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Please follow this blog to view the comings, goings, projects, homework, special events and fun of Susan Isaacson's 5th grade class at Gale Elementary.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Our Amazing "Tear Art" Self Portraits!











Parent Letter

The Wonderville Connection
October 8, 2012
Dear Parents,

I hope you all have had a wonderful Fall Break!  I certainly have!  I will be honest though, I need another week or so.  My intention for the break was to complete a fun home improvement project – paint our bedroom, bathroom and closet.  I thought I’d finish by Wednesday and have a little time to relax.  Well, by bedtime on Thursday I had finally finished the CLOSET!  Things always take so much longer than I expect!  Anyway, the closet is an absolute work of art.  I hardly wanted to move our stuff back into it!

Please look for report cards to come home on Tuesday as the second nine weeks is upon us!  Ms. Sylvian and I are sharing the teaching this week and we have lots planned!  Specifically, our academic pursuits of the week are as follows:

·         Language Arts – We are reading about the Jr. Iditarod!  Since I vacationed in Alaska last summer, I am especially excited to learn about this amazing race.

·         Social Studies – We will finish the cool movie about the constitution.  We will also go to the library for some tips on doing research.

·         Science – We will finish the human body kit and prepare for the final test.  In addition, the students doing the Human Body Learning Contract will have the chance to share their presentations on Thursday, October 11th.  Some students are doing book reports which are also due on the 11th.

·         Math – We are finishing the unit on data analysis and probability.  That unit final will be on Friday!

·         Book Club final assignments are due Friday!  I have posted the various book report options on the blog.  The kids also have access to hard copies of these documents in the classroom.

I have another personal report….all of the adorable puppies have been re-homed.  I will put some pictures of them on the blog as well for your enjoyment!

Have a great week!

Mrs. Isaacson

Movie Poster Book Report

For this book report, you will tell about your book by pretending the book is going to be made into a movie and creating a poster to promote the movie.  Your report will include a summary, and information about the book's character, setting, a problem and a solution.

Requirements:
v      Label – Design a label for your collage that includes
§         The title of the book
§         The author
§         The words “Movie Poster Book Report by __________________________”
v      Summary – Write a summary of the book that includes the who, what, where, when and why of the story.
v      Setting – Write a paragraph that describes the setting of the book.
v      Plot – Write a paragraph that describes the main problem and solution in the story.
v      Character Study – Write a short description of the main characters in the story.  Include how you and the character are alike or not alike.  Plan an illustration of each character.

Constructing the Basic Movie Poster Book Report
Write or type your paragraphs.
Look at the genre posters in the classroom.  They are made to look like movie posters!  Plan a picture of your book’s setting for the background of your poster.  Then plan pictures of a character or scene from the book to use in the foreground of your poster (notice the Mystery poster).  Draw and color the background picture directly onto the poster.  Draw and color the foreground pictures on cardstock.  Cut the foreground pictures out and glue them on top of the background poster.  Cut the title of the book out of colored paper (or buy cool letters from Michaels) and glue the title to the top of your poster.  Look at the posters for ideas to make the title look great!  G;iGlue the shapes onto a poster board in a creative way.  Draw the illustrations on the poster board in between the paragraphs.  Fill the space.  Color all the illustrations so your collage is entirely filled and very colorful!
Suggestion:  Keep your movie poster small enough to fit in your smash book when you are finished!  An even better idea is to plan a larger movie poster that can be cut into pieces in order to fit in your smash book.

Paper Bag Book Report

For this book report, you will tell about your book using props that you put in your paper bag.  Your report will include a summary of the book, information about the book's character, setting, a problem and a solution.

Requirements:

v      Cover – Design a cover on the outside of your paper bag that includes
§         The title of the book
§         The author
§         The words “Paper Book Report by __________________________”
§         A related illustration

v      Summary – Write a summary of the book that includes the who, what, where, when and why of the story.  Consider the surroundings, seasons, climate, time period and geographical location.  Plan a related illustration.  Write this summary on a card that fits into your bag.

v      Setting – Write a paragraph that describes the setting of the book on another card.  Consider the surroundings, seasons, climate, time period and geographical location.  Find an object or objects that illustrate/s the setting and fits in your paper bag.

v      Plot – Write a paragraph that describes the main problem and solution in the story on a third card.  Find an object or objects that illustrate/s the problem and fits in your bag.

v      Character Study – Write a short description of the main characters in the story.  Include how you and the character are alike or not alike. Find an object that represents your characters and fit in the bag.
Constructing the Basic Paper Bag Book Report
Prepare the cover of your paper bag and place the cards and objects inside!  You’re ready to share with the class.

Collage Book Report

For this book report, you will tell about your book by creating a collage.  Your report will include a summary of the book, information about the book's character, setting, a problem and a solution.

Requirements:
v      Label – Design a label for your collage that includes
§         The title of the book
§         The author
§         The words “Collage Book Report by __________________________”
v      Summary – Write a summary of the book that includes the who, what, where, when and why of the story.  Consider the surroundings, seasons, climate, time period and geographical location.  Plan a related illustration.
v      Setting – Write a paragraph that describes the setting of the book.  Consider the surroundings, seasons, climate, time period and geographical location.  Plan a related illustration.
v      Plot – Write a paragraph that describes the main problem and solution in the story.  Plan a related illustration.
v      Character Study – Write a short description of the main characters in the story.  Include how you and the character are alike or not alike.  Plan an illustration of each character.

Constructing the Basic Collage Book Report
Write or type your paragraphs on colored paper and cut them into interesting shapes.  Glue the shapes onto a poster board in a creative way.  Draw the illustrations on the poster board in between the paragraphs.  Fill the space.  Color all the illustrations so your collage is entirely filled and very colorful!
Suggestion:  Keep your collage small enough to fit in your smash book when you are finished!  An even better idea is to plan a larger collage that can be cut into pieces in order to fit in your smash book.



Mobile Book Report

For this book report, you will tell about your book by creating a mobile.  Your report will include a summary of the book, information about the book's character, setting, a problem and a solution.
 
Requirements:
v      Cover – Design a cover that includes
§         The title of the book
§         The author
§         The words “Mobile Book Report by __________________________”
v      Summary – Write a summary of the book that includes the who, what, where, when and why of the story.  Consider the surroundings, seasons, climate, time period and geographical location.  Plan a related illustration.
v      Setting – Write a paragraph that describes the setting of the book.  Consider the surroundings, seasons, climate, time period and geographical location.  Plan a related illustration.
v      Plot – Write a paragraph that describes the main problem and solution in the story.  Plan a related illustration.
v      Character Study – Write a short description of the main characters in the story.  Include how you and the character are alike or not alike.  Plan an illustration of each character.

Constructing the Basic Mobile Book Report
Cut interesting shapes from cardstock to attach your paragraphs and illustrations to.  Use a hole punch to make holes in the top of the shape to allow hanging it from your mobile.  Use wire to create a frame to hang your mobile from or use a coat hanger.  Hang all the shapes from your mobile, then hang the mobile in the classroom to share.
Suggestion:  Keep your mobile pieces small enough to fit in your smash book when you are finished!









Pop-Up Book Report

For this book report, you will tell about your book by creating a pop-up book.  Your report will include a summary of the book, information about the book's character, setting, a problem and a solution.
Requirements:
v      Cover – Design a cover that includes
§         The title of the book
§         The author
§         The words “Pop-Up Book Report by __________________________”
v      Summary – Write a summary of the book that includes the who, what, where, when and why of the story.  Consider the surroundings, seasons, climate, time period and geographical location.  Plan a related illustration.
v      Setting – Write a paragraph that describes the setting of the book.  Consider the surroundings, seasons, climate, time period and geographical location.  Plan a related illustration.
v      Plot – Write a paragraph that describes the main problem and solution in the story.  Plan a related illustration.
v      Character Study – Write a short description of the main characters in the story.  Include how you and the character are alike or not alike.  Plan an illustration of each character.

Constructing the Basic Pop - Up Book Report
Fold a piece of cardstock in half with a landscape orientation.  Use a ruler to draw 2 lines about ½ a part off the fold of the paper.  Repeat this process several times on the page if you like.  Having some lines shorter and some lines longer will allow you to have more dimension in your pop-up pictures.
Make sure each pair of lines are the same length.  Create tabs by cutting along the lines you drew.
Open the cardstock.  Pull the tabs inside and crease the fold to make the cardstock stand open.
Create the drawings you planned on cardstock.  Color the pictures.  Cut out pop-up pieces that show important elements of the setting, scene, etc.  Your character page should have a tab for each character you describe.  Glue your pictures onto the tabs.
Color the background of the folded cardstock or illustrate it to add scenic details around the pop-up pieces.
Attach your written paragraphs in the foreground of each page.
Your complete pop-up book report will fit in your smash book!