I'm taking a few moments to think about the big initiatives ahead in the next couple of months:
Climate Change Projects
This week we'll spend dedicated time on students' climate change projects. We've done a lot of standards-based environmental study this year thanks, in part, to a SUASCO grant led by Audubon's Drumlin Farm naturalists.
Math Test Prep
We'll continue our test prep by completing MCAS practice online/paper tests and system-wide cumulative review practice tests.
Computational Thinking: Fractions
We'll engage in the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's computational thinking unit on fractions. A lot of good time and research has been dedicated to this unit of study so I'm excited to teach it after vacation.
Science Test Prep
Students will review all the science they've learned this year and throughout elementary school via a series of practice tests, slideshow creation, videos, and stories.
MCAS Tests
Fifth graders take six MCAS tests--that's a lot, but we prepare them well and encourage them to do their best. The upside of these tests is that they build stamina and give students a chance to do what they know. When the results are used well, they are helpful, however if the results are misused or represented, the tests can be problematic.
STEAM Survival Series
We'll combine our STEAM projects into a survival series and have lots of fun as students use design and engineering practices to create, test, and improve plant packets, water filters, and solar ovens. Students will study the science related to these projects via reading, video, the hands-on project work, and model making.
Fifth Grade Play
Students will be practicing songs, lines, and actions as they prepare for the annual fifth grade play led by our amazing music teacher, Ms. Pohl.
Biography Global Changemakers Projects
Students will each engage in an in-depth study of one famous global change maker over time. The study involves deep reading and research, taking notes, writing a fictional interview, dressing up as the person, creating a portrait of the person, dressing in character, and acting in character during our June morning presentation when all children make a human timeline and families, friends, teachers, and students in the school "walk through time" and meet so may people who made a significant difference in our world.
Field Studies
A celebratory trip to Great Meadows and an educational tour of Boston's history are our final two field studies of the year.
Field Day
Of course, as typical of most elementary schools, students will engage in countless sports and athletic activities during Field Day, a favorite day for so many children.
Global Cardboard Challenge
We'll recycle lots of outdated and no longer useful classroom materials and boxes into a playground cardboard arcade. Students will embed all the science, math, engineering, art, and tech they've learned as they make wonderful playground arcade games, and then during lunchtime the whole school will be able to enjoy these games.
Stewardship Hike
If we can fit it in, we'll accept the offer of a former teacher and current environmentalist to lead the fifth graders on a hike to clean up a local natural area.
Fifth Grade Fun Day
Students will enjoy the last day of school as a day to play in a special location.
Celebratory PTO Events
Parents will celebrate the fifth graders' final year of elementary school with a pool party, beach party, BASH, memory books, and a class photo. All these events help to bring fifth graders together as a community and also offers the fifth graders a chance to meet children from the other schools too.
Clap-Out
On the last day of school families, friends, educators, and students in the school will clap out the fifth graders who will attend the Middle School next year.
As you can see, we hardly skip a beat during the final months of the school year. The key is to stay positive, energized, and student-directed. Onward.
