White's Weekly

Reading: This week we are reading ““Seeker of Knowledge”. It can be found on pages 470-483 in your Reading book. The story for this week’s genre is biography.  Biographies are stories written about the life of a real person as told by another person. This means that the story is not about the author’s life. They have written a true story about someone else’s life.

 http://classroom.jc-schools.net/waltkek/ 

TCAP Blitz Skill of the Week: http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/simile/page2.html

This six weeks, we will study about the Earth, Moon, Sun, and the Solar System. These concepts can be found in Unit C in our textbook.  Below you will find links to help you better understand each concept.

Earth’s Structure and Properties

There are four Earth layers. The crust which is the Earth’s outermost layer and made up of solid rock. The mantle which is the layer right below the crust. It is 1,800 miles wide constantly being pressed down by the other layers. The third layer is the outer core. It is a liquid lawer that is made of melted iron.  The fourth layer is the inner core. It is 800 miles wide and made up of solid materials.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Inside.shtml

or

http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate1.htm

Soil

Have you ever wondered why we need soil or dirt? It is very important and has several layers. Read on pages C 44-C49 to learn about this interesting material.

Rock Cycle

Have you ever really looked at the rocks on the ground? The next time you see one, pick it up and try to decide which of the three types of rocks it can be classified as  (igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary). Igneous rocks are primarily made of molten material from volcanoes or deep inside of the Earth. Some examples are granit, obsidian, and basalt. Sedimentary rocks are bits or chunks of material that have been broken apart by water, wind, or ice. Some examples are shale and limestone. Metamorphic rocks are rocks that can be changed into both of the other types depending on what is done to them. If heat is applied, they become igneous rocks. If pressure is applied they turn into sedimentary rocks.

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002289/index.html

Moon’s Structure and Properties

The moon has many interesting properties, including it’s eight phases.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/time/moon/phases.html

                                                                Moon Missions

http://www.google.com/moon/

The Sun and its Properties

What do we really know about the Sun? Click here to learn more about the sun:  http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/sun.htm

The Solar System

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system

The Government

This week we will learn about the beginning of our Nations’ government. We will start with the Mayflower Compact, move on to the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. From there we will learn about how our government works. Things such as the purpose of each branch of government, checks and balances, and how laws will be discussed.  

Here a link that will help you learn more about the Mayflower Compact:

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/mayflowercompactdef.htm 

Below you will find a link to a video about the Mayflower Compact:

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/5378-the-american-revolution-mayflower-compact-video.htm

 Here a link that will help you learn more about the Articles of Confederation:

http://www.congressforkids.net/Independence_articles.htm

To hear about the Articles of Confederation, click on this link:

http://kids.learnoutloud.com/Kids-Catalog/Politics/U.S.-Government/The-Articles-of-Confederation/19477

To watch a video about the Articles of Confederation, click on this link:

 Here a link that will help you learn more about the Constitution:

http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_index.htm

To watch a video on the Constitution, click on this link:

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/17002-shaping-the-new-nation-the-constitution-video.htm

 Memphis

  How much do you really know about the city that you live in?

Civil Rights struggle– http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/permexhibits.htm

Historical Sites in Memphis-http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/homework/historicsites/

Underground railroad — http://www.freedomcenter.org/underground-railroad/#

W.C. Handy Museum-http://www.memphistravel.com/attractions/default.aspx?id=147

Slave Haven–

http://www.memphistravel.com/attractions/default.aspx?id=141

This week we will be reviewing nouns, verbs, and commas. We will also be learning how to write friendly letters and how to punctuate quotations.  Commas are used to separate words such as yes, no, well, and a person’s name in a sentences. They are also used after dates, in the greeting, and closing of friendly letters, and in quotations. You will also see commas used in compound sentences and when a series, or list, is written in sentences. Rules for punctuating quotes: 1. Place a comma before the quote begins 2. Always begin quotes with a capital letter. 3. Place quotation marks around what is said. 4. Add ending punctuation to the sentence.   Example: Ali asked, “Can you tell me about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?”

Here are a couple of  links to games to help you practice this skill:

1. http://www.bradleys-english-school.com/online/concentration/past2.html

2. http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/grammar/Interactive/conceniv1.swf.swf

We will be working with words that have the prefixes (in-un-, dis-) in them. Make sure that your child is able to spell each of this week’s words: distrust, uncertain, incomplete, unlikely, unfair, discontinue, unaware, disorder, discount, indirect, unopened, disrespect, unimportant, unlisted, disrepair, inability, disapprove, unsolved, disobey, unsuspecting,

Here is a link to help you with prefixes: http://www.funbrain.com/funbrain/roots/index.html

Here’s the link to help you with phonics skill: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/phonics/sandcastle/flash/game.shtml

Remember: Homophones are words that sound the same, but have different definitions and spellings.

Review last week’s spelling skill using the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/starship/english/games/word_jumbler/big_sound/full.shtml 

Write a sentences using your favorite words from this week’s list.

This week’s grammar skills:

Who wants to be a millionaire—-irregular nouns link:

http://www.quia.com/rr/6516.html

Plural Noun Construction link:

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/language_arts/goforgold/content_builder/dswmedia/g3c8/nadia.htm

Singular/Plural Nouns–”Grammar Gold” game link:

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/language_arts/goforgold/content_builder/dswmedia/g3c8/nadia.htm

Last week, we studied commas in a series, compound sentences, and the parts of a friendly letter over the next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/spelling_grammar/punctuation/play.shtml

Series—a group or list of three or more words.

 http://www.compasslearningodyssey.com/sample_act/34lang_confusion.html

Compound sentence- two sentences joined using and, so, or but.

 http://webschool.wash.k12.ut.us/language/lessons/compoundsentences.html

Letter parts: heading, greeting, body, closing, and signature

http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/

When adding fractions that have the same denominatory, just add the numerators together and leave the denominator the same.

Example:

 7/9 -  4/9 = 3/9

Practice  this week’s fraction skills using the following links:

 Adding/Subtraction with Like Denominators: http://funschool.kaboose.com/formula-fusion/number-fun/games/game_action_fraction.html

Comparing fractions: Remember to use cross multiplication!

http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/games/dirt-bike-comparing-fractions/dirt-bike-comparing-fractions.html

Decimals:             3.876

             * The first place behind the decimal is the tenths (8)

             * The second place behind the decimal point is the hundredths (7).

             * The third place behind the decimal point is the thousandths (6).

 Use the multiplication table to help you find equivalent fractions….

 Fraction/Decimal Equivalents Game:

http://www.toonuniversity.com/flash.asp?err=198

 Here’s a link to a game that will help you practice converting improper fractions and mixed numbers:

 http://jamit.com.au/htmlFolder/app1003.html

Last November, we inaugurated our 44th president. You might be wondering why the world seems to be so focused on this event. Well, the main reason is that it is very historic. On Tuesday, we will elect our first African-American president. Ironically, it will happen just one day after we celebrate the birth of one of nation’s greatest Civil Rights leaders-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Maybe, its a sign. After watching the presidential inauguration, please leave a comment letting me know what you thought.