MIS 4th/5th

The end of the year is coming up soon!  Below are some events that we have to look forward to (and plan for) in the upcoming month.

 

Forest Discovery Days Field Trip: Thursday, May 10

Wildlife Film Festival at the Wilma: Friday, May 11

Spelling Tests: May 15th, May 22nd, and May 29

5th Grade Exhibition: Wednesday, May 23 – 1:45  and 3:30-500

4th Grade Unit Presentations: Thursday, May 24 -1:45 Room 7

Field Day: Friday, May 25

Book Projects Due: Thursday, May 31

Final Book Club Meetings: Friday, June 1

End of Year Program/8th Grade Graduation: Friday, June 1

 

 

 

 

Happy Bike Walk Bus Week!  We are encouraging all those who can to use sustainable transportation to get to school this week.  We will recognize all participating students and the class with the best participation will win a party in PE.

The kids did a great job with their book projects!  The projects are displayed around the classroom, so feel free to come on in and take a look at them!  We will do one more book project, which will be due Thursday, May 31st.  Students will be asked to do a different type of project then their previous one.

Beginning today, your kids’ math homework is going to look a little different.  In the fall, Excel will stop publishing their Spanish version, so we will be adopting a new math curriculum for next year.  After looking at a variety of programs, we have picked a couple math programs that we will test out this month.  For the next two weeks, we will be piloting Everyday Mathematics.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments you may have.

Queridos Padres,

 

Wow! It’s been an eventful week with lots of exciting learning taking place.  Today, Art Woods, a U of M entomologist presented his research on hawk moths to the kids.  We observed and held live specimens from each stage of the moth’s life cycle.  Our kids posed insightful questions and shared their learning about insects and arachnids.  Needless to say, Art was quite impressed with their knowledge.  Art was nice enough to leave us with five hawk moth pupae and an enclosure.  With luck, in a few weeks they’ll develop into adult moths.  (I thank Caroline Kurtz for this great learning opportunity.)

Next Friday we invite you to visit our science presentations.  We will share our insects and arachnids under investigation in centers through which parents and student groups may circulate.

This week, we finished our shared reading of Francisco Jimenez’ autobiography, Cajas de Cartón, which kids thoroughly enjoyed.  We may begin his second autobiography next week.

We’ve nearly completed our narrative stories illustrated in the style of cartoonist, Chad Carpenter, and will share them with our k-1 students.

We celebrate Earth Day on April 21^st.  Both 4^th -5^th grade students will meet at the bronze trout sculptures beneath the Higgins St. bridge at 10:00 Saturday a.m..  After receiving our gloves and bags from the Clark Fork Coalition, we will walk East along the North bank of the river to clean up any accumulation of trash before walking to MIS to enjoy a no-waste potluck and other festivities.  Remember, this is a required school day for the kids, and we encourage parent participation, too.

Finally, If you haven’t yet done so, please sign up for a parent-teacher conference time on the schedule posted outside my classroom door, or contact Jessica if she is your child’s homeroom teacher.

 

Saludos,

Ted

Today we had the variety show. We’ve been practicing for it all week.  In Jessica’s class most people have already finished their insect packet.  In Ted’s class mostly everybody has finished there insect 3D sculpture. Also this is the last day of school before spring brake. So many people are so excited about spring brake!!!!!.

by: wren kreisel

 

The following info will update you on our Exhibition progress:

 

Pine Bark Beetle Group (Mentor-Ryder)

 

After brainstorming, the group voted on the Pine Bark Beetle issue.  They will investigate how climate change is contributing to Montana’s infestation and how plant, animal and human communities are being affected, and will change in the future in response to altered landscapes.

C.I.  Global climate change affects access to resources which, in turn, increases conflict.

Kids tested the veracity of their C.I. with examples and feel it directly addresses Sharing the Planet’s definition.

Kids also brainstormed ways to investigate their C.I. which include field trips to photograph healthy and affected forests and interviews with local experts.

 

Exotic Species Group  (Mentor-Helena)

 

Kids voted to research the issue of introduced exotic species to Montana, and how they increase competition for finite resources in multiple communities (plant, animal, human).

C.I. The introduction of exotic species affects relationships between communities and their access to finite resources.

Again, kids tested their C.I. and decided that it is globally transportable. Kids shared multiple local examples from their prior knowledge including zebra mussels, knap weed and brucellosis.

Kids generated a list of research ideas including field trips to FWP, The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Natural History Center, as well as walking trips to Jumbo to identify native and introduced plants.

 

Overall, I’m impressed with our kids’ awareness and enthusiasm, and think both teams are off to a very good start.

As a result of the above meetings, kids have completed the first two student packet activities.

This weak the 4th-5th grade moved on from the MesoAmeroca unit to Insects and Arachnids. We are individually studying aninsect or arachnid and will be presenting posters  full of information we have collected, including very descriptive insects-arachnid(Spanish); a book will be full of great information we have gained from the Internet sources, books, and our teachers(English); and a model of the appropriate insect or arachnid.

In art, we are curently creating clay sculptures of MezoAmarican-like pots ans piramids. In PE we are lerning to play baseball and wiffle ball. In music we are learning notes and a song we will be preforming at the end of the school year. In library we are learning how to download books to our electronic devices, and in technology we are learning to make graphs and put numbers into percentages.

By Kine

This week we finished up our Unit of Inquiry on Mesoamerican civilizations.  We also kicked off our insect unit.  Please take a few moments to view our students’ outstanding informational posters displayed in the hallway that address the great Mayan, Aztec and Incan empires.  Kids completed  essay exams as well to demonstrate their developing knowledge and ability to make meaningful connections between ancient and modern societies.

We are excited about our Insect Unit lovingly titled “Don’t Bug Me!” and “Thank god they’re not Bigger!”  Our Central Idea: Insects’ and arachnids’ unique adaptations allow them to thrive in diverse environments. will lead us through a creepy and crawly, yet amazing journey into the world of arachnids and insects.  (I’m sure our students are already sharing “gross” and “cool” facts with you.)  Our investigation will include an English research paper that will require each student choose and study his/her own insect or arachnid.   Spanish informational posters that include life history, life cycle, classification, ecology and adaptations will support students’ research.  Weather permitting, field trips will allow kids to collect and examine local invertebrates.  We’ve also ordered live specimens to study in the classroom.  Kids are studying anatomy to create a 3-D model of their chosen critter.  The unit will conclude with a performance-based summative assessment in the form of presentation stations through which student groups and parents will circulate.

We are investigating several new math adoptions and will choose a few to pilot this spring. (Excel Math’s Spanish adoption will no longer be available and, recently, translation and omissions have become a homework issue.)  We’ll keep you informed of any changes in our math curriculum.

Que tengan una buena semana!

Awesome Aztecs! We just finished a unit on the Aztecs, Incas and Mayas. In Jessica’s class we studied the Aztecs. We split up in to groups to study one aspect of the Aztecs culture. The groups included, social structures, religion, government and what happened when the conquistadors came. For our project, we did a presentation about the aspect we studied. Some groups did posters, others did skits and 3D pyramids, while others did PowerPoints, or brought a meal for the class, showing what the Aztecs ate. For the test we did a Essay test. The test included questions about the geographical location of the Aztecs as well as questions about the four aspects we studied.

Interesting Insects! Just yesterday we started a unit on insects and arachnids. We learned to draw a few insects in Ted’s class while we learned about exoskeletons, vertebrates and invertebrates, jointed appendages and segmented bodies in Jessica’s class. Although we have been busy, Jessica has snuck in a few hours each morning for us to read and write. You might have noticed your child bringing home a book they say is homework. This is their book club book. We have started a new thing where their are four or five groups and each group has a book that they meet about each week and are supposed to read to a certain page each week. In the groups we share predictions, questions and comments we have thought about or written down on our ”thinkmarks” (bookmarks that have space for you to write down your thoughts so you don’t forget them), Some of the books we are reading include, The Giver by Louis Lowry, The View from Saturday by E.L. Koningsburg and Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. We have also been given time to write stories and poems each morning as well. That is what we have been doing in Jessicas class this past month or so.

Warmly, Abigail

 

 

 

Queridos Padres,

Next Tuesday, March 13 at 3:35 we will hold our first Exhibition meeting.  We would like all fifth graders and parents in attendance as we will share information regarding student collaborative groups, mentors, time line, dead lines, expectations, as well as an Exhibition overview.  The meeting should last approximately one half hour.  Please come with any questions you may have.  We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Jessica and Ted

 

DEAR PARENTS,

We are excited to give you more details about the upcoming MIS Variety Show!

This very first all school variety show is proudly being produced by the Middle School Elective class Theatre Production.  Students are encouraged to participate as an act (group or solo) or as audience members. The goal of the Variety Show is to highlight the skills, talents, and creativity of our students.  All who audition will be represented in the Variety Show!

 

The goal of the Theatre Production class is to learn the elements of production, how to work with performers, how to cast all who audition and how to organize a one hour Family Fun Event!

 

PERFORMANCE DATE (All MIS families are invited)

Friday, March 30^th , 12:15-1:15 pm (During our F day Assembly in the MIS gym)

 

Auditions!! (Prior preparation is not required, we just want students who are excited to participate)

Music Room and Gym
4-8 grade     Monday, Feb. 27  during lunch recess

K-3 grade    Tuesday, Feb. 28   during lunch recess

Wednesday will include an extra time slot if necessary.

 

***On the day of auditions:

• It is not necessary that students have their acts up to performance level. We are interested in just getting a taste of their ideas and the vision they bring to the audition.   
• Costumes are not necessary for auditions. Students should bring all necessary props and music to the auditions. Students can use the music room laptop and speakers to play music.
• Students will be given a specific time to audition during lunch recess.  4-8 should check the music room door or the white board as you enter to find your time slot.  K-3 auditioners should come to the music room at the beginning of Lunch recess, but they will be there to assist in finding you and helping you get ready.

 

THEATRE PRODUCTION STUDENTS:
Once we see all the acts, the Theatre Production students will be assigned to each soloist or group.  They will act a as mentor to help guide the creative process for the participants over the month of March.   They will work collaboratively with acts to continue developing, staging and rehearsing each act. They will also be running the entire Variety Show as directors, poster and program designers, House Managers, Stage Managers, MC’s, Light and Sound operators, set designers, and costume and make up assistants.

 

More information will be shared with participants as we move along. This is a great learning opportunity for all involved, especially the Middle School students.  Every day we are learning more about the process and the art of collaboration.  Hopefully, after all is said and done, we‘ll be ready to create another great show next year!

 

MUCHAS GRACIAS-

The Theatre Production Class

Donal

Gabriella

Lia

Ava

Ingrid

Otis

Molly and
Stacy Ohrt-BIllingslea