Tie Dye

Early October involved learning the chemistry of tie dye, at the molecular level.  Students learned the importance of soda ash, fiber reactive dye, and the professional textile detergent that is used in washing out the shirt for the first time.  In the process, students were able to tie dye their own shirt.  Many students from class even ran an after-school tie dye fundraiser for our classroom.

Aye Matey!

With "International Talk Like a Pirate Day" having arrived on September 19th, we took the idea of pirates and incorporated it into our classroom this week.  We wrote knowledgeably on the subject by reading two books on the historical aspects of pirates and then analyzed recent graphs on piracy around the world today.  Students integrated the information from all three to write a persuasive essay encouraging a pirate today to take on another profession. 

In science and math we made aluminum "vessels" using 36 square inches of foil and tried to hold the most "booty" (glass beads).  While doing so, students learned concepts of buoyancy, displacement, surface area, and density.

Food Chains

In science we have moved into applying what we have learned about plants to food chains.  This year students learn how bacteria and other decomposers play their parts, as well as how water and air are important in the food chain.  We will move into trophic levels next.

Hopi Kachina Dolls

As we moved into learning about early people of the Americas, we focused this week on the Hopi Indians.  Kachinas were and are an important part of their beliefs.  Each child researched different Kachina dolls and then used various materials to build a specific one.  They are turning out amazing!

What do Plants Chiefly Need?

In answering the simple question, "What do plants chiefly need in order to survive?", we have developed an inquiry based experiment, using student ideas on what to test and how to test them.  We have plants without soil, some in glasses of water only, and others with roots wrapped in wet paper towels that get watered only distilled water or Miracle Grow water.  Others are in the fridge or under the sink.  One is even wrapped up in a plastic bag trying to seperate it from outside air.  We will follow these plants, and how they do over the next few weeks as we also learn the concepts of WHY these plants are portraying certain characteristics that we see.

Carving Figurines of Early People

We have recently learned about the first people to migrate to the Americas.  In combining art, social studies and writing, we carved bars of soap into ancient figurines.  Students will next come up with a logical story, that makes since historically, to write about who carved the figurine, when it was carved, importance to the person/people, how it was lost or buried, etc.

Instruments in Music

Music is being kicked off with a bang in 5th grade, as students are using district supplied instruments and are learning the basics of how to play them. It is exciting to see them all pick up "their" instrument upon entering, set it up properly, and get ready to learn some new concept associated with it.