Ancient Civ

January 29, 2016

This Week:

Some students were ready to go to print, while most had finished writing their news stories and were thinking of advertisements which would relate to the events they were researching. I was happy to see that they were getting into naming their papers and having fun with their advertisements!

Up-Coming Events: Monday and Tuesday students should have their articles and advertisements all typed up inside of SIX (6) 1 x 1 tables on their submission sheet and ready to print! 

Pictures should be chosen carefully to make their articles even better!

• Completed Newspaper Due Date
•  February 3rd for A groups
•  February 4th for B groups
• 
  

On Wednesday we start exploring Egypt.

What's Happening In Interdisciplinary?

Genius Hour That's What! 

Due Wednesday:

• 6 items on resource tracker (2 can be video)
• KWH sections of the KWHLAQ

• If they are done with these, they should be finding and gathering research to become a genius (info that they can put into their written piece)
• These SHOULD NOT be turned in yet.

• By Friday: 3 paragraphs answering your question USING your research.  This will be put into GC next week.

Vogel's Corner:

 SUPPORT THE BYRAM TOWNSHIP EDUCATION FOUNDATION TRICKY TRAY

  This great (adult) event will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016 

The best part is the homeroom with the 

Biggest & Bestest Basket 

will receive a prize!!!

Mr. Vogel's Theme is 
fun in the kitchen

(kitchen goodies)

IS THERE A TIME FOR EXTRA HELP?
When possible, the fifth grade staff has made our rooms available to students looking for an opportunity to work on assignments during our shared lunch period. Students can find Mr. Vogel in his room on most B days.

January 22, 2016

Ancient Civilizations

January 22, 2016

This Week:

Students acting as reporters, are wrapping up their research on the contributions of the Phoenicians and Lydians.There is a Phoenician Facts Information organizer posted on Google Classroom which students have been working on in class. This organizer is where they  have recorded their discoveries and the details which will support the stories they will be writing for their newspaper. 

Up-Coming Events:
GET YOUR PAPER!  READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Next week will be dedicated to the writing and printing of our newspapers!

Some students have already begun to write stories for their paper. There is a News Article Submission form posted in Google Classroom, this is where students will submit their writing to the editors  (Mr. Vogel & Mrs. Spoer) We will be checking these for completeness and sizing them for printing. 

Vogel's Corner:

 SUPPORT THE BYRAM TOWNSHIP EDUCATION FOUNDATION TRICKY TRAY

  This great (adult) event will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016 

The best part is the homeroom with the 

Biggest & Bestest Basket 

will receive a prize!!!

IS THERE A TIME FOR EXTRA HELP?
When possible, the fifth grade staff has made our rooms available to students looking for an opportunity to work on assignments during our shared lunch period. Students can find Mr. Vogel in his room on most B days.

Ancient Civ

January 19, 2016

Last Week:

Students worked on improving their writing skills as we researched and wrote a summary of how monotheism began in Mesopotamia and spread throughout the region. This particular activity asked students to explain who, where, when, and what happened. Students were also asked to provide supporting details from the article.

The second activity which students worked on was to organize facts about Hammurabi's Code and the Ten Commandments. During this activity we had them make a table with one column for comparing (how they were alike) and one column for contrasting (how they were different). Students then were asked to write a paragraph contrasting the two documents.

For students who wanted more of a challenge, an opportunity to extend the lesson by explaining why they thought Hammurabi with his Code, and Moses with his Commandments are both pictured in the United States Supreme Court.

U.S. Supreme Court Chambers

                                                       Hammurabi & Moses  (and others)

Both of these activities are in the process of being graded and will be posted in Parent Portal this week. 

Up-Coming Events:
Students are starting to research needed to complete their newspaper front page. This I hope will be a challenging and creative opportunity for students to present what they have learned about the Phoenicians and Lydians. 



Vogel's Corner:

As the end of the marking period closes in, I have been receiving missing / incomplete assignments from students seeking to improve their grades.  I have reminded students in class that they need to physically show me their completed assignment,( whether it is on the computer, or a paper activity) in order to receive credit.  Time to do this is in class while we are working independently, during study hall or Interdisciplinary.

As a parent viewing Parent Portal, what you need to look for are incomplete and missing assignments marked respectively with an I or an M.  When these appear, it is an invitation to have your child complete those assignments. 

IS THERE A TIME FOR EXTRA HELP?
When possible, the fifth grade staff has made our rooms available to students looking for an opportunity to work on assignments during our shared lunch period. Students can find Mr. Vogel in his room on most B days.

January 8, 2016

This Week:

Students came back from vacation rested, ready, and full of excitement!

Leaving  Mesopotamia, we have begun learning about the Israelites, and how their culture introduced new ideas which had a lasting influence on the world around them. Then we will do the same for the Phoenicians and the Lydians next week.

One challenging part of fifth grade social studies is having students read historical articles, helping them find main ideas, and supporting details. Then write a summary of the event using their own words supported by details from the reading.

Students were provided an organizer which they worked on in class which they will use to improve their Summary which they are writing on the Israelite STEM sheet. This was a class activity which is NOW A HOMEWORK ACTIVITY. 
The summary will be due Monday Jan. 11 for A groups and Tuesday Jan. 12 for B groups.


FINAL POSTER ACTIVITY:   UPDATE
Students made great progress on their Mesopotamia posters!  With all the activities preceding the holiday break students still needed time to complete them. We worked on them in class Monday and Tuesday. Then sent them home with students to be completed at home.
POSTER DUE DATE: Monday Jan. 11 for A groups and Tuesday Jan. 12 for B groups.

Up-Coming Events:
Some of our activities planned for next week:

• Students will be comparing and contrasting the Code of Hammurabi with the Ten Commandments. Then follow through with a written comparison of those documents. 
• Students will be making a newspaper page emphasizing the contributions of the Lydians and the Phoenicians.

Vogel's Corner:

As we begin this unit, students are reminded that the United States from its beginnings has been a place where people have come to for religious freedom. We learned about how the Constitution defends this right, and spoke about how other cultures have not enjoyed the same freedoms and how lucky we are to live in this country.  

IS THERE A TIME FOR EXTRA HELP?
When possible, the fifth grade staff has made our rooms available to students looking for an opportunity to work on assignments during our shared lunch period. Students can find Mr. Vogel in his room on most B days.