Lincoln School Newsletter

In Math, the students are learning how to write checks and balance checkbooks! They are also working on a digital road trip across the country. The road trip requires students to work independently and together to arrive at their destination successfully. The students use the skills they have learned throughout the school year to read and display data, and determine their location, distance, and travel costs. In the upcoming weeks, they will work cooperatively to complete digital math escape rooms and create representations of statistical data.

In Science, the students have been exploring the characteristics of living and nonliving things, and how they interact within ecosystems. They are now diving into a research project focused on different biomes, including the Savannah, Desert, Deciduous Forest, Grassland, Taiga, Tundra, Tropical Rainforest, Freshwater, Estuary, and Saltwater. Each student has been assigned one of these biomes and is working with a partner to research its unique climate, plant and animal life, and the ways living and nonliving things depend on each other for survival. The students are creating both a presentation and a visual representation of their biome to share what they've learned.

The students have been working hard and challenging themselves to be the best they can be this month. They are actively participating in lessons and discussions, which contributes to a positive learning environment. This encourages them to explore and collaborate with their classmates to apply lessons to their daily lives.

We recently completed our state testing for Math and Science, and the students showed great focus and perseverance throughout the process. In Science, we are now shifting our focus to ecosystems, animal adaptations, and traits. The students are engaging in hands-on labs and group activities to explore how living things interact with their environments. We are also beginning to prepare for our upcoming class trip, which will provide students with a real-world opportunity to observe animal behavior and characteristics firsthand.

In Math, we are kicking off our exciting Food Truck Project, where students will apply their knowledge of fractions, decimals, and budgeting to design and run a mock food truck. This real-life application gives them a chance to think critically and creatively while reinforcing key math concepts. We continue to incorporate assistive technology and manipulatives in our classroom, including Generation Genius, Blooket, IXL, flashcards, and unit cubes, to create engaging, hands-on learning opportunities. The students are enjoying the interactive games and challenges that help them master new concepts. I am incredibly proud of all the hard work and growth our students have shown so far this year. I look forward to seeing them continue to explore, create, and succeed as we head into the final stretch of the school year!

In Social Studies, we have now shifted our focus to the American Revolution. We are currently discussing the events that led up to the war, including the French and Indian War and the Proclamation of 1763. Through engaging discussions, primary sources, and interactive activities, the students are building a deeper understanding of the causes of conflict between the colonists and the British government. These lessons are helping students to connect past events to larger themes like freedom, resistance, and the fight for independence.

This past month, we went on our class field trip to iFly where the students learned about STEM. They were able to build their own parachutes and test them. They also got to fly in the tube and learn about gravity. The students had such a great day! Thank you to our 4th Grade class parents for providing the students with a great lunch that day at the park!

We are so proud of how hard our students worked on the NJSLA assessments! Their focus, determination, and perseverance truly showed just how much they’ve learned and grown this year. Please join us in giving them a big round of applause for their efforts! Now that testing is behind us, we’re diving back into some exciting and meaningful learning:

📚 ELA

We’re continuing a class novel study with the heartwarming book Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo. As we read, we’ll focus on strengthening our reading comprehension skills, including identifying character traits, understanding theme, and making inferences. Be sure to ask your child about the story and what they’re discovering. This month in Writing, we’re honing in on grammar skills. The students will be working on parts of speech, sentence structure, and punctuation. These lessons will help them become stronger, more confident writers as they prepare for our end-of-year writing projects.

🌎 Social Studies

We’re excited to begin our unit on New Jersey’s economy! The students will learn about the resources in New Jersey, agriculture and manufacturing, transportation, and tourism. This unit helps make real-world connections to their everyday lives and the communities around them.

🔢 Math

We will be taking a deeper dive into geometry in the upcoming weeks. The students will be using all the math operations that we learned throughout Fourth Grade to answer geometric questions. These geometry skills will help us with so many life skills and spatial awareness.

🔬 Science

We just finished our topic about the history of planet Earth. Ask the students questions about how humans have evolved faster than any other species in the history of life on our planet. They all had some very interesting questions about dinosaurs and how life evolved to where it is today. We are moving on to learn about plant and animal structures and how they survive. This will be another exciting topic!

The Fifth Graders wrapped up the month with a group activity focused on identifying figurative language in songs, and writing heartfelt poems for Mother’s Day. They are currently enjoying two novels written in verse: Locomotion, by Jacqueline Woodson, and The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander. Both classes have developed a strong ability to listen closely to poetry, making it easy for them to recognize elements such as rhyme, repetition, imagery, and figurative language.

All of the students approached the NJSLA with a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. They shared that practicing with timed tests helped reduce anxiety and boosted their confidence. A special thanks goes out to our amazing class parents for supplying ice cream sundaes after the last day of Science testing!

As we approach the end of the school year, our focus will shift to one of the final genres we have yet to cover, historical fiction. Both classes will read the novel Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, and engage in discussions about the Holocaust. Please support your child’s learning by asking them questions about what we’re covering in class. Additionally, students should continue working in i-Ready for 45 minutes each week.

It’s hard to believe how quickly the year has flown by! Thanks to their dedication and effort, the students are well prepared to begin Sixth Grade in the fall. Keep up the great work!

In Reading, we have begun our historical fiction novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis. As the Watson family embarks on their journey to Birmingham, Alabama, their story keeps us engaged and entertained. Our focus is on the importance of setting in historical fiction—how it not only grounds the story, but also drives the conflict. As we read, the students will explore a significant, yet often overlooked, event in American history. The novel also provides a meaningful lens through which to examine social justice issues, prompting thoughtful discussions about racism and segregation. The students have been reflecting on the text daily and are doing an outstanding job writing responses that demonstrate critical thinking and thoughtful connections.

The students are currently working on a Document-Based Question (DBQ) exploring the vital role of freedom of the press in a democracy. They are examining political cartoons, quotes from influential Americans, and maps to gather evidence for their essays. This analysis will support their responses to the guiding question, "Why is freedom of the press essential to a democracy?” This project not only strengthens their analytical and writing skills, but also prepares them for the study of Civics in Seventh Grade and future research-based assignments.

In Social Studies, we are analyzing the Bill of Rights and exploring the first ten amendments to understand the fundamental freedoms they guarantee to American citizens. This work closely connects with our DBQ in writing, allowing students to deepen their understanding of the essential role a free press plays in a democratic society.

The class worked very hard during the NJSLA testng, and we are now in the 7th inning stretch of the year! We are excited for all our wonderful activities and trips coming up, including Field Day, The Torch Run, and Turtle Back Zoo! By the time the school year wraps up, the boys will have their time capsules hidden (which we worked on for Social Studies) for years to come.