What's Happening at Holly Ridge
November 2023 3rd-5th Edition
Welcome!
This quarterly newsletter is a collaboration between our Holly Ridge staff and the Family Engagement Committee. We hope to give you an inside look at each grade level and specials so you can talk about what's happening with your students! This newsletter is for Third through Fifth Grades.
Help at Your Fingertips!
A Quick Quarter Glance
Third Grade: Third graders have had an awesome start to the school year! We have focused a lot on buidling our classroom communites and learning the new expectations of being in thrid grade. In Reading, our first module focused on the importance of reading, learning, and having access to books. We read a book called My Librarian is a Camel. Third gradders used this text to learn about children from around the world and the challenges they sometimes face accessing books and education. We finished the quarter off by learning the struture of a paragraph. Students researched a country and used the information gathered to write an informational paragraph! In Math we have learned a lot! Third graders started off the year learning all about multiplication. Be sure to reinforce these math concepts/vocabulary: equal groups, arrays, and repeated addition. We finished off the quarter with a Data and Graphing unit. Students learned how to conduct a survey and use tally charts to collect data. The data collected was used to create bar and pictographs. In Science, third graders explored the states and properties of matter by oberseving their phycial characteristics. In Social Studies, students learned the structure, fuction, and responsibilites of goverment leaders at the locoal, state, and national levels. As a part of Social Studies unit 3rd grade took a field trip to downtown Raleigh where we got to tour the Excutive Masion. Some classes got to visit the legislative building and others got to explore the Natural Science Musuem. Mrs. Wuertz and Ms. Nunnery have kept our 3rd graders busy in the garden. They are learning a lot about plants, gardening, and how to take care of our wonderful school garden.
Fourth Grade: This past quarter, 4th graders have reviewed math concepts of graphing, place value, addition and subtraction. We built on the skills we already had from previous years. We also worked with additive and multiplicative comparisons that will continue to be incorporated throughout our math concepts. In EL, we read Love That Dog along with many other famous poets. Students wrote a poem about something that inspires them. These poems will be published in a class poetry book.
Fifth Grade: Fifth grade was very busy during the first quarter! In Science, students learned about the different systems of the human body, their functions, parts, and how systems work together to keep your body functioning. We also learned about cells and heredity. In ELA, we completed a novel study of Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan while exploring narrative story structure and human rights through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Students made connections between texts, and used text evidence (including quotes!) to support their thinking. In math, we started the quarter by learning about data and graphing, focusing on how to represent data that changes over time on line graphs. In Unit 2, we revisited strategies for multiplication and division to discover the most efficient strategies for multiplying and dividing larger numbers, learned about the order of operations, and solved scenarios involving volume of rectangular prisms.
ESL: We've had a great 1st quarter in ESL. We have students who speak languages from all over the world including, Russian, Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, Hindi, Fulfulde, Turkish, and Telegu. These students bring a rich understanding and culture to their classrooms. They are jewels! In our K-1 class we began with school vocabulary along with pronouns and simple verbs. We're learning body parts and verbs to support constructing simple sentences. We sing lots of songs and rhyming poems. We also are stretching out sentences and words to hear individual sounds. We have learned about some holidays that we celebrate in the United States. We play lots of speaking games to encourage practice of our new language. It is a lively place to be! In Grades 2-5, I support in the classroom with new science vocabulary, constructing sentences, writing narratives and Letterland.
Explorers & AIG: In Explorers lessons, students reviewed CogAt Thinking Skills: Verbal, Quantitative, & Non-Verbal, to prepare for testing in November. Explorers will continue through the second quarter with whole group lessons focusing on Thinking Skills and Problem Solving! We will work on Logic Puzzles as well as tapping into Creativity and Critical Thinking skills. All 4th & 5th grade AIG ELA students began the school year by engaging in the exploration of Happiness. We read the article "What is Happiness?", kept a happiness journal, learned about guided note-taking, and engaged in several happiness activities. We closed the unit with our first Socratic Seminar on the topic of happiness by discussing how happiness impacts our lives. In AIG Math, all students began the year by honing a variety of mathematics, critical thinking and problem solving skills by working on some challenging math puzzles. The 4th grade AIG Math students then deepened their understanding of Multiplicative Comparisons with our Amazing NC Landmark projects and the 5th grade AIG Math students further explored volume by participating in the 5th annual NC Cake Bake-Off Competition. It has been a fun and productive 1st quarter in AIG.
A Look Ahead
Third Grade: Third graders have so much to look forward to in Quarter 2! We can't wait for our 2nd annual Balloon Parade on Tuesday, November 21st. Students will learn all about the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and are will get to show off their balloon creations to the school. In Reading, we will be starting our big unit on frogs and other slippery creatures. Third graders are going to become experts on many types of frogs. Be sure ask them all about the interesting adaptions these creatures have. In Math, we will continue practicing problem solving strategies using all four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). Third graders will be challenged with multistep word problems using a variety of operations. Classrooms are starting their BIG multiplication mastery challenges. Each classroom has come up with a unique theme to track mastery of the multiplication tables zero through eleven. We are really excited to see their knowledge of times tables progress. Our big focus for Social Studies this quarter will be Economics. Students will have the opportunity to be entrepreneurs where they will sell a good or a service for profit. In Science we will be studying the human body focusing on the three main systems: skeletal, muscular, and skin.
Fourth Grade: Our second quarter math concepts will be multiplication, division and fractions. Students will be using their basic multiplication facts to solve multiplication problems of 1 digit times a multiple digit number and 2 digit by 2 digit. We will also be using our basic multiplication facts to support our division of a one digit divisor into a multiple digit dividend. Students will also solve division problems with a remainder. In EL, we will be exploring animal defense mechanisms. Students will learn about various animals adaptations to their environment. At the end of the quarter, students will write a Choose-Your-Own adventure story to show their knowledge of defense mechanisms and to entertain an audience.
Fifth Grade: Next quarter students can look forward to many engaging learning experiences! We will be exploring the world’s ecosystems and how living and non-living things are interconnected in Science. In ELA, students will become experts on the rainforest, as they explore the text The Most Beautiful Roof in the World by Kathyrn Lasky. Through their work in reading, students will identify different text structures and determine how these text structures help readers understand the content. Our mathematicians will also be working with fractions- by learning how to multiply, divide, add, and subtract fractions using different strategies. Be sure to check out the 5th grade page of the HRES Bitmoji Classroom for resources on all of our topics!
Seeing Into Specials
Media:
During the first quarter all students have been learning about internet safety and the responsible use of technology. They have also been learning how to use the library independently to find books that are a good fit for their age, interests, and reading level.
Music:
First quarter is off to a great start. 5th graders are working on their Ukulele skills while 4th graders are continuing recorders by earning belts for Karate Recorder. We are reviewing skills in 3rd grade and have just started learning about the lines and spaces and the musical alphabet. K-2 is working on steady beat skills, moving and singing. All classes are enjoying listening examples in each class. We’ve heard from Stomp, Blue Man Group and others.
Art:
During art this quarter Kindergarten students were learning about mixing colors. They learned what primary and secondary colors are. They had a surprise guest “pirate” join them in the fun of mixing clay. First grade learned about composition and balance by creating a symmetrical barn landscape. We used printmaking tools to create texture and they did a fantastic job. Second grade students had so much fun creating their own origami cat or dog. They learned about the history of origami and where it originated from. Third grade created an amazing shaking dog painting inspired by the artist Iris Scott. We learned about how movement can be shown in our artwork. Fourth grade was inspired by the artist Dean Russo and created portraits of labradors for their art. In fifth grade we studied the artist Jen Arayni and watched videos of her creating her watercolor and pen paintings.
Kinesthetics:
Students began the year reviewing/introducing safe ways to move our bodies in our space. We explored different pathways and various locomotor movements. Students participated in activities focused on fleeing and dodging as well as the associated feelings that go along with being tagged. They enjoyed trying out new exercises including squats, jumping jacks, plank pose and push ups. After each activity where we elevated our heart rates, we practiced “take 5” breathing. It is a great breathing activity to calm down and regulate our heart rates.
~2nd-5th grades: Students got back into the swing of outdoor activity in Kinesthetics. We begin each class with a warm up to get our muscles and minds ready for activity. We opened the year with our cooperative kicking unit. Students reviewed kicking mechanics and game strategy. Students practiced skills and drills and then applied skills to small sided games. We worked through team dynamics and offensive and defensive strategies. On top of the physical aspects of the game, we prioritized sportsmanship and feelings associated with winning and losing.
Looking ahead, students in grades 3-5 are gearing up for First in fitness event practice. We are starting off with mile run prep. Students will slowly increase their distance each day and work on coming up with a mile run goal time based on their previous performances. Emphasis is placed on simply doing their best rather than comparing themselves to others.
PE:
~Kindergarten students began the year participating in a variety of activities that focused on learning to move safely in the gym. The activities included a wide range of locomotor skills at varying speeds. Throughout all of the games we focused on the character trait of integrity. This was followed by an introduction to jump rope and our final activity was a Halloween themed parachute day.
~1st-2nd grade students began the year working on basic jump rope skills that will eventually lead to the improvement of their technique. Once students achieve proficiency in the basic technique they will be on their way to a great activity they can do at home that not only works on fitness but speed and coordination that will assist them in all sports that they choose to play. They also participated in a variety of activities that worked on kicking, throwing and overall fitness.
~3rd-5th grade students are currently working on their WCPSS fitness test that includes Jump Rope, Pull-ups, Standing Long Jump, Shuttle Run, 100 Yard dash, pacer Test and Mile Run. Any student that achieves the top score for their grade level will earn a spot on the HRE First in Fitness team that will compete in March. Students have also participated in a variety of activities that work on kicking, throwing, teamwork and fitness.
What's Happening Around the Ridge
Here's a look at events coming up at the school in conjunction with the PTA:
Nov. 28th - Dec. 6th: HRES Book Fair
Dec. 4th: Family Night at the Book Fair (5-7pm)
Dec. 4th: Culture Share Night in the Cafeteria (5-7pm)
Dec. 8th - 9th: Winterfest Tree Trail at Ting Park (4-9pm)
Dec. 14th: School Spelling Bee