We're Learning about Government in F3!

This week and next, we will be learning about the three branches of government. yesterday, we learned what those three branches are: Executive, Legislative and Judicial.

On Thursday next week, we will go downtown to City Hall to visit a member of the local legislative branch, Counclimember Nick Licata. We'll also visit Judge Hightower, and hopefully visit the Mayor's office (though we will not be getting a chance to visit the Mayor himself).

As we learn about what the government's jobs are, we will get smarter about the rights and responsibilities that we have in the United States!!!

Bill of Rights Scavenger Hunt

Click here to begin.

American Revolution Scavenger Hunt

Click here to begin.

Good Luck!

Finish First

Is Finish First a fair game? A game is fair when all players have an equal chance of winning. If there is an advantage or disadvantage in being the first player, then the game is not fair.

Play Finish First with a family member or friend.

Materials: A deck of cards, using only four of each of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (Do not use any other cards).

Number of Players: 2

Directions:
1. Shuffle the cards. Place the deck face down.
2. The player going first turns over the top card and announces its value.
3. The player going second turns over the next card and announces the total value of the two cards turned over.
4. Partners continue to take turns turning over cards and announcing the total values of all the cards turned over so far.
5. The winner is the first player to correctly announce "21" or any number greater than 21.
6. Play as many games as you can and make a tally chart for first player wins and second player wins.

Practice your math skills at the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives.

Try the virtual manipulatives for "Fraction Equivalents", or click here.

Mr. C

After the Boston tea Party, Britain passed the Intolerable Acts. Learn about the British reaction here.

In your centers notebook:

1. Briefly summarize each part of the Intolerable Acts.

2. The year the each act was passed.

Mr. C

Real Life Erosion and Deposition!

This is what happened in Washington two years ago. Check it out!

Math after break!

Wondering what we're going to be working on after break???!? Check it out-- play this game about mean,median and mode:

Greetings from Mr. Calaski

Hello Parents, Guardians, and Families of F-3.

My name is Jeff Calaski, but the students call me Mr. C. I am co-teaching a social studies unit on colonial Boston with Ms. V in F-3 as part of my teacher internship for the Master in Teaching program at Seattle University. This unit will address the essential question: Why do people want to be free? Students are participating in learning activities that help them answer this question for themselves.

I am using a StoryPath curriculum called "The Struggle for Independence", in which students actually become colonists living in colonial Boston. Students have created characters, homes, and businesses based on content from the unit, and have displayed this work on our class frieze, or mural. Students role-play in character during town meetings and other group activities in order to see the world from the perspective of someone in a different time and place.

Here are some highlights and concepts of the unit:
· Creating an interactive mural of colonial Boston.
· Creating a realistic character.
· Learning about the many perspectives that surround historical events.
· Understanding the tensions between individual rights and the common good.
· Experiencing colonial life and significant events through the eyes of their character.
· Declaring a position as either a Loyalist or Patriot.
· Learning how different cultures helped shape colonial Boston.

I am very excited for your child to be a part of this amazing learning experience.

There will be opportunities for you and your family to support your child’s learning at home. You can read about these opportunities at my learning support page.

Thank you for taking the time to read this information. I look forward to meeting all of you at our open house next Wednesday.

You can learn more about me at my website, www.mrcalaski.wikispaces.com.

Best Regards,
Mr. Calaski

Late January Update from F3

A narrow street in Colonial Boston. Still there today!

First off, make sure you've read Ms. V's letter to parents asking for supplies.

Second, you should know that the kids right now are deeply engrossed in learning about the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1760s and 1770s. Tomorrow F3 will take part in a special assembly just for fifth grade at Maple about the involvement of African and African Americans in the American Revolution. This multi-media presentation will take place at 2:20 tomorrow, 2/1.

Students are also learning all about erosion and deposition in science. Please show your child or talk to your child about any landslides or mudslides you have heard about lately.

As always, make sure your students are getting their daily Xtra Math practice. Eight students have completed Xtra Math!!! Hats off to: Venus, Jaden, Yu Yang, Michael, Vincent, Jennifer, Junjie, and Jessica!

A Tremendous Start to 2010

Moving up with Xtra Math!

January has stared out so well for us in F3! Back in December, we had started using Xtra Math, and now we have had three students complete all four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. I truly believe that the students will be much successful in middle school once they can prove mastery of the basic math facts.

What else is new, teacher candidate Jeff Calaski is now full time in F3. Mr. Calaski will be at Maple everyday from now through to the start of April. He is very enthusiastic, and is looking forward to the next few months with all of the students. Mr. C, as the kids call him, is very much looking forward to leading the students through their learning of Colonial Boston, our next Social Studies unit. He started out as a volunteer in F3 two years ago and is now getting his teaching degree at Seattle University.

Step 1.
Make a new T-chart on a new page in your science journal. Label one side "Sunrise" and the other side "Sunset".

Step 2.
Use the almanac again to find the sunrise, sunset, and day length times for each of the following dates: June 21 and December 21.

This time look up each date for the following places:
Fairbanks, AK
Boston, MA
Miami, FL

Record the sunrise, sunset, and day length times for each date on your T-chart.

Step 3.
Learn about the path of the sun as it travels across Earth's sky.

Step 4.
Click the start button to watch the video animation of the sun.

Draw the path of the winter sun in your science journal.

Next, draw the path of the summer sun.

What happens to your shadow when you stand facing the winter sun? How about the summer sun? Write your reasponse in your journal.



Angle of the Sun

The Astronomy Scavenger Hunt for the Week of January 3, 2010!

Step 1.

Make a T-chart on a new page in your science journal. Label one side "Sunrise" and the other side "Sunset".

Step 2.

Use the almanac to find the sunrise and sunset times for each of the following dates in Seattle, WA: March 21, June 21, September 21, and December 21.

Step 3.

Record the sunrise and sunset times for each date on your T-chart.

Step 4.

What do you notice about the times? Write your observations on the same page.

Our Awesome Week in Pictures!! Thanks F3! Have a Great Break!!

The Week Before Break!! It's A Big One!!

F3!!! It's a pretty great this week! LOTS to look forward to:

Monday: MAP Math Testing at 10:20.... No sweat, you guys have learned so much this school year already, now is just a chance to show it all off! Just think of how much better you've done on each of your post tests every math unit.... You're going to do so well.

Tuesday: Our field trip to the Sheraton! We're going to meet Chef John, see our favorite architect Stacy, and check out all of the gingerbread houses, including the one that we helped on!!

Wednesday: MAP Reading testing at 10:20... Again! No sweat! You've been reading at school and at home everyday at your level. You'll be great.

Thursday: Gingerbread Village in F3!! After lunch we'll get started on our graham cracker houses/creations... WahooooO!

Friday: Nick Licata comes to talk about his book Princess Bianca and the Vandals at 11:00a.

WHAT A GREAT WEEK IN F3!! Stay tuned on the blog for pictures!

-Ms. V

Mr. Parker and His Unit Received Our Care Packages!!!

Here is a thank you note, below:

Marcia R. Ventura,

Thank you so much for taking the time to send my soldiers and me a little bit of home. It is a great feeling to know that we risk our lives for a grateful and deserving nation. I speak for all of the soldiers here that may not receive packages or letters from home, when I say you brightened our day. A touch of home whether it be a book, food, candy, or movie makes this place a easier to bare. During this time of year it is increasingly hard trudge through the day not being able to spend the holidays with our families. Your gifts are very appreciated. My unit is the 101ST Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, KY. We are currently deployed to Afghanistan near the city of Kandahar. The Company that I am in is a MEDEVAC company. Our job is to provided immediate response to saving the lives of wounded casualties on the battlefield via Helicopter transportation. We have been here since March of 2010, and we should be making our way back stateside in late February to March. We all appreciate your kindness and wish you all happy holidays. I would also like to add a special thanks to Nathan, Jaime, Jessica, Shaila, Dylan, and Jennifer For their letters. Thank you.

CW2 Parker, Tyson
UH-60 Blackhawk Pilot
101st Airborne Division
MEDEVAC
"No Mercy DUSTOFF"

Ms. V's class is starting Xtra Math this week!

Time to Reschedule Conferences!!

Ms. V will be in touch with all of the F3 families to make up parent conferences that were cancelled because of the snow.

Look forward to meeting all of you!!!

--Ms. V

Welcome to Parent Teacher Conferences!

Check out pictures of our Veterans Day Assembly and Care Package Project.

Welcome Parents!!! It's good to have you at Parent Teacher Conferences this week. We will be going over your child's work so far in fifth grade. We'll look over their science and math notebooks, listen to a recording of your child read, and take a look at MAP scores, this years upcoming MSP tests, and readiness for middle school.

While your waiting for your conference, please check out this website and the links on the right side of the page. Please make sure that your child goes on Study Island and Everyday Math Online about three or four times this Thanksgiving Break.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Global Reading 2011!!!

The Global Reading books are out, the Global Reading books are out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wahoo!!! Check em out! We'll be getting to know these books VERY well in the next few months....