August 24, 2021
Fall 2021 Issue 1
Weekly activities and lessons to keep your child thinking and progressing throughout the school year.
"You can learn something new everyday if you listen."
The McManus Files
Fall 2021 Issue 1

The eve of a new school year...time flies! I hope all of you had a restful and enjoyable summer. I know I'm ready to get back into the classroom routine and meet my new students. Just like the season, the McManus Files has changed. It will have the same fun activities, book recommendations, and problems to solve, but in a slimmed down version since all of us will be a bit busier this fall. The newsletter will still be sent out every Tuesday with just enough to keep your little thinkers busy if they need something extra.

Please share this flyer with your friends and encourage them to join our mailing list by following the links on this page.

Mr. McManus :-)
Inquiry Quest

All About
DID YOU KNOW??
• The double coconut palm produced the biggest seed in the world: 45 pounds.

• Most oak trees don't grow acorns until they are at least 50 years old.

• Some seeds found in frozen soil in Canada were grown and produced flowers - the seeds were thought to be more than 10,000 years old!

• Some orchid seed-pods hold 3 million seeds.

• Millets, barley, black cumin, coriander and watermelon seeds were also among the seeds found in Tut's tomb.


Those are amazing facts about seeds. This week, investigate the science of seeds. What other interesting facts can you find? Add your facts to this Padlet.

• Why are seeds so important?
• How do they grow?
• Why are there so many different shapes and sizes of seeds?
• What is a seed library?
• Do we ever have to worry about running out of seeds in the world?

What can you find out and learn about seeds by investigating them? After you have studied seeds, think of a project to share your findings. How can you best represent what you have learned? Maybe draw a diagram, write a paragraph, make a list... It's up to you.

McManus Tutoring has all Summer 2021 issues of The McManus Files posted in the library.

You can visit the site by clicking the link mcmanustutoring.com
or simply scanning the QR Code
3 Writing Prompts...
3 Writing Prompts

These prompts and questions will help jump-start your daily writing. Just as it's important to read for at least 30 minutes each day, you should also write for 30 minutes a day. Don't worry about your organization or spelling, just write!


"The helicopter landed on the island and out stepped..."



"I knew I'd become rich with my garden that grew..."



"Suddenly, once the lights went out, the statues came to life and began..."
If you feel your child might benefit from a group or individual tutoring program to close the gap created during summer vacation and to prepare them for the next phase of their education, please contact McManus Tutoring.

This fall, we are all returning to in-person classes for the first time in a year and a half. Besides the emotional impact of the pandemic, a full-time academic schedule will be an adjustment. Extra preparation over the summer will build self-confidence while reinforcing basic skills to start the new year.

Programs are structured so that students learn independence, accountability, and self-possession and they develop a repeatable structure that can be used to build success in the future.
Great Read of the Week
One Crazy Summer
by Rita Williams-Garcia
Set during one of the most tumultuous years in American history, One Crazy Summer is a heartbreaking, funny tale of three girls who travel to Oakland, California, in 1968 searching for the mother who abandoned them. This unforgettable story blew me away. It is an amazing and beautifully written story with distinct and memorable characters who teach us about resilience, cultural, ethnic identity and personal responsibility. It was so interesting to read about the Black Panther movement through the eyes of children. I think you are going to really enjoy this book.
Problem of the Week

Solve the problem and complete Parts A & B

Caravan of Camels 


A camel shepherd bought a caravan of camels. On his journey through the desert, he noticed that the camels all had a very bad disease and would be of no use for traveling any further. He returned to the seller and asked for new camels. The seller said, “I will gladly give you the same number of camels that you bought if you can tell me how many camels you started with.” The camel shepherd could not remember exactly how many he had bought, but he knew it was less than 100. He remembered that if the camels walked in rows of 2, one walked alone; 
in rows of 3, one walked alone; 
in rows of 4, one waked alone;  
and in rows of 5, one walked alone.  
How many camels were in the caravan? 
Show your thinking using pictures, words, or numbers.

Part A: What is your answer to the problem? 

Part B: Explain your thinking in complete sentences. How did you come up with your final answer?
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