BLOG KEY
General:
Act – Activity
Ch – Chapter
Ex – Exercise
L – Lesson
p – Page(s)
Math:
HIG – Home Instructor’s Guide
TB – Textbook
WB – Workbook
FP – Facts Practice (A, B, C, or D denotes which sheet to use)
Science:
SG – Student Guide
USE – Usborne Encyclopedia of Science
KSE – Kingfisher Encyclopedia of Science
COMING SOON...
Monday, August 27 – Open House
Wednesday, August 29 – Pizza Day! Students may wear Fortis spirit shirts with jeans. I will be out on this day celebrating my 50th birthday in New York! We will have a substitute.
MATH:
- Solve multi-step word problems.
- Review for next week's test
Please make copies of the four math facts pages (A-D) that were sent home in binders (inside front pocket). These are master copies. You will use these all year. We'll be using sheet A (addition) for the first few weeks. Here are the instructions for administering facts practice sheets:
1. Set a timer for five minutes.
2. When the five minutes is up, if your child has not finished, please mark the place where he/she left off, and then have the student finish the sheet.
3. Parents, please use the key sent home to check your child's work. Have him/her make any corrections.
3. Turn the sheet in as homework on the next school day. I will take it as a homework completion grade.
READING:
- Know when and why Columbus discovered the Americas.
- Increase vocabulary.
WRITING/VOCABULARY:
- Learn the definitions of the vocabulary words and be able to correctly use each word in a sentence.
- Incorporate who/which clauses and five-senses descriptions into writing.
COMPOSITION:
This week, we’ll begin writing a composition about the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Rough draft checklists (on mint green paper) will go home in binders on Wednesday.
VOCABULARY ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Cut out the SHEET of vocab cards for this week's lesson. Do not cut out the individual cards. Hole punch it, and place it behind the "Writing & Grammar" tab.
2. Study the definitions and the parts of speech for each word. Color the picture on the front of the card. (This is an especially helpful step for kids who are visual and/or kinesthetic learners.)
3. Use a dictionary to look up the word.
2. Study the definitions and the parts of speech for each word. Color the picture on the front of the card. (This is an especially helpful step for kids who are visual and/or kinesthetic learners.)
3. Use a dictionary to look up the word.
4. On the reverse side of the card, students should fill in the blank with the word and read the sentence. Then, they should write an original sentence with the word that is significantly different from the sentence given. You might have to help your child with this part. Students may use the dictionary to find a sample sentence.
5. If possible, students should write at least one synonym and one antonym for each word, using a dictionary or a thesaurus if necessary.
6. Look up the etymology of the word in the dictionary. Discuss the meaning. See if you can brainstorm some other words that come from the same root or roots.
6. Look up the etymology of the word in the dictionary. Discuss the meaning. See if you can brainstorm some other words that come from the same root or roots.
SPELLING:
- Review spelling and syllable division rules.
- Learn to spell the short "u" sound spelled A.
This week, we'll transition into our regular spelling rhythm.
GRAMMAR:
- Know what adjectives and adverbs are, be able to identify them in a sentence, and include them in a sentence diagram.
- Be able to name an adjective or adverb if asked.
- Know what an adverb exception is.
- Review the concepts of common and proper nouns, singular and plural nouns, and simple subjects and predicates.
- Use the noun job chart as a tool to help identify and parse all the nous in a sentence.
LATIN:
- Learn ten vocabulary words and the chapter maxim.
- Memorize the endings for the first declension "mensa" chart.
HISTORY:
- Know that men were created with a spirit of curiosity and a desire to explore and seek new adventures.
- Understand that native peoples and cultures were already established in the Americas when explorers arrived.
- Know the reasons that Columbus set out to discover a new route to the Indies.
- Know who Amerigo Vespucci was and why the Americas were named for him, and not for Columbus.
SCIENCE:
- Know that classification systems are our way of trying to understand and categorize creation.
- Memorize the system of classifying life.
- Begin to memorize the five kingdoms of life.
GEOGRAPHY:
- Develop a heart of compassion for the peoples of the world who don't yet know Christ.
- Know the names and locations of the world’s seven continents and five oceans.
- Know how to find the approximate locations of the tropics, the Arctic and Antarctic circles, the equator, and the prime meridian and understand why these are located where they are.
MEMORY WORK:
Scripture: We'll spend the year working on our scripture memorization of Philippians 2:1-18 (KJV). Our intent with scripture memory is for students to hide God’s word deep in their hearts so that they can call upon it for comfort, reassurance, and strength in times of trouble. With that in mind, we will not be testing over this scripture, but we will be reciting it together as a school every morning during assembly time. Here is a link to an article that explains why we generally prefer to have our students memorize the King James Version.
Geography: We'll begin working on the continents and oceans this week. A hard copy of the maps can be found behind the "memory" tab in your child's binder. Additional maps, as well as MP3s of the songs, are available at this link: Geography Resources.
History: Here is a link to the first four minutes of the history timeline song, which is what we'll test over first. We will also memorize a portion of the Declaration of Independence (bolded portion only) and 12 key dates. We will test over the first four dates on 10/24:
1. Columbus Sails to America - 1492
2. Founding of Jamestown - 1607
3. Landing of the Pilgrims - 1620
4. Salem Witch Trials - 1692-1693
1. Columbus Sails to America - 1492
2. Founding of Jamestown - 1607
3. Landing of the Pilgrims - 1620
4. Salem Witch Trials - 1692-1693