New Activities, New Units, Lots More

The 5th grade has been learning how to write persuasively. We spent the last two weeks of English class learning to identify opinion, reasons and examples to support reasons. We learned about using stronger words to create a more vivid image. We practiced writing opinions, reasons and examples on many subjects such as “Should there be less school and more free time?” The students became very invigorated by this subject. Finally, everyone in the class wrote a persuasive essay on “Why Students Shouldn’t Smoke.” We generated a long list of reasons and each 5th grader had to make a structured essay, using an opening thesis statement, at least 3 to 4 reasons and examples to support these reasons. Several students got to read their essays to the class and we will continue to hear from others this week.  In history, students have been taking notes for their research paper. Many have completed their first book and are searching for new information in their second one. Soon, we will be finished  note taking and we will learn how to organize the notes and put them into an outline. Stay tuned. A member of the Berkeley Repertory Theater came to our class and spent an hour engaging our students in drama. He read the book, “One Piece of Rice,” to the class. Together, scenes were created to reenact the story. The class said they enjoyed the guest very much and enjoyed the opportunity to be so creative and have fun. In our Inventions unit, students learned how to make surveys and learned how they are good marketing tools. Soon, they will analyze their data to figure out who would buy their inventions. In our Million Dollar Project, everyone is learning how to make spread sheets in the computer lab. Many are also learning that it is not easy to spend exactly a million dollars. In our study of literature, we finished reading, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. I  have read this book at least 10 times and I never get tired of it. It is so beautifully written and rings so true. We are about to begin reading a historical novel about the American Revolution: Johnny Tremain.It is another great book but is written in more old fashioned language, so it can be a bit more challenging. In math, my class is finding the area of triangles, measuring angles and finding the missing angle. We’re using protractors and learning how to draw and measure angles. We are almost finished with book A and are about to start book B. This Tuesday, Rod Fujita (Eliana’s father) is coming to our class to talk about environmental studies. He has a great presentation for us and, it is a perfect way to prepare for our trip to the Marin Headlands.