For our Native American project assessment, students worked with their original regional group to design a diorama of their cultures environment, shelter, natural resources, and any other details they could. I was very proud to watch them utilizing the notes they had taken and collected throughout our unit to help them as they build their regions. They did an absolutely amazing job creating these and really showcasing their knowledge of each region! If you would like to see this in person, VISIT OUR LOCAL THREE RIVERS LIBRARY, starting Tuesday, December 2nd - They will be on display in the CHILDREN'S BOOK SECTION!
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We have been busy wrapping up our Native American unit. Our learning approach is very integrated which means that almost every part of our day with Mrs. Bermingham contains social studies while still focusing on our reading and writing standards. Sometimes, we are able to even include these themes Math and Science with Mrs. Griffioen! In READING, we have using Native American Legends during our "Story Element" unit as we study Character, Setting, Conflict, Resolution, and events that help create the plot and build toward the Climax. After studying, how characters change throughout a story, we discovered that many Native American Indians had multiple names based off their actions throughout their lives. We then created our own Native American Names and symbols. The Northwest American Indian tribes created totem poles to share their family heritage and to tell their stories. Using creative WRITING, along with our READING lesson on "Character Traits," we created short paragraphs that described each of our family members on our totem poles. We assigned an animal to each member of our families according to the character traits applied to what the Natives applied to that animal. As with each unit, students are required to read at least one NON-FICTION text on our social studies unit. They fill out a sheet highlighting the who, what, when, where, why, how as well as find one FUN FACT to add to our Wall of Facts for the unit. They are also encouraged to test on the book to get a running record of non-fiction comprehension and practice. In WRITING, we have been working on creating strong expository (informational) paragraphs. After creating dream catchers with our grandparents, we went on to research them more. Then, using the information we discovered, we wrote paragraphs about them. In both SCIENCE and SOCIAL STUDIES the kids are researching how plants, animals, and Native American groups ADAPTED to their environments. In MATH, students worked with fractions to create "maize" or corn {bread} which was a dietary staple for many Native American groups. It is one of the newly discovered products from the New World, brought back to Europe, Africa, and Asia by early explorers. For our Thanksgiving Celebration, we enjoyed eating our corn bread muffins, created by the students during math class using fractions. We also made homemade butter using an old fashioned technique of "Churning" much like the Europeans would have used during the time of early exploration. Dairy Animals, such as goats and cows, were old world products brought to the Americans by explorers. For our party craft, students also created Navajo "Sand Paintings".
In fifth grade, we study American history the good, the bad, and the ugly. One of the GOOD aspects of our country is how so many different countries, continents, and cultures have merged here. When we look around our classroom, we can see that America is not for just one group of people - it is for everyone and every country, continent, and culture has helped create what America is today. To help illustrate the different heritages represented in a unique way, we are going WAY back and learning a bit about our OWN family heritage. For some of us, a specific culture is quite fresh, perhaps we even celebrate in a unique cultural way each holiday season. SHARE these traditions, hold on to them as families! However, being "American" many of us, including myself, tend to be what some might call "mutts" (wink). Because of our beautiful diversity, many of us have become a blend of countries and cultures and cannot trace our roots back - if that is your family's case, please talk to your child and have them choose a country that they are interested in or want to learn more about. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THIS STRESSFUL. Our purpose is to enjoy researching the many cultures that have made our country and to have FUN! Here is a fun video we watched that highlights America as a "Great Melting Pot " and our strong immigrant heritage: We are excited to see where many of us are from, way back when, and what countries we represent in the classroom. We are also looking forward to finding out how countries around the world celebrate the holiday season.
This Friday, we had a fabulous time trekking up to our state capital of Lansing. At the Capital, we showed off our knowledge of state government sharing information on the Senate, House of Representatives, Governor, State seal and symbols, how bills become laws, and more! We also admired the beautiful renovated building and were awed by the skill and talent that it took! At the Michigan History Museum, we experienced hands on activities such as riding in a wagon, touching real animal furs that the Native Americans would have traded, traveled through an old iron mine, experienced what life would have been like as a lumber, miner, male/female, cook, Native, European, and child in colonial times. Then we traveled through the decades and saw the evolution of the automobile, industry, music, homes, technology, agriculture, and tourism in modern Michigan. Over all, we had a GRAND time! A BIG THANK YOU to our parent chaperons who helped with our trip!
What an absolutely WONDERFUL turn out for Grandparent's Day! Our little room was jam packed with people - it was lovely! We have been learning a lot in social studies about the different Native American Regions around North America and students were really able to showcase their knowledge to their Grandparents. *Proud Teacher Heart* We started with a hands-on craft - making a Great Plains Dream Catcher - with our Grandparents. It was Native American Grandparents who made these for their grandchildren to help guide not only their sleeping dreams but also their life goals and dreams. I want to give a shout to out the grandparents who helped me during the day as well. Between untangling yarn, cutting supplies, encouraging me with their kind words, and even "adopting" another child at their table - I was equally blessed by their presence. My own wonderful Grandmother, Grandma Ware, a retired 3rd grade teacher who comes in and helps me every Thursday, also aided in guiding and listening to those students who did not have a grandparent visiting. THANK YOU ALL! To share our Native American Regions, we took our grandparents on a "Regional Tour". Each region discovery box held "artifacts" and pictures that aided the students in telling their knowledge of that region. They were to identify whether the object was an artifact or a natural resource and then share how the Native people in that region utilized it. I was very proud of the student's knowledge and excitement as they shared their learning. It was also neat to hear grandparents add to their knowledge and share tidbits about Native culture that they have picked up through the years. Grandparents have so much wisdom and knowledge to give to each of us - it was neat to hear them guiding their grandchildren and listening to the children share their new knowledge with them. What a great day!
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HOPPIN's FABULOUS FIFTH GRADE CLASS!
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