Dear Fifth Grade Families,
The Day of Courage festival was a magical experience for our grades students. This year, each grades class made something special for the second grade class as a gift, bracelets from first grade, finger-knitted crowns from third/fourth grade, and wooden shields made and painted by fifth grade during woodworking. The second graders were each fortified with their individual gifts and then, one by one, entered a dragon’s lair to retrieve a gem of their choosing. Coming together afterwards, games were enjoyed in mixed-aged groups, led by high school students from the Waldorf high school in Decatur, Academe of the Oaks. It was a lovely morning.
We also finished up our Ancient India block hearing stories about the Buddha and Lord Krishna, as well as an abridged version of The Ramayana, one of the two important legends of Hinduism and one of the largest ancient epics in world literature. Our dictation for the week focused on the Ramayana and was a perfect closing to our first block of ancient history.
Additionally, we moved back into working on fractions using a parable from ancient India. In this story, a peasant is given a reward of his choosing by a king for saving him. On his way to collect his reward, he is forced to share ⅙ of it with the guard, ⅔ with a general, and finally, ½ with a minister. The king grants his reward and it is generously shared with the others…be sure to ask your child what the peasant asked the king to give him! When we return, in addition to fraction work, we will begin our first botany block.
The weather will be shifting back to early fall temperatures upon our return from fall break. Please send your student to school with layers, as the forest temperatures that keep us so cool in the summer, will chill us in the mornings! Your child may bring a small blanket to school, if desired, and will move to needing rain boots over water shoes. Have a wonderful, restful, and safe fall break! We will see you all on October 4th!
Reminders:
September 26 - 30th–Fall Break (no school)
October 3rd–Teacher Workday (NO SCHOOL)
October 12-14th–Half day, 12:30 dismissal, Parent-Teacher Conferences. You may sign up here.
October 29th-Kingdom of Halloween
With gratitude,
Melissa
