Read the June 4 story from the Indiana State Teachers' Association blog:
New Test Required to Avoid Losing Waiver
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
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
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
Sunday, May 18, 2014
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 |
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.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
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
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
Sunday, May 4, 2014
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)
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)
Saturday, April 26, 2014
April 28-May 2
ISTEP
Students will be in the computer lab this week completing the multiple choice section of this year's ISTEP test.
> Tuesday, April 29 (Math 8:10-9:20)
> Wednesday, April 30 (English/Language Arts 11:40-1:10)
> Thursday, May 1 (Social Studies 8:00-9:10)
Weekly Fun Day Ticket
Please sign the weekly Fun Day Ticket on Tuesday evening. The tickets will be collected Wednesday morning.
Variety Show
Friday, May 2 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm in the MIS Gym. Parents are invited to drop in to this performance of our talented students.
Activities and Assignments
Monday, April 28 (Blue)
1. Review constellations and seasons
2. Westward Expansion project is due May 20
Tuesday, April 29 (Gold)
1. "All About the Stars" worksheet
2. Add vocabulary on stars/constellations to Science Journal
3. Westward Expansion project is due May 20
Wednesday, April 30 (Blue)
1. USA Weekly #26 - The Civil War begins
2. Westward Expansion project is due May 20
Thursday, May 1 (Gold)
1. Chemistry: Using the periodic table to create words
2. Chemical reactions - Mentos and Diet Coke
3. Westward Expansion project is due May 20
Friday, May 2 (Blue)
1. FOSS Reader - "Looking Through the Telescope" pp. 40-43
2. Civil War in-class projects
3. Westward Expansion project is due May 20
Students will be in the computer lab this week completing the multiple choice section of this year's ISTEP test.
> Tuesday, April 29 (Math 8:10-9:20)
> Wednesday, April 30 (English/Language Arts 11:40-1:10)
> Thursday, May 1 (Social Studies 8:00-9:10)
Weekly Fun Day Ticket
Please sign the weekly Fun Day Ticket on Tuesday evening. The tickets will be collected Wednesday morning.
Variety Show
Friday, May 2 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm in the MIS Gym. Parents are invited to drop in to this performance of our talented students.
Activities and Assignments
Monday, April 28 (Blue)
1. Review constellations and seasons
2. Westward Expansion project is due May 20
Tuesday, April 29 (Gold)
1. "All About the Stars" worksheet
2. Add vocabulary on stars/constellations to Science Journal
3. Westward Expansion project is due May 20
Wednesday, April 30 (Blue)
1. USA Weekly #26 - The Civil War begins
2. Westward Expansion project is due May 20
Thursday, May 1 (Gold)
1. Chemistry: Using the periodic table to create words
2. Chemical reactions - Mentos and Diet Coke
3. Westward Expansion project is due May 20
Friday, May 2 (Blue)
1. FOSS Reader - "Looking Through the Telescope" pp. 40-43
2. Civil War in-class projects
3. Westward Expansion project is due May 20
Sunday, April 20, 2014
April 21-25
ISTEP Practice
Monday morning the fifth grade will be moving to the computer lab for a chance to practice the online ISTEP test. The actual test is set for the following week. The students are well prepared and we all have our fingers crossed that the statewide servers function better than last year.
Night Sky Log
The Night Sky Log is finally being worked on this week! It's been on the schedule for the past two weeks but was put on hold due to horrible weather conditions the first week and teacher absence (that's me!) the second week. Students simply need to check the moon Monday through Thursday evenings, record the date and time, make a sketch of the moon's appearance, and a short observation on any observed changes from the night before along with any atmospheric conditions that might have affected the observation.
Activities and Assignments April 21-25
Monday, April 21 (Gold Day)
1. Wagon Train Diary Entry #2 (Which trail would be best?)
2. Night Sky Log - Due Friday, April 25
3. Homework: Night Sky Log
Tuesday, April 22 (Blue Day)
1. Bell Work
2. Phases of the moon activity
3. Homework: Night Sky Log
Wednesday, April 23 (Gold Day)
1. Social Health Presentation from Social Health Association
Visit the Social Health Association's website
2. Homework: Night Sky Log
Thursday, April 24 (Blue Day)
1. Bell Work
2. Solar System (FOSS reader activity with worksheet)
3. Homework: Night Sky Log
Friday, April 25 (Gold Day)
1. Night Sky Logs are due / Bell Work
2. Lab activity using Oreo cookies to create a model of moon phases.
3. No weekend homework
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