Posted by: Robin White
Podcast: Helpful Links.pdf

The students have used our new digital microscope to take these pictures of the macroinvertebrates found in Liddle Brook just outside of the school. This was part of our annual investigation of the stream ecology of the brook, with the help of the Catskill Center for Conservation in Arkville. The microscopes were purchased with grant money received from the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the O'Connor Foundation (with the help of the ACS PTSA).  

Posted by: Robin White
Podcast: stoneflies.pdf

5th/6th Grades 
Mrs. White 
 
Our class spent the month of April exploring and appreciating the many different forms of poetry, from writing it to reading it to listening to it to analyzing it. Each student has created a poetry book, which includes haiku, diamante, cinquain, bio, and freestyle selections. We invite you all to come in and view our work at Open House, which will be the evening of May 15th. Our reading groups continue to enjoy various novels and plays, including Milkweed, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Trumpet of the Swans, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, and The View From Saturday. Our writing unit for May and June covers persuasive writing, which we will be integrating with Science classes. In addition to writing persuasive letters (be on the lookout for one coming home soon!), we will also be studying what goes into creating effective advertising and promotions. 
Science class has been busy with the Invention Convention, where students created their own inventions, and then had to produce an advertisement to market it. We displayed our work at the annual Science Fair in April, complete with prototypes. I am always pleased at how much thought and effort goes into this project, and this year’s 5th and 6th graders didn’t disappoint me at all. We recently finished a unit on genetics and heredity, and are now studying all about the properties of matter and how that relates to electricity and magnetism. We will finish out the school year in June with the annual Bottle Rocket project, where each student will be able to construct and then launch a bottle rocket on the school grounds. 
Fifth grade Social Studies class has been studying the American Revolution, and we are ending the year with the Civil War and westward expansion in 19th century America. Sixth graders have just finished a unit on the Middle Ages, and are now entering the Renaissance /Reformation. We will finish up the year with the French, Russian, and Industrial Revolutions. Both classes are preparing for our first annual “World Day” on May 18th. At this time, all 5th and 6th graders will be presenting their research reports on either U.S. States (5th grade) or Countries (6th grade), at which time they will have a food from their chosen area, a written report, a brochure, and a poster on display in the ACS cafeteria. All families, friends, and students are invited to join us, from 8:45 AM to 10:30 AM, to sample wonderful foods and drinks and learn something interesting from our class. We will also have a visiting teaching artist working with us after the presentations to learn about traditional dances from around the world.  
This has been a fantastic year, and I look forward to working with you all next September. Until then, have a safe and healthy summer! 

Posted by: Robin White

The class will be writing and performing their own play, based on their research on inventors, with the help of Sharone Stacy of The Open Eye Theater. The tentative performance date is April 2nd, both in the afternoon as well in the evening. Please contact Mrs. White if you can help in any way. We especially are in need of help with basic props/scenery and costumes (not too fancy). We also need two volunteers to act as greeters at the door and hand out the programs. 

Posted by: Robin White