Fifth Grade Celebration News - photo deadline April 13, 2011

Gorgeous 20-page full color Creative Memories Storybook of our Oscar-winning 5th graders will be given as a gift at graduation to each student....and we'll be showing a "Feature Film" (aka slide show with music) on June 3 at the ceremony. If you have a current 5th grader, your Hanawalt images and pictures of that child at school from Kindergarten to 5th grade are WANTED! If you have five pictures or less, email them full-size to HanawaltPhotos@gmail.com by April 13. If you have 5 or more photos, copy them to a disk (that will not be returned to you) and place in the PTA mailbox. Deadline to be included in the book: April 13. We'd love to have YOUR CHILD featured on many pages of this keepsake memory book! Questions: Beth Steffensen bethsteffensen@dwx.com or 515-313-3930.

Fifth Grade Celebration News

Mark your calendars!!! The 5th Grade Celebration will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, June 3rd at Hanawalt. Invitations will be sent out in May. You will be receiving different notes home about donations to the celebration, the need for pictures for the memory book/DVD of students’ kindergarten-5th and the need for either a copy of a baby, toddler or youth photo of your child for the entryway. The committee is already hard at work and excited about this year’s theme — 5th Grade Oscars — selected by the class. If you have any questions please contact co-chairs Alissa McKinney alissamckinney@msn.com or Beth Steffensen bethsteffensen@dwx.com.

Fifth Grade News

During Science students are studying Food and Nutrient which teaches students how to read food labels and about healthy food choices. Students used hands on investigations to test foods for fat, sugar, acid and vitamin C. Using information from the investigations students were able to create a nutritious lunch menu.

In History class students researched and then created presentations about Colonial Life. They created plays, games, posters and dioramas. Topics included food, games, music, medicine and clothing during the colonial period.

Students have just completed the first unit in the new “Being a Writer” curriculum in Language Arts class. Students are now choosing one of their writing pieces to take through the writing process. This will culminate with a publishing party on Friday, December 17^th. We also had our second video conference with our German pen pals and are preparing for our first video conference with Italy.

Fifth Grade News

In American History fifth graders investigate the American Revolution. To enhance their knowledge of a major contributor to the formation of our country Hanawalt fifth graders are planning a field trip to the Applause performance of “Ben Franklin” on October 21 at the Temple for the Performing Arts.

Fifth graders are also participating in a pen pal program with classrooms of students in Germany, Italy, Indonesia, and Sweden. The students write to each other trading information about themselves and their cultures. The students also the opportunity to Skype with their pen pals to actually see them in person and talk with them.

Fifth Grade News

Fifth graders are studying the Human Body Systems for Health and Science class from now until the winter break. Students will be working in teams to research a body system, write a written report and present their reports to the class using either poster boards, power point, or smart board. Along with the project students visited Des Moines University’s simulation labs and experts will be coming into the classroom.

In Writer’s Workshop our communication with our International pen pals is going strong. We have been exchanging letters through the mail as well as emails. Using the computer lab we also conducted our first video conference with our Italian pen pals. In grammar we are preparing for our unit 2 test, which will be on common and proper nouns, singular and plural possessive nouns and abbreviations.

Students are finishing their American Revolution unit in Social Studies. They will be creating a book about people form the American Revolution time period. The next unit will be focusing on the Constitution.

Fifth Grade News

Fifth grade students are very busy with a wide variety of activities happening in the classroom. On Friday, October 30th the fifth graders toured the three branches of the Iowa Government. Our tour started with the Supreme Court which is in the Judicial Building. Students learned about Iowa History and the early stands on the Civil Rights. Our tours then led us to the Iowa State Capitol to tour the Legislative and Executive Branches of government, with a final tour of the dome.

Back in the classrooms students are rotating between the three fifth grade classrooms to study Social Studies, Language Arts and Science. In Social Studies the students chose a topic from the colonial times to research and present. The presentations students created could be in the form of a poster, diorama, play or exhibit. In Language Arts each of the three classes are participating in pen pal activities. The three classes have pen pals from: 5A Germany, 5B Italy, and 5C Russia and Bulgaria. Technology is being used to communicate using Skype, web cam, video and power point. Students just wrote letters explaining about our culture and holidays; students then sent them in the form of a Halloween card. Science class has focused on Food and Nutrition. Students are doing hands on experiments with food to look at sugars, acids, and fats in food. We continue to stretch the level of education while making school fun.

Fifth Grade Supply List

The following is list of required supplies for Fifth Grade at Hanawalt for the 2009 - 2010 School year.

No Trappers or Large Oversize Notebooks for Fifth Grade students.

2 - Sticky note pads (3x3")
12 - #2 wooden pencils
3- Ink pens (1 blue or black, 2 red)
1 - Zippered canvas pencil holder (not plastic)
4 - Packages wide lined notebook paper
2 - Glue Sticks
1 - Pack of 10-12 colored pencils
6 - Pocket folders - No brads
6 - Wide-lined spiral notebooks 70 sheets each
1 Pkg 5x8 lined index cards
1 - 1 GB USB Flash Drive
2 – Highlighters
3 Boxes of Family sized tissues
1 - Backpack labeled with name (must fit inside locker & No wheels please)
1 - Bottle Hand Sanitizer
1 - Box or Package Disinfectant Wipes

Please remember, no Scented, Fluorescent, Glitter Crayons or Mechanical Pencils are allowed for any grade.

5th Grade Celebration News

WII LOVE HANAWALT! That’s the theme for this year’s 5th grade promotion celebration! Even though Wii do love Hanawalt, it’s almost time for our 5th graders to say their final farewell to their beloved elementary school!


The Hanawalt class of 2009 will celebrate the end of their elementary journey through Hanawalt with a special promotion ceremony and celebration reception on Wednesday, June 3rd from 9:30 a.m. until Noon in the Weitz Commons. Parents, grandparents and other family of all 5th graders are invited to attend this special ceremony. Following the ceremony, there will be a special ice cream social reception from 11:00-Noon on the Hanawalt playground. All Fifth graders and their families are all invited to attend this as well!


EVENTS

Wednesday, May 6

Wii Think Green (Clean up Day)	1:30pm - 2:30pm	School Grounds
Thursday, May 28	Wii Love to Play Wii	6:00pm - 7:00pm	Merrill Middle School
Wednesday, June 3	Promotion Ceremony & Celebration	9:30 - Noon	Weitz Commons
	Ice Cream Social	11:00 - Noon	Playground

As our 5th graders complete their journey through Hanawalt, we want to thank ALL of our wonderful teachers and staff for helping provide an incredible foundation for our children over the past six years!! Many of us remember our kindergarten years at Mannawalt….who could forget those days of putting our children on buses to go clear across town to school? Well, you quickly put us at ease as some of us reluctantly dropped off our little ones for their long bus ride to the south side. We knew they were in good hands with you!! Thank you for all of the great memories and for being the wonderful educators that you are! Your enthusiasm, kindness, creativity patience and love for our children will never be forgotten!


Wii also want to thank our AWESOME 5th Grade Celebration Committee Members who have been hard at work behind the scenes, attending meetings or have signed up to help on a committee!! And certainly last but not least!! A huge thank you to our 5th grade teachers and staff for their guidance and support in making this years celebration a wonderful experience!

• Mrs. McKenzie and Pam Dennis – 5TH Grade art project: “Hanawalt Family Tree” – Wii Love our FAMILY TREE!!!
• Mrs. Looney- sharing her love of music
• Mr. Baker- for allowing us to use his equipment and playground
• Mr. Gillaspey, Mrs. Genzen and Mrs. Hesse: for ALL of your tremendous support and guidance in planning our promotion!!!
• Mrs. Burton: For your leadership, new ideas and guidance as we planned our events.

Fondly, Lisa Turner and Sherie Barnett - 5th Grade Celebration Co-chairs

5th Grade Night Under the Stars & Campout

5th Grade
Night Under the Stars & Camp Out

Friday, May 15, 2009

Chichaqua Bottoms
Greenbelt 8700 NE 126 Ave.
Maxwell, IA
pccb_info@co.polk.ia.us

Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt stretches for almost ten miles along the Skunk River in Northeast Polk County. The area's natural features include old oxbow river channels and backwaters, marshes, and wetlands. Chichaqua also includes sandy upland hills with reconstructed prairies and native prairie remnants.

5:00 p.m. Set Up Camp

(***camping space is limited to 15 students, pre-registration required)
The group camping facilities are primitive, but a modern shower house is available in the campground.

6:00 p.m. Dinner Over The Campfire (bring your own food for dinner)

8:00 Catch-n-Croakers at Chichaqua Longhouse Learn to identify frogs by sight and sound before sloshing into the wetlands to catch these amazing creatures. Wear boots that can get wet and muddy. Bring your own net and flashlight. All ages welcome. This program is open to the public, but Hanawalt students are welcome to attend when accompanied by an adult.

8:30-10:30 Hanawalt Astronomy Program
Doug Rudd of the Des Moines Astronomical Society will provide information about our night sky. Telescopes will be available, but bring binoculars if you have them.

Other activities to explore on your own include canoeing, hiking, bird watching, searching for endangered ornate box turtles at Sand Hill prairie, exploring the oxbows, woodlands and prairies. If you choose to canoe some of the 3 miles of old Skunk River channels, it is best to reserve a canoe prior to your visit. Cost is $6 per hour and paddles and life jackets are provided. Reservations can be made in advance at www.mycountyparks.com. Wildlife species such as river otters, great blue herons, beavers, wood ducks, and painted turtles are just a few of the animals that can be seen while canoeing the backwaters. Water depths are normally one to three feet.

Enjoy!

Students must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Printable Brochure and Sign-up Sheet here.

Music News

Spring has sprung in the music room. We are singing, moving and playing instruments to the sounds of spring. Rain songs, rabbit stories and kite flying poems.

The 3rd, 4th & 5th graders are focusing on music symbols. They are each making a Symbol Book to review and learn many music symbols. We will be playing symbol games and finding them in the songs.

In preparation for the visit of Opera Iowa, on The Day In The Arts (April 3rd), all classes have been studying about George Washington Carver.

Band Note – the spring concert date has been changed to May 19th at 6:00 P.M. in Weitz Commons.

5th Grade Baby/Toddler photos needed by April 17th

A popular graduation ritual consists of displaying both current and baby/toddler photos of the graduating fifth graders. Current photos will be taken in mid-April by volunteers during the school day. However, fifth grade parents need to submit ONE baby or toddler photo to be used for the display.

Photos are needed by Friday, April 17th. An actual photo may be submitted by placing it in an envelope marked "5th grade photos." Place the photo in the PTA mailbox or have the student give it to their 5th grade teacher. All photos MUST be clearly marked with the name of the student on the back, and all photos will be returned.

If you have a digital baby/toddler photo, email it to boesencopple@yahoo.com by April 17th.

If you have any questions, please call or email Sue Boesen Copple at 277-8474 or at the email above.

March - First and Fifth Graders Get Together

We're always better together! The fifth and first graders in Mrs. Hesse's and Mrs. Nordmeyer's rooms have been working together to learn about different forms of poetry. First, the children spent time learning about each other using a Venn Diagram. They listed ways they were alike and different. Then they read the book You Read to Me, I'll Read to You by Mary Ann Hoberman. This form of poetry uses dialog. The students wrote poems using the information in their Venn diagrams. These poems are on display in the main hallway. Check them out while you are at Hanawalt for conferences!

Feburary - News from the Art Studio

We have been playing in the mud!
All Hanawalt artists have been working with mud (clay) in the art Studio. Each grade builds on previously learned techniques as they create their own sculptures.
And, did I mention how much fun it is?


Kindergarten Artists roll the clay into a ball and create a pinch pot by pushing down in the middle and pinching around the edges. A variety of tools are used to make impressions in the clay pot.


First Grade Artists roll out their clay into slabs. Symmetrical shapes are cut out of the slabs and impressions added to the surface. These works of art will become hanging pieces.


Second and Third Grade Artists review how to create a pinch pot and slab and learn how to make a coil. They learn about a pinch and pull technique to add extensions to their sculpture. Each artist uses the techniques to create their own sculptures.


Fourth Grade Artists learn how to slip and score to add extensions to their sculptures. Using this technique and what they have already learned, students are given the opportunity to design and create their own individual works.


Fifth Grade Artists form a pinch pot and slab, and attach a coil to create a whistle. Each artist can complete their whistle in a variety of ways, adding detail through carving, glazing, or adding additional pieces of clay to recreate the shape of the whistle.


Ceramics has its own unique language and the students learn new vocabulary:
wedge, coil, slab, kiln, fire, greenware, bisque, glaze, slip, score, impression, pinch

Thank you for saving and sending your recyclables to the art studio!

The children absolutely love working with recyclable materials, and it is so good for their imagination. They are always excited to see what is in the ‘blue bins’ we have in the art studio!
We are also in need of Gerber plastic baby food containers. They are rectangular in shape and have a snap on lid. If you have a little one at home and use this brand of food, please consider sending the empty containers to us.

Feburary - Music Notes

February is a busy month for music students.


The Piano Festival is on Saturday, February 14th. Location and times will be coming home soon.


The Band and String students also get in the act with the Solo and Ensemble Festival. Hanawalt students will share their solos on Saturday, February 28th at Callanon Middle School. When rooms and times have been determined, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Looney will pass the information along to the students.


February is also the beginning of the grade level concerts.


4th and 5th graders will share their Informances on Thursday, February 19th.


The 4th graders perform at 6:00 p.m. and the 5th graders at 6:45 p.m. in Weitz Commons (the cafeteria).


February 26th is the night for 1st and 3rd graders. 1st graders at 6:00 p.m. and 3rd graders at 6:45 p.m. in Weitz Commons.