Debate/Argument: Should Schools Ban Dodge Ball?

The students were asked whether schools should ban the play of dodge ball. In this case we referred to the standard game with either playground balls or hard ones, and with no option to return to the game after getting out. The kids read up on the well debated topic and did quite a bit of research visiting news sites, health sites, and other reference sites to help support their argument. They even got a chance to play a modified version of the game.

Here's what they think along with comments:

YES: 35%

NO: 65%

Arguments:

YES:

"It gives kids who aren't athletic lower confidence. The athletic kids always try to get the children who are the easiest to get, out first."

"According to reporter Shelley Frost, even when rules are established, kids can get hit in the face with the ball."

"Dodge ball is dangerous, especially with playground balls."

"Not everyone listens to the modified rules. Playing dodge ball can be dangerous with misbehaving kids and hard balls."

NO:

"I think dodge ball is a fun game full of strategy."

"The game is great exercise. If you stop in the game you get hit with a ball so the game forces you to keep on doing something active."

"Scott Amato says that dodge ball develops arm strength, speed, and flexibility."

"Why aren't other sports like soccer and football being banned? If they don't like the weaker kids being out and getting hurt then dodge ball should be an after school enrichment."

Friday is Post ISAT Movie Showing

This information is contained in an email I sent earlier.

The 5th grade classrooms are showing a post ISAT movie this Friday. The ratings are as follows:

Open Season: PG

Incredibles: PG

The Chronicles of Narnia: PG

America: The Story of Us: No Rating: It has no rating and is a complimentary education edition made by the History Channel and our textbook Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. There are however recreated scenes of historical war and battle.

Curricular Update (Week of 3/5-3/9 and important reminders

Hey 5V Families! Just because there's ISAT testing this week, doesn't mean we won't be learning or engaged with our studies. Here's what our 5th graders will be up to:

Reading:

• We're going to practice our vocabulary skits and use words in context.
• The kids will also learn several high level words and add them to their word list.
• We'll have some short discussions about the ideas for our literature writing project-an extension of our traditional literature genre project.

Writing:

• I'll be meeting with the reporters for the 5V news as well as our website managers to get this operation going!
• The kids will get some time to share some of their workshop writing. We have another student created 23 publications to show off! (Make sure to save your old ones. Toward the end of the year we'll put them all together for some type of writing convention.)
• I'll be previewing two or three mini writing projects, some involving research, to the the kids and setting them up for that.
• The kids may find some time to blog this week. Check out your child's blog and become a follower! The posts are truly awesome.
• With the blogs and our other research we becoming pretty good at citing sources.

Math:

• Please see the math blog! It will be updated later this afternoon.

Social Studies:

• If I told you the kids were enjoying social studies, that'd be an understatement. They are so engaged in our lessons.
• We will continue with opinion/argument writing pieces as they related to the study of the American Revolution.
• Kids will get a chance to protest their grievances with the King and get a lesson about protesting at the same time.
• We're going to read about the different battles, turning points, and important Revolutionaries of the War in lessons 9-2 and 9-3 this week.

Citizenship:

• We are practicing our personal best this week as we do every week!
• No guessing on multiple choice tests unless absolutely necessary-only strong inferences!

5th GRADE ISAT Reminders Week of 3/5-3-9

Hi Everyone! The ISAT testing is this week. Here are some friendly reminders regarding that:

Testing Schedule: Tuesday through Thursday (the 6th through the 8th)

Testing Times: Reading is 10:25am to 11:35am AND Math is 12pm to 12:55pm

What to bring: Kids should have two #2 pencils. Please see if you can bring some!

Friday, March 9th: Celebration with different movies in different classrooms: More to come on that later! That will be from 10:30am to 12pm.

Curricular Update (Week of 2/27-3/2 and important reminders

Hey 5V Families! Here's what we're up to this week. Can you believe it's already March?!

Reading:

• The students will study more comprehension strategies and take some reading assessments from which I will analyze and help them further.
• They'll be reading their traditional literature and will be reading for purpose in an effort to understand the story's message or lesson.
• The kids are also reading to make connections and think broadly about their world and how what they read relates to it.
• In addition, the kids will write another proper essay using the strategies we're studying.
• I'm getting the kids to think about what messages or lessons they could put into their own stories that they write in an effort to write to inform/influence.

Writing:

• We're wrapping up our research this week and the kids are learning strategies from the BIG SIX research strategies and this week they practice extracting information and then citing the information! Do you think dodge ball should be banned in elementary schools?
• The kids have worked so hard on their Young Author stories! They should be so proud as they've worked through the writing process :) They'll continue writing their OWN student produced pieces again within the next week or so.
• During writing time we'll also be studying social studies and the events leading up the American Revolution!
• Our 5V newspaper is starting to heat up. Our writers and photographers have been busy. I'd like to meet with them a couple times this week.
• We're going to start brainstorming our traditional moral/lesson like stories that we'd like to write for the purpose of citizenship, maybe for other children in our school.
• Oh and there will be an opportunity for ANOTHER opinion debate/topic writing. This one will be quite fun and meaningful!

Math:

• Please see 5V Math Blog

Social Studies:

• We have some exciting learning moments in social studies. The kids are learning about the events leading up to the American Revolution as well as its causes.
• They'll be doing a lot of opinion writing this week and next week as they play the role of American colonists.
• The kids will get a chance to immerse themselves in history with role play and writing.

Citizenship:

• We are continuing to practice acts of kindness and reciprocate greetings.
• In addition, we are thinking about how we can write citizenship stories from our genre study for our friends in school.

Important Reminders:

Monday, February 27th-Vaid helpers in the morning, Young Author's writing due, Harriet Tubman story telling experience from 2pm to 3:15pm for 5th grade.

Tuesday, February 28th-Vaid helpers in the morning

Wednesday, February 29th-Late start Wednesday, Vaid helpers in the afternoon

Thursday, March 1st-Vaid helpers in the afternoon

Friday, March 2nd-No School-Institute Day!

Debate Research Topic: Can Animals Show Empathy?

Last week the kids debated whether animals can show empathy or not. We defined empathy as understanding how one's self feels, how others feel, and being able to problem solve. They did a little research, formed opinions, and supported their opinions. What do you believe? Answer our poll question. Here are the results of the debate question "Can animals show empathy?

YES: 100%

NO: 0%

Here's what the kids said:

"My dog Dutchess jumps on my lap and lays on me whenever I'm sad or upset. When she does that, I feel even better."

"I don't believe scientists are right. I think that animals should be treated like humans."

"In the text Unlikely Friendships, Koko showed her empathy through sign language when her friend cat dies. He showed the zoo keeper his sadness..."

"I think that the scientists who criticize other scientists for giving animals human traits should research their topic more thoroughly."

"I feel like pets have feelings like humans and can help us in our own lives."

Curricular Update (Week of 2/22-2/24and important reminders

Hey 5V Families! We have a short week of school but we're not short on learning. Here's the update for this week:

Reading: This week in reading the kids will be studying the traditional literature genre and reading for purpose. We have very in depth questions to ponder while we read our literature. In addition, the kids will practice vocabulary strategies through our skits and practice using context clues. We'll end the week with a reading comprehension check and essay. With the comprehension check we will have a strategy lesson.

Writing: Our research on dodge ball continues and then wraps up next week. We're debating whether dodge ball should be banned from schools or not. We're forming opinions through research and using the BIG SIX strategies to also support our opinions. We're also going to play dodge ball as part of our field research.

Math: Please see 5V MATH Blog

Social Studies: We are excited to host the Harriet Tubman storytelling experience on Monday, February 27th. To prepare, the kids are getting a good dose of background knowledge about slavery and Harriet Tubman through the week. There will be a fair amount of reading and homework this week in social studies. We'll study the beginnings of slavery, slavery in America, the Underground Railroad, and leadings into the Civil War.

Citizenship: Our class and school are earning gold tickets that we can put into a raffle. We're also continuing to practice good etiquette. We've always practiced this through the year. We practice reciprocating greetings in the morning, at lunch, and at the end of the day!

Important Reminders:

Tuesday, February 21st: Parent Teacher Conferences (Select conferences)-not for everyone. 1pm to 8pm

Wednesday, February 22nd: School Resumes on late start Wednesday @ 9:05am

Thursday, February 23rd: Family Science Night @ 63opm.

Friday, February 24th: End of the week