by Susie Rogers, ELA 5th-8th

“A dog is a man’s best friend” is a familiar saying that most people would say is true. In the novel, Shiloh by Phyllis Naylor, my 5th graders explored this topic along with the moral dilemma of right and wrong. This classic Newbery Medal novel created conversations of whether it is ever okay to lie if it protects someone they love. They were asked if they would have done the same thing as Marty. The students made connections to their own life experiences and how they handled a similar, albeit less serious situation. Students were then able to draw the conclusion that not everything is in black and white. 

As a culminating activity for the novel, students created a one-pager that included explaining important quotations and their significance, drawing and explaining symbols, and creating a higher-level question with a detailed answer. Students finished the activity with a written summary of the novel that contained the setting, characters, conflict, and resolution. This activity promoted thoughtful appreciation and a more in-depth understanding of Shiloh and reinforced the belief that a dog is really a “boy’s” best friend.  

Seize the opportunity; begin at full speed; great energy and enthusiasm; working effectively from the beginning

Two weeks into Middle School and the Fifth grade has “hit the ground running!” After going over schedules, lockers, and supplies, it was time to dive into some Science. One of the first assignments was a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) challenge. Students were asked to create the longest paper chain using only a few supplies : 2 sheets of paper, 12 inches of masking tape, a ruler, and scissors. Thirty minutes later, the chains were measured and results were recorded. It was fun (and challenging) to watch the students plan, communicate, and execute their designs.

All hail, the Roman Carnival!  This year the middle school held the 10th annual Roman Carnival, and we were grateful to do so in person.  As the customary culmination of our Latin program, the Roman Carnival provided an afternoon of fun and games for the entire campus. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade students dressed up as Roman deities and monsters and entertained all of the younger classes with a series of 9 activity booths. Fifth grade students served as assistants to ensure that games ran smoothly. Each activity was designed to highlight the powers and skills of the students’ chosen deity. Students created the activities themselves, demonstrating their innovation and ingenuity. Our inside activities included the Underworld’s “pick a ball” game in the dark hallway, as well as Venus (goddess of love), Flora (goddess of flowers), and Cupid (god of love)’s flower craft booth. Diana (goddess of the hunt)and Apollo (god of music) hosted a musical freeze tag wherein students were gently hit with a soft ball by Diana’s bow. Mars (god of war) and Hercules (god of strength) ran an obstacle course and foam sword fight, while featuring a bench press to showcase muscular abilities.  Minerva (goddess of wisdom) and Fortuna (goddess of fortune) offered a wheel of fortune game, whereas Ceres (goddess of grain) and Vesta (goddess of the home and hearth) provided cereal and lemonade to our guests. It appeared that all who attended enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of smiles, laughter, and play. Gratias tibi agemus! 

by Jennifer Jordan, History & Latin Teacher

Fifth graders have been hard at work learning about U.S. geography the past two weeks. As a segue from Lewis and Clark’s westward expedition, we focus on the 50 states. Each student researched a state, learning a variety of facts, such as state capital, population, motto, bird, fruit, song, and flag. The class then took their facts, accessed their creative juices, and designed “great state plates”. We featured 8 plates, from New York to Wyoming!

Our second part of this unit is to learn the geography of all 50 states on a blank outline map. To understand the states’ placement, we utilized a variety of learning strategies. Some students worked with hands-on puzzles, others practiced computer games, and still others wrote their states on wipeable maps. Students often switched between the methods. As a treat, I brought out our “States Twister” game with a couple of limits to keep it COVID-friendly. Students are also studying state capitals as a bonus. Whichever way works best for their brains, 5th graders have demonstrated that they know the geography of our country.

Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.-Helen Keller

Fifth grade could hardly wait for March 29, 2021…this was the date of their field trip to the Arkansas Outdoor School in the Little Rock, AR area. Our departure was set for 7:15 am. I could see the excitement on all the faces as we climbed into the cars, loaded bags, and said some “goodbyes” to mom. Our class had chosen the classes/activities earlier in March: Team Challenge, Archery, Fishing, Canoeing, Rock Climbing, and Hiking. Some students were looking forward to rock climbing, some wanted to learn how to fish, and some wanted to spend some time outdoors. But all of us wanted to learn, have fun, and experience some nature.

After moving our things into our rooms, it was time to get started with our first activity: Team Challenge. We learned how important trust, communication, and confidence was to not only an individual, but also as a team. Archery showed us how to focus, rock climbing tested our confidence, canoeing encouraged us to communicate, and fishing required us to slow down and be patient with ourselves.

The next morning, we went on a hike. We were shown how important diversity is in nature. We identified many plants and animals and also how to respect nature.

Field trips connect students to the real world by providing every student with real world experiences that I’m pretty sure they will never forget!