The 411 on 206! 
Miss Mindy Marker
mmarker@northmontschools.com
or memarker@mac.com
937-832-5989
Welcome to Miss Marker’s home page! I am so excited about this year. I have been given the opportunity to teach some of the BEST 5th graders around!! I have been teaching now for ten years, but only six of them have been here at Englewood Hills.
I teach Science and Social Studies to the whole fifth grade. Mrs. Gannon teaches the students Language Arts and Mr. Crane is their Math teacher. On this page, you will find a calendar of important dates, curriculum information, photographs of our students' activities, and links to websites that I find meaningful and helpful. I'll try to keep this site updated so that you have an idea of what's going on in our room! I am thrilled about all the great things that are going to be happening in our classroom this year.
PARENTS CORNER:
* Have some extra time? Help us use technology the best way possible. Take the TECH SURVEY! parent technology survey
* I realize that the beginning of the year may feel like a bombardment of paper work for you. This paperwork is incredibly important. Please make every effort to get it completed and turned back in ASAP. Thanks so much!!!
* Social Studies NEWS!!! There is an Social Studies ebook available in the Englewood Hills' library. This ebook can be checked out and kept at home for ease. The ebook includes typed and spoken word of the entire textbook, an eglossary, a link to a helpful website, vocabulary games, and more! Once the ebook is checked out, it may remain at your home until the end of the year. If you have any questions, please let me know.
* Englewood Hills now has a walking track!!! Looking for a great way to get active and spend more time with the family? Make plans to walk some laps around our track. Our hope is that the families at Englewood Hills as well as the rest of the community will find the track a wonderful addition.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
This and That:
* Have some extra time? Take the STUDENT TECH survey. Use this link: post-technology survey
* Don't forget that 3 days a week you are responsible for completing a DAILY STARTER! Are you up-to-date with your work?
* This week's Jaguar 33 is: SAY THANK YOU WITHIN THREE SECONDS WHEN GIVEN SOMETHING OR IT MAY BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU (except in the case of homework:)). Look for opportunities this week to exhibit this.
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN AND INTERESTING TO DO? TIRED OF THE SAME OLD VIDEO GAMES, TV SHOWS, ETC...? INTERESTED IN SOME EXTRA CREDIT IN SCIENCE AND/OR SOCIAL STUDIES?
Below is a list of fall activities offered to you FREE OF CHARGE compliments of Five Rivers Metro Park.
Social Studies Activities:
* MORNING CHORES ON THE FARM (Carriage Hill MetroPark): Families can help the farm hand with daily chores. Clean stalls, collect eggs or feed the animals. Dress for weather and barnyard work. Meet at the big red barn. Reservations required and limited: call (937) 278-2609. Ages 6-18Y. Available dates:
- Saturday, Oct. 17, 8:30-10 AM
- Saturday, Nov. 21, 8:30-10 AM
* FAMILY FARM CHORES (Possum Creek MetroPark Farm): Join a farm staff person feed and brush animals, gather eggs, and clean stall. Get to know some of the farm animals up close and personal. Dress in clothes suitable for dirty situations and washable footwear. Meet at the farmhouse. Reservations required and limited: call (937) 276-7062. Ages 6Y and up. Available dates:
- Saturday, Oct. 31, 8:30-10:30 AM
- Saturday, Nov. 14, 8:30-10:30 AM
* STOCKING UP FOR WINTER (Possum Creek MetroPark Farm): Help the farmer with this year's corn crop, shell and grind corn, save seed for next year's planting, and store other crops which will provide farm animals with food throughout the winter months. There will be ongoing demonstrations and hands-on participation during the 3 hour activity. Meet at the barn. Call (937) 276-7062 for more info. Ages 5Y and up. Available dates:
- Saturday, Nov. 7, 1:00-4:00 PM
* A GARDEN OF WHEAT AND A LOAF TO EAT (Possum Creek MetroPark Education Center Classroom): Learn about the history and life of wheat while grinding some wheat and making it into bread. You will make your own bread dough to take home and bake. While waiting to sample the fresh bread, you’ll make some butter to spread on it. Reservations required and limited, beginning November 1. Call (937) 276-7062. Age: 5Y and up.
Available dates:
- Saturday, Nov. 21, 1:00-4:00 PM
* FOODS ON THE FARM (Carriage Hill MetroPark): Come learn about a variety of foods and how they were produced during the 1880’s.
Help grind wheat into flour, learn about meat preservation through smoking and salt- ing, sample some fresh bread, try your hand at making butter, drying fruit and helping save some seeds from the garden. Enjoy a whole weekend dedicated to food.
Available dates:
- Saturday, Nov. 7 - Sunday Nov. 8, Noon to 5:00 PM
Social Studies or Science Activities:
* PAPER MAKING FOR KIDS (Possum Creek MetroPark Education Center Classroom): Learn how to make your own paper. By using
recycled paper and fibers you can make cards and cool stationary. You will construct a screen form to make your paper and then take home to reuse. We will provide pressed leaves, flowers, glitter and other objects to embed in the paper. Reservations required and limited, call (937) 276-7062. Age: 6Y and up. (Allow for a five minute walk to the historic Aull house.)
Available dates:
- Saturday, Oct. 24, 1:00-4:00 PM
* FOUND ON THE FARM (Possum Creek MetroPark Education Center Classroom): Farmers have always been avid recyclers. Learn about some of the recyclables of the past and present unique to farms and create a craft item made from recyclable products found at Possum Creek Reservations required and limited, call (937) 276-7062. Age: 6-12Y.
Available dates:
- Saturday, Nov. 28, 1:00-3:00 PM
* PRAIRIE PIONEER ADVENTURE (Carriage Hill MetroPark Redwing Shelter/Parking Lot): Explore a tall grass prairie like the pioneers and native Americans. There will be no trail to follow as you wind your way through the tall plants, exploring the variety of plant and animal life. A great opportunity to not only learn about their restored prairie, but to gain an appreciation for what our ancestors faced as they traveled. Best for ages 6 and up.
Available dates:
- Sunday, Oct. 11, 2:00-3:30 PM
* PRAIRIE PIONEER ADVENTURE (Sugarcreek MetroPark, Parking Lot): Explore a tall grass prairie like the pioneers and native Americans. There will be no trail to follow as you wind your way through the tall plants, exploring the variety of plant and animal life. A great opportunity to not only learn about their restored prairie, but to gain an appreciation for what our ancestors faced as they traveled. Best for ages 6 and up.
Available dates:
- Sunday, Oct. 18, 2:00-3:30 PM
Science Activities:
* LAST CHANCE CREEK FUN (Sugarcreek MetroPark, Parking Lot): It’s your last chance to search for salamanders, crawdads and rainbow darters while exploring Sugar Creek! Also, try your luck in finding fossils like brachiopods, horn corals, and bryozoans. We will also discuss water
quality and what kids can do to keep water clean. Wear shoes that can be in the water; no sandals please. Fossil collectors must follow collecting guidelines.
Available dates:
- Saturday, Oct. 10, 1:00-3:00 PM
To get extra credit, here is what you should do:
1. Talk to your parents about which one(s) you are able and interested in attending.
2. Call and RSVP your spot (if necessary)
3. Attend the events at the time and day it is scheduled
4. Write me a quick note answering the following questions:
* Which event you attended
* Why you chose that event
* What you liked about your event
* What, if anything, you didn't like about it
* At least 3 things you learned at the event
* Whether or not you would recommend attending this event to your friends and classmates.
5. Have a parent sign your note
6. Bring that note to me
7. Let me know whether you'd be willing to share your experience with the rest of your class.
For more info about the events, log onto www.metroparks.org and click on the Metro Parkways Activity Guide.
Homework for this week:
MONDAY
Language Arts – Read novel for 20 minutes; record time on Agenda calendar
Math -
Science-
Social Studies -
TUESDAY
Language Arts – Read novel for 20 minutes; record time on Agenda calendar
Math -
Science-
Social Studies -
WEDNESDAY
Language Arts – Read novel for 20 minutes; record time on Agenda calendar
Math -
Science-
Social Studies -
THURSDAY
Language Arts – Read novel for 20 minutes; record time on Agenda calendar
Math -
Science-
Social Studies -
FRIDAY
No homework on Fridays! Enjoy the weekend!!!
A Few of My Favorite Sites
for a Few of My Favorite 5th Graders
Science:
NASA
Star Child
Earth and Moon viewer
Kids Click
Fun and Games:
Fun Brain
KiddONet
Mr. Nussbaum's World
For Parents Only:
http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/homework/part_pg3.html
Questions of the week: CONGRATULATIONS TO BROOKLYN!! SHE WAS THE FIRST ONE WITH THE CORRECT ANSWERS. BE LOOKING FOR NEW QUESTIONS COMING SOON!!!
1. In 1543, while on his deathbed, a Polish astronomer published his theory that the Sun is a motionless body at the center of the solar system, with the planets revolving around it. Before his system was introduced, astronomers believed the Earth was at the center of the universe. Who was this astronomer?
2. September is Hispanic Heritage Month. It begins on September 15, which is the anniversary of independence for which five Latin American countries?
3. What is the world's newest country? In what month and year did it officially become a country?
The first one to tell Miss Marker the correct answers to all 3 questions will win the prize!!! Good luck!
Mindy Marker
Englewood Hills Elementary
937-832-5989