Monday, November 3, 2014

Letters from Rifka Final Activity

       Now that we have finished the wonderful book Letters from Rifka, you will have a final project to show your understanding and appreciation.  We went over the expectations in class, but here are the options:


  1. Write an I am Poem from the perspective of Rifka
  2. Write a letter from Tovah responding to all of Rifka's letters
  3. Inquire about Ellis Island using the site Ellis Island Interactive Tour and the packet that goes with it
  4. Write an acrostic poem about Rifka (use google image to see what this is)
  5. Write a detailed A-Z for Rifka (use google image to see what this is)
  6. Research the author, Karen Hesse, and find out more about "Aunt Lucy"

Thursday, October 23, 2014

HOMEWORK- Due Thursday, 30 October

    This week you are responsible for studying Lesson 8 of your Spelling Workout.  The test will be on Thursday, 30 October.  Notice the list of words all have "r" in them, changing the sounds of the vowels (a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y).  


  1. carton
  2. heart
  3. sports
  4. artist
  5. spare
  6. dirty
  7. shore
  8. curb
  9. fair
  10. sherbet
  11. boards
  12. fearless
  13. journal
  14. cheerfully
  15. garbage
  16. organ
  17. error
  18. sparks
  19. harbor
  20. perfume

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

HOMEWORK- Due 23 October

    We are restarting the homework pattern, and going back to the orange and yellow spelling book.  Your homework is to study the words of list #7.  The test will be on Thursday, like normal.


  1. crept
  2. crunch
  3. sounds
  4. dusk
  5. refund
  6. colder
  7. skunk
  8. unfold
  9. risk
  10. milk
  11. halt
  12. different
  13. protesting
  14. twister
  15. independent
  16. absent
  17. stretch
  18. printing
  19. blended
  20. product

Monday, October 6, 2014

YOUR Amazing Nervous System!

Laura shared with us this activity so you can "see" your nervous system at work.  Some of you asked for this to be posted, here it is!

Inline image 1

Thursday, October 2, 2014

HOMEWORK- Due Wednesday 8 October

       This week you are responsible for studying the words from lesson 5.  You will do the activities in class with me on Monday or Tuesday of next week.  

Here are the words:

  1. gloves
  2. speed
  3. skill
  4. screens
  5. protect
  6. front
  7. craft
  8. brains
  9. scared
  10. proper
  11. trace
  12. dream
  13. straight
  14. splinter
  15. screech
  16. spaces
  17. stuff
  18. greedy
  19. sprinkle
  20. strict

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

HOMEWORK- Due 2 October

    For this week, your homework is just like the other weeks!  Your job is to study the words of list #4 in your Spelling Workout.  Here are the words, just in case you are left without it.  
   When you come back from Rosh Hashana, you will be completing the activities in the classroom.  


  1. edge
  2. common
  3. circle
  4. cactus
  5. gifts
  6. gentle
  7. stage
  8. strange
  9. corner
  10. graceful
  11. center
  12. baggage
  13. category
  14. gerbil
  15. cement
  16. prices
  17. force
  18. celery
  19. decide
  20. energy

Thursday, September 18, 2014

HOMEWORK- Due Wedneday, 24 September

     Here are your spelling words for this week.  Notice that due to Rosh Hashana, we are having our spelling test one day earlier (Wednesday).  Remember to bring your book (or copy) next week so we can do the activities together. 


  1. these
  2. deny
  3. rules
  4. safely
  5. locate
  6. crime
  7. stove
  8. scale
  9. costume
  10. arrive
  11. opened
  12. musical
  13. equal
  14. idea
  15. tight
  16. clover
  17. rodent
  18. tuba
  19. cubes
  20. pride

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

VERBS you need to know!!!

    Remember that on Tuesday, I shared with you the 20 words you need to use correctly in the future, past, and present tense.  No more, can you say, " we goed, we readed, I seeed, etc."  
    Memorize these words, practice using them in your speech.  You will have activities that will help you use them more regularly.  At home, practice using them correctly.  


  1. go
  2. look
  3. think
  4. see
  5. have
  6. write
  7. want
  8. change
  9. learn
  10. fight
  11. make
  12. like
  13. hate
  14. research
  15. be
  16. solve
  17. read
  18. study
  19. find
  20. do

Friday, September 12, 2014

The Travels of Molly Marshmallow (And your cracker...)

       Remember on Friday you ran an experiment with yourself, thinking about your digestive system.  You drew what you think was the "map" of your digestive system when you ate the cracker.  Then, you watched Molly Marshmallow, and finally went back to your drawing and updated it.  
       In case you want to watch the video again, and again, and again, and again... here it is:
Molly Marshmallow
             Also, remember that you made a guess as to when the cracker would be released from  your body?  Well, a team of scientists tried to find this out.  It is different for men, women, and children, and is different for everyone.  What makes it more difficult to say "when" it will come out, is that certain foods move faster than others.  Plus, some systems are faster than others.  That means your sister or brother's system might be faster than yours!
        Here is what they found:

Average digestion for kids: 33 hours
Average digestion for women: 33 hours
Average digestion for men: 47 hours



Thursday, September 11, 2014

HOMEWORK: Due 18 September

      This week you are receiving another spelling list.  It comes from the orange spelling book, lesson #2.  Your homework is to memorize the spelling pattern of these words. 


  1. hands
  2. dentist
  3. lifted
  4. crack
  5. bumps
  6. practice
  7. solid
  8. clasp
  9. sticks
  10. spent
  11. locked
  12. adopt
  13. judge
  14. contest
  15. stand
  16. shrimp
  17. stamp
  18. trust
  19. fender
  20. pencil

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

HOMEWORK- Due 11 September

      Today you are receiving new homework to complete.  The good news is that it is the FIRST lesson in the orange spelling book.  You have been waiting for this for a long time.  However, we had to build you up to this step.  The orange book is a big step up from the green one.  
      Just like usual, you are in charge of STUDYING the words.  The actual activities we will do in class as we notice the words.  Your spelling test will be on Thursday, 11 September.  
      The words you are in charge of are below.  Notice that some of the words have double consonants.  


  1. banner
  2. hundred
  3. fame
  4. later
  5. seven
  6. hammer
  7. twelve
  8. barrel
  9. dollar
  10. letters
  11. silent
  12. wild
  13. until
  14. swift
  15. bottles
  16. pineapple
  17. film
  18. gallon
  19. traffic
  20. eleven

Friday, August 29, 2014

HOMEWORK- Due 4 September

     It has been a while since you have had homework, due to the exams.  This week restarts the homework cycle.  
     You each received Spelling List 35.  The packet inside will be completed in class next week.  Thus, your homework is to study the words.  As we are entering the third trimester, you are responsible for all 20 words.  


  1. hear
  2. here
  3. tied
  4. tide
  5. your
  6. you're
  7. hour
  8. our
  9. sail
  10. sale
  11. two
  12. too
  13. to
  14. pair
  15. pear
  16. pare
  17. maid
  18. made
  19. great
  20. grate

Thursday, August 7, 2014

HOMEWORK- Due 14 August

      This week, your homework is to finish your first draft of your I Am Poem.  This poem is about you, so you just need to think about who you are and where you came from.  This is the writing project for the Land of Dreams unit.  Remember that you have been learning about your family's history, and reading about Rifka.  Use this opportunity to think more about yourself.  
       Next week, you will have the opportunity to edit and revise your poem.  Then, you will write your final draft.  

Given: 7 August  (Thursday)
Due: 14 August (Thursday)

Monday, July 28, 2014

HOMEWORK- Interview Questions, Due 1 August

       As you have found out in class, you will be interviewing a relative about their migration to Brazil.  This is a special moment that occurs during G5 as we study migration.  This special event will occur Wednesday, 6 August.  During this time, you will host and interview a grandparent or parent about your family's migration.  
       To help formulate questions that will lead to interesting stories and insights, you have a homework.  This homework is from Monday-Friday, which is not the normal schedule.  For your homework, brainstorm with your parent(s) questions you can ask.  They can give you tips and suggestions for questions that can lead to special stories.  
       This homework is due Friday, 1 August.  

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Vacation Suggestions!

    Since we will be out of school for over a month, we have compiled a list of resources for you.  They include websites, apps, and books.  Please take some time to work on your academic skills so we can pick up right where we left off!

Websites:
National Geographic Mapping Adventure
Funbrain
Pixton (username: name.surname, password: beit1234)
BrainPop (username: beit, password: beit)


Books:
The Penderwicks: a summer take of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy by Jeanne Birdsall
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke
Tom Gates: everything's amazing (sort of) by Liz Pichon
The Golden Door by Emily Rodda
Earthling by Mark Fearing

Apps:  
Google Earth
Car Town Street
Unblock Car
BrainPop
Cut the Rope

Friday, June 13, 2014

HOMEWORK- Exhibition Learning Activity, Due 30 July

          For the holiday break we are starting next week, you are expected to connect your holidays to your exhibition topic.  For example, if you are the water pollution group, you need to research something while on vacation.  You can visit museums, interview people, take pictures of what you see, or read newspapers, magazines, or articles.  
          The goal is for you to return to school in July with a deeper understanding of your topic.  You will share what you learned during the Exhibition class on Wednesday, 30 July.  
         Here are some ideas of how to support your topic:

  • visit a museum or aquarium
  • visit an art or photography exhibit related to your topic
  • watch a documentary or video about your topic
  • interview someone related to your topic
  • read a magazine or newspaper article related to your topic
  • read a book related to your topic

           Just in case you forget your homework at home, or it is lost somewhere during your holiday, you just need to bring proof of your research.  This can be pictures, photos, notes, or the article/book you read.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Spelling Bee!

     Last week each of you received the official spelling bee list.  The list is also available on the school website, as well as below.  In addition to the list, you also received the spelling bee guide.  This includes the rules and procedures, and is a great document to reread.  
     For Emerald and Topaz, the spelling bee will be in our classroom on August 1.  From this day, we will find out which 4 students (4 in each group) will go to the Spelling Bee Finals on August 13.  To help prepare, we will have mock spelling bees in our classroom, but you will need to study at home.
     Lastly, there are numerous spelling apps and games online.  I encourage you to practice the spelling bee words in as many ways as possible.



1acted48haven't95repairing
2admitted49helped96replace
3agree50he's97replied
4Antarctica51honor98research
5Asia52hoping99rethink
6Atlantic53how100rewrite
7because54hurried101rights
8beginning55hurt102Saturday
9better56I'd103service
10bragged57I'll104serving
11camping58Indian105sharing
12circuit59invent106shipped
13cleaning60invented107shouldn't
14closely61invention108skimmed
15confident62isn't109slipped
16connect63I've110South America
17constitution64lately111spied
18copying65leader 112stopped
19couldn't66learn113studied
20country67lovely114successful
21critical68magnet115sugar
22dancing69making116system
23democracy 70mustn't117teach
24didn't71Myanmar118teach
25disagree72nicely119thanked
26disappear73North America120that's
27disconnect74Oceania121their
28discover75Pacific122there
29discovered76paper123there's
30discovery77peace124they're
31dislike78people125think
32disobey79politely126third
33disorder80prayed127thought
34displease81president128tolerant
35distrust82protest129trait
36doesn't83protester130trapped
37don't84quiet131trying
38early85quit132unable
39eureka86racing133unbutton
40Europe87rained134unchanged
41exciting88really135unclean
42first89rebuild136uneven
43flying90recopy137unfortunately
44form91regroup138unimportant
45fortunately92reload139unload
46friend93remind140unlucky
47government94rename141unpaid
142unseen150wasn't158workbook
143unsure151we'll159world
144untied152went160worried
145untouched153what161worry
146untrue154when162worse
147unusual155where163wouldn't
148unwrap156who164you've
149usual157won't