Survival Day

            Our annual fifth grade Survival Day is happening on Friday, May 6.  This program involves an intensive one-day activity inspired by the grade five Core book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.  One of the main themes is the necessity of developing and maintaining a positive attitude to survive adversity.  It is our goal to provide students with some basic knowledge about survival.  Students will rotate to different classes in the morning.  Faculty members and a nurse will provide instruction.  It will focus on familiarizing students with a wide range of survival skills: alternate sources of food, emergency first aid, identifying and building shelters, and preventing hypothermia and caring for its victims. 

            After the morning sessions we will simulate a plane crash and students will use their knowledge to construct shelters.  It is important that students be dressed appropriately.  Even though it is spring, we all know the quick changes in New England weather.  Boots are a must.  Even if there is no snow, the area is very wet and muddy.  Layering clothing is helpful in case the weather changes.  Long pants are required.

Great Reading: MCBA 2011 Winners

11 Birthdays

By: Wendy Mass   2009, Scholastic Inc.


Honor Books
(In random order)

No Talking!

 By: Andrew Clements /Illustrated by: Mark Elliott    2007, Simon & Schuster Children’s

 Savvy

By: Ingrid Law   2008, Penguin Group

The Magic Half

By: Annie Barrows   2007, Bloomsbury   

The Other Side of the Island

By: Allegra Goodman   2008, Penguin Group

 
 

Field Trip

The fifth grade will be visiting the Concord Museum to take part in an interactive exhibit called “Relive 1775” .

Using Pre-Visit materials researched from primary sources, students become members of Concord families involved in the events of April 19, 1775.   At the Museum, students:

• Introduce themselves in character
• Use the Museum Collection to familiarize themselves with their town and the issues facing them
• Visit the North Bridge to discover their participation in the events of the day
• Meet a living history interpreter to discuss the impact of the day
• Are presented with a documented 1775 dilemma
• Discuss the dilemma in Town Meeting
• Compare their resolution with that made in 1775

             Students will need to bring a snack and a bag lunch.  A portion of the trip takes us to the North Bridge so your child needs to be dressed appropriately for walking outdoors. Please note the weather forecast for the day of the trip.  No money is required as the PTO will pay for the bus, and thanks to your support of our fund raising efforts the fifth grade class fund will cover the student museum fee. You do not need to send any money. Please sign and return the permission slip to your child’s teacher.

            We need one parent chaperone per class, so indicate if you’d like to join us, and we will contact you.  (Be sure you have an updated CORI on file.)

Fractions, and Decimals, and Percents... Oh My!

As we move through this investigation it will be very helpful if you know the fraction percent equivalents automatically.  Here are some you should be concentrating on:

1/2 = 50%   

 1/3 = 33 1/3%     2/3 = 66 2/3%  

 1/4 = 25%      3/4 = 75%        

1/5 = 20%     2/5 = 40%           3/5 = 60%          4/5 = 90%    

1/6 = 16 2/3%        5/6 = 83 1/3%

1/8 = 12 1/2%        3/8 = 37 1/2%           5/8 = 62 1/2%     7/8 = 87 1/2%

Important Dates:

April 7 PTO Event:Ice Cream Social

April 18-22 Spring vacation

April 29 Concord Museum Field Trip

May 10, 11  Math MCAS

May 19, 20 Science MCAS