Week of May 18th - 22nd

Here's a look at the highlights for this week (things may change as the week progresses, so check back from time to time for updates):


Students will be pulled out periodically to work on the 5th Grade Play. I would like to encourage you to go to the JSIS 5th Grade page (click on the link) to listen to and practice the songs. Students should have their lines memorized this week!!

* A reminder to check out the unit blogs for pictures and more specific information about the projects and assignments in each subject.


Homework Due Dates:
Monday: 6th reading assignment (see reading schedule in reflection journal), yellow Book Aid (last one!!)

Tuesday: Math: 10.6; Issues of Unauthorized Immigration Packet; 1-2 Questions for our guest speaker about immigration laws and/or being an immigration lawyer.

Wednesday: Math: Worksheet from Bungee Jumping Barbie; Look at some of the links from the social studies blog about the DREAM Act

Thursday: Math: 10.7

Friday: Math 10.8; Reflection Journals Today (3 entries...final collection CHECK YOUR SPELLING ON ALL ENTRIES)

Monday:

• Roots of Empathy
• Today we will meet with our Book Clubs for the 6th time. Focus Question: Are there any social justice issues your story? What are they, and how are they affecting the characters in your story? Do you see any of these similar issues in your community, and how do they affect you?
• In science we'll be learning about how to prepare slides for looking under a microscope.
• We'll also spend some time reviewing a very basic overview of immigration law and think about some questions for Taliya's mom, an immigration attorney who will speak to us tomorrow!*

* Ms. Gittleman will be here to talk to students about her career as an immigration attorney. She will NOT be inquiring about any student's status, nor will she ask any other personal immigration questions. She is here strictly for educational purposes, so our students can better understand the issues and policies. If you have any concerns about this visit please do not hesitate to contact any of the teachers and we would be happy to discuss your concerns.

* Sra. Gittleman estará aquí para hablar con los estudiantes sobre su carrera como una abogada de inmigración. No preguntará sobre el estado de ningún estudiante, ni preguntará sobre ningúna situación personal de inmigración. Ella estará aquí estrictamente con fines educativos, para que nuestros estudiantes puedan entender mejor las problemas y los leyes. Si usted tiene alguna inquietud acerca de esta visita, por favor no dude en ponerse en contacto con cualquiera de los maestros y estaremos encantados de hablarle de sus preocupaciones.
Tuesday:

• Ms. Gittleman (Taliya's mom) will start off our day, talking to us about her experiences as an immigration attorney. Thank you so much Ms. Gittleman for volunteering your time!
  
• The rest of the morning we'll be doing a fun activity to experiment with rates and using algrebra to predict unknown values. I won't give too much away, but I will tell you that a bungee jumping Barbie doll will be involved :)
  
• Our entire afternoon is dedicated to the beginning of our civics assignment. As a class we will develop a respectful citizens contract that will ensure that throughout the process and discussions involved with this assignment students are all respectful to the sensative nature of the topic of immigration policy. We want students to all be able to develop the awareness that people have different opinions, and when we disscuss controversial and personal topics we must be careful to support our opinions with facts and be considerate of all students, so that no one feels uncomfortable or put on-the-spot. We will briefly discuss the packet students read for today. We will engage in some conversations about immigration issues, and students will be introduced to the DREAM Act (Go to the social studies blog for more information about this Act). We will be talking about various perspectives and become familiar with some arguments for and against the DREAM Act.
  

Wednesday: Early Release 1:20

• Math Assessment and quick overview of 10.7 Reading and Interpreting different graphs.
  
• I'm hoping that in the afternoon the students that created skits for our service-learning project will be able to present to the other 4th and 5th grade classes.
• I will also discuss and hand out the rubric and graphic organizer for the Civics CBA assignment about the DREAM Act.

Thursday:

• Math: 10.8 Working with circles (diameter, radius, circumference)
• We will discuss the history of immigration from the 1850s to the Present. We will also look at some graphs that will help us understand the history, while also practicing our math skills. Isn't it great when you start seeing ways you can actually use math in everyday life?
• If there's time, students will work on their CBA research.
• In science we will be looking at some 3-dimensional objects under a microscope like sand, grits and different salts.
• We will continue our service-learning reflection discussion and students will begin writing their final reflection.
• Students will be introduced to their culminating project for the survival literacy unit. Book Club groups will work together to create survival packs based on what they learned from the book they read. Check the literacy blog later this week for the details.
  

Friday:

• Math: 10.9 Finding the area of circles
  
• Students will be introduced to their final social studies assignment...Immigrant Interviews!
  
• There will be some time to work on service-learning reflections in the morning.
• This afternoon Book Clubs will meet to discuss the end of their books and beginning planning for their survival packs.
  
• In science students will get a chance to look at common objects under the microscope. This is an opportunity to look up close and personal at the things they've always wondered about. Students will get to choose which objects they look at.
• Students will get some class time to work on the CBA assignments after recess.