Writing Topic Idea: Vacation Plans

Do you have any fun vacation plans for the summer?

What is your favorite vacation?

One of my favorite vacations was going to Washington D.C. when I was in high school. My grandmother took 3 of us grandkids because we could drive her. We drove to Kentucky first and went to the Mammoth Caves. It was a place she had gone to as a child on a family vacation so it was nice to learn some things about her childhood. From there we went to D.C. and visited lots of historical sites. I spent a very long time in the capital building and met a lot of impressive people. We stayed in a very nice hotel. We took a ride on the metro, and came home just in time for the last day of school!

Summer Reading at Public Library

Don't forget that you can check out the summer reading program at the Waukee Public Library.

www.waukee.lib.ia.us

Summer Writing Topic #2

What did you think of all the rain last night?
What is your favorite thing to do in the rain?
Or least favorite?

Summer Writing Topic

Well it is the first week not in school. My classroom is packed and moved! Thank you to all of you who helped me; you saved me a bunch of time. This week I'm taking it easy, trying to stay out of the heat, and working at the Library. At the end of this week I get to be in a parade in Grimes passing out book marks and pencils. They are already setting up the carnival in the park. I'm looking forward to all the live music this weekend that they will have.

What have you done so far this summer?

Writing IDEAS for summer

Writing Ideas: All you need to do is write.

• You could write on my blog and leave me notes about what you are doing this summer. (don't use your name, just initial...I'll know who you are!)


• You could write a story or two over the summer.


• Make your own book


• keep a journal of your summer activities


• find someone to send a letter or an email to.


• Practice writing down things like lists to the grocery store, your plans for the day, or a note to a parent.

Check out some writing links:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/trophies/ideasforwriters/gr5/menu5.html
-has pictures and writing ideas
Write a List Poem
If you can write a list, you can write a poem! Help your child practice her writing while channeling her inner poet in this activity that has her composing an entire poem from a simple list.
An Adverb Acting Game
Adverbs are all around us. Here's an adverb acting game that will have your child hungrily, unceasingly, enthusiastically learning!
Play Vocabulary Bingo
It's an easy twist on the classic game and it will prepare your fifth grader for the vocabulary challenges that lie ahead!
Make a Father's Day Photo Essay for Grandpa
Help your child honor her grandpa this Father's Day by creating an original photo essay just for him.
Speak up for the Earth
On Earth Day, help your child write a poem from the Earth to its inhabitants, asking for people to live more Earth-friendly and suggesting ways to be kinder.
Write Dad a Basketball Message
Paper cards are good, but for the dad who loves sports, a message on a basketball is twice as nice! This heartfelt haiku is sure to make him crack a smile.
Practice Paint Chip Storytelling
Telling a story is like painting a picture, using words instead of paint. In this cooler-than-average writing activity, your child uses paint and words to write a story!
Play Grammar Bingo
Help your child reinforce parts of speech with Grammar Bingo! Learning the parts of speech starts young, but retaining it can be a challenge. Grammar Bingo is the perfect way to combine fun and learning!
"Bump!" A Spelling Game
Students usually study for spelling tests by looking over the words and spelling them out loud. Here's a spelling game that gets the whole family involved!
Create a Comic Strip
Communicating using the written word doesn't have to be tough! It can be as simple as telling a story, as rudimentary as writing a wish list, or as fun as composing a comic strip.

Summer math IDEAS

Ideas to help you step into middle school with a feeling of success is practice your facts! Math will get easier if you know them by heart!

Links to help you practice:
http://www.softschools.com/grades/5thgrade.jsp
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/
http://www.aaamath.com/grade5.html
http://www.kidport.com/Grade5/Math/Mathindex.htm


Be a Prime Number Hunter
Wondering how to help your child get a handle on prime numbers? Why not turn her into a prime number hunter?
Explore Circumference with Your Bicycle Wheel
By late elementary school, students are exploring the many ways that geometry translates to real-world situations. Here's a hands-on activity that helps your child understand the concept of "circumference."
Go Shopping for Decimal Practice!
Here's an activity that will get your child's attention with a back-to-school shopping spree. The catch? He'll have to use decimal skills to add, subtract, multiply, and divide his way to a new wardrobe!
Percent Flash
Practice percentages in this competitive card game! Race to calculate the answer as cards are flipped over. For each correct answer you give, you'll earn a card. Whoever earns the most cards, wins!
Snag a Spoon! A Math Game
In this version of the classic card game, students will gain a solid understanding of basic equivalents and will be having so much fun they may not even realize it's a math review.
Craft Your Own Carnival! Make Juggling Balls
Be the ringmaster of your very own household circus by making some juggling balls! They're super simple to make and are a blast to play with. Not to mention, they're great practicing hand-eye coordination!
Card Pick Up
Use a deck of playing cards to improve math reasoning skills! This two-player game requires logic and critical thinking. If your child likes puzzles, this activity will be a big hit!
Natural vs. Artificial: Can You Taste the Difference?
Which do you prefer: real or artificial? Try this sweet little taste experiment to help your kids develop a better awareness of the food they consume.
Fold for Fractions!
If fractions strike fear into your child's homework hour, have not fear. Here's a hands-on way to help your child understand how common fractions can be equivalent.

The Amazing Equation Race
Games are a great way to ease your fifth grader's fear of new math concepts. Here's an interactive, fast-paced game that will make your fifth grader feel more comfortable with simple equations.

Reading Ideas

FIND BOOKs that are JUST RIGHT!

READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ

Check out your local library for books!

http://bookwizard.scholastic.com

Check out the following links for ideas or just read books to yourself and others.

On the Road Again! Back Seat Activities
Are you at a loss for how to keep your child entertained during those long hours on your next road trip? Here are some great ways to keep your child's mind active and learning while he passes the time on the road.
Game Show Fun for the Whole Family
Does your child have difficulty studying material and retaining vocabulary for certain subjects in school? Have your child create his very own custom Jeopardy game for the family! It's simple and will work for all subject areas.
Fact or Inference? Learn the Difference
Here's an enjoyable at-home activity that gives your child step-by-step practice identifying the important parts of an article and organizing his ideas.
Play Vocabulary Bingo
It's an easy twist on the classic game and it will prepare your fifth grader for the vocabulary challenges that lie ahead!
"Bump!" A Spelling Game
Students usually study for spelling tests by looking over the words and spelling them out loud. Here's a spelling game that gets the whole family involved!
Judge a Book by Its Cover
From a Twilight novel to required reading, he'll learn about preconceptions as he predicts a book's story based on the cover.
An Adverb Acting Game
Adverbs are all around us. Here's an adverb acting game that will have your child hungrily, unceasingly, enthusiastically learning!
Fishing for Headlines
Brush up on current events by making every day reading a fishing adventure! Your child will "fish" for newspaper headlines and race the clock to match them up with the correct articles.

Congrats!

Dear 5th graders,
Some of you have had for just a year and others now for 2 years. We all made it. You are on your way to middle school and I wish you the best. Always know that if you ever need a little extra cheering from the side line to drop me a note. I will be your biggest fan!

Know as a student you have come so far this year and you still have a long road a head of you, the signs all say UNDER CONSTRUCTION because you are still learning just like me!

Best wish in middle school, making new friends, a new beginning, new teachers, and bigger lunches!

Your Teacher,
Mrs. Berry