May 27-29

This is the last posting of activities and assignments for the 2013-2014 school year at Maxwell. But not the end of the blog. Look back often throughout the summer for continuing information about the upcoming school year beginning on July 31, 2014.

Activities and Assignments for May 27-29 

Tuesday, May 27  (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. Science Review and Check Science Journals
3. Bill Nye on Earth Science
4. Homework?  Not this week!!

Wednesday, May 28  (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Social Studies Review
3. Outdoor Solar System Model
4. Homework?  Not this week!!

Thursday, May 29  (Blue)
1. Book turn in / Wrap up any loose ends
2. Jump room reward for good citizenship
3. Year-End Awards (Parents invited to attend in the
     Gym at 9:10)
4. Yearbook distribution and signing
5. Final farewells

Summer Homework
1. Read!
2. Practice basic math facts.
3. Sharpen up your division and multiplication.
4. Read!
5. Check out National Geographic
6. Play some math games
7. Read some more!
8. Going on a trip? - Keep a journal.
 ____________________________________________________

Thanks for a great year...I'll miss every one of you!
       -Mr. Ellars

May 19-23

D.A.R.E. Graduates at the May 16 D.A.R.E. Picnic with High School role models and Retro Bill

D.A.R.E. Picnic
Our MIS fifth graders joined D.A.R.E. graduates from all Hancock County schools at Greenfield-Central High School for the annual D.A.R.E. picnic on Friday, May 16. Students saw demonstrations from local fire and police representatives, listened to motivational speaker Retro Bill, and participated in the annual D.A.R.E. tug-of-war tournament.     (Clips from Retro Bill's Safety Tips)

This Week's Science
This week in science will feature a review over important learning from this year. Well review our work on variables, life cycles and food webs, skeletal and digestive systems, reading nutrition labels, and mixtures/solutions. On Tuesday, May 27 students will have a test over this week's science review lessons. Listening to and participating actively in the review lessons this week will make the test simple. Since we just completed a test on astronomy, that area won't be covered on the review test.

Activities and Assignments for May 19-23
Monday, May 19   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Project presentations if ready
3. USA Weekly History Magazine #28  (The last one for this year)
4. Homework: Finish up project if necessary

Tuesday, May 20   (Blue)  Projects are due!
1. Bell Work
2. Review Variables
3. Project presentations
4. No homework

Wednesday, May 21   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Review Life Cycles 
3. Project presentations
4. No homework

Thursday, May 22   (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. Review Body Systems
3. Project presentations
4. No homework

Friday, May 23   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Review Mixtures and Solutions
3. Finish up any unpresented projects
4. No homework - But there will be a test Tuesday over
    the science reviews from this week.

May 12-16

DARE Picnic
The annual D.A.R.E. picnic will be this Friday at Greenfield-Central High School. Students will have their related arts classes first thing Friday morning and will board buses for the high school immediately after. Students should bring their own lunch or may purchase one from their lunch account from the cafeteria. We'll return to MIS in time for normal dismissal.

This Week's Activities and Assignments

• Monday, May 12  (Blue)
  1. USA Weekly #27
  2. Homework USA Weekly Worksheet
• Tuesday, May 13  (Gold)
  1. Review Sun, Moon, Stars test / Correct as needed
  2. Western Project is due May 20
• Wednesday, May 14  (Blue)
  1. Energy / Take home energy packets
  2. Western Project is due May 20
• Thursday, May 16  (Gold)
  1. Skeletal and Digestive system review
  2. Western Project is due May 20
• Friday, May 17  (Blue)
  1. DARE picnic @ GCHS
  2. Western Project is due May 20

May 5-9

ISTEP
All of our ISTEP testing for this school year was finished this past week. Tests were finished up on Tuesday (Math), Wednesday (Language), and Thursday (Social Studies). Mr. Whitaker has only a few make up tests that will be finished early this week. Mrs. Knecht-Strong administered the tests to a mix of our two classes in the fifth grade lab. We're very pleased to report that the effort put forward by all students was excellent and that, unlike last year, the testing was completed with absolutely no computer issues. Look forward to results coming your way much sooner than the fourth grade tests that were held up with technical issues that just didn't occur this time.

This Week's Activities and Assignments
Monday, May 5  (Gold)
1. Bell Work - States and capitals review
2. Science - Periodic table game (Make as many words as possible from symbols on
     the periodic table.)
3. Review moon activities
4. Western Project due on May 20. (Students have assignment sheet)

Tuesday, May 6   (Blue)
1. Bell Work - Moon review sheet
2. FOSS reader - Stars with worksheet
3. Western Project due on May 20. (Students have assignment sheet)

Wednesday, May 7   (Gold)
1. Bell Work - Civil War map activity
2. Science - Chemical reactions
3. Science - Outdoor chemical reaction activity (weather permitting)
4. Western Project due on May 20. (Students have assignment sheet)

Thursday, May 8   (Blue)
1. Bell Work - Science definitions
2. Social Studies - Civil War  activities and USA #27
3. Western Project due on May 20. (Students have assignment sheet)

Friday, May 9   (Gold)
1. Bell Work - Science review sheet
2. Science - Checkup Test on sun, moon, and stars learning standards.
3 Western Project due on May 20. (Students have assignment sheet)

Video Clips - Civil War
1.  The Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863 was the pivotal battle of the Civil War. One of the most important events during the battle was the heroic defense of Little Round Top by the 20th Maine Volunteer Regiment under the command of Colonel Joshua Lawrence. Little Round Top was at the very end of the Union line. Failure to hold the hill would have resulted in the entire Union army being flanked. Part of the G-C Junior High 8th Grade trip to Washington, D.C. is a tour of Gettysburg. During the tour, we stood at the very location of the battle depicted in this clip from the historically accurate 1993 film Gettysburg that was filmed on location at Gettysburg.
      Watch video (14:51)

2.   The Gettysburg address from the Ken Burns television documentary The Civil War.
      Watch video (5:53)