by Jennifer Jordan, History and Latin Teacher

This school year, middle school students have the opportunity once a week to supplement in-school the after school activities of Quiz Bowl and Science Olympiad. The fall term focuses on Quiz Bowl, as we have more fall competitions, with Science Olympiad taking the reins in the spring. Since school began, the fifth grade class has been spending 45 minutes each Monday afternoon challenging itself to a variety of academia trivia questions. Not every student participates in the after-school programs, and this short period gives everyone a taste of the activities. The tools vary— one week, we may play a whole-class Quizlet; another week, we may try the “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader” board game. Sometimes, the class reinforces a concept they are learning in science or math. Either way, students are gaining knowledge of common trivia while also practicing the skill of thinking quickly on their feet. It’s a win-win!

Earlier this week, the fifth grade class embarked on its annual trip to the 4-H Arkansas Outdoor School outside of Little Rock. The students have looked forward to getting out of the usual routine and learning in a different environment--nature--and their time finally arrived. They worked on a variety of team-building challenges, from canoeing blindfolded to orienteering to crossing under a jump rope as a single group. The success of all of these activities rested on one element-- paying attention. Students learned that if they listen to instructions and to each other, giving each other a voice, they can accomplish their tasks well. We ended the afternoon with a rock climbing exercise, wherein students could climb a 40 foot rock wall, with their classmates manning the ropes as support. This, too, required listening to one another, and encouraging one another to keep going. 

Following our 4-H adventure, the class spent the next day exploring two museums in downtown Little Rock. They studied Arkansas pioneer history with a tour of historic homes and a visit to the blacksmith shop at the Historic Arkansas Museum. After lunch, students enjoyed a dry ice lab at the Museum of Discovery-- they worked in small groups to experiment. They literally had a blast, learning about sublimation! Overall, our Little Rock trip is a wonderful experience for 5th graders to learn and play outside the classroom. 

By: Marie Goodwin 5th and 6th Grade Math and Science Teacher

Fifth grade has been busy.  In science class we learned about the history of space exploration by doing an interactive timeline together with sixth grade.  The students were able to experience some aspects of what it may be like to live in space by attending the seventh grade space station simulation.  Currently in science, we are exploring physical properties.  The students added to their understanding of density and buoyancy by building a boat out of foil, and seeing how many pennies different designs could hold.   In PE, the kids have been learning about volleyball.  They can keep the ball in the air for an extended period of time by hitting it correctly and working together!  We are so happy that several fifth graders have joined the Science Olympiad team.  Pictured below are Daniel and Cooper working on a mousetrap vehicle.  Science Olympiad allows students to explore areas that they are interested in on a deeper level than they would in the daily classroom. The students are enjoying downtime as well, from playing games at recess to catching different sized toads and tree frogs.

They are a delightful group, and we are looking forward to discovering new things together as fall and all the October activities unfold!

By: Marie Goodwin 5th & 6th Math and Science Teacher

The fifth grade has been busy! We are in our 4th week of school and they are already in a great routine. Not only have they been learning about Latin derivatives, decimal places, and moon phases, but they have been serving each other and our school!

On Tuesday mornings, come rain or come shine, the students have been going to the preschool building and helping the younger students get across the road safely, and on time. I’m not sure who enjoys it more, the little kids, our 5th graders, or the teachers. I have been so proud of how sweet they have been. Our students have also been giving up their own play time to help clean tables after the younger kids are done eating, and helping Mrs. Denise and Mrs. Darlene with the chairs in the cafeteria. Our students are kind, thoughtful, and rarely complain, it’s truly refreshing.

In math class, we have been learning about decimals and exponential notation. We used our knowledge of decimals in a Jeopardy game. In science, we have been watching the moon phases, making Play Doh replicas of the earth and moon to demonstrate relative size, while learning about earth’s atmosphere, and the sun.

We had several 5th graders join the Science Olympiad group, and we are so excited to see where they shine.

In our down time, the kids have enjoyed some great games, including a Pictionary type group game with the 6th graders.

We are off to a great start in 5th grade!

by Jennifer Jordan, History and Latin teacher

We have started the year off strong in 5th grade History and Latin. Not only did the class participate in two scavenger hunts—one to learn how our classroom functions and one to identify Latin around the campus— but they also began to think about what periods of American History in which they may be interested. Fifth grade has just started its Latin journey-- simple vocabulary in the first chapter, learning the first verb conjugation-- incidentally, this is one of the conjugations that 8th grade has been using this week to translate a story in Latin I. You see, the study of Latin is a continuum. In 5th grade, we build a foundation of the essentials-- verb conjugations and noun declensions-- that are strengthened with consistent practice and layered with more complex grammar structures in the older grades. Fifth grade studied and applied the present tense verb conjugation like champs! They are doing wonderfully! The students are also being fully inundated with Latin, for not a period in any middle school class goes by that students do not speak at least half a dozen derivatives from Latin (percentage, fraction, ratio, lunar, science, novel, literature-- all from Latin). This only underscores the value of this incredible language. I am privileged to teach St. James students, and am excited to watch the connections grow in the 5th grade!

Please look at our photos of 5th grade throughout the first week.