Monday, January 21, 2008

Hello Spruce,

Currently, Grade 5 is focusing on the Conservation of Energy in Science and Grade 6 is working on Electricity/Circuits. Each unit of study is very interesting and complex. To complement the science, please try to explain how electricity is used throughout our daily lives.

Homework this week will include the weekly spelling, a two page free journal entry, and a reading response. Math homework will be given throughout the week. It will be from the textbook and work sheets. Grade 6 EQAO math will be the problem of the week.

All students need to display their work clearly and neatly, especially the math. Also, parents please sign the agenda everyday. If homework is not done, please leave a quick note to me.

Students need to have warm clothing and indoor shoes. Winter is starting to become very cold and students need to be comfortable while outside during recesses.

Grade 5 Conservation of Energy Home Project

During our Science unit on Energy, we are examining the impact of the creation of energyand how we depend on it to live our lives. One of the most hands on approaches of change is to limit the amount of waste that occurs in our own homes. To conserve energy we use is easier that we think. Not only does this help decrease the amount of energy needed, it also help keep money in our wallets.

Adult family members are needed for this home project. Most students know very little about the functions of the home and the appliances that we use. Everything, from heating our homes, to making the morning coffee to the electric lawn mower in the garage, uses power. Students need your guidance to help put all these consumers of power into perspective.

A visit to Rona or Home Depot is a great field trip. Most stores have displays, especially in the hot water tank, insulation, light bulb and window sections. Speak to knowledgeable sales people and ask for brochures regarding how to be more energy efficient. Please be on the look out for ENERGY STAR labels and what ENERGY STAR really means?

Good luck and please ask me for any clarification.

Mr. De Rose


Project requirements.
1. Create a large cross section of a house the size of one Bristol board. (Be creative!)
2. Throughout each room of this house, identity problematic energy wasters. Explain in one paragraph what they consume (electricity) or what they waste (uncaulked windows let in cold air resulting in wasted heat)
3. Identify 20 to 30 of these trouble areas in the home and what can be done to help conserve energy. Remember to consider each season. Keep the home warm in winter and cool in summer.
4. Written work needs to be done by the student at a proper grade 5 level.
5. Project must be neat, organized, well researched and colourful.
6. Try to use facts and numbers to justify your answers. e.g. compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs to save about 50 percent on your lighting costs. CFLs use only one-fourth the energy and last up to 10 times longer.
7. Bibliography . Please create a bibliography for all research including websites on a separate paper.
8. PROJECT DUE: TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2008

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

Hope all of you enjoyed the holidays. We will be resuming our standard homework schedule. Last week there was no spelling. Most of the students had work to finish from December and I wanted to focus on finishing these tasks before starting new work.

Thank you for completing school forms promptly. It is really appreciated when students hand in forms quickly. We are looking to collect several items to help our art program. For the next couple of weeks, Ms. Husband will be augmenting our art class. The project she is starting requires many household items. Could you please donate any thin wire, rubber bands, springs, metal or rubber washers, and nuts and bolts. Any left over plumbing or building supplies would really help make this project extra special.

Grade 6 students will start to receive EQAO homework. Arbor Glen has a proud history of high achievement and preparing the students early is always wise. I will also be starting the Spruce homework club. The club will run from 3:30pm to 4:10pm. A day of the week has not been established yet. I am waiting until all after school activities have been set to avoid any conflicts. This will be a fun club, with a strong emphasis on work. It’s really a great opportunity for students to complete homework with guidance of the teacher.