Southall's Happenings

Math & Social Studies News

Good Afternoon Parents & Students,

I hope everyone had a GREAT weekend!  This week in math your child will continue to learn about estimating products, powers of 10 & patterns, mental math, and different strategies for multiplying whole numbers.  We will be taking a good bit of notes on these concepts.  Please look over your child's math notebooks. 

***Things to review at home to keep the concepts fresh in their minds!

1.  Review with your child how to round whole numbers.  Students have been learning how to round for a few years now.  Tip:  Most kids were taught the rounding rap last year.  Have them repeat it to you.  Then you could give them a number to round.  They can sing the rap as they are working the problem.  The rap does help.  I will link it to our blog, so they can practice at home. 

2.  Review basic math facts nightly!!!!  By fifth grade, students should be fluent with their facts.  Quiz them driving down the road, while cooking dinner, or during downtime at home.  A quick 5 to 10 minutes will help. 

3.  When we start our strategies for multiplication, have your child teach you the new ways.  It will give them the opportunity to practice these skills. 

If you have any questions, feel free to email me! gretchen.biddy@cobbk12.org

Social Studies:

We have begun our unit on the Civil War! We began listing the causes of the Civil War today.  We also compared and contrasted the north vs the south.  Students will be learning about the economy of the north and south.  They will continue to learn about the key people of this time period as well. 

Your child started taking notes in their social studies notebooks last week.  Ask to see their notebooks.  They took notes today on the north vs the south.  They were also given a map of the boundary lines of the confederate states and the union states.  Have your child talk to about what they have been learning so far in social studies. 

Tonight's math homework:  Pages 129-130 (show your work)

Social Studies:  Review your notes and map given over the Civil War

October 2014 PTA Newsletter

Download October 2014 PTA Newsletter

Homework 9-24

Math: study basic multiplication facts nightly. 

Social Studies:  Students were give a copy of the Bill of Rights.  They started studying about the Bill of Rights a few weeks ago with Mrs. Southall.  Students were give 6 scenarios to decide if they are covered under the Bill of Rights.  They will then identify which amendment it falls under.  I told the students they were mini-lawyers. 

Your child may access our math book online & play any of the games from our place value & decimal unit.  We have started multiplication strategies this week.  They may explore the lessons, games, and resources for this unit. 

Welcome Back!!!

Mrs. Southall and I hope everyone had a great fall break! Everyone should be rested and ready to get back into the swing of things. 

Things going on in math & social studies:

**Math:  Students will be reviewing the powers of 10 & exponents.  I will be introducing factoring and multiplying strategies this week.  Please look over your child's math notebook to see all the things they are learning!!

**Social Studies:  We are reviewing the Bill of Rights that Mrs. Southall introduced two weeks ago.  We will begin our Civil War unit on Wednesday!!! Student will be learning about the important people of the civil war, key vocabulary terms, and key battle states.  We will be comparing & contrasting the northern states and the southern states. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me: gretchen.biddy@cobbk12.org

More Science Information:

 

Mountains: constructive--Two plates press together with such forces, that it causes mountains to form at the surface of the earth.  Over millions of years, these mountains become taller and taller. 

Delta: Constructive: is a landform that forms at the mouth of a river, where the river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, or reservoir. Deltas form from deposition of sediment carried by a river as the flow leaves its mouth. Over long periods, this deposition builds the characteristic geographic pattern of a river delta.

Study Guide Info. #2

I will be showing them a picture and they must decide what that picture is and how it was formed.  Was it formed by constructive or destructive forces.   They will need to be explain how they know. e.g.

 

This is a picture of a sand dune.  It was created by constructive processes.  It was constructed when wind blew the sand in one direction/location.  It continued to build up and it created a sand dune.

 

Next,

 

Volcano: both constructive and destructive.  It is constructive because the lava cools and over time it forms layers.  The layers continue to build up new land. (islands).  Destructive: the lava destroys Earth's surfaces such as trees and homes.

Science Study Guide

Your child will be having their unit test over constructive and destructive forces & the layers of the Earth on Wednesday.  Your child should be bringing home their science notebooks home daily.  Here are some things to study:

Layers of the Earth:  students are going to be asked to draw and label the layers.  (crust, upper mantle, lower mantle, outer core, and upper core). They will be asked five true false about the layers.  e.g. true or false: the outer core is solid metal. False.

They will have 11 multiple choice questions.  They took this same test as a pretest at the beginning of this unit.  I have covered all of the material that will be on this section.  They will need to know about Pangaea and why scientist believe the continents moved.  (plate tectonics). What changes the Earth's surface the slowest? (weathering) They need to know how glaciers help create new soil. They need to know what happens when two plates press together, causing one plate to slip under another one. 

Graded Papers...Be on the look out!

Parents,

Please look over your child's graded papers that were sent home tonight.  I write a lot of notes on their graded papers and homework.  I have noticed several kids are rushing through their nightly math homework.  They are making careless mistakes.  I wrote a note of encouragement to them or a strategy to help them.  Please talk with your child about their papers. If your child has trouble with their homework, I have encouraged them to come see me during homeroom time.  I call it my homework review and remember time. (7:10-7:45).  I am here to help!!! 

Math and Science News

Good Afternoon Students and Parents

Homework 9/4:

Math: Ordering and comparing decimals w.s.  Students should be taking their math notebooks home nightly to review key vocabulary and content for the next day.  They need to study those key vocabulary terms.  We will have a quiz tomorrow over vocabulary, place value, & expanded form with decimals.

Science:  Students should be studying their notes that are in their science notebooks.  They have a unit test next Wednesday.  It will be over constructive and destructive forces, pangea, and the layers of the earth.  They will be drawing and labeling the layers of the earth.   All of this information can be located in their science journal.  Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns.

If you child is still struggling with expanded form with decimals, your child can log on My Math and watch a tutor video.  It will show them step by step how to expand with decimals.  This is a great way to review before the quiz. 

Math & Science Homework

Math:  math page 33 & 34 (all)

Use your math notebook to help.  Also, look over the lesson we did today.  (Expanded form with decimals)

Science:  Study your notes in your in your science notebook.  You will have a unit test next Wednesday.  It will cover constructive and destructive forces, vocabulary,  & layers of the earth. You are using your notebook as your study guide.  Study nightly!!!!!!

Have a great day!!!