What We're Learning this Week! (September 8-12, 2014)

Our fourth full week began with us taking our first pre-assessment in Math over 5.NBT.1 and working in our individual data notebooks. As we begin each new standard, we take a pre-test and those of us who score an 80% or higher don't have to take the post-test. We had 1 student who  will get to "relax" as the rest of us take our post-test one day next week. We also discussed our "I Can..." Statements and how they guide our learning as we practice new skills. We made it our goal to get out of the red "I need help" categories and into the "expert" green in our notebooks.

In Science, picking up where we left off last week, we did a Tools Sort Activity, requiring us to sort various scientific tools into three categories: Tools used for Safety, Tools used for Measurement/Observing, and Tools used for Recording.

In Social Studies, we began the week by listening to a Native American folk tale titled "The Gift of the Sacred Dog" (view it here). From here, we incorporated the Winter Counts we discussed on Friday and began creating our own Winter Counts that told a story, instead of representing years. We reviewed how winter counts were made on hides, the symbols began at the top left, and went in a spiral pattern around the entire hide. We used paper bags to make our hides and traced a tiny buffalo outline to make them look more realistic.  

On Tuesday we practiced and took notes over 5.NBT.1 in our ISN (Interactive Student Notebooks), which discussed how on a place value chart each time we move left one spot the value of the number gets 10 times larger and each time we move right, we get 1/10 the value. 

In Science, we continued our iLearn Science PowerPoint and took notes over "Measurement". 

In Social Studies, we finished our Winter Count activity. We did such a good job! 

Also, we took our second walk of the year with The Walking Classroom, an AMAZING program that we use in our classroom that allows us to get outside and get fresh air, while integrating technology and still learning critical Social Studies content. Tying in with our study of Native Americans, today we listened to Podcast #37 - "Sequoyah". After we walk, we always begin by summarizing the podcast, being sure to tell the important events. Next, we record 3 things that we learned after listening and draw a picture of what we visualized while we walked. Obviously, Sequoyah's cabin being burned down by members of his own tribe had quite an impact on us. 

On Wednesday in Math we practiced the skills that we learned from Tuesday. We worked in small groups and matched place value puzzles. Things became a lot clearer with this standard after we completed this activity!

In Science, we continued working on our iLearn Science PowerPoint and discussed scientific models and their benefits and limitations. 

In Social Studies, we completed our Chapter 2 test, which 80% of us got an A or B on! We kicked butt!