Weekly News
2/23-2/27/26
This week fifth grade mathematicians began looking at decimal place value and how place values are related (the tenths place is ten times as much as the hundredth place, or the thousandths place is one tenth times as much as the hundredths place). Next week they will apply this understanding of place value to comparing, ordering and rounding decimal numbers. Sixth grade mathematicians completed their first topic of module four this week with a topic quiz and additional practice with using the order of operations, including a fun game of bingo and several math mysteries. Next week they will begin using numerical expressions to represent real world problems.
Galaxy writers were working to finish their persuasive essays about their fantasy Literature Circle books last week. The students used teacher feedback to make final revisions and edits and put together their final packet. Early finishers had the chance to work on a bonus piece of their choosing, including some sixth graders participating in an optional journalism mini-unit.
In Reading, Galaxians continued their targeted small groups focusing on skills such as monitoring comprehension, fluency and reading strategies. The students also learned about the new reading strategy of synthesis, or how their thinking has changed about their books based on clues from the story.
In Integrated Studies last week, Galaxians continued their exploration of the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations. The students participated in a debate about what they think ended the Maya Classic Period and a webquest about the Aztecs Empire. Galaxy students also had the chance to consider similarities and differences between the Maya and Aztecs. At the end of the week, we learned about the Spanish Conquest and the rise of New Spain.
Our Spanish class is going over modern Mexican history, focusing on the Mexican Revolution and, more recently, Mexico’s first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. We will begin working on planning individual trips to popular cities around Mexico this week! We will research, budget, and plan excursions to share with our classmates and our community for our End of Unit Celebration!
Upcoming Events
Study Session: weekly on Wednesdays, 3:10-4 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25
End of Unit Mexico test
Friday, March 27
GrandFriends Day, RSVP here
Tuesday, March 31
STEM themed Unit celebration, 2:15pm
