We've made it through another week, and are quickly approaching the end of the first semester. As a part of the winter festivities, Mill Creek will have its annual winter party next Thursday on our early release day. This will be an exciting time for students to celebrate their first semester of fifth grade, and hopefully motivate them to work hard for next semester's spring party.
I would like to thank everyone who donated canned foods or toiletries for the local shelter. With your help, we collected 179 items and will celebrate with a movie party before winter break! Thank you for your generosity, it benefits a great cause.
In our own classroom, I would like to have a book exchange for the holidays. This has worked well in year's past. Please send a book that your student has already read and that would be appropriate for a fifth grader. If you are able to send it wrapped, please do so, otherwise I will wrap it. Each student will be able to donate a book they have read in exchange for a new-to-them book. Please contact me if you are unable to donate a book, and also contact me if you are able and willing to donate more than one. I would like every student to be able to participate, so let's work together to make sure this can happen!
In math, the students have learned to add and subtract fractions with both alike and unlike denominators and are working on mastering this skill. We will finish out the semester with learning how to add and subtract decimals.
In science, students are learning about the water cycle, and conducting experiments to create their own water cycle in a tupperware container.
In reader's workshop, students are nearing the end of a colony research project which will be presented next week in class. I'm really impressed with the number of people turning in completed reading logs, and I hope this continues over the break. In writer's workshop, the students are working on a how-to story (expository writing piece) which will be published next week.
The weather is quickly returning to cold, so please send your student with a jacket/coat as necessary. We will go outside for recess until the temperature feels like 20 degrees.
Sincerely,
-Mrs. Morehead