December/January ISSUE
Welcome, CHALLENGER!
When you have finished your regular assignments, you are eligible to go on a special mission!
Please select one activity below that interests you and begin your exploration. Remember
that your work should be neat so that others may read it, and should be an application of
your best skills and talents. Spelling, grammar, and effort count! If you complete one
assignment, you are welcome to select another. Your work will be shared/displayed for the
rest of the class to see. Please use the attached rubric to guide your efforts.
Good luck on your quest!
Mrs. Warren
Social Studies Mission #1: We have studied four cultural regions of Native Americans in
Chapter 2. Select ONE tribe from one cultural region for which you will become an expert.
Do not select the tribes we studied already (Iroquois,
Cheyenne, Hopi, or Kwakiutl).
Use at least one printed resource (library book) and
one internet resource to conduct more in-depth
research on your tribe. Create a thorough oral or
written report* to share your findings. If there are
vocabulary terms that you feel are important, be sure
to include them in your report. Last, but not least, be
sure to connect your research to what we learned in
Chapter 2 about a similar tribe from that cultural
region.
Social Studies Mission #2: We will begin learning about many people who influenced the
development of our country and the connection between the Eastern and Western
Hemispheres. Select one person (see attached list) to research. Using 2 or more sources, write
an essay* that includes 7-14 important facts about this person’s life. Be sure to mention any
important dates we should know. Finally, explain in your own words how this person made a
difference in their era, country, and the world.
Science Mission: Read a book that connects to our Mixtures and Solutions unit on chemistry
(see attached recommendations). Write a book report* on the book that summarizes the
main idea and key concepts. Lastly, prepare a presentation for the class that will
compliment your report – dress as the scientist you interviewed and speak to us about your
life; create a Power Point comprised of 7-10 slides that summarize the keys points of the
book; or conduct an experiment at home based on the book and share your findings with
the class.
Reading / Writing Mission:
*Well-written reports for Science and Social Studies Challenger Club projects may also
qualify for extra credit in Language Arts (reading and/or writing). Please refer to the report
card criteria for guidance (see attached).
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Publish a Book Bug story (for the library). Contact Mrs. Buzzard for
more information.
Write a detailed summary of a story/book using the first-person
point of view (as though you were a character from the story
retelling the important events/details).
Write a letter to a favorite author or illustrator. Proper letter format
is a must! You also need to find the contact information so we
can mail it!
Write a classroom newsletter about what we’re learning / working on in class. Add plenty
of details and some colorful artwork. I might copy it and send it home for all families to
read!
Create a brochure for new students to Gwynedd Square. What do they need to know?
Add plenty of details and some colorful artwork. Publisher is a great tool to make an
attractive and informative brochure. I will give stellar examples to Mr. Bowen and Mrs.
Vaszily to use when new students arrive at our school!
Your Own Mission Choice: Check with Mrs. Warren for approval
Student Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Project Idea: __________________________________________________________________________
Check one:
o Independent
o Partner Work
Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________________________________________________
Important Figures from Chapters 3 and 4 in Social Studies
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Explorers and Other Well-known Persons
Christopher Columbus
 Squanto
Juan Ponce De Leon
 Anne Hutchinson
Marco Polo
 Pocahontas
Zheng He
 William Penn
Mansa Musa
 Moctezuma
Eric the Red & Leif Ericsson
 Dona Marina
Prince Henry
 Atahualpa
Bartolomeu Dias
 Hernando de Soto
Vasco de Gama
 Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
 Francisco Vasques de Coronado
Ferdinand Magellan
 King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella
Amerigo Vespucci
 Johann Gutenberg
Bartolome de Las Casas
 Kublai Khan
Samuel de Champlain (taken)
 Hernando Cortez
John Smith
 Francisco Pizarro
Science Books for Students
Arnold, Nick, and Tony De Saulles. Chemical Chaos. London: Hippo, 1997. Print.
Brandt, Keith, and Karen Dugan. Marie Curie, Brave Scientist. Mahwah, NJ: Troll Associates, 1983. Print.
Cobb, Vicki, and Peter J. Lippman. Science Experiments You Can Eat. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1972. Print.
Hauser, Jill Frankel. Super Science Concoctions: 50 Mysterious Mixtures for Fabulous Fun. Charlotte, VT:
Williamson Publ., 1997. Print.
Loeschnig, Louis V., and Frances W. Zweifel. Simple Chemistry Experiments with Everyday Materials. New York:
Sterling Pub., 1994. Print.
Oxlade, Chris, and Chris Fairclough. Chemistry. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1999. Print.
Sabin, Francene, and Susan Swan. Louis Pasteur, Young Scientist. Mahwah, NJ: Troll Associates, 1983. Print.
Santrey, Laurence, and Ellen Beier. Young Albert Einstein. Mahwah, NJ: Troll Associates, 1990. Print.
Sarquis, Jerry L. Investigating Solids, Liquids, and Gases with TOYS: States of Matter and Changes of State. New
York: Learning Triangle, 1997. Print.
Zubrowski, Bernie, and Roy Doty. Soda Science: Designing and Testing Soft Drinks. New York: Morrow Junior,
1997. Print.
Report Cards Criteria Being Assessed in 5th Grade
Social Studies
-Defines and applies vocabulary
-Demonstrates understanding of concepts in written or oral form
-Analyzes information to draw conclusions and communicate understanding
Science
-Defines and applies vocabulary
-Demonstrates understanding of concepts in written or oral form
-Performs investigations and analyzes data to draw conclusions
Health
-Defines and applies vocabulary
-Demonstrates understanding of concepts in written or oral form
-Analyzes information to value and plan for a healthy lifestyle
Reading
-Determines the main idea/central theme and provides key details from the text
-Makes inferences citing evidence and quoting accurately from the text
-Compares and contrasts specific aspects of text in different forms or genres
-Acquires and applies new vocabulary when responding to text
Writing
-Composes informative pieces to examine a topic and convey ideas and information
-Demonstrates clear focus in writing
-Develops content using key details
-Writes in an organized manner
-Demonstrates a command of grade appropriate conventions (grammar, capitalization,
punctuation, and spelling)