Announcements

Our new unit is the study of states and capitals. 5th graders are expected to memorize all states, their capitals and their relative position within the United States. In addition they are expected to know a few key geographical landmarks in our nation.

Here is a link to a website students will be able to interact with on the Smart Board at school. It has many practice activities designed to help students memorize state and capitals:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm

Poem of the Week

Homework Machine

The Homework Machine,
oh the Homework Machine,
Most perfect contraption
that’s ever been seen.
Just put in your homework,
then drop in a dime,
Snap on the switch,
and in ten seconds time,
Your homework comes out,
quick and clean as can be.
Here it is--- “nine plus four?”
and the answer is “three.”
Three?
Oh me . . .
I guess it’s not as perfect
As I thought it would be.

by Shel Silverstein

Spelling List

1. cord
2. chord
3. pray
4. prey
5. seam
6. seem
7. sole
8. soul
9. piece
10. peace
11. role
12. roll
13. peel
14. peal
15. shone
16. shown
17. pain
18. pane
19. pole
20. poll
21. aisle
22. isle
23. rein
24. reign

Poem of the Week

There is no poem this week... in order to give kids who are auditioning a chance to focus on memorizing and presenting their lines and song. Good luck to all.

Spelling List

1. weekend
2. hawk
3. flair
4. stir
5. first aid
6. halt
7. royal
8. carve
9. worth
10. hurl
11. up-to-date
12. noisy
13. soar
14. barge
15. steer
16. wildlife
17. coward
18. gorge
19. return
20. smear
21. brother-in-law
22. thousand
23. tore
24. early
25. pearl
26. test tube
27. launch
28. snare
29. perch
30. wheelchair

Poem of the Week

Choose one of the poems to illustrate and to recite on Friday. Choose to do both if you want a challenge.

Snowball

I made myself a snowball
As perfect as could be.
I thought I’d keep it as a pet
And let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
And a pillow for its head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first--it wet the bed.

by Shel Silverstein

Come Skating

They said come skating;
They said it’s so nice.
They said come skating;
I’d done it twice.
They said come skating;
It sounded nice. . . .
I wore roller--
They meant ice.

by Shel Silverstein

Spelling List

1. smear
2. germ
3. return
4. peer
5. stir
6. squirm
7. nerve
8. early
9. worth
10. pier
11. thirst
12. burnt
13. rear
14. term
15. steer
16. pearl
17. squirt
18. perch
19. hurl
20. worse

Challenge
interpret
yearn
emergency
dreary
career