Week 18 (January 13 - January 19)

Happy New Year, Families! 

I hope the break provided you with a much needed respite from the grind of schoolwork and quality time with your loved ones. I am looking forward to seeing the cute faces of your incredible students next Tuesday. I have really missed them!

I would also like to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for the generous monetary Christmas gift I was given on behalf of my Fortis families. I was overwhelmed with your generosity...completely overwhelmed. I was leaving for NYC shortly after school got out, so it was perfect timing and enabled me to have a little extra spending money, as I visited my favorite city during Christmastime. Once again, I will always be grateful for your generous gift. 

Here's to a wonderful new year filled with good health and much joy!

Thank you!  Mrs. B.

Link to Google Folder: 5th Grade Documents

Anything in blue should be turned in as homework on the next school day.

Anything in red is a special note to the co-teacher.

Anything in purple denotes a formal assessment.

Anything in magenta is optional (at the discretion of the co-teacher). 

5th Grade Week 18	Tuesday 1/13/2026	Wednesday 1/14/2026	Thursday 1/15/2026	Friday 1/16/2026	Monday 1/19/2026
Virtues	SELF-DISCIPLINE: "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." I Corinthians 9:27 (ESV) PATIENCE: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2 (NIV) JUSTICE: "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
Bible	Psalm 69	Read and discuss Psalms 70-71. Complete questions in homework booklet.	Psalm 72	Read and discuss Psalms 73-74. Complete questions in homework booklet.	Virtue Reflection. Complete questions in homework booklet.
Math	FP-M. Ch9, L1 Opener (Read and Write Decimals) - TG p5; TB p1. Practice properly reading and writing decimals activity.	FP-A. Ch9, L1 (Thousandths) - TG p6-9; TB p2-7; WB Ex1, p1-3, 4. Be sure students know they can express numbers as fractions with a denominator of 10, 100, or 1000 before converting them to decimals.	FP-M. Ch9, L2 (Place Value to Thousandths) - TG p10-12; TB p8-13; WB Ex2, p5-8	FP-S. Ch9, L3 (Comparing Decimals) - TG p13-15; TB p14-18; WB Ex3, p9-11, #1-6.	FP-D. Ch9, L4 (Rounding Decimals) - TG p16-19; TB p19-23; WB Ex4, p12-14, #1-7.
Spelling		Practice Psalm 139:1-18 (NIV). In a dictionary, look up definitions of any unfamiliar words you don't know or understand. Read aloud dramatically to a family member 2 or 3 times.	Recite The New Colossus Poem	STEP 17: New teaching. Dictate words.	STEP 17: Dictate sentences 1-4. Remember to say each sentence out loud only once, have the student repeat it, and then write it in cursive from memory.
Grammar	Ch17, L1 - Jingle Time and Grammar Time (Beginning and end quotes). Practice time.	Ch17, L2- Jingle Time and Grammar Time only. Ch17, L3 - Grammar Time only. Write four sentences: two with beginning quotes and two with end quotes. PARENTS: Please make sure they are properly formatted and punctuated.	Ch17, L2&3 - Teach split quotes and other uses of quotation marks. Practice time.	Ch17, L4 - Jingle Time and Test Time for practice only. Skip Ex3 & 8. Write two sentences that include split quotes. PARENTS: Please make sure they are properly formatted and punctuated.
Writing/ Vocabulary	VOCAB WORDS: laden, fathom, incessant, trepidation
	L12, p109-112 - Read source text and work in pairs/groups to sort facts into topics.	L13 - Complete vocab activities for all four words.	L12 - Read source text, write KWO and topic sentences and complete brainstorming pages. Distribute/review checklist. Begin rough draft.	L12 - Using KWO and checklist, write rough draft of 2-paragraph Louisiana Purchase paper. Students: self-edit and correct. Parents: check that topic sentences and clinchers (see p82) have key repeating/reflecting words highlighted and that all elements of structure and style are included and labeled.
Reading	The Twenty-One Balloons
	Carry On! Discussion Introduce Twenty-one Balloons. Read Introduction and Ch I.	Read Ch II. Orally narrate and discuss.	Read Johnny Tremain Aloud	Read Ch III. Orally narrate and discuss.	Read Ch IV. Orally narrate and discuss.
Latin	Ch16 - Introduce words and teach grammar lesson (imperfect tense verb endings).	Ch16 - Listen to CD/audio twice and recite memory page. Review the grammar lesson and complete the chapter story, worksheet, and derivatives pages.	Ch16 - Practice exercises	Ch15 - Listen to CD/audio twice and recite memory page. Study the vocab words and maxim and complete the Quiz section to prepare for next week's quiz.
History	Introduce Louisiana Purchase in-class project	Read Ch19 - The Louisiana Purchase. TL Card/jingle: Louisiana Purchase	Work on Louisiana Purchase News Broadcasts	HISTORY JOURNAL: Thomas Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase for $15 million, which is equivalent to a little more than $400 million today. Imagine that YOU have been tasked with spending that money for the benefit of our country today. How will you spend it, or what will you buy? Explain how your purchase will benefit America. PARENTS: As a current-events tie-in, you may want to discuss President Trump's desire to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal with your students.
Geography	Introduce South America Map	Listen to the song and begin memorizing the countries of South America.		Color the portion of the Louisiana Purchase map that represents the territory acquired in the deal, and glue it into your journal. Below the map, list all the modern-day states that were part of the purchase (see history TB p191).
Science	Read PS packet p92-93. Answer questions.	Read Archimedes, Ch6 - "Archimedes and Astronomy." Answer questions in homework packet	Circuit and electricity activities	Read Archimedes, Ch7-8 - "Archimedes and Mathematics" and "The Measurement of a Circle." Answer questions in homework packet.
Memory Work	POETRY: The New Colossus, Due for Recitation on 1/15 POETRY: Psalm 139:1-18 (NIV), Due for Recitation on 3/5 MATH FACTS: Multiplication Facts Test on 2/3 GEOGRAPHY: South America Test on 2/19 HISTORY: Excerpts from Patrick Henry's speech due for recitation on 4/28 KEY DATES: 1-21 Test on 3/10 SCIENCE: Simple machines, types of levers/examples Test on 2/3

"Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands..." 

Psalm 90:17

IMPORTANT DATES/COMING SOON:

Tuesday, January 13 - Classes Resume

Thursday, January 15 - Spirit Day

Thursday, January 29 - DOGS/Pizza/Spirit Day

MATH:

• Investigate decimals to thousandths.
• Read and write decimals to thousandths.
• Express fractions with denominators that are factors of 1,000 as decimals.
• Express decimals to thousandths as fractions in simplest form.
• Express numbers to thousandths by expressing the value of each digit.
• Write decimals to thousandths in expanded form.
• Compare decimals.
• Round decimals to the first decimal place, to the second decimal place, and to a whole number.
• Improve speed and accuracy of math facts.

SPELLING:

• Learn to spell words with the sound /ŭl/ spelled AL.

GRAMMAR:

• Classify, compose, and diagram pattern 3 sentences (SNV-t IODO) that include all the parts of speech.
• Review pronoun cases.
• Learn to properly format beginning, end, and split quotes 
• Know other punctuation rules involving quotations.

WRITING/VOCABULARY:

• Learn four new vocabulary words and be able to properly use them when writing. 
• Sort facts from a source text according to topic. 
• Make a key word outline for a 2-paragraph report.
• Write a properly structured 2-paragraph report from a key word outline that includes topic sentences and clinchers for each paragraph.

READING:

• Be able to summarize a passage through written and oral narration.
• Expand vocabulary.
• Identify virtues, as well as elements of truth, beauty and goodness, in reading passages.
• Cultivate a love for quality literature.
• Engage in meaningful discussions.

LATIN:

• Begin memorizing the imperfect-tense verb endings. 
• Add endings to Latin verbs to make them imperfect tense.
• Translate sentences that include imperfect tense into English from Latin and vice versa.

HISTORY:

• Know the key players in and the facts surrounding the Louisiana Purchase.
• Know that the purchase doubled the size of the United States and was acquired for a  bargain price of $15 million.

SCIENCE:

• Know the difference between a series and a parallel circuit.

GEOGRAPHY:

• Develop a heart of compassion for the peoples of the world who don't yet know Christ.
• Begin memorizing the names and locations of the countries of South America.

MEMORY WORK:

Geography: We'll be memorizing the names and locations of the countries in South America for the next few weeks. A hard copy of this map can be found behind the "memory" tab in your child's binder. Additional maps, as well as MP3s of the corresponding song, are available at this link: Geography Resources.

History: Students will memorize 28 key dates. The key dates have accompanying jingles that do not have to be memorized, but will help students memorize the dates and retain details about the events to which they correspond. 

Key Dates:
1. Leif Ericsson Explores America - 1000
2. Columbus Sails to the Americas - 1492
3. Lost Colony of Roanoke - 1587
4. Founding of Jamestown - 1607
5. Landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth - 1620
6. Salem Witch Trials - 1692

7. First Great Awakening - 1740s

8. French & Indian War - 1754-63

9. Boston Tea Party - 1773

10. Paul Revere's Ride - April 18, 1775

11. Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776

12. The American Revolution - 1775-83

13. Constitution is Ratified - 1787-88

14. Industrial Revolution Begins - Late 1700s

15. Louisiana Purchase - 1803

16. Lewis & Clark Expedition - 1804

17. War of 1812 - 1812-1814

18. Monroe Doctrine - 1823

19. Underground Railroad - Early 1930s

20. Trail of Tears - 1830-1838

21. Fall of the Alamo - 1836

Poetry: For a link to a woman reading the poem, click here.

The New Colossus

Written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

NOTE: This sonnet was included as part of an art and literature auction that was designed to raise money to fund the construction of the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. In 1903, a plaque bearing the poem was placed on the interior wall of the pedestal. The original “colossus” was the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Poetry: 

Psalm 139:1-18

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹ You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.