This week, our classroom was filled with excitement and discovery as students delved into the world of historical fiction. Students selected from a diverse range of historical fiction novels for their next literature circle unit:
- One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia: Chronicles the experiences of three sisters visiting their estranged mother in 1960s Oakland, California.
- Refugee by Alan Gratz: Follows the harrowing journeys of three children fleeing war-torn countries.
- The 21 Balloons by William Pène du Bois: An adventurous tale of a professor who discovers a hidden society on the island of Krakatoa.
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry: Depicts a young girl’s bravery in Nazi-occupied Denmark during World War II.
- I Escaped the Salem Witch Trials by Scott Peters: A gripping survival story set during the infamous 1692 trials in Salem, Massachusetts.
Our first literature circle discussion is tomorrow, and the first assignment is due next Wednesday. This will be our final literature circle discussion of the year! In history class, students learned about the lives of famous pharaohs and examined images of mummies. In math, students worked diligently on fraction number lines. In writing, students honed their research skills by learning how to gather information for bibliographies. They also practiced structuring source cards and information cards.
The 6th-year students have been working diligently to plan their annual end-of-year field trip! As part of their tradition, the sixth graders organize, fundraise, and embark on a special trip. This year, they’ve chosen an overnight adventure to Hawking Hills, scheduled for May 15-16th. Tomorrow, they will kick off their lemonade fundraiser after school at 3:00 pm. Your support would mean a lot to them. Please stop by and help make their trip a success!
April 18th, Upper will have a library field trip from 9:30- 12:00 pm to gather research books for writing! We will be walking, so please help your child dress accordingly. The walk is about 20 minutes. Please send your child to school on Friday with their (or your) library card. Grounds for Thought is next to the library, and after our enriching visit, we will stop for some drinks and snacks before our leisurely walk back to school.