Class News: Week of 2/26

We have been learning how to write fractions (tenths and hundredths) as decimals.  Our Chapter 10 study has also included how to compare decimals, order decimals, and add fractions (tenths and hundredths) by turning them into decimals and by expressing tenths as hundredths through comparisons.  We have also learned to write money amounts as decimals and fractions (1 dollar and 25 cents=1.25 or 1 and 25/100 or 1/4).  Today, we will begin reviewing all that we learned in Chapter 10.   Our Chapter 10 Test will be Wednesday, March 1st.	How are some animals different? How are some plants different? How do different plants and animals have different life cycles? How do animals learn about their environment? What kind of traits do organisms get from their parents and what factors are determined by their environment?  How do the parts of plants help them survive? How do animals adapt to survive? All of the questions listed in green (above) are ones that we have discussed in our study of plants and animals. Students are currently working on an Animal Research project in order to learn the answers to the questions in blue. Tentative Test date for our Plants and Animals Test: Tuesday, March 7th.
Our literary analysis unit has taken us to new levels of critical thinking while examining text with a fine tooth comb or rather a magnifying glass! : ) Students will begin using quotes/adages, short video clips, and various texts to begin writing claims/thesis statements that will ultimately lead to an analysis essay.  We will continue our study of writing about literature as we practice writing claims and supporting those claims with reasons and examples.  We are using a variety of text in order to elevate our experiences in analyzing text with different lessons, claims, etc.    This week are adding in some nonfiction text (that relate to our study of science and social studies) to analyze.  See the following outline we will be using for our first literary essay: Literary Essay Outline.	This week, we will combine our knowledge of analyzing literature with the study of our government.  Students will began writing a brief essay about "How our government supports the idea of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?"  Students will use their class notes as well text references to support their thinking.  As a class, we discussed several ways our government supports the aforementioned ideas.  Some students' reasons included: the government gives us some power (example/evidence: "The government is created for the people, by the people.") and the government officials are understanding (an example/evidence that one student came up with to support this reason was that the  Bill of Rights were created to consider some of our basic needs/rights).  In writing these essays, students should be able to synthesize what we have learned about the formation of our new government in order to prepare for our Government Test, which will be Friday, March 3rd.