Vascular Plants and Other Goings On...

If you're asking your children the question, "What happened at school today?" they SHOULD be answering, "PLENTY!" But in case they're playing mum's the word, here's a synopsis of the week:

• We learned about vascular plants in Science!
• We learned about multiplying and dividing fractions in Math!
• We danced with Mr. Michael!
• We had our P.E. testing!
• We learned about the Arctic Tundra in Geography!
• We ate home-made apple cake, hot out of Hanna's mother's oven! (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANNA!)
• And we compared middle school placements!

All in all, a pretty average week chock full o' learning. Kids do a lot that they never quite manage to mention when we get home. So parents, don't forget to ask and be inquisitive! You may be pleasantly surprised!

The Phantom Tollbooth

If you parents haven't heard about this incredibly entertaining book we've been reading, you must pull your kid aside and ask him/her to explain everything about it to you. You will want to read it yourself!

It was my favorite book when I was ten, and I have been re-reading it with the same relish I had in 5th grade. It integrates everything a book should be into its' pages, including math, science, wonder, imagination, and creativity...the author, Norton Juster, manages to sneak a little education into his passages every chapter.

It's been a pleasure reading the kids' written response pages to the chapters. They seem to love the imagery and really appreciate the humor, which translates well from adult to child. Pick up a copy for home, if you don't already have one. It's well worth the $7.00!

And remember...Green Apple on Clement Street has used copies!

HOMEWORK for March 10

Homework for March 10 – March 17

1) Spelling List
a. Do NOT do spelling dictation

2) Daily Language Review

3) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a. address, focus, topic

4) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. The Science Project

5) Handwriting Practice

6) Daily Word Problems

7) Daily Math Practice
a) Do not do Monday, #3
b) Do not do Tuesday, #2
c) Do not do Wednesday, #4
d) Do not do Thursday, #2

8) Daily Geography
a. The Arctic Tundra

9) Add “Sum” Fractions

10) Reading Log
a. Choose a book and read every day. Log your ideas.

INTERNET HUNT: Research your state.

Draw a map of your state. Use the whole page, and use colors. Include the physical details of the land, including mountains (if you have them) and landmarks. Mark the capital clearly. Make sure you do a good job on this assignment, because it will be included in your final report of your state.

A New Opportunity to SHINE!

Wish us luck on the new DeYoung contest, for all genres of art! We are so excited to have an opportunity to turn in some of our work from Room 11. Our photographs from the Monterey Bay Aquarium field trip are especially striking, don't you think?

Cross your fingers and send us good thoughts, please!

American Dental Association Poster Contest!

The students have entered the American Dental Association poster contest! Wish us luck! 1st prize is a trip for two to GREAT AMERICA, complete with $50 spending money and a hotel stay overnight in Santa Clara. I think we have some winners in the classroom!

We Touched a Human Heart Today!

The students were lucky to get an opportunity to touch five hearts today...a human, cow, sheep, pig, and reptile heart were on loan to us from the UCSF Medical center, along with twenty stethescopes and some interesting stories about the two donors.

Many of the kids were fascinated by the beating of their own hearts and the beating of their peers' hearts. But it was when Ms. Molly, our fabulous part-time librarian, asked for volunteers to touch the heart that everyone sat up and took notice! Nearly everyone in class wanted a chance to feel what a real heart was like. And everyone did a great job at being very respectful of our donors, who gave their bodies to science so students and kids could learn more about what makes us tick.

Thank to Ms. Molly who arranged this opportunity, and taught a great lesson on the circulatory system and respiratory system to boot!

ZEUM FIELD TRIP IS CANCELLED

Sorry to have to break this news, but the Zeum field trip tomorrow is officially CANCELLED. We will be in school. Thank you!

HOMEWORK for March 3

Homework for March 3 – March 10

1) Spelling List
a. Do NOT do spelling dictation

2) Handwriting Practice

3) Daily Language Review

4) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a. criticism, critique, critical

5) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. Letters: Vacation Letters

6) Daily Word Problems

7) Daily Math Practice
a) Do not do Wednesday #1
b) Do not do Thursday #1, #2

8) Daily Geography
a. Climate Zones of the United States

9) Reading Log
a. Choose a book and read every day. Log your ideas.

INTERNET HUNT: Research your state. Find these things and take notes:

1) The state flag
2) The state flower
3) The state bird
4) The state tree
5) The state song
6) The year it became a state
7) The climate
8) Natural resources
9) The three largest cities

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger...

Dear Arnold Schwarzenegger,

I am Darren, a fifth grader from Sutro Elementary School. I heard you're cutting budget funds from our education. I think it's horrible that you're doing that.

If you keep on cutting budget funds from our education, our future won't look so good. Thanks to you, our future won't be as successful than we thought. Rooms will have to hold even more children. We don't need that.

Teachers will start losing their jobs and the children, like me, will lose our education. Education is where we start. Without education, you would have never been a governor. You're probably setting a bad example for future governors.

Sooner or later, teachers will lose their jobs and kids, like me, will be lose their education. Education is everything to us because education gives us a good future. But that won't happen, because of you.

Sincerely,

Darren
5th Grade
Sutro Elementary School

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger...

Dear Arnold Schwarzenegger,

I am a fifth grade student that is concerned with our state funds. It has been predicted that my education funds will be cut. I am very concerned about that cut. They will triple the amount of students. Jobs will be cut.

My education is important to me because I need to have a good profession. A good education will help me get a great scholarship. Also, I will be able to go to college. That college will help me get an excellent job. If I wanted to, I could run for President.

If there is an increased amount of students, some of us will have a hard time passing tests. All of the teachers will lose their jobs and we will not get an excellent education. That education is going to be needed in the future. The future will have things that need higher education skills.

So this cut isn't really going to help us. We are the key to the future. So please stop the budget cuts.

Signed, a concerned student,

Robert
5th Grade
Sutro Elementary School

HOMEWORK for February 25

Homework for February 25 – March 3

1) Spelling List
a. Do NOT do spelling dictation

2) Daily Language Review

3) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a. primary, dominant, prevalent

4) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. Social Studies Article ”An Extreme Continent”

5) Handwriting Practice

6) Daily Word Problems

7) Daily Math Practice
a. Do NOT do Monday #2
b. Do NOT do Tuesday #1, #2
c. Do NOT do Wednesday #1
d. Do NOT do Thursday #1, #2

8) Daily Geography
a. A Cultural Landmark

9) Reading Log
a. Choose a book and read every day. Log your ideas.

INTERNET HUNT: Research your state. Look up the address of the Chamber of Commerce and write a letter asking for information that pertains to your report. Be specific. Ask for things that you are going to use for your state report.

Be sure to put a return address for the mail to come back to you, and don’t forget a stamp on your envelope!

Monterey Bay Aquarium Photos

Check out our student-taken photos of the Monterey Bay Aquarium field trip!

HOMEWORK for February 18

Homework for February 18 - 25

1) Spelling List
a. Do NOT do spelling dictation

2) Daily Math Practice
b. Do NOT do Monday #2
b. Do NOT do Tuesday #2 and #3

3) Daily Language Review

4) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a. accurate, accuracy, precise, precision

5) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. Physical Science: “The Power of Magnets”

6) Daily Word Problems

7) Daily Geography
a. A National Symbol: Washington D.C.

8) Handwriting Practice

9) Reading Log
a. Choose a book and read every day. Log your ideas.

INTERNET HUNT: Read the poem “The Little Boy and the Old Man” by Shel Silverstein. What do you think the poem is about? Does the poem make sense to you? Why does the old man cry sometimes? Why do you think the two people in the poem have so much in common? How are they different?

Look up the poet Shel Silverstein. Write a two paragraph essay on him.

The Most Amazing Field Trip!

The kids had a long day yesterday, but it was worth it!  We boarded the bus with our terrific driver and set out for the Monterey Bay early at 9:00 a.m.  We made great time and arrived at noon, with just enough time to have a leisurely lunch in a picturesque area overlooking the ocean and the playful sea otters, who were also having their lunch!

The 31 kids that came on the trip were split into small groups of four and five.  We were fortunate enough to have seven chaperones on the trip, including Mr. Wong, Mr. Reed, Ms. Liz, Ms. Connie, Ms. Jay, and Ms. Suzanne.  All of our adults were very excited to show the kids around this amazing, world-famous aquarium.  

The groups didn't just tour the aquarium, however.  They were each given a packet of questions and partook in a scavenger hunt.  Most of the questions were easily found, but some of them were tricky.  But the kids were enthusiastic and really into winning for their group!  A part of the packet called "backatcha"  also included the kids creating their own questions to stump other group members.  At the end of the day, Mr. Reed quizzed kids with various questions.  Karen did amazingly well with several of them, showing that she was truly paying attention!

The sea otter feeding was extremely crowded, but most of the kids got a glimpse of our furry friends while they played and ate.  The jelly fish exhibit was a huge hit.  The kids had never seen some of the amazing jellies on display, and were mesmerized by the way they undulated and moved and glowed!

The giant octopus was hiding up at the top of the tank, unwilling to come out and show himself to the crowds of kids waiting to see his long tentacles reach out.  However, they were more than happy to touch the soft and slippery manta rays in their swim tanks instead.  The touch tank was, of course, a hugely popular stop.  Everyone loved touching the starfish and sea cucumber...although they may never eat another sea cucumber again, after hearing all about how they live!

The kids did an incredible job on this trip, and I couldn't be more proud or pleased with the class as a whole.  I was so happy to have this opportunity to take them on this journey!  Kudos to you, Room 11!  YOU ROCK!

Adventures in Music

In case you were wondering what your kids were doing in school, here's a little tidbit you may or may not know about.  AIMS concerts!  

They're just about the coolest free musical event planned by San Francisco's own fabulous Symphony, and they happen once every couple of weeks at various schools in the city.  

Room 11 has been to a few already, mostly classical.  However, today's was JAZZ, which is quite a departure from what we are used to hearing!  

The kids learned about all of the elements and instruments that make up a Jazz ensemble, including the alto sax, soprano sax, flute, snare drums, and the impressively large double bass.  

One of the questions asked: "How old are you?"  The answer:  "Older than we can count on all of our digits!"  Although the answer did not satisfy the question asker, the adults in the room knew very well what that meant!

Please be sure to ask your child questions about his/her day in detail...you may be surprised to find they've been on some adventures in music!