Grade Five Alive!

This year the Chinese New Year began on January 26, 2009. Would you like to hear the legend of the Chinese Zodiac? Here it goes:

“According to Chinese legend, the order of 12 signs was determined by Buddha, upon celebration of the Chinese New Year (which falls on different dates, from mid-January to mid- February). The Buddha invited all of the animals in the kingdom together for a meeting, but only 12 creatures attended.

The first animal to arrive was the talkative Rat (who was aggressive enough to jump off the Ox in order to be the # 1 arrival). Next in  place #2 came the serious, enduring and hardworking Ox with the honorable Tiger #3 and cautious Rabbit #4. The outspoken Dragon #5 joined the others, along with the philosophical Snake #6. The physically active Horse #7 arrived with the artistic Goat #8. The spirited Monkey #9 and the showy Rooster #10 came as well. The last to join the others was the watchful Dog #11 and the meticulous, resigned Pig #12.

Buddha gave each animal a year of its own, bestowing the nature and characteristics of each to those born in that animal’s year. As the Chinese say, ‘This is animal that hides in your heart…’ Have Fun!”

Shelly Wu

This is the Year of the Ox (also 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009). People who were born in the year of the ox are dependable and calm and they are good listeners and have very strong ideas. Guess who this describes?

Me, Mrs. S, and President Barack Obama!

~ Jillian

On January 20, 2009 president elect Barack Obama was sworn into office.  Our entire school was allowed to watch the historical event.  

In Washington D.C millions of people gathered together to see the first ever African-American president.  The group of  people included former presedent George W. Bush, his competition Senator McCain and his family. Ms. M says, “Aretha Franklin was on hand to belt out My Country Tis of Thee and sporting a fabulous hat!  I wish I had one!”  Obama promises to fix as many conflicts as possible and make things better for the country. 

The bulletin board above shows some of the important issues we talked about that the new president will have to deal with. They are the economy, education, war, the environment, and health care.

 ~Mike

Here is a link to Education World’s Inaugurals of Presidents of the United States: Some Precedents and Notable Event. Here is the link to the Inauguration Trivia Hunt.

This exhilarating tale is a true story about one little girl in the 1960s whose strength helps her change history.  Six-year-old Ruby Bridges is chosen to be the first African-American to integrate her local New Orleans elementary school.  And along the way people threaten to kill her, but this doesn`t stop Ruby from going to school. Her teacher helps her to change history, and same with her mother and father. In the end Ruby proves that integrating schools is not a bad thing.   

~ Jackie

Would you like to go to school in the Colonial Times?

I wouldn’t. Let me tell you why. The first reason is because if you didn’t behave in school the teacher would pull out the birch stick and hit you with it. If you would bite your fingernails, you would have to wear a nametag that said “bitefinger baby.” If you didn’t know your lessons you were called a dunce. You had to sit on a stool wearing a dunce hat. The worst part was if you were caught whispering you had to put wooden sticks in your mouth which were called whispering sticks.

Schools didn’t have to be comfortable and most of them were not. The one room was always freezing cold in the winter. All students had to bring in wood or else they would have to sit far away from the fireplace. There was no paper so students wrote on a paddle-shaped piece of wood covered with  a thin layer of clear animal horn called a hornbook. No blackboards, computers, maps, or even desks The students all sat on hard wooden benches.

So think about that again. Would you like to live in the colonial times?

~Diazsha

Illustration from If You Lived in Colonial Times by Ann McGovern, illustrated by June Otani.

Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day. Every November eleventh we honor the veterans who fought in wars for the United States. And we get school off this day for the many families who take this holiday very seriously.

At exactly eleven o’clock every November eleventh people lower their flags to honor those who fought. My neighbor lowers his, too! Last year I went to the Veteran’s Day parade. There were girl scouts and boy scouts and people on horses in uniforms.

I appreciate having a day that I can remember the special people who helped this country. Every morning at school we have a moment of silence to think about important things like this. I hope everyone takes a moment tomorrow to remember the veterans.

~Sarah

Photo courtesy of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.