May 21st, 2012
Class activities for Monday, May 21
Spelling: We practiced writing the base words for irregular verbs. This will be the skill tested on next and last spelling test.
Cursive: No new cursive assignments for the remainder of the year.
Reading: None today.
Writing: Students started working on our last writing project of the year, called the Find It, Decide It project. Students work with a partner to research a decision. Here is more about this project, due Friday, June 1.
Math: Students were introduced to multiplying fractions by whole numbers. Homework is to finish Journal P13-1. We didn’t have much time for practicing this in class, so I asked students to try this out by looking at Journal R13-1 and the math book for additional help. We’ll talk more about this in class tomorrow, but here are some additional helps:
- The skill for tonight’s homework is to break fractions apart and use multiplication as a shortcut.
- Start by breaking apart a fraction into unit fractions with a numerator of 1. 2/3 = 1/3 + 1/3. 4/7 = 1/7 + 1/7 + 1/7 + 1/7.
- 5/8 can be broken into 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8. That is 5 fractions of 1/8. Using multiplication, that would be 5 x 1/8, since it is 5 fractions of 1/8.
- More examples: 3/4 = 3 x 1/4
- 2/6 = 2 x 1/6
- 4/5 = 4 x 1/5
Science: None today.
Social Studies: We reviewed the Preamble of the Constitution and learned that the purpose of our government is to do these things:
- Make a better country
- Make things fair
- Keep things peaceful
- Protect our country
- Look after the well-being of everyone
- Keep freedom for all Americans and future Americas
Homework is to finish the Preamable chart started in class.
- Yellow magnets: 18
- Orange magnets: 0
- Red magnets: 0
- STAR Awards: 0
- Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 18
Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at JupiterGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with JupiterGrades?
Notes:
- Students have been asked to work on Khan Academy for at least 60 minutes per week.
- Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
- View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.
Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

