equations and rounding. Also adding and subtracting whole numbers and decimals is another big focus.  Practicing these skills can be fun by visiting the interactive 5th grade games site listed on our class blog.  In chapter 3, students will be creating and analyzing different charts and  graphs.

Science:  We will begin our month with the scientific method and the water cycle.  Students will create picture diagrams and learn the water cycle song. The rocks and minerals unit will follow and we are currently in the process of planning our first field trip to the California Caverns so students can see first hand, different rocks and their formations.