Try out a new site called Tween Tribune. Go to my Social Studies sites and click on Tween Tribune and it will connect you directly to the site. Select an article that you find interesting and read it. Then leave me a comment about what you think. I can’t wait to hear from you!

This week we will complete the unit on The Massachusetts Bay Colony with an open book, open notes quiz Tuesday.  Wednesday we will begin a new lesson on New Ideas, New Colonies.  Students will read to find our what led some Massachusetts Bay Colonists to form new colonies nearby.  (pgs194-199)  Thursday and Friday will be spent in research on one of five people.  They are:  Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, John Winthrop, Thomas Hooker, or John Harvard.  Students in a small group will work together to write a paper and include interesting facts, what kind of person they are researching, and would they have wanted to meet this person.  Next Monday they will report their findings to the class.

A new year has rolled around again.  It seems to go faster and faster as I get older.  With the new year we will begin to find out why a group of English colonists founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  The Massachusetts Bay colonists’ thoughts about government and education helped shape our present-day systems of government and education.  (Pg 188-193)  Read to learn the new Vocabulary terms:  Puritan, charter, common, specialize, town meeting, and public office.  An open book quiz over this lesson will be Tuesday, Jan. 12th.

This week we are winding up the section on Using the Land with an open book, open notes quiz on Tuesday.  Wednesday the students will read to learn about where people settle and how regions can be based on people’s activities.  Monday, Dec. 7th will be an open book quiz on this information.  Tuesday, Dec. 8th. will be a Reading Benchmark on all 5th grade students.

This week will focus on research of nonrenewable resources.  The students will choose a partner and together will decide to either research solar power, wind power or tidal power.  Then they will use their research as a basis for making a poster explaining how their chosen energy source works,  what it is,  and give examples.  Also they are to think of how the energy source can work for them.  Students will share their completed posters with the class on Wednesday.  Thursday we are having a reading benchmark exam then on Friday the students will be making Christmas cards and ornaments for our troops that are deployed.

During S. Studies we will continue with “Climate and Vegetation Regions” by completing an independent practice of reading a map and using a graphic organizer to describe the different kinds of seasonal weather in our area.  Tuesday will be an open book and open notes quiz over “Climate and Vegetation”.  Wednesday is Veteran’s Day and we will discuss the history of Veteran’s Day.  Toward the end of the week  we will be reading to learn how people use the land and its resources to meet their needs and why people change their environment.

Monday will begin with reading a Time for Kids book The Mighty Mississippi. Students will find out where the Mississippi River begins and ends. What kind of ship came to symbolize travel on the Mississippi River more than any other? What natural problems occur along the Mississippi? What human-made problems have developed along the Mississippi? These questions will be answered shortly. Wednesday will be an open book quiz over lesson 2 “Bodies of Water” (pg. 26-32). Next we will discover information about the climate and vegetation of the different regions in the United States. Learning about climate and natural vegetation will help you understand why people live differently in different parts of the country. The Vocabulary words are: climate natural vegetation, rain shadow, humidity, drought, arid, tundra, prairie, savanna.

Do YOU know why October 23-27th is special?

This week we celebrate one of the oldest and largest organized drug-free campaigns in the United States. Millions of young people will choose to wear red ribbons to symbolize their pledge to live drug-free lives, but do you know why or how the last week in October came to be Red Ribbon week?

Red Ribbon week first began to honor DEA Kiki Camarena who 25 years ago sacrificed his life fighting drugs. Shortly after his death, his long-time friend organized “Camarena Clubs” whose members pledged to live their lives drug-free. His friend was determined that Kiki’s life and ultimately his death would make a difference in the fight against drugs in America. Then in 1988, the National Family Partnership coordinated the very first National Red Ribbon Week with President and Mrs. Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons.

Today school’s promote Red Ribbon Week in various ways. We too will celebrate this event at White Oak Intermediate with special activities to remind our students the importance of living a drug-free life.

• MONDAY: WEAR CRAZY SOCKS AND/OR SUNGLASSES
• TUESDAY: WEAR RED
• WEDNESDAY: WEAR A CAP OR HAT
• THURSDAY: WEAR A WHITE OAK, COLLEGE, OR FAVORITE TEAM SHIRT
• FRIDAY: WEAR CAMOUFLAGE
• 
  

This week we will be reading (pgs. 26-32) to learn about the different kinds of bodies of water. The Vocabulary words are: Current, tide, inlet, sound, tributary, drainage basin, fall line. See if you can find the answers to the following questions. What lake is the largest freshwater lake in the world? What is the largest gulf bordering the United States? (This is an easy one-it’s close to where we live)

Since we have finished learning the 50 states and capitals we are ready to start with Land and Regions. The vocabulary words for this section are: landform, mountain range, piedmont, sea level, plateau, basin, volcano. Enjoy your learning!

Quiz, Thursday,Oct. 22nd. over Pgs 18-25 in Social Studies Text book.