Seasonal 6 MarkYourCalendar:schoolspiritweek 19 ActivityCards 33 GetTheirBestontheTest:motivation 34 SkillsfortheSeason 36 PracticePages 52 MonthlyWritingPrompts

Teacher Resource 2 SkillsinYourIssue 4 ContributorFrom 5 GoodtoKnow 16 OurReadersWrite… 40 DisplaysThatDoMoreThanDecorate 42 ProblemSolved! 60 TeacherTalk 61 AnswerKeys

Reading & Language Arts 8 Tips&Tools 12 Poetry—GettingtotheCore 13 PracticePages 18 BrainBoosters 50 WriteNow! 52 WritingPrompts 53 Writingorganizer:opinionwriting 55 GottaRead!IndependentReading 59 Reproduciblepartnergame:commas

Math 19 ActivityCards 21 MindBuilders 22 Tips&Tools 26 Problemsolving:decimalcomputation 27 MathPrompts 28 PracticePages 31 Independentpracticegrid:volume 46 GettingaGriponGeometry 58 Reproduciblepartnergame:division

Science and Social Studies 43 SimplyScience 56 ExploringSocialStudies

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The Education Center

Is your energy starting to fizzle? No worries! Look in this issue for a downpour of timely skills and unique activities that will put a spring in your step.

and...Go to

themailbox.com for

MORE STUFF!

Starting with this issue, skill lines will include the Common Core State Standards.

InTeRMedIATe ApRIL/MAy 2013

Ready-to-use activity cards (page 19)

Poster

Gameboard and cards (page 32)

Check out the...

Dr ip, Drop, Dr izzle!

22 ©The Mailbox® • April/May 2013

Day 1 = 3

Day 2 = 3 x

3 = t

Day 3 = 3 x

3 x 3 = t; 2

7 = t

Day 4 = 3 x

3 x 3 x 3 =

t; 81 = t

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Signed, Sealed, and DeliveredProblem solving (4.OA.A.2, 3; 5.NF.A.2)

Help students make real-world math connections by having them write their own problems. As students master each grade-level opera-tion, review its real-world applications. Then guide each child to write and solve a problem based on the skill. After you review the student’s work, have her write the problem on the back of an envelope. Next, have her write on an index card an equation that represents the problem along with its solution. Then have her slip the index card

inside the envelope. Finally, collect students’ envelopes, wet the adhesive on each one, and stick it to the front

of another envelope as shown, making an accordion book that’s perfect for problem-solving prac-

tice! Christine Hooper, Weston Elementary, Manchester, NH

A Dreamy Back YardPerimeter, area (4.MD.A.3) with fractional side lengths (5.NF.B.4b)

Here’s a fun idea that has students using formulas to find perimeter and area measurements. To begin, have each child imagine five or more features he would want in his ideal backyard. Next, have the student draw his dream backyard, using an overhead view of the yard. Guide each child to clearly show his yard’s perimeter and draw the features so they have straight lines. (If desired, have students use graph paper.) Then have the child label his yard’s and each feature’s length and width. Finally, guide each student to calculate the area and perimeter of each shape and record the measurements on a chart similar to the one shown. For a more challenging version, have students use fractional side lengths. Katie Hartman, Sinking Springs Elementary, York, PA

Yard or Feature Length WidthPerimeter

(2l + 2w or s + s + s + s)

Area (l x w)

yard 250 ft. 165 ft. 830 ft. 41,250 ft.2

swimming pool 70 ft. 60 ft. 260 ft. 4,200 ft.2

basketball court 94 ft. 50 ft. 288 ft. 4,700 ft.2

dog mansion 45 ft. 40 ft. 170 ft. 1,800 ft.2.

mini golf course 130 ft. 70 ft. 400 ft. 9,100 ft.2

fresh fruit orchard 130 ft. 15 ft. 290 ft. 1,905 ft.2

My Dream Yard

My Dream Yard

It’s All in the Attitude!Opinion writing (W.4.1; W.5.1)

F or this idea, post the Vince Lombardi quote “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” Then discuss with students how

winning can become too important and what it means to be a good sport. Next, guide students to give examples of good sportsmanship they have seen exhibited and erase the quote. Replace it with the sentence shown and guide each child to use the sentence to introduce an essay on good sportsmanship. Remind the student to link his opinions with supporting details and then paraphrase the sentence in his concluding statement.

The Heart of the MatterLetter writing, writing purpose (W.4.4; W.5.4)

T o start this real-world activity, display a copy of page 51 to review the form and rules for writing a business letter. Then

brainstorm with students a list of local businesses and divide the class into pairs. Next, have each partner choose a business and write a letter to the business as a customer requesting information, lodging a complaint, praising good service, or placing an order. Then have each student read her partner’s letter and write a response as the business owner or manager.

One Sentence WonderRevising (W.4.5;W.5.5)

G et your students pumped up about revising! First, have each child copy a boring sentence from a current piece of writing on an index

card. Next, have students bring their cards and pencils and sit in a circle. Then turn on a lively musical selection and have students pass their cards around the circle. After several seconds, stop the music. Have each child read the card she’s holding and add a vivid adjective that improves the sentence. Next, restart the music and have students pass the cards again. Stop and start the music four or five more times, guiding students to revise the sentences each time. Finally, let the music play until each child gets her own card and keeps it to use as revising inspiration!

Jami Bicknell, Riddle Elementary, Plano, TX

50 ©The Mailbox® • April/May 2013

Get ready-to-display versions of both statements and an award to give students who show good sportsmanship in your classroom!

historic

on Maple street

Winning isn’t everything—a winning attitude is.

©The Mailbox® • TEC44066 • April/May 2013

THE M

AILBO

X 51

April 10, 2013

Manager, Rainbow Fish Farm168 Barracuda BoulevardWood, PA 09995

To Whom It May Concern:

Start the first paragraph with a friendly but brief opening. (You want your reader to want to read your letter and give you what you want or do what you want.) Then write two or three sentences that clearly state your purpose for writing.

In the second paragraph, give the details or reasons that support your purpose. The details may include a brief summary of your experience or facts or details that will persuade your reader to do what you want.

You may write another paragraph that gives details or reasons that support your purpose. Be concise but clear.

In your last paragraph, briefly restate the purpose of your letter and tell why it is important to you. This is a good place to thank your reader for his or her time. If you want him or her to write back or contact you, it can help to let him or her know you are looking forward to that response.

Sincerely,

Gil GibsonGil Gibson

Note to the teacher: Use with “The Heart of the Matter” on page 50.

64 Sea DriveWood, PA 09904