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December 13: On December 13, fifth grade students will participate in our Breakfast with the Elves program for We-2 and Little Explorers by being the elves! This event takes place in the morning, and afterwards, fifth graders will be walking to TJ’s with Mrs. B! There is no need for a costume or clothing items, but if you are interested in dressing up, be aware this event is the morning of Dec. 13. This lunch is a gift from WCDS to the 5th grade so no money is needed.
December 16-19 – WCDS Winter Spirit Week (Details in the link above)
December 18: We are less than two weeks away from the Holiday Show! Be sure you have 6:00 pm on December 18th marked in your calendars! Any chance you have to rehearse lines with your child, please do so. Children should know what items they need for their costumes and are asked to bring them in on Monday so we can begin to rehearse and ensure everyones items. If you have costume questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mr. Alex at ahill@wcdsedu.com. We will continue to have after school practice on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00 until the show.
Our fifth-grade class had an exciting and educational field trip to West Liberty University, where we collaborated with various education majors. The Zoo Science students showcased a variety of mammals and reptiles, giving our students the unique opportunity to interact with creatures like snakes, turtles, tortoises, cockroaches, hedgehogs, and more. In addition to learning about animals, our students participated in a hands-on project-based learning lesson led by the education students. They explored holidays from around the world, built sleds, created ornaments, and engaged in several other creative activities. The trip concluded with a much-anticipated lunch in the university cafeteria, which quickly became a class favorite. Thank you to Helena’s mom, Mrs. Douglas, for organizing this trip and making this experience possible. This field trip was a wonderful blend of science, cultural education, and fun!
A big thank you to the faculty and staff at WCDS Middle School for hosting us on Friday! Our students had the unique opportunity to spend the day on our beautiful campus in Wheeling Park. While there, we held our regular core classes and got a glimpse into some of the amazing experiences WCDS middle offers. Students enjoyed participating in a relaxing sound bath during middle school music class, exploring their creativity even further in 8th grade art, and even took to the ice at the Wheeling Park ice rink. It was an inspiring day filled with learning, fun, and new experiences. Thank you again to WCDS Middle for a wonderful visit and please reach out to Mrs. Ochap at cochap@wcdsedu.com if you would like to schedule an official shadow or visit day when we return from Winter Break!
Weekly Recap
Language Arts
- Continuing to read Out of My Mind.
- Ask your child about Melody. How has her life changed? How are people starting to see her and treat her?
Math
- Word Problem Week!
- Explored strategies for tackling math word problems and how to break them down and solve the problem
- Practiced two step word problems, now with decimals!
- Any chance you have to ask your child to solve math problems in your daily life, please do so! They can perform all operations with decimal numbers and are challenged to regularly practice their estimation and mental math skills. “If I only have $20, how many gallons of gas can I put in the car if it is $3.49 a gallon?”
History
The students learned about the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition. We read magazines about the expedition and worked in groups to answer questions regarding the time period and the movements of the explorers. We are so excited to begin the Oregon Trail next week and are really looking forward to that adventure!
Lego Robotics
Robots have been assigned and the groups are faced with the challenge of assembling a well built robot. Once robots are fully built, each group will begin working to gain table access. The course and practice will consist of multiple challenges ranging from driving in a straight line to raising and lowering the arm. Groups are also working on creating and designing their competition table, with each group being responsible for one challenge. Our theme for the year as voted on by the students – THE HIGHLANDS!
Sound bath provided by 8th grade students.