Spring Break is right around the corner!  I am curious.  Who will be going on a family vacation?  Where will you go?  What will you do?  What about those that are not going on vacation?  Will you do anything fun or exciting?

Some schools are moving away from taking a Spring Break.  What do you think about that?  Why should we take a whole week away from school?  Wouldn't it be a better idea to just take a long weekend and not risk losing our focus? :-)

I look forward to reading your responses! 

Mrs. Brower

So, we are nearing the end of our third quarter of fifth grade.  I want to know...what do you think so far?  What do you like about fifth grade?  What do you wish was different?  If you could go back and tell yourself something about this new year, what would you say? 

Have fun!

Mrs. Brower

Welcome back from Thanksgiving break!  I hope that everyone had a safe and relaxing holiday! 

After marrying my husband, I realized that families often celebrate holidays in different ways.  That made me wonder...what are some of your family traditions for Thanksgiving?

Do you get together with family? stay home? cook? go shopping? watch movies???

Take a few moments to think about what your family does nearly every year for Thanksgiving.  Include details to help us understand what it is like to be a part of your family! 

**Remember, type your response in MS Word, taking time to check your spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.  Your response should compare and contrast your family's traditions.

Here are some "about" Thanksgiving pages that might interest you!  Remember, stick to the links that relate to the topic.  Do not wander off on advertisement links!

• The History of Thanksgiving


• Thanksgiving on the Net


• The Holiday Spot

Mrs. Brower

Welcome, class!

Before we start blogging, we need to go over a few rules. It is important that we follow these rules so that we may have a great learning experience!

Let's get started!

1. Always be respectful of others' opinions and thoughts. 


2. Before responding, think about what you want to say. Type your response in Word, check your spelling, and then COPY/PASTE your response into the blog. 


3. Do not include personal information. 


4. Do not share information about another person without their permission...be sure not to include their personal information.


5. Remember to use school appropriate language! 


6. Finally, read the entry carefully and respond thoughtfully!

Make sure you pay attention to the blog titles.  If it is a "Class Sharing" blog, then everyone should take a moment to respond to the question or prompt.  If it is a "Lit Groups" entry, then make sure you find your group's section and respond to your prompts.  You may reply to anyone's entry, even if it isn't in your section!

Ok...let's get started!

Mrs. Brower

Great job!  Your music program was a success!

Can you believe that you just performed in your last music program?  Music programs are a big part of your elementary experience.  Over the years you have sang a variety of songs, broke out a few dance moves, and maybe even wore a silly costume or two. 

What are some of your favorite memories from music programs of the past?  Did you have any special parts?  Did anything hilarious or embarrassing happen to you while performing? 

Take a moment to travel down memory lane with your classmates.  If you have memories from other schools, that is great as well! 

Remember

1. Do not use anyone's full name.


2. If it is not your personal moment to share, please do not use that person's name without his or her permission.


3. Include enough details to help us understand why this moment, song, or particular program was memorable.  (example: What grade were you in?  What time of year was this show?  What was the theme?)

Welcome, Amazon Group! 

 **LIsten to Podcast found at bottom of this blog and follow along with the reading.**

You have started reading Magic Tree House #6, Afternoon on the Amazon by Mary Pope Osborne.  You are joining Jack and Annie as they travel to the Amazon rain forest in search of another item for Morgan.  Will they survive the many dangers hidden in the Amazon?? 

Blog Time

Now, let's take some time to share!

First entry:  We find out that Annie is afraid of little bugs and spiders, but she isn't afraid of dinosaurs, pirates, or even a mummy's ghost.  We all are afraid of something.  What are you afraid of?  What gives you the willies?  What makes you want to run and hide?  Please explain why you find this thing scary!

Second entry:  As you read the story, you find out that Annie and Jack face many dangers.  What do you think would be the scariest thing to face in the rain forest?  What would you do in the face of danger? 

Take it to the Net

• Listen to learn more about rain forests.


• Explore the rain forest through the Amazon Interactive website.  Compare the amount of rain the rain forest receives versus how much rain we receive.  Can you find out how many layers their are to a rain forest?


• Stop by the Enchanted Learning: Zoom Rainforest website.  Be sure to print out your favorite rain forest animal.  Do we have any rain forest in North America?

OK!  Time to get to work!  Here's your TO DO List!

To Do

1. Complete your blog entries


2. Explore the two websites.  Try to find the answers to the questions.  Don't forget to print out your favorite animal picture! 

 Have fun!

Welcome, Punished Group! 

You have decided to read the book Punished  by David Lubar.  One minute Logan is playing tag with his friend Benedict; the next minute he finds himself being "punished" by the old man that he ran into.   Now he is speaking in puns, and it's NOT very pun-ny!

We will be starting a Word Play booklet.  You will be filling it with puns, oxymorons, anagrams, palindromes, and much more!  Get your thinking caps on and start taking notes!  

Blog Time

Now, let's take a moment to discuss your initial thoughts on this book.  Remember to follow the rules for blogging and be respectful of other member's opinions!

First entry:  Why do you think the old man punished Logan the way he did?  Why not just tell the librarian or make him leave? 

Second entry:    This book is full of word-play.  Logan finds himself using words in unusual ways.  Find three of your favorite puns and share with your group.  Then it's your turn!  Take the examples and rewrite them into your own puns!  Make sure you put quotation marks around the puns from the book as well as the page number!

Take it to the Net

What exactly is a pun??  Go to the Punny Pages to learn a little more and enjoy a few particularly good puns!

Now take some time to check out these One Liner Puns.  Are you starting to get the idea? 

Enjoy these very PUN-ny jokes found at Pun of the Day.  Challenge: Try your hand at writing your own Pun-ny jokes.  For extra credit, create your own book of puns, including both a few of your favorites written by others as well as your own.  Be sure to note the author and where you found your favorite puns!

OK!  Time to get to work!  Here's your TO DO List!

To Do

1. Complete two blog entries.


2. Begin your collection of your favorite puns in a notebook.  Use these as inspiration as you write start writing your own puns.

Welcome, Tuck Group! 

You have decided to read the book Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt.  As you read, you will try to determine whether you think Winnie will drink from the spring and have eternal life or if she will choose to grow old and die when it is her time.   

Let's review who we have met so far...

Characters

1. Winnie Foster


2. Jesse Tuck


3. Miles Tuck


4. Angus Tuck


5. Mae Tuck


6. The Man in the Yellow Suit

In your literature booklet, start your snapshots for each character.  Be sure to go back and add any important details you discover while reading.   

Blog Time

Now, let's take a moment to discuss your initial thoughts on this book.  Remember to follow the rules for blogging and be respectful of other member's opinions!

First entry:  What do you think the man in the yellow suit wants?  Do you think his intentions are good or bad?  Why?  (Use details from the book to back up your thoughts)

Second entry:    If you had a chance to drink from the fountain and live forever, would you take it?  Why or why not?  Please be thoughtful and explain yourself!

Take it to the Net

Did you know that there is a movie based on the book?  Check out the Video Trailer.

For extra credit, you can complete a project based on the story.  This activity will be due at the end of the book.  Go to Tuck Everlasting - Student Resources and look over your options.  Decide what activity you will do and make a plan on how and when you will work on it.

Now go study vocab words that will appear in your reading.  Go through a couple of times, paying close attention to each word and definition.  Make your own set of vocab words using index cards from your group's bucket.

OK!  Time to get to work!  Here's your TO DO List!

To Do

1. Complete two blog entries.


2. Work on your Snapshots page in your literature booklet.


3. Check our your options for the extra credit activity.  Decide what you will do and make a plan for how you will get the work done.


4. Review the vocab words and make your own vocab cards for further study.

Welcome, Westing Detectives! 

You have taken on the challenge of reading The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin and will attempt to discover who killed Samuel W. Westing.  As your group reads the story, be sure to keep track of all the suspects and clues. 

Let's review what we know so far...

Suspect Partners

1. Madame Sun Lin Hoo (cook) and Jake Wexler (standing or sitting when not lying down)


2. Turtle Wexler (witch) and Flora Baumbach (dressmaker)


3. Christos Theodorakis (birdwatcher) and D. Denton Deere (intern, St. Joseph's Hospital, Department of Plastic Surgery)


4. Alexander McSouthers (doorman) and J. J. Ford (judge, Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court)


5. Grace Windsor Wexler (heiress) and James Shin Hoo (restaurateur)


6. Berthe Erica Crow (Good Salvation Soup Kitchen) and Otis Amber (deliverer)


7. Theo Theodorakis (brother) and Doug Hoo (first in all-state high school mile run)

In your detective notebooks, start a page for each suspect.  Review what you know so far, jotting down details that help us get to know each suspect and his or her possible motives for killing Samuel West. 

Blog Time

Now, let's take a moment to discuss your initial thoughts on this book.  Remember to follow the rules for blogging and be respectful of other member's opinions!

First entry:  Grace Wexler LOVED the apartment that Barney Northrup showed her.  How do we know this?  What does this tell you about her?  At one point, Grace thought to herself, "The third bedroom was a trifle small, but it would do just fine for Turtle."  What does this tell you about Grace's relationship with her youngest daughter?  (Back up your opinions with evidence from the story)

Second entry:  Turtle accepts a dare to spend time in the Westfield mansion on Halloween night.  Do you think you would have been so daring?  Have you ever accepted a dare?  Have you ever dared someone to do something scary?  If so, what was it?   

Take it to the Net

Did you know that there is a made-for-TV movie based on the book The Westing Game?  It was called Get a Clue.  Check out the Video Trailer.

You and your group members will need to choose an ongoing activity based on the story.  This activity will be due at the end of the book.  Go to Global Book Club Activities and look over your options.  Decide with your group what activity you will do and discuss how you will split the work.

OK!  Time to get to work!  Here's your TO DO List!

To Do

1. Two blog entries


2. Start your detective journal by creating a page for each suspect.  Fill in what you know about each one so far.


3. Check our your options for the group activity.  Decide as a group what you will do and make a plan for how you will split the work.