Treasure Island Adventure - 5th Grade

Ahoy, mateys!

Our fifth grade classes are learning map reading skills by completing the Treasure Island Adventure. The adventure is a several step process in which the students create their own treasure island map and treasure chests, write directions that will lead to the buried treasure, and write an adventure story about the discovery of the treasure.

So far the students have learned about cardinal and intermediate directions and learned how to read a compass rose. They have practiced finding locations using a map grid and identified several landforms. The students know how to read various types of map keys and have made a legend for the landforms on their island. The last lesson this week is on measuring distances using map scales. We will then be ready to draw a picture of our island, write directions to the treasure and, with a little help from Mr. Hall, write an adventure story about the treasure.

I have asked students to try to find small boxes to bring in next week to make treasure chests. We will also be tea staining their directions to make them look authentic. We may even make pirate hats!

If this sounds fun, here are some links that might interest you: National Geographic Pirates
Jolly Rogers or talk like a pirate and sound like the classic, Long John Silver!

Something Fun (in a geeky history kind of way)

Which Founding Father or Mother would you choose to marry? Now you can find out here!

Viking Quest

Here's a link to a game I played with fifth grade this year. In Viking Quest you get to compete to see if you could make it as a fierce Viking. I think the top score in fifth grade was 1150 or something like that. When you open the page click "Launch the game" to play.

State Research Projects - 5th Grade

Fifth grade, you are starting a fun state research project. You will be creating a file folder full of information on a particular state. We will do the project step-by-step in class. The first part of the project is the creation of your state map. Steps two and three are written research and the final step is drawing your state flag. For our research we will be using the collection of state books in my room and the atlases. We should be able to find everything we need from these two sources. If we need extra help, we can always find information online. I have posted a link in the 5th Grade Links section that has fast facts about all the states should you need it. Good luck with your project, have fun, and remember neatness counts!

Color Test

Do you know your colors? Check out the "General Links for You" area and look for the Color Test!

Moving Day!

Moving day has come and gone, and it was crazy!!! Thanks to all you students who gave a helping hand. We couldn't have done it without you. Of course, we will still be living out of boxes for a while, so be patient. I'm going to try my hardest to have us all settled in and all the boxes out of the way by the end of next week. Hope you like our new home!

Moving Day!

Our new rooms passed inspection so we should be moving soon. Mrs. Pacheco's class started transporting items today. Our class is scheduled to move on Friday. The sixth grade was very excited when they got to look at their new rooms today...a little too excited perhaps. Well, at least you all approved. :)

Get Ready Fifth Grade!

Fifth grade students will be starting a study of U.S. regions and states this coming week (Oct. 1). As part of this unit, the students will have a quiz over states and capitals. They will be required to label states on a map and match up states with capitals. This test will probably be in two weeks or so, so students should start to practice now! Check out the "fifth grade links" section for some great online games. These games are fun ways to review your 50 states!

Constitution Day Poster Contest Update

Constitution Day Posters are due! If yours isn't finished yet, be sure to get it in by Wednesday! Remember, the poster is supposed to show how your family benefits from the U.S. Constitution (think about the Bill of Rights). Here are some great examples that some of the students have designed. Josh Miller chose to show protection of freedoms such as religion, peaceful assembly and the right to bear arms. Juanda Limore gave us an example of freedom of speech and the right to vote! Keep the great ideas coming!

Fifth Grade S.S. Test This Week

After we finish our study of U.S. economics and the free enterprise system, fifth grade will have a test over the "American People, American Land" unit. The test will probably be Wednesday. We will review on Tuesday, and students will be given a study sheet to glue into their notebooks. Good luck to everyone!

By Thursday we should be starting our look at U.S. regions!

Constitution Day Poster Contest

Constitution Day was Monday, September 17. All of my classes watched a video, "The Almost Painless Guide to the U.S. Constitution," and all students are encouraged to enter the Constitution Day Poster Contest sponsored by the Gov Doc Kids Group. The students received official entry forms on which to create their posters. The posters from 6th grade and Mrs. Roberts' class are due Friday. The posters from Mr. Thompson's class are due Monday. They will be entered into the contest and the students will receive credit in social studies for completing the project. I heard lots of great ideas in class! Can't wait to see them finished!

Patriot Day

We had a very inspiring Patriot Day! Both 5th and 6th grade classes discussed the events of September 11, 2001. Fifth grade students then wrote poems entitled, "I am a Patriot." The poems are on display in a hallway right now, so, parents, please be sure to stop by and check them out!

The sixth grade classes wrote letters to soldiers currently serving in Iraq. The students thanked the men and women for being patriots and serving our country. Some students also made cards or posters. I was so touched by some of the letters I read that I was in tears in my classroom! The letters will be bundled and mailed next week. We are also trying to get some information into the newspaper about our letter writing project. Be sure to watch for that.

The Great Seal of the United States

Fifth grade students recently created their own Great Seal for our United States. Find out more about the official Great Seal of the United States by checking out this site, Ben's Guide to U.S. Government.

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