Energy Quiz

Click on picture to view study sheet.

The Energy Quiz has been moved to Wednesday, March 28, 2012.

Announcement!

Junior Achievement

Fort Bend ISD and Schiff Elementary are committed to the Junior Achievement program.  JA provides students with opportunities to learn about their role as citizens and as consumers.  We’re looking for volunteers to make this program fulfilling!   Please join us for the Junior Achievement “Kick-Off Training,” event to be held next Tuesday, March 27^th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the library.   Volunteers will be asked to devote approximately an hour a week for 5 weeks in order to teach K-2 students about the importance of understanding the business world around them.  We look forward to seeing lots of volunteers!

Review for Perimeter and Area Quiz

Click on the picture to see the review.

Remember:

1. Obey the mighty KEY! 

2. Perimeter- Add all sides

3. Area- Length X Width = Area

4. Show your thinking in writing!

Note to Parents

Parents,

This is the time of year where we raise the level of expectations for our students to get them ready for the STAAR. In class we are encouraging students to read questions and answers carefully and check for reasonableness. We also encourage students to be attentive and participate during lessons.

We are teaching students to slow down on tests and be reflective. We ask students to reflect by going back and rereading to make sure they understand what the question asks. We also encourage them to go back and check their work when they are finished.

Students are learning the importance of showing their work and proving their answers. These are all good test taking practices that we are expecting of all our students. It is a good idea to practice these behaviors at home on their homework.

Reasonableness is a difficult concept for our third graders. Asking why and how questions at home will help them develop the critical thinking skills they need to be rational. For example, bake a cake from scratch and discuss why it is important to measure or go on a nature walk and discuss how the plants make their food.

Be creative and explore the possibilities of why and how in everyday life! If they do these things I know they will be successful! We know that the rigor of the work can seem overwhelming, but we are working hard to prepare students for success.

Thank you for your continued support!

Reminders

Schiff Parents,

This is Ms. Brewster with a few reminders,

First are the Shark-A-Thon reminders…

·         There are several due dates coming up related to Shark-A-Thon.   Family sponsorship opportunities end this Wednesday, February 29^th. 

·         Class Basket Donations (for the silent auction) are due this Friday, March 2^nd.

·         Shark-A-Thon t-shirts are due next Friday, March 9^th.  Pre-orders are required.

Also, tomorrow, February 28^th is our last opportunity to earn cash this year’s box tops.  We will continue to collect them for the fall semester of next year.   Parents, please gather up any remaining box tops from around the house and turn them in tomorrow!  Thanks!

Finally, to Parents of a 5^th Grader ---- “Middle School Parent Night” will be held tomorrow, February 28^th.  Baines M.S. will hold “Parent Night,” at 6:30 p.m. and First Colony Middle School’s “Parent Night” will begin at 6:00 p.m.  Join them to learn helpful information about 6^th grade.

Thanks and have a great evening!

Thermal Energy Notes

Click on the picture to enlarge. We are having a quiz over thermal energy and simple machines this Friday. 

Geometry Post Test

Click on the picture to view the review sheet for the Geometry post test. Students are bringing their notebooks home this evening to study. 

Fraction, Patterns, and Tables Post Test

Students should be bringing their notebooks home this evening to study for the test tomorrow. This is the review they copied in their notebooks today of the things they need to know for their test.

Soil Quiz Tomorrow

This study sheet went home with students on Tuesday. Study! Study! Study!

Soil - Soil is made up of water, air, weathered rocks, and decaying organic material. The four main types of soil are loam, clay, humus, and sand.

Sand - Sand is made up of weathered rocks and is mostly light colored. Grains of sand are crystal shaped. These crystaline shaped gains allow water to pass trough it quickly. This soil also holds more air than the other soils, which makes it the dryest soil. 

Clay - Clay is made up of fine grains and is very moist. Clay can have many colors. It holds a lot of water and little air.

Humus - Humus is made of decaying plants and animlas. It is the darkest colored soil and it is rich in minerals. Humus has a rotton odor.

Loam - Loam is a mixture of sand, clay, and humus combined together. Loam is the best soil to grow plants. Loam is a dark brown color.

Rock Cycle - In the rock cycle rocks are constantly being formed, worn down and then formed again. There are three main types of rocks that are formed in the rock cycle; igneouse, metamorphic, and sedimentary.

Igniouse Rock - Igneous rocks form when molten lava (magma) cools and turn to solid rock.

Metamorphic Rock - When the earth's crust moves, it causes rocks to get squeezed so hard that the heat causes the rock to change. Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have been formed by great heat or pressure.

Sedimentary Rock - When erosion occurs, little bits of rock are worn away and get deposited as sediments. Over time, the sediments build up forming heavy layers. The sediments are eventually cemented together by the pressure, forming sedimentary rocks.

Minerals - A mineral is a natural occuring inorganic solid with a crystal like shape and structure. Minerals are classified by their streak (color), clevage (shape/structure), and their hardness. Minerals cannot be man made.