March Book Report

Wow!  The 5th graders were the talk of the school after their fantastic "Wax Museum" presentation for February's biography book reports.  Everyone did so well!  Please find March's book report format below:

March Book Report

Genre: Free choice

The Wax Museum was a hit!  Nice job.  Please remember that book reports should be your best work because you have had a month to work on them. The March book report is free choice.  Pick a book that you have not read before.

The book report will be this:

Do a book talk. Write up a 1-2 paragraph summary of the book (like you see on the back cover of most books).  You will then talk to the class about your book by saying a little about the author, explain who the characters are and explain enough about the beginning of the story so that everyone will understand what they are about to read. Finally, read an exciting, interesting, or amusing passage from your book. Stop reading at a moment that leaves the audience hanging and add "If you want to know more you’ll have to read the book." If the book talk is well done almost all the students want to read the book.

You will be turning in a written copy of your book talk that will be at least a paragraph. Don’t put this assignment off!  It will be due on Thursday, March 29th, 2012.  It will be worth 20 points.

Good luck!

February Book Report

February Book Report

Biography

The puppet shows were a lot of fun and reading the same book as a friend helped students explore new books. Please remember that book reports should be your best work because you’ve had a month to work on them. The February book report is on a biography.  Pick a book that you have not read before.

The book report will be as follows:

Pick a biography (a book written about the life of a person) and read and study it. On February 29^th 2012 all fifth graders will become a ‘wax museum’.  You will come to school prepared to act like and dressed like the subject of the biography you read.  You will have a name plaque and a ‘button’. When this ‘button’ is pushed you will give a prepared speech about your subject including important details about their lives.  We will be inviting parents and 3^rd and 4^th graders to visit our ‘wax museum’.

Don’t put this assignment off!  It will be due on Wednesday February 29th 2012.  It will be worth 20 points.

Good luck!

n      Miss Batschi

n      Mr. Crippen

Science Fair Winners!

Our budding scientists have been hard at work and have created some incredible projects.  Congratulations to Spencer Gunnerson for having won 1st Place for his physics experiment involving weighted paper and how it affected the flight of paper airplanes.  He is one of seven whose project will go on to Regionals.  Also recognized were:

• Seth Bishop (2nd Place, Engineering category)
• Marissa Dozier (2nd Place, Physics category)
• Ammon Bowman (Tied for 3rd Place, Physics category)
• Zoie Larsen (Tied for 3rd Place, Physics category)

Way to go, class!  Keep up the great work!

Crippen's Crew: r.a.d.KIDS

Our fifth graders have participated in the r.a.d.KIDS program this week and have demonstrated great knowledge and skills in protecting themselves from harm.  I've been so impressed as I've watched our students respond appropriately to various scenarios presented by the instructors.  The program culminated in a demonstration presented Fri. morning in which the students practiced what to do in various confrontational dilemmas.  It is so important that kids know who they are and how special they are, and that they will be courageous enough to assertively stand their ground and defend themselves when necessary.  I'm proud of our Crew and hope they never have to use the skills learned this week, but know they've been well prepared thanks to this fantastic program.

November Book Report

Free Choice (encourage Fantasy)

The book jackets for October looked great! Please remember that book reports should be your best work because you’ve had a month to work on them. The November book report is free choice but you are highly encouraged to pick a fantasy book.  Pick a book that you have not read before. This month I am requiring you to get your book passed off by your parents and me no later than November 10^th.  Get the bottom of this form signed and returned to me by then.   If you have not returned this slip by the 11^th I will pick a book for you and you may not like it as much as one you picked.

November’s book report format will be as follows:

Imagine that you are the author of the book you have just read. Suddenly the book becomes a best seller. Write a letter to a movie producer trying to get that person interested in making your book into a movie. Explain why the story, characters, conflicts, etc., would make a good film. Suggest a filming location, format (live action or animated) and the actors to play the various roles. YOU MAY ONLY USE BOOKS WHICH HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN MADE INTO MOVIES.

Don’t put this assignment off!  I recommend writing a rough draft letter before writing a final copy. Have fun with it. It will be due on November 30^th 2011.  It will be worth 20 points.

Good luck!

                        -- Mr. Crippen

October Book Report!
Wow!  This cold weather means jackets are being pulled out of closets everywhere.  In fact, we're going to create jackets for our books this month.  The Book Report for October is to be done on any book the students' parents approve of (Free Choice!).  The report format for October will be as follows:

• Fold a piece of plain, white paper (cardstock would work great!) in half (hamburger style: side-to-side) and create an original, colorful, attractive cover for the book you read.  It should have an illustration which would grab the reader.  Also include the Title and Author (as well as Illustrator, if there is one.)
• On the back, write a 1-2 paragraph summary of what happens in the story without giving away the ending.  Also include a small illustration on the back.
• Make up and include 2-3 pretend quotes from book reviewers such as:  "This book was incredible!  Couldn't put it down!" -Harry Reedsallot

Book Reports are due October 28.  Have fun!

In honor of Patriot's Day, our school held an Essay Contest with the them of "Patriotism in Action."  One of our class' students, Ethan W., won  for his essay entitled "I'm Proud to be and American!"  The essay follows:

Aren't we all proud to be an American?  Where at least we know we're free?  We have houses and beds to sleep on instead of straw and dirt.  Most of us don't even know how blessed we are and a lot of people just take it for granted.

We all can help our country by being more obedient, respecting others, being a better friend, being happy, having charity, confidence, hope, being clean and helpful.

We also have liberty, where we can have our own religion and we don't have to be one religion.

In war, men lay down their lives for this country.  This happened when our founding fathers fought in the Revolutionary War for Independence against England and won.

I, Ethan W., am writing these last paragraphs about patriotism and 9-11-01.  The first two planes were assigned to land in Los Angeles and San Francisco but instead, two trained terrorists took over the plane, killed the pilots and flew both planes into the Twin Towers.

The third plane was supposed to go to Los Angeles as well but terrorists took it over also.  By then the people inside it heard on their cell phones about the twin towers being destroyed.  They found out this plane was going to hit the president's house and kill the president.  But before it did, a group of men and women said, "We're not going to let this plane go down and kill more innocent people and we'll fight so it won't!"

They fought and killed the terrorists.  They tried to bring the plane down to land but instead brought it down in a field, killing them all.  Many innocent Americans were killed that day.  That is major patriotism.  That group of men and women gave their lives for our country.  While the Twin Towers were destroyed and many people were killed, many more were not because of them.

Ethan W.