Welcome to another week, Cerrito community. A quick update on curriculum in 4/5 is in order, so read on if you’re interested. We are winding up our astronomy unit, approaching the climax of our slavery unit, and finishing up a literature group.

First, astronomy. Here are some of the essential questions from the unit:

• How can you explain why we see some natural objects only in the night sky, some only in the day sky, and some at both times?
• How would you describe the size of and distance between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun
• How does the shape of the Moon change over 4 weeks?
• How do the parts of the solar system interact?
• Why do stars appear to move across the night sky?

Last week, we studied shadows and how they change throughout the day. We built models to explain this phenomenon, and we did some math to figure out how the length and direction of the shadow cast by an opaque object changed with the position of the sun in the sky. On Monday, we discussed the different phases of the moon. Ask your child what a waxing gibbous moon is or a waning cresent. Also, try to take a nightly look at the sky to examine the moon and stars. Consider getting one of those nifty apps that shows you the constellations. My favorite is called Sky Guide. Science is NOT a liberal conspiracy, as you’ll see on Eli’s t-shirt.

The students have come a long way in their understanding of racial oppression in the United States, through reading, writing, listening to music, museum visits, Voicethreads, and more. As the culmination of two unit–informational writing in the writer’s worshop and slavery in cultural studies–they’ll take on the role of newspaper reporters to create a Chanterelle literary magazine for African American history month, the likes of which Cerrito has never seen. There will be biography, music reviews, book reviews, artwork, and more. It’s going to be awesome. And could we have planned a more poignant time for this work?

Literature circles are one of my favorite ways for students to stretch and grow as readers in fourth and fifth grade. The social element pushes them to read longer and push their understanding deeper than many students would on their own. We will likely dive back into another lit circle right when we finish this one to keep up the furious pace of page turning.

Have a great week, and keep fighting the good fight!

So true, just sad is has to be a t-shirt

Simple machines students made in art class then brought to show their buddies.

A fun fifth grade math problem on marathons. Students had to figure out how to find 7/12 and 5/8 of 26.2 miles. Hard!

Often, asking good questions is the best way to orient yourself to a solution.

Homework

Reading: SSRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Wordly Wise: Finish Chapter 9 of Wordly Wise.

Math

• 5th grade: pages 76 to 79 in Spectrum for the week

Study your spelling words on Quizlet for 15 minutes. Quiz tomorrow.

Show your research questions and packets to your parents. Let them help you create good questions. Tell them about the project. A blog will come out next week all about it.