Ultimate Learning in Upper Elementary

Looking 4 Knowledge
By Jacob Lim
News Editor
           
            The fourth graders have been on a roll in this fourth quarter. In math class, they were working on two-digit division problems and fractions. In science they learned about the anatomy of plants, planting green beans and types of energy like kinetic and potential energy. The students also received hermit crabs. They got hermit crabs because they were studying the anatomy of crabs and needs of animals. In theology they are learning about Easter and its joy. They learned more about the resurrection and during Lent they contributed to the Rice Bowls and learned about the gospel of Matthew. In literature the students wrote different types of poems like haikus. Also they are reading about The Boy in The Alamo and composition. The genre they are learning is historical fiction. Finally the fourth graders are learning about Texas history in social studies and historical figures and near the end of the quarter dressed as historical figures and gave reports. The fourth graders have been busy during this quarter!

Finishing with a Bang!
 
By Tess Hefty
Sports Editor
           
            The third graders finished the year with a bang! The students read Charlotte’s Web and then completed an assessment to go with the book. The students were given a sheet called “A Barn Yard Full of Projects” which had eight project ideas on it. The students chose three projects from the sheet--one writing piece, one poetry piece, and one art piece. These third graders did an exceptional job on all their projects.
            In addition, the students learned about the different types of prayer and the devotions of Mary in religion. In social studies, they learned about the three branches of government and the different levels-- local, state, and national. To help them study, they made flipbooks with important information about the three branches. The third graders also completed a unit on plants in science and to go with the unit, the students completed a group project by growing a new plant from a cutting. They also dissected a seed in science while studying about plants. In math, the third graders learned their multiplication and division facts, although the hardest thing for them to learn was long division with remainders.
            The third grade teachers did everything they could to help their students study. They made flip books, graphic organizers, vocabulary cards, played math games, and used IXL for extra practice. It looks like these students have had a very busy quarter to finish out the year!
 
Next Step, Middle School!
By Hannah Yohr
Technology Editor
           
            The fifth graders were on a roll this fourth quarter! In Mrs. Kim’s reading class, the students read their own selected books. The key points in language were learning adverbs and prepositions. Then they completed an adverb test, and they worked on writing letters to practice their writing skills. Some reading comprehension skills Mrs. Kim used were cause and effect and authors purpose. The students worked on a reading project using Journey stories and their learned comprehension skills.
            In Mrs. Philips’s class, the students were working on their “egg”- speriment. For this project, the students experimented on an egg for three weeks, and they recorded their observations. In the lab, the students learned how electricity works with parallel circuits. They used lung and heart models to find this out. For math, the main focuses were multiplying and dividing decimals. They also used graphs and plots. They had a math test over these skills.
            In Mrs. Yager’s social studies class, the students worked on a 20 ^th century project. For this project, each student had a different decade in history that they presented in front of the class. Then, the students had a test over the Civil War. For religion, the students summarized the sacraments for a project that they worked on. During Lent, the students focused on what a sacrifice really means. Then, the students had a test over Matrimony and Holy Orders. This helped them finish up the sacraments. The fifth graders were certainly working hard this year. They are definitely ready for middle school!