Despite a recent spate of illness affecting several classroom members, over the past few weeks fifth grade has continued to move forward with its learning. In math, we just finished a unit introducing decimals. We are now using this base of knowledge to perform arithmetic operations and rounding on decimals. In social studies we learned about the origins of the 13 Colonies, from the mysterious disappearance of the Roanoke Island settlers to the founding of Georgia, the last of the original 13 Colonies to be established. We learned that Colonial life could be summed up in three words: busy, busy, and BUSY! There were lots of chores for the young people to do. In language arts the students each composed an acrostic poem based on the novel Holes, and they wrote original fairy tales in their journals about a farmer who one day discovers that his corn crop is yielding jewels instead of kernels! It's also not unusual to find fifth graders engaged in a rousing, competitive game of Sparkle a day or two before a spelling test. (Don't know what Sparkle is? Just ask a fifth grader, then play it at home!). -Mr. Hart