Get Ready For 80's Day! January 10!

5-316's Got Talent! Holiday Bonanza Video Almost Ready.

Let's eat some cupcakes in the meantime...

Merry Christmas 5-316!

A Very Special 5-316 Vistor!

Stephanie Visit from K.Z. on Vimeo.

Super 5-316!

Another successful dress-up day for 5th grade! 

Take a look at the super heroes and heroines (and villains!) of 5-316 below. 

Our Alternate Endings for The Giver

[Gabe] He dropped his bike, picked up Gabe, and started walking over the hill. Every footstep felt like one thousand steps. He walked over the hill and saw his dream, the bike. He went to sit on it but it wasn't there. He fell through it and tumbled down the hill. He was protecting Gabe. He was all scraped up. He reached the bottom with a broken leg. He saw green, red and yellow in a house. He limped toward the house and went to knock on the door. His fist went through it and he fell. The house slowly disappeared. The last thing he saw was Gabe silent in his coat. 

[Kamilla] And then Jonas saw it... lights... trees. Then a silhouette out of the glow. Then there were two silhouettes and they stepped out in front of Jonas. Immediately, Jonas recognized the Giver's firm voice and Rosemary's smile. At last--pure happiness. It was almost like heaven.

[Roan] The snow was getting heavier and heavier as the time went by. I was also getting colder and more drowsy. There were quick memories of all the memories I had received from the giver. Finally, I just collapsed into the ground with Gabe right by my side. I woke up a few days later, but where was Gabe? I could no longer feel the pain that was nagging me throughout the whole trip. Except when I looked up above me, Rosemary and the Giver were right there above me.

[Gianna] As the sled went down the hill, he saw beautiful lights as he reached it. He heard music. It sounded like... he could not get the word. Then he said... Christmas. He had a joyful face on as he whispered to Gabe, "we are safe now, buddy."  Then Gabe was not moving. He knew he did not make it through. He fought. He was strong. It was just too much for him. Gabe started to burst out in beautiful crystal tears. But he knew that he will rest in a peaceful world up in heaven. 

[Ellasia] When Jonas and Gabe got to the bottom of the hill, Jonas knew he wouldn't make it. So he gave Gabe all of the memories he had left, except for all of the pain and the very first one the Giver gave him on the sled in the snow having fun. Gabe received all of the memories and smiled. Then Jonas knew what to do. He tried to find a family for Gabe to live with and love. The first house he past by just felt like they would keep and care for Gabe. Jonas quickly let Gabe down, and rang the bell while saying his goodbyes. In Jonas's eyes he knew that Gabe could tell that Jonas didn't want to leave. Jonas quickly ran to the nearest stoop, and laid there watching the family open the door and see the baby. They took Gabe in with surprise, looking around to see if anyone was watching. The family lifted little Gabe and welcomed him to their home. They closed there door. Jonas just laid there thinking about Lily, Mom, Dad, and The Giver as he slowly fell asleep, and slowly past away. 

[Kemi] When Jonas went on the sled and slid, he slid down the hill. Jonas was so stressed and hungry. The last of his tears ran down his cheek as he heard the nice sound of the music and saw the wonderful Christmas colors. Then he was gone. Gabe was found in the cold snow and had a beautiful family who took very good care of him. They had a amazing funeral for Jonas.

Parents: Please Support PS 58 Alumnus Nicolas Perez

Nicolas is an unbelievably sweet and kind young man with an infectious smile. As a fifth grader in our 2011-2012 class, Nicolas was a supportive community member and a friend to all. When he was diagnosed with a brain tumor at just ten years old, he endured so much more than any person should ever have to go through. The bravery and positivity that Nicolas demonstrated throughout his treatment was, and still is, remarkable. Nicolas, without a doubt, is a real superhero. He deserves all of our love, support, and so much more.

We are helping collect needed funds for Nicolas's treatment on Superhero Day! Any donation above $1 will be donated to the Perez's Go Fund Me page.

We are hoping for your participation. Thank you so much!
Love,
Nikita & Karen

The 5-316 Holiday Bonanza is almost here!

Our Ballroom Performance

5-316 was elegance in motion at our ballroom performance. We learn so much through our 4th and 5th grade ballroom classes. We will miss Ms. Danielle and our ballroom classes!!

5th Grade Fundraising is in Full Swing!

The Oregon Trail

SS Mission: 
1) Map the Oregon Trail on your Westward Expansion Map

2) Each group will research a section of the trail on this site. After reading about their section, group members will choose one site visited by pioneers to add to our map.

Scarlett: Missouri
Rainbow: Iowa & Kansas
Angels: Nebraska
Heaven: Wyoming
Extreme: Idaho
Rug: Oregon & Washington

Classroom Blog Turns Food Blog

5-316's classroom pumpkin was processed... and turned into cupcakes for the Annual 5th Grade Harvest Festival! Check out the delicious pictorial below. 

Scrumptious vegan pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes with vanilla "butter"cream and a sprinkling of vanilla sugar. Who knew classroom decorations could taste so good!

Our Visit From Aunt Sally!

PEMDAS from K.Z. on Vimeo.

November Birthday Party!

Daily Reading HW

Reading response homework will be the same all year! 

As a reference, please see the 2-week cycle detailed below. This will also be taped on each child's Reading Response Notebook (RRNB).

Hope this helps!

To make this tool easy to double-check again, please click on the "homework" label on the right sidebar. 

Spotlight on Classroom Job: Botanist

Kamilla, our botanist, takes great care of our classroom plants! During jobs time, Kamilla planted a new plant for us to enjoy, removing the rosemary that couldn't take the heat of the heater. 

But when life gives you rosemary that's already dried, you share the fragrant herb with others!

Guys Read Extended Day Club watches the '86 Mets

After reading Guys Read: The Sports Pages, Ms. Z's extended day readers watched the exciting Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, which featured prominently in our reading. 

Manifest Destiny

“Manifest Destiny,” painting by John Gast, 1872.

Manifest Destiny is a phrase used by leaders and politicians in the 1840s to argue for the continental expansion by the United States. Writing in the Democratic Review, the editor John O’Sullivan stated it was “our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.”  Underneath this slogan is the idea that This slogan made Americans had a “mission” and God-given destiny to expand and acquire more land and power.

People in the United States felt it was their mission to extend the “boundaries of freedom” by imparting their ideas and beliefs to others. Excluded in this mission: Native American people and those of non-European origin. Manifest Destiny would be the explanation for pushing Native peoples into out of newly formed states and into "territories," as well as a war with Mexico. [source]

Day 1: Overview Activity on United States Expansion.

Day 2: Map Activity for Manifest Destiny.

Our Dia de los Muertos Celebration. What a wonderful day!

What a day! We shared traditional Mexican treats and our cherished memories of loved ones. We explored and made traditional art... and listened to a very special read aloud. Take a look at the highlights!  
The success of this special celebration was largely in part to our fantastic 5-316 parents, who supplied the grade with el pan de muerto, champurrano and hot chocolate... and supplied our altar with fruit and pictures of loved ones. 

Thank you so much!

Poignant Lessons of Life from 5-316

We spent the end of our first reading unit finding the authors' messages in our books--the lessons taught through story elements. Extending this search to our own experiences in life, we created our own lessons, supported with real moments of evidence. Take a look at our wise words.