Mrs. Rasco's Classroom Blog

Week of January 23rd

rrasco — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:49:21 +0000

This week in science we will finish up our study of sedimentary rocks and begin learning about metamorphic rocks. Students will be learning about characteristics that can be used to identify each type of rock. It looks like the test will be next week- either Tuesday or Thursday, depending on how far we get early this week. I will keep everyone posted about the official test date and study group dates and times as well.

This Friday is a 25 cent hat day!

Please be sure that you are periodically checking your child’s agenda. This is a great habit for them to develop for next year.

Clubs/Activities this week:

Tues- Xtreme Readers, Hot Cocoa Cafe

Wed- Running Club, Shooting Stars

Thurs- TALES

Have a great week!

Week of January 16th

rrasco — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:17:59 +0000

This week in science students will learn about the characteristics of igneous and sedimentary rocks. Students will learn to classify and identify unknown rock samples using the characteristics we learn about in class. Also, be sure to check out the science resources page- I’ve added some new and helpful sites under “Strand 5: Earth’s Systems.”

Clubs/Activities this week:

Tuesday- Xtreme Readers, Hot Cocoa Cafe

Wednesday- Running Club

Thursday- Craft Club, Tales

Friday- Bravo Club

Have a great week!

Week of January 9th

rrasco — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:49:40 +0000

This week in science, students will learn about the rock cycle. As part of the lesson, students will take a trip through the rock cycle, documenting their journey in the form of a comic strip. We will then move on to learn about the formation processes and identifying characteristics of each type of rock, beginning with igneous rock, late in the week.

The very popular “Smencils” are back. Smencils and bookmarks will be on sale, before school, beginning Wednesday. They are $1 each.

First Semester Honors Assembly will be this Thursday at 2:50 pm. Students who have perfect attendance and/or who are on the honor roll will be recognized.

REMINDER: Next Monday, January 16th there will be NO SCHOOL.

Have a great week!

Week of January 2nd

rrasco — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:17:05 +0000

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful break filled with family, food, and fun. My family enjoyed Christmas Eve candlelight service and then I hosted dinner at my home for 17 people on Christmas Day. We had deep-fried turkey, sweet potatoes, dressing, pumpkin pie, and pig cake! Gracie was very excited that Santa didn’t bring coal for her stocking!

This week in science, we will begin our unit on rocks. For this short week, we’ll get started by learning about the characteristics of rocks, noticing how they have similarities to and differences from minerals. We’ll also begin to learn about the rock cycle.

Grade cards will be sent home Thursday. Please be sure to sign these and return them to your child’s homeroom teacher.

This Friday is our I-Choose store for 2nd quarter. Students may spend any stamps earned during 1st or 2nd quarter.

Please be sure that you’ve checked with your student about their supplies. This is the time of year when paper and pencils run low and folders and binders begin to wear out.

Clubs/Activities this week:

Wed- Running Club, Shooting Stars

Fri- Bravo Club

Have a great week!

Week of December 19th

rrasco — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:36:53 +0000

This week in science, we will test over minerals. We will also have our cookie mining lab.

Wednesday, December 21st is a 25 cent half day. It is also an early release.

Personal plug— My dog, Daisy is in a contest. If she wins, we could win a trip to New York. If you’d like to vote, click here. She is contestant number 20 and her name is Daisy.

I want to take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. May you be blessed in the coming year!

Week of December 12th

rrasco — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:11:33 +0000

This week in science, students will explore the uses of minerals, as well as how minerals form and are mined. Students are really looking forward to the “Cookie Mining” lab next week after the test. The test over minerals (chapter 2) will be Monday, December 19th. Due to scheduling conflicts, there will be no study group for this test. However, we will review in class on Friday. If you know your child will be absent on Monday 12/18, please have them make arrangements to take the test early.

A HUGE thank-you to all who have brought in items for our adopted Christmas family. There is still time to help- if you’d like to make a cash donation or purchase a gift please do so by this Friday, December 16th. You can view the list of items still needed here.

Student Council will be selling holiday-grams for 25 cents and cookies for 50 cents on Wednesday-Friday of this week.

All absent or late work needs to be turned in by this Friday, December 16th to be counted for your child’s 2nd quarter/1st semester grade.

For students/parents from my homeroom: There are several items needed for our Christmas party on Wednesday, December 21st. Contact our homeroom mom, Mrs. Havens, or myself to help. You can also see the list on our “Wish List” page here.

Activities/Clubs this week:

Tues- Student Council meeting, Xtreme Readers, Hot Cocoa Cafe

Wed- Running Club

Thurs- Title I Reading Night (6 pm)

Fri- Bravo Club, Lego Club

Have a great week!

Week of December 5th

rrasco — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:26:32 +0000

This week in science, students will learn about the properties of minerals that can be used to identify them, like color, streak, luster, and hardness. Students will participate in a “mystery mineral” lab where they will use what they’ve learned about the properties to identify their mystery mineral.

Thanks so much to those who have sent in cookies for our cookie mining lab. To see a list of what is still needed, check my “Wish List” page here. I will keep it updated daily.

Clubs/Activities this week:

Tues- Hot Cocoa Cafe, Xtreme Readers

Wed- Running Club

Thurs- Cooking Club

Have a great week!

Week of November 28th

rrasco — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:10:40 +0000

This week in science, students will begin learning about minerals. Students will learn about characteristics that all minerals share along with properties that can be used to identify common minerals.

For an upcoming science activity, I will need several packages of chocolate chip cookies per class. They will need to be specific brands/types so for a complete list of what is needed, please visit my “Wish List” page here. I will update this list daily with quantities/brands still needed. Thanks for your help with this!

This Wednesday is the last day to take quizzes for the “Hugo” movie field trip. The movie field trip is Tuesday, December 6th.

This Friday is a $1 PJ day. Students may pay $1 to wear pj’s on this day. Please be sure that if your child participates to send them in appropriate shoes. Money raised will go towards the 5th grade field trip.

Please be sure to sign and return your child’s progress report by this Friday.

Have a great week!

Week of November 21st

rrasco — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:39:14 +0000

Students will take their test over fossils before leaving for Thanksgiving Break. When we return, we’ll begin our unit on minerals.

I’d like to take a moment to express my gratitude for your support so far this year. Your children are a wonderful group of children to work with and I am enjoying each and every one of them. Warmest blessings to you and your families this Thanksgiving and I’ll be praying for safe travels for all!

Week of November 14th

rrasco — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:57:17 +0000

This week in science, we will finish up our unit on fossils by learning how scientists make inferences about animals, past and present, from studying fossils. We’ll even go on a fossil “dig” and see if we can discover how our animal lived based on the bones we find.

Tuesday, 11/15 is the last day of the food drive. Please remember that this food helps people in our very community, so please donate if you can!

I will be having a study group on Thursday, November 17th before school at 7:45am and after school until 4:15pm. This will be to review for the test over fossils.

Friday 11/18 is a 25 cent hat day to benefit the Humane Society.

Clubs this week: Tues- Hot Cocoa Cafe, Xtreme Readers Wed- Running Club Thurs- Hugo Book Reading, Science Explorers Fri- AM Choir, Bravo Club

Have a great week!