Free Will or Destiny in Chumash

We FINALLY began learning Chumash today and started thinking about why the Jews ended up in Egypt. Was it free will that brought them there (Yosef's brothers needed food) or destiny (a decree from God to Abram that we would be enslaved for 400 years)? Are we in charge of our lives, or is it all predetermined?
Josh Bermel followed this up by asking, "Why do bad things have to happen to people?"
Alec said, "Because it makes life more interesting."
Emma said, "Sometimes you need to do bad to get something good."

Lashon Update

From Naomi-
What a great first week we had! We learned about Gilad Shalit. Most of your children were familiar with the story about Gilad's return to Israel and Israel's prisoner exchange. We had a few lively discussions and there were some strong opinions about Israel's negotiation for his return. We read a story that Gilad had written when he was eleven years old and had been published in a book, illustrated by Israeli artists. We learned relevant vocabulary, including vocabulary relating to Israel, the army and the mitzvah to redeem prisoners. We also wrote sentences using the Hebrew phrasing for "Five years ago, four years ago, etc....." comparing what we were doing while Gilad sat in captivity. Your children's Hebrew writing will be displayed in our classroom. We made flashcards using our new vocabulary and spent time studying together for a quiz this Friday.

Math: Tests and Multiplication Facts

Everyone did really well on the math test!  Kol Hakavod to the fifth graders!  Graded math tests will go home Friday.  Students should get their tests signed by a parent and make corrections, if applicable.
Our next math unit will be on multiplication and division using two-digit divisors.  If your child does not know his/her multiplication facts (and I mean as quickly as he/she could compute 2+2), this must be daily homework.

Thesis Statements

In Writing this week students worked on editing their Torah Project work for spelling and grammar.  Writers also began crafting thesis statements for their essays.  This is hard work!  By the end of the class everyone had made noticeable progress.  Fifth graders need to email me their thesis statements by Monday.  Next week they'll work on outlining their essays and doing any necessary research.

Terrariums

Today was our third hour-plus science block this week.  We have begun our Ecosystems science kit.  Students assembled their "eco-columns" on Tuesday.  On Wednesday they collected some materials (dead plant materials, rocks, and dirt) from the school yard.  Students will work with one or two partners for this unit.  Each group talked about what they want to learn and what they already know about the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem.  Together we studied a picture of an ecosystem and tried to identify all the living things in it.  Today, Thursday, students created their terrariums.  Working together they went through many detailed steps.  By the end of the class everyone had sowed mustard seeds, alfalfa, and grass.  There was a lot of counting and observing.  They will keep detailed observation notes in their science journals.  Everyone is looking forward to seeing what will grow.

Learning Contracts

Today fifth graders began creating weekly learning contracts.  Each student will choose a goal or focus area for their learning.  We'll check in after a week to see how individuals have progressed.

Reader's Letters

Students are drafting their first reader's letters on their independent reading.  The letter is due Friday.  First paragraphs are due tomorrow.

Mr. Lobovits's Social Studies Lesson

Today the fifth graders explored the notion of freedom of religion by learning about Roger Williams and his ideas.  They practiced reading for information by creating an outline, and they brushed up on their ability to use textual support to provide evidence for their thoughts.  They even got to see a live demonstration (acted out by the students) of how some people use a loud voice and physical force to intimidate those with different views.

Upcoming Due Date

There will be a math test on Thursday, October 27th.

Returned Assignments

This week students brought home their graded DOL quizzes and their graded personal narratives.  Students were asked to get their quizzes and narratives signed.
Kol Hakavod to fifth graders for completing their first polished pieces of writing!

Building Sukkot

In Lashon, we learned the Mishnah that states the requirements for a kosher sukkah: 1. taller than 30 inches and shorter than 30 feet; 2. at least 3 walls; 3. more sun than shade from the s'khakh. We have been building models of these sukkot in class- stayed tuned for pictures of the final products!

New Writing Assignment

Our current writing focus is on the traditional 5-paragraph essay.  Today students began learning the format and function of this essay.  They learned a new word: expository.  The topic of their essays will be: composting.  We came up with thesis statements that would be "to big" for an essay and ones that we thought would be "just right."  Next time students will work on crafting their own thesis statements.

Mr. Lobovits's Lesson on Colonial Trades

Mr. Lobovits taught his first full lesson today.  Fifth graders had to think about what occupations they thought existed in Colonial America.  What jobs does a community need?  Each student chose their top two trades and explained to the class why they would want to do this.  Students took notes on what each other said.  They each wrote about how their trade fit in with their community and in which region this trade was likely to have existed.  Then each student created a storefront signboard for his/her trade.  The students were engaged and learning about Colonial America!  Mr. Lobovits's first lesson was impressive!

This Week's Parshah

This week, we learned about the last parashah in the Torah: Vezot Habracha. In the Torah, it teaches: "there never was a prophet like Moshe." We talked about why Moshe was so important to Bnei Yisrael, and then we made a personal connection to this idea, and wrote about who was a unique person in our lives.

Alec said: "Someone in my life who is unique and important to me is my Mom and Dad, because they are the ones who raised me, and if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be walking or doing anything. They are what lead my life."

Kol Hakavod!

Original 13 Colonies

Fifth graders researched the original 13 colonies and gave mini-reports on their findings to the class.  They were impressed to learn that so many colonies were founded because the colonists wanted religious freedom.

Due Dates and HW Planner

There will be a DOL Quiz on Wednesday, October 11th.  Students should review their DOL weeks 1-4 to study.

Also, let's reactivate the routine ofhaving parents sign homework planners daily.

Thank you!

Josh Bermel's Awesome Spelling Homework

Joshua Bermel

Mrs. Woods

October 5, 2011

Once upon a time there were two foods who hated each other. Their names were Apple and Honey. They did not believe each other was awesome. Neither food was awesome by himself. One day they got into an argument, so brutal it looked like there was going to be a massacre. Then a rabbi walked in, he told them that they were great for a Rosh Hashanah treat. They could sense it. Then they both engraved their names on a plaque and were eaten for a Rosh Hashanah meal.

Aleph, Bet Vidui

In Lashon this week,we are practicing how to read the Vudui (the short one)- the list of wrong things that we did that we say on Yom Kippur (Ashamnu, Bagadnu...)
We noticed that each word ends with "nu"- which is the plural ending, and means "WE have sinned". Why do you think that every one of these admissions of guilt ends in the plural?
Let's start an online conversation about this!

Torah Project News

Yesterday, we were catching up on last's week's Torah Project, and I asked the students why they thought that Moshe gave a farewell address in the form of a poem.
Yoni said:"It's like a song- if you say something in a poem, it becomes more memorable. Like in the days of Shakespeare, I am sure that people went around quoting him all the time."
Leah said: "In a poem, you can really express your emotions- you can be really sad or really happy- in a way that is different from a speech."
Kol Hakavod!