MVP's Book Talk Tuesday

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by: J.K. Rawlings. Harry Potter is a young wizard starting his 5th year at Hogwarts. He must face an evil teacher, constant dreams about a silent corridor, and the threat of you know who. JK Rowling uses a perfect mix of happiness sadness action and suspense. This is my favorite book of all time this is The order of the Phoenix. 

Middle School Band

Students talked with Middle School Band Directors about the instruments they would possibly like to play next year. Lots of fun noises and sounds this morning! 

Writing Stations

We worked on editing our literary essays in stations. At each station, students focused on a specific way to make their writing better. Check out what we looked for in our pieces below. 

Synergizing While We Study

Poem of the Week: Us

Us

By: Shel Sivlerstein

Me and him

Him and me,

We’re always together

As you can see.

I wish he’d leave

So I’d be free

I’m getting a little bit

Tired of he,

And he may be a bit

Bored with me.

On movies and ladies

We cannot agree.

I like to dance

He loves to ski.

He likes the mountains

I love the sea.

I like hot chocolate

He wants his tea.

I want to sleep

He has to pee.

He’s meaner and duller

And fatter than me.

But I guess there’s worse things

We could be-

Instead of two we could be three,

Me and him

Him and me.

Chapter 9 Space Review

Lesson 1- How Does Earth Move? (pages 363-367)

• Vocabulary: axis, rotation, orbit, revolution
• Describe how Earth rotates and revolves; length of rotation and revolution
• Explain why the sun, moon, and stars appear to move across the sky

Lesson 2 - What is a Star? (pages 369-373)

• Vocabulary: solar flare, constellation
• Describe physical characteristics of the sun
• Understand why Polaris is important  

Lesson 3- What are the Inner Planets? (pages 375-381)

• Vocabulary: planet, inner planet, space probe, moon
• Identify the inner planets and their position in the solar system
• Describe characteristics of the inner planets
• Describe how technology has helped people explore space

Lesson 4- What are the Outer Planets? (pages 383-387)

• Vocabulary: outer planets
• Identify the outer planets and their position in the solar system
• Describe common characteristics of the Gas Giants

Lesson 5- What are Asteroids, Meteors, Comets, and Moons? (pages 389-393)

• Vocabulary: asteroid, comet, dwarf planet
• Describe the difference between asteroids, meteors, meteorites, and comets
• Understand the difference between a planet and a dwarf planet

Review for Space Test

Practice these vocabulary terms for our Chapter 9 Space Unit.

Space Quizlet

Comparing Fantasy Texts to Historical Events

Students were challenged to compare a universal theme in their story to an event in history. Historical events discussed included Abraham Lincoln's push to end slavery, the power of those who found gold during the Gold Rush, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and much more!

Chapter 5 Social Studies Stations

Internal & External Quests

Today we learned what internal and external quests are in texts. We created charts about our Book Club books to show character internal and external quests. 

MVP Book Talk Tuesday

The Giver is a book about a boy who gets a very special job in his blocked off community where there is no color or emotion. The job takes him on an amazing journey to discover emotion, color, feelings and the outside world. Read the book to find out what happens to him on his journey.

This Week's Game Plan

Reading: Readers will finish reading their fantasy book club book. Our book discussions will center around learning real life lessons from our fantastical characters. We will also investigate both internal and external quests of main characters.

Writing: Writers will work on their second literary essay. They have chosen a short text and developed a thesis statement about it. This week we will look for quotes from the text to bring stronger voice to our piece.

Math: Mathematicians will place fractions on a number line and round them to the nearest whole number. Students will also add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators.

Science: Scientists will study and understand the differences between moons, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites. This will be our last lesson of Chapter 9. Students will have their Chapter 9 Space Test Thursday, February 2^nd.

Social Studies: Historians will choose either the New England colonies, Middle Colonies, or Southern Colonies to advertise for people to move to.

Think Outside the Box

Poem of the Week: Planet Roll Call

Using the Butterfly Method to Compare Fractions

MVP's Book Talk Tuesday

Ladder Method Video

Poem of the Week: Deserted Farm

Deserted Farm

by Mark Vinz

Where the barn stood

the empty milking stalls rise up

like the skeleton of an ancient sea beast,

exiled forever on shores of a prairie.

Decaying timber moans softly in twilight

the house collapses like a broken prayer.

Tomorrow the heavy lilac blossoms will open,

higher than the roof beams,reeling in wind.

DARE

Today, Team Bryant started their D.A.R.E. lessons with Officer Ryan! She will be visiting our classroom every Tuesday to talk to students about resisting drugs, alcohol, and violence.