6th Grade Teddy Roosevelt Questions

Directions:  Answer each question using complete sentences.  You must restate the question in your answer.  **If you completed this in class, then you do not have to do it for homework.

1. How did Roosevelt get the nickname of the “trustbuster”?
2. What was a muckracker?
3. According to Roosevelt, what was the obligation of civilized nations?  What does it mean?  What do you think of this idea?
4. What was the purpose of Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal?
5. Why is Roosevelt called the conservation president?
6. What do you think it means to speak softly and carry a big stick?

5th Grade Island of the Blue Dolphins Comprehension Questions

Chapter 19:

1.       Why does Karana want to spear the devilfish?  Why do you think she later decides never to hunt one again?

Chapter 20:

2.       As Karana explores Black Cave, what does she discover there?  How does it make her feel?  If you were Karana, would you ever return to Black Cave?  Why or why not?

3.       When the Aleuts come, what does Karana do to hide from them?

 

Chapter 21:

4.       Do you think Karana is more afraid of the Aleut girl or the hunters?  Why?

5.       Do you think that the Aleut girl is afraid of Karana?  Why or why not?

 

Chapter 22:

6.       How do we know that Karana has come to trust Tutok?

7.       Why do you think Karana cooks food for Tutok even though she knows Tutok is gone?

 

 

Between Shades of Gray Literary Information (Important for 6th grade parents)

Parents,

    A few of the children purchased a particular book, Between Shades of Gray, from the book fair.  It is a New York Time’s Best Seller and has received a great deal of literary praise.  The summary on the back cover of the book is interesting, but upon further inspection I have noted some mature themes within the story.  Due to the fact that this novel is based on true historical occurrences several parts of the story can be deemed as emotionally disturbing.  If your child purchased this book or is considering reading it, I urge you to carefully review it first.  I have included the synopsis from the back cover below, as well as the address of the author’s website.

 

Thank you,

Mrs. Hill

“In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost.

Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive.

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?

Between Shades of Gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath, captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit.”

 

http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com/index.php

 

 

5th Grade Reading Homework 12/11

Read chapters 15 and 16 of Island of the Blue Dolphins and answer the following questions in your reading journal.  You must use complete sentences and restate the question in your answer just like we do in class.  We will check this together first thing in the morning.

Chapter 15:
Why does Karana decide she must kill the leader of the dog pack?  What changes her mind?

Why do you think the leader of the dog pack begins to trust her, rather than want to harm her?

Chapter 16:
Karana’s life changes after she befriends Rontu.  Have you ever had a pet or human friend who has changed your life?  If so, can you describe how?

6th Grade Social Studies Week 11 Test

The next social studies test is scheduled for Friday, December 14th.  Study guides will be sent home on Wednesday. 

5th Grade Spelling Words 12/10-12/14

1. sandspit
2. utensils
3. forbade
4. stalking
5. ancestor
6. herbs
7. labored
8. devilfish
9. brackish
10. legend
11. rival
12. scatter
13. fetch
14. basin
15. gnawed
16. crevice
17. wary
18. favorable
19. numerous
20. abandoned

Assignments:  same as 6th grade, please see below

6th Grade Spelling Words 12/10-12/14

1. sheepishly
2. coincidences
3. sumptuous
4. sweeten
5. phase
6. mufflers
7. hobbled
8. prospered
9. numb
10. unfortunately
11. daughter
12. gentleman
13. lullaby
14. greedy
15. greedier
16. crocodile
17. carriage
18. goblet
19. hyperbole
20. disappeared

Assignments:  Definitions and part(s) of speech, synonyms/antonyms, syllables, sentences

Math and Science News

The fifth and sixth grade students have both a math test (ch. 4) and a science test (ch. 4) coming up later this week.  Their math tests will both be on Thursday.  We will complete a review of the chapter in class tomorrow, and the students will bring home this completed and corrected review.
Science tests will be on Friday.  Tomorrow they will be given a study guide for the entire chapter.  In addition, each student has a biome project to complete by Friday.  I have had one of the sixth grade projects turned in already.  Below are the guidelines for making either a tri-fold brochure or a power point presentation.  If you choose a power point, you may email it to me at stoned0603@gmail.com.
Guidelines for project:
Page 1:  Cover or eye-catching introduction
Page 2:  Where this particular biome is located in the world (Choose 1 location.)
Page 3:  Organisms to be seen or with which to interact.
Page 4:  What activities can you do there?

Thanks!
Debby Stone

Scholastic Book Clubs December Orders

Scholastic Book Clubs Ordering Information
www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: HXNDY

Dear Parents,

Sometimes the right book is all it takes to nurture a child's love of reading. That's why I'm pleased that our class will be participating in Scholastic Book Clubs this school year.

The Book Club flyers that I will make available on line each month are full of just-right, affordable books and Storia™ eBooks for every age and reading level.

All December orders must be entered on the Scholastic website and paid for there by December 11th.  Thank you for helping grow your child's love of reading and for supporting our class!

Mrs. Bethany Hill

P.S. When you place your order online, you'll help earn FREE Books for our class and you also get a $5 FREE Book Pick Coupon to use on your next online order!

P.S.S.  I will only be using online ordering via the Scholastic website this year.  I do not plan to send home flyers, and accept payments directly to Scholastic.  If you need any further assistance with navigating their website please contact me.

Ordering online is fast and easy:

• REGISTER at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
• ENTER the Class Activation Code at the top of this letter
• CHOOSE from thousands of print titles, value packs, and Storia eBooks
• SUBMIT the order to your child's teacher
• EARN FREE Books for you and the classroom too!

 

5th and 6th Grade ELA and Reading 12/3-12/7

5th Grade

• Grammar - Unit 3 Test (Verbs) is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4th.  We will review on Monday.  After the unit test we will begin the unit on adjectives.
• Reading - We will continue reading The Island of the Blue Dolphins.  The comprehension quiz for chapters 6-10 is scheduled for Thursday, December 6th.  The vocabulary quiz will be on Friday, December 7th.

6th Grade

• Grammar - Unit 3 Test (Verbs) is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4th.  We will review on Monday.  After the unit test we will begin the unit on modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, etc...).
• Reading - We will continue reading from the Treasures program next week.  The comprehension skill that we will be covering is making generalizations.

6th Grade Social Studies Week 11 Test

The next social studies test is scheduled for Wednesday, December 5th.  We will review in class on Monday, and a study will go home that day as well.

6th Grade Spelling List 11

1. calamities
2. mitigate
3. devastating
4. evacuate
5. administer
6. frantically
7. debris
8. appeal
9. hurricane
10. wreckage
11. generalization
12. Miami
13. koala
14. demolished
15. enclosures
16. dubbed
17. refrigeration
18. midst
19. uninjured
20. missiles

Assignments:  definitions and part(s) of speech, sentences, syllables, 3 times each

5th Grade Spelling List 11

1. scan
2. spring
3. flee
4. fiber
5. stern
6. pitched
7. snarl
8. thrust
9. uneasy
10. current
11. shrouded
12. ponder
13. stout
14. dune
15. vain
16. scurrying
17. lair
18. mussel
19. headland
20. stunted

Assignments: definitions and part(s) of speech, synonyms/antonyms, sentences, word search

5th and 6th Grade Friday Tests

• Grammar - Both grades will have grammar quizzes on Friday.  We will review in class tomorrow.  They will be allowed to bring home their grammar notebooks tonight to begin studying. 
• 6th grade - The 6th graders will have a Treasures reading test on Friday.  Our comprehension skill this week is making inferences.  The children will bring home their textbooks tomorrow.
• 5th grade - The 5th graders will have a quiz covering Chapters 1-5 of The Island of the Blue Dolphins on Friday.  They have their vocabulary cards, reading journals, trade books, and study guides with them today.

6th Grade "Farmers Get Organized" Questions

1. What were the reasons the farmers organized together?
2. How did the Grange help farmers?
3. How was the Alliance different from the Grange?
4. How was the Alliance more political than the Grange?
5. What was the other name for the Populist Party?
6. Which party did the Populist Party join?

**These questions are not necessarily homework.  I have posted them for the children who did not complete the in-class assignment.  This is due tomorrow.

11/26 - 11/30 Reminders

• Class Spelling Bees are tomorrow.
• The School Spelling Bee will be Thursday morning.
• 5th and 6th grade grammar quizzes are scheduled for Friday.  (This information is posted in our classroom, the children have been instructed to record it in their planners, and we have discussed it thoroughly.)
• The 5th graders will have a "pop" quiz covering metaphors, similies, and foreshadowing tomorrow.  They will need to be able to match the literary element/device to the definition.

6th Grade Social Studies Questions

Directions:  Please answer each question with a complete sentence.  Restate the question in your answer.

1. List three facts you learned about Brigham Young.
2. What's a glazier?
3. How were early Mormons treated by their neighbors in Illinois?
4. Why did Young suggest moving to Utah?

**These questions are only posted for the children who did not complete the in-class assignment.  This is not a separate homework assignment.

5th Grade Spelling List 10

1. gulls
2. otter
3. ravine
4. Russian
5. leagues
6. dolphin
7. skimming
8. pelts
9. bale
10. retreat
11. cormorants
12. kelp
13. intruder
14. mesa
15. glistening
16. carcasses
17. dusk
18. surged
19. abalones
20. satire

Assignments - Please refer to 6th grade list because the assignments are the same for both grades.

6th Grade Spelling List 10

1. unsatisfactory
2. ravaged
3. broadcast
4. calculations
5. vigil
6. marveled
7. attendance
8. quirky
9. horizon
10. captivated
11. isolation
12. prosperous
13. intelligence
14. complexity
15. corridor
16. particular
17. satire
18. disposition
19. proposition
20. entitle

Assignments - definitions and part(s) of speech, write a synonym or antonym for each word, sentences, write each word 3 times each

6th Grade Tuck Everlasting Projects

We finished reading Tuck Everlasting last week!  Today the children chose their cumulative project from the items listed below.  I am posting the directions for all three options, so the children can refer back to them at any time.  The projects are due Tuesday, November 27th.  If there are any questions (even during the Thanksgiving Break) please do not hesitate to e-mail me.

1. Paper Bag Book Talk – Take a plain brown paper shopping bag and fill it with 5-7 items that represent important parts of the story: characters, setting, and conflict. You will use these props as you present your book report, explaining the significance of each item. The outside of the paper bag should be decorated to fit the theme of the story and should include the book’s title and author.

2. Board Game – Design a board game with Tuck Everlasting as the theme. The game must include a game board, pieces to move around the board, written directions for how to play the game, and all other materials needed to play it. The game must be neatly and colorfully done, fun to play, and relate strongly to the book. If there are obstacles in the story, they should be the obstacles in the game. You will present your project by sharing the game with us, explaining how to play and how it relates to your book.

3. Character Monologue – Pretend to be one of the characters in the book, and tell us the story as that character in first person (using pronouns like I and we). You must submit a written script of your monologue.