5B Classroom News: Week of Jan. 2nd

A note from Mrs. Burke:
Happy New Year!  We are back in full swing in 2018.  I enjoyed hearing what the students did over their holiday break.  This week we spent time talking about New Year's Resolutions so be sure to ask your child what they shared.  They had some very thoughtful resolutions for the new year.  Friday was crazy hat day! Here are some pictures of students during morning choice with their crazy hats.  Keep reading to see what our classroom reporters shared this week.

Language Arts:  Esperanza Rising

I am quite sad that the story ended, but I am hoping, there will be a book 2. -Lily

My thoughts about the book  Esperanza Rising are good thoughts because she get to be with her mama and her grandmother but she will still stay with her father in her head and her heart no matter what happens to her. Sophia

I am sad that the book is over and Miguel stole Esperanza’s money to bring Abuelita home. ~ Colby

I learned that the author was basing the story on her older relatives, and had added small changes to the story. -Bennett

The book used lots of metaphors. Metaphors are like saying things that are not necessarily true, but are an exaggeration to show that something is or is not happening. -Bennett

I thought that the book Esperanza Rising was very good. In the end, Abuelita came back from Mexico and Esperanza, Mama, and Hortensia were very happy. You could describe the ending of the book as a mountain that the book characters( mostly Esperanza ) had to climb. In conclusion, I was sad to see the book go.- Nolan

The author of Esperanza Rising, had a grandmother named Esperanza Ortega.  The book is based on her grandmother. -Addy

WE FINISHED THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!! It was a good book. -Chandler

Social Studies:  The American Revolution

This week in social studies we learned about spies in the American Revolution and how they used invisible ink for their secret messages. We got to make invisible ink and use it with a secret message of our own. Our invisible ink was made of baking soda and water. Once that dries you wipe grape juice on it and the letters will reappear.~ Lucy

In Social studies we did an invisible ink project using different household materials. It was interesting how it ended up working out. -Faith

We made invisible ink because in the American Revolution the British and the Americans used it to hide messages.                                                ~ Logan

On Wednesday we made invisible ink to hide secret messages from spies and traitors to the colonists for the American Revolution.When I did mine I could not see the word Revolution on my paper but when we added the grape juice I could only see the R in Revolution, but it was still very fun. ~Jocelyn

In social studies we were learning about how the people in the American Revolution communicated secretly. Sometimes they wrote in code, and other times they used invisible ink. In class we made invisible ink. Mine did not work out very well. But my classmate's worked. It was really fun!     ~Cordelia

We did make invisible ink. But it wasn't exactly invisible.   -Alex

In social studies we’ve been learning about spies and traitors. -Julian

The invisible ink worked. I wrote, “Alexander Hamilton,” and it came up when I covered it with the grape juice. ~ Colby

Yesterday my class and I made Invisible ink, it was a really fascinating and fun experience. The reason why we made invisible ink, is because spies and traitors used to write to each other with invisible ink then dropped the letter in a dead drop so people won't be able to read the letters. -Lyssette

In Social Studies we made invisible ink.  -Larkyn

We did an invisible ink experiment because people passed notes that were secret and so they couldn’t be caught, they used invisible ink. -Bennett

The invisible ink experiment relates to the American Revolution because spies would use them to give secret massages to people like the British to give them secret info about what is going on and where they are hiding. -Ella

We made invisible ink in social studies and it was a lot of fun! There were really easy steps to do an awesome project that we can learn from, and do at home! I loved doing this project!                                  --Paige

Social Studies:  I Survived the American Revolution, 1776

In the American Revolution book, we are learning about a kid named Nate who, as a result of his uncle’s rage, he has to flee from home and ends up in the middle of the American Revolution and is now learning to be a soldier -Bennett

James died in the book from Smallpox and there was a terrible storm. -Colby