May at a Glance

Literacy
WCO: Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

• In writing, we'll be writing persuasive essays. To start, students will write an essay to persuade you to take them to a vacation destination of their choice. They'll work on supporting their claim as to why it's a perfect vacation for your family and use counterarguments to strengthen their argument. We'll end the year with a second persuasive piece with a topic of their choice.

WCO: Create meaning strategically in writing.

• This week, we'll conference on their spring break narratives. Students have been trying new techniques in their writing (such as using effective leads, sensory details, strong verbs, and circular endings), and they'll meet with me to get individual feedback and editing support. 
• We'll end May with more work in writing groups based upon strengths and areas of growth in their persuasive pieces.

WCO: Create meaning strategically in reading; Evaluate how authors create meaning.

We end the year with a shared reading of The Lightning Thief. As we read, we discuss allusions, author's style, and plot development. After each chapter, we analyze the text more in partnerships or small groups to think critically about the text. 

• Students are also reading many Greek myths so that they can understand allusions better. After reading each myth, students work on various literacy skills (character traits, theme, allusions) to evaluate the text more deeply. 
• You should see many examples of this work coming home in each week's Thursday Folder.
• Students will be independently reading The Chocolate Touch in class. This is another novel that uses Greek mythology as inspiration.
• In DLT groups, students are reading City of Ember. Each week they learn new vocabulary, answer some comprehension questions, and then meet in small groups to discuss the text further. 

Math
WCO: Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

• Students will explore more geometric concepts involving: area, perimeter, symmetry, and tessellations. 
• We'll use some unique materials, such as Cheez Its and toilet paper, to model area and perimeter.
• We'll end the year designing a zoo to apply what we've learned in math this year. 

Science
WCO: Analyze the interaction within and between systems.

• We end the year learning about magnetism and electricity. Students will learn more about magnetism concepts like: attract, repel, induced magnetism, and force. In electricity, students will build parallel and series circuits to light bulbs and run a motor. They'll learn about conductors and insulators and draw schematic drawings.
• We'll work with Mrs. Blair on snap circuits and Cubelets to apply electric energy in new, innovative situations.
• Students will use the scientific method to do experiments throughout the next month. 

Calendar
Monday, May 2- Final date for Hardware Hustle donations
Friday, May 6- Hardware Hustle Prize Day
Friday, May 6- Muffins with Mom
Friday, May 6- Homework Due
Friday, May 13- Jump Rope for Heart donations due
Friday, May13- Homework Due
Monday, May 16- MAPS Testing
Tuesday, May 17- MAPS Testing
Thursday, May 19- Performance Night
Friday, May 20- MAPS Testing
Friday, May20- Homework Due
Tuesday, May 24- Field Day
Friday, May 27- Homework Due
Monday, May 30- No School
Tuesday, May 31- Field Trip
Thursday, June 2- Last Day of School