This Thursday, March 3rd is our snowshoe fieldtrip at the top of Heavenly Ski Resort. We will carefully watch the weather, as it looks like Wednesday a storm is coming in. Good news though, Monday morning the weather looked possible on Thursday!
Monday a list went home regarding what students MUST bring on Thursday. I am attaching it here as well.
-snow boots or waterproof hiking boots
-snow pants or water-repellant treated pants
-large plastic trash bag (to sit on to eat lunch)
-warm hat to keep head and ears warm and dry
-warm socks (wool or polypropylene best; or 2 thick cotton pairs; above the ankle)
-warm water-resistant jacket for cold temperatures (layering is always good)
-gloves or mittens
-sunglasses; sunscreen (you can put on before you leave if you like)
-lunch with extra water
-day back to carry gear (backpack style, must have two straps, as you will be carrying all your gear as we hike)
This should be a great trip, if the weather cooperates. Remember, we will be above 9,000 feet so please bring warm clothes. Also, please make sure students have a good healthy breakfast that morning.
The bus leaves promptly at 9 and will return at 3.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Science Conference Postponed
Due to our unexpected, four day weekend, the science conference scheduled for Friday in our classroom will take place next week (Tues.-Fri). Please inform your child that we will begin on Tuesday morning (during morning work) having students who are entering science fair share their science boards and present on their investigation. Wednesday through Friday will continue the presentations. Students can sign up for a day they wish to present on Tuesday. Thank you.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Chemical and Physical Reactions
Science is moving into mixtures and solutions. Today we kicked off the unit with an inquiry science investigation where students tested a variety of materials and observed reactions. They were then given a mystery substance to test and identify by using their previous observations they recorded in their science notebook.
Math is moving away from fractions and towards area, perimeter, and volume.
With all the snow that has been falling, our snowshoe field trip to Heavenly should be a huge success. We will leave school at 9:00 sharp on March 3rd and return right around 3:00. The week prior to this event, all reading will focus on learning about the early people, the science, and geography of the area we will be heading to. Science that week will involve using area and each child's weight to calculate their personal "pounds per square inch" according to their foot size. Then, using fake snowshoes, calculate what their PSI would be in each type of snowshoe. After "playing" with mini snowshoes in flour, students will have a firm understanding of the science and history to this fieldtrip before we go.
For those students in Elk Club, only a few weeks left. Students who are interested in entering the RMEF's World Bugling Championships need to send in their application soon. You have until the day before the event (you can register that Thursday- March 3rd at the event's center by 5:00 if needed). Forms went home Tuesday. The more that show up to this event, the better. With a bigger crowd of "buglers", it helps support the students.
Math is moving away from fractions and towards area, perimeter, and volume.
With all the snow that has been falling, our snowshoe field trip to Heavenly should be a huge success. We will leave school at 9:00 sharp on March 3rd and return right around 3:00. The week prior to this event, all reading will focus on learning about the early people, the science, and geography of the area we will be heading to. Science that week will involve using area and each child's weight to calculate their personal "pounds per square inch" according to their foot size. Then, using fake snowshoes, calculate what their PSI would be in each type of snowshoe. After "playing" with mini snowshoes in flour, students will have a firm understanding of the science and history to this fieldtrip before we go.
For those students in Elk Club, only a few weeks left. Students who are interested in entering the RMEF's World Bugling Championships need to send in their application soon. You have until the day before the event (you can register that Thursday- March 3rd at the event's center by 5:00 if needed). Forms went home Tuesday. The more that show up to this event, the better. With a bigger crowd of "buglers", it helps support the students.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Science and Social Studies, Oh My!
Our class recently finished our class science inquiry investigation. We discovered, that if you are going to spill red fruitpunch on your clothing, make sure it is made out of 100% polyester, as it totally washes out after 24 hours. Students came up with our project, created the procedures, including how to wash the materials out to the beat of We Will Rock You so that all are washed out the same. It was an incredible investigation.
Remember, our class Science Conference is Friday, the 18th of February. During this conference, each student will get to share their findings on their personal investigation. We will have time Monday in computers to create titles, graphs, or PowerPoints for their conference (or Science Fair for those who are choosing to enter their projects).
In social studies, we have moved into discussing the Revolutionary War, including the Declaration of Independence. Yesterday we made "hardtack", a basic food source that soldiers made and ate during that time. To my surprise, most students actually enjoyed eating the hard buscuits. The easy recipe calls mixing water and flour, cutting out buscuits, and then baking them. A few mentioned some salt would be helpful to the recipe.
In social studies, we have moved into discussing the Revolutionary War, including the Declaration of Independence. Yesterday we made "hardtack", a basic food source that soldiers made and ate during that time. To my surprise, most students actually enjoyed eating the hard buscuits. The easy recipe calls mixing water and flour, cutting out buscuits, and then baking them. A few mentioned some salt would be helpful to the recipe.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Elk Club Begins
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Science Fair VS Science Inquiry Project
For the next month and a half, our class will be investigating a science inquiry project of their choosing. This is an exciting time, as rarely do students get to choose a topic within a subject 100% on their own to study. We will be calling this our SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT.
Basically, as we model the steps of science (question, hypothesis, procedures, carry out investigation, collect data/observations, conclusion) with our class inquiry project, students will be just a few days behind with their personal SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT. Just about all science grades taken in the next 6 weeks will be based upon their personal SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT. On February 18th, their project will be due and we will hold a mini "Science Conference" in our classroom. Students will have 5 minutes to present their project and findings and celebrate the science they have accomplished.
I have planned this project during the same time of science fair. Now, I am not requiring any student this year to "do" SCIENCE FAIR. They may turn complete another science fair project and turn that in, OR they may simply use their SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT and enter that into the school's science fair. My goal is to simply excite students about science. Rather they want to be judged upon their project this year is up to them. However, their SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT will be of very high quality because of all the effort and discussions/modeling that will take place in the classroom. It would be an easy fit.
IF your child choses to enter a project in the school's SCIENCE FAIR, a packet will be going out this week. The entry form and IRB form (if needed) have specific due dates.
Please help build the excitement at home with their personal SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT. We will begin developing our class inquiry project next week based off of student questions we have been compiling on a list in the classroom. We will build mini "inquiry project notebooks" next week for their personal projects (this is where 90% of my grades will come from). They will develop their question/hypothesis/procedures next week after I have modeled them with our class project.
Basically, as we model the steps of science (question, hypothesis, procedures, carry out investigation, collect data/observations, conclusion) with our class inquiry project, students will be just a few days behind with their personal SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT. Just about all science grades taken in the next 6 weeks will be based upon their personal SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT. On February 18th, their project will be due and we will hold a mini "Science Conference" in our classroom. Students will have 5 minutes to present their project and findings and celebrate the science they have accomplished.
I have planned this project during the same time of science fair. Now, I am not requiring any student this year to "do" SCIENCE FAIR. They may turn complete another science fair project and turn that in, OR they may simply use their SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT and enter that into the school's science fair. My goal is to simply excite students about science. Rather they want to be judged upon their project this year is up to them. However, their SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT will be of very high quality because of all the effort and discussions/modeling that will take place in the classroom. It would be an easy fit.
IF your child choses to enter a project in the school's SCIENCE FAIR, a packet will be going out this week. The entry form and IRB form (if needed) have specific due dates.
Please help build the excitement at home with their personal SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT. We will begin developing our class inquiry project next week based off of student questions we have been compiling on a list in the classroom. We will build mini "inquiry project notebooks" next week for their personal projects (this is where 90% of my grades will come from). They will develop their question/hypothesis/procedures next week after I have modeled them with our class project.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Fossil Making
We are back and running full speed again, after a wonderful Winter Break. This week we focused on an inquiry science project to try to duplicate the fossil making process. We will know for sure which method works best later next week. Our class has also created a "Scientific Question Board" where I am encouraging students to observe the world around them and come up with questions which they think would be fun to investigate through a scientific inquiry process. We will choose one of these to deeply investigate as a class in a few weeks. Please encourage your child to look around the world around them to find something interesting that they feel would be fun to discover an answer to.
In social studies we have been focusing on the French and Indian War, building the background for why the colonists will be taxed so high...leading to the Revolutionary War. We are currently writing our last "practice" essay before we beging the writing test during the week of January 25th. Our class is ready and well prepared for this!
In math, we have been working on the order of operation. Ask your child how he/she remembers which order to perform when. We are moving into positive and negative numbers, including adding and subtracting them. Perhaps conversations about money and temperatures at home could help your child further understand these concepts as we get into them.
The school wide World-a-Thon jump started yesterday during an assembly. For the fifth graders, their task is to memorize where each state is located and what the capital of each state is. We will be practicing for this each morning, but students will need to dedicate 15-30 minutes a night doing the same at home. The test for this will take place on Friday, January 21st.
January 21st also happens to be the day book reports are due. Although many students are already done with theirs, due to the five and a half weeks since the last one, I have been encouraging them to finish this before the night it is due. The next book report will be over a genre of their choice once again. It will need to be an Accelerated Reader book as well.
The school-wide Skate Night at Roller Kingdom will occur on Tuesday, January 18th. I hope to see many of our students there, as it is always a fun event.
In social studies we have been focusing on the French and Indian War, building the background for why the colonists will be taxed so high...leading to the Revolutionary War. We are currently writing our last "practice" essay before we beging the writing test during the week of January 25th. Our class is ready and well prepared for this!
In math, we have been working on the order of operation. Ask your child how he/she remembers which order to perform when. We are moving into positive and negative numbers, including adding and subtracting them. Perhaps conversations about money and temperatures at home could help your child further understand these concepts as we get into them.
The school wide World-a-Thon jump started yesterday during an assembly. For the fifth graders, their task is to memorize where each state is located and what the capital of each state is. We will be practicing for this each morning, but students will need to dedicate 15-30 minutes a night doing the same at home. The test for this will take place on Friday, January 21st.
January 21st also happens to be the day book reports are due. Although many students are already done with theirs, due to the five and a half weeks since the last one, I have been encouraging them to finish this before the night it is due. The next book report will be over a genre of their choice once again. It will need to be an Accelerated Reader book as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)