What We're Learning this Week! (March 16-20, 2015)

Standards of focus: Math: 5.NF.2; Science 5-ESS1-1

Last Week's MobyMax Math High Scorers!: Makayla Y. (162) and Austin C. (80)

On Monday in Math we began practicing the skills required to meet standard 5.NF.2, which involves solving word problems using addition and subtraction of fractions. We worked on solving "Pizza Pizza" word problems (Mrs. Elliott's fav!) after discussing our I Can...statements. 

We are really getting the hang of addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers, with both borrowing and regrouping! We're still loving our "flipped" Math classroom model BTW! We will resume Math videos with standard 5.NF.3.

In Science, we also began our 4th and final unit for the year, Earth and Space Science. Our standard of focus for this week is standard 5-ESS1-1, which discusses how the apparent brightness of the sun is due to its relative distance from Earth. To really hammer this concept home, that the sun looks brighter and larger than other stars because it is SO close to us, we watched this really neat video called "Star Size Comparison". Check it out below!

To quote Jack Wilson after this video, "the sun is actually kinda puny!" Exactly!

In Social Studies on Monday we began our study of Chapter 14: The Constitution. We discussed how the Articles of Confederation was a weak form of government for a variety of reasons and used the metaphor of a "one-legged stool" in reference to the Articles. We also discussed the Constitutional Convention and the new "three-legged stool" that the Constitution created and how each of the three branches of government (Judicial, Executive, and Legislative) served a purpose in forming the foundation of our government. 

On Tuesday in Math, we continued working on and finished our "Pizza Pizza" fraction word problems from yesterday. We are doing an amazing job at including the "CUBE" components of solving word problems that we discussed last week. They include CIRCLING the numbers in the problem, UNDERLINING the actual question, BOXING IN key words, and finally ELIMINATING unnecessary information. 

In Science, we continued our discussion of stars in the solar system by watching a BrainPop video over the Life Cycle of Stars and checking out two constellations: Draco the Dragon and Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper).

In Social Studies on Tuesday, we began discussing the main responsibilities, members, and key powers of each of the three branches of government. We also watched the Schoolhouse Rock video "I'm Just a Bill". Check it out below:

In addition, we also continued to work on our Living Wax Museum projects! We have our first FINISHED poster trifold!

Check out Jeffery Hardin's, or "John Smith".

(We're treating our posters as scrapbooks of our lives and describing the events in 1st person!)

What We're Learning this Week! (February 9-13, 2015)

Standards of focus: Math: 5.NF.1; Science 5-LS1-1

Last Week's MobyMax Math High Scorers!: Derek (82)

On Monday in Math we began by taking our Mid-Year Enduring Skills Test, which focused on fractions. This is the second time we've taken this test, once at the beginning of the year, and although we haven't officially hit the fractions unit until today, most of us did see an increase in our scores!

In Science, we began working through centers that had us reviewing key concepts that we've learned about Photosynthesis. 

In Social Studies, we began Chapter 12, The Declaration of Independence. We discussed the meeting of the Second Continental Congress, the delegates that attended and what they were in charge of doing. 

On Tuesday, we officially began out Fractions Unit by taking the 5.NF.1 Pre-Test and taking notes over some review skills that are still critical in being able to correctly solve any problem with fractions: reducing or simplifying and finding equivalent fractions. 

In Science, we continued our rotations, reviewing the process of photosynthesis. 

In Social Studies, we continued discussing the importance of the Declaration of Independence and re-writing important excerpts in normal, everyday "kid-friendly" language.

On Wednesday, it was more of the same! In Math, we focused on reviewing how to convert improper fractions to mixed numbers and vice versa. 

In Science, we wrapped up our review stations and turned our response booklets in. 

In Social Studies, we watched the Schoolhouse Rock "Fireworks!" video, which discusses the Declaration of Independence. 

We also watched a short BrainPop video over the Declaration and then listened to our favorite song so far to help us review concepts, important details, and even people!

Science Song! "Photosynthesis"

This song, by Mister C, is what we've been jammin' to lately to help us understand NGSS standard 5-PS1-1. 

What We're Learning this Week! (February 2-6, 2015)

Standards of focus: Math: 5.G.4; Science 5-LS1-1

Last Week's MobyMax Math High Scorers!: Kayla (135) and Emma (87)

Our "Road to the Revolution" projects are done and they're AMAZING!!! Take a look!

On Monday in Math, we began our last of the Geometry standards, 5.G.4. We began by taking our pre-test, recording our I Can statements, and graphing our data. From here, we talked about how hierarchies are like family trees and that if a shape is grouped below another, it also has to have the attributes of the shape above it. 

In Science, we began our Life Science unit by discussing our first standard, which discusses photosynthesis. After taking guided notes over a Plant PowerPoint presentation, we began working on models to help us create our "arguments" about the needs of plants in the photosynthesis process. 

In Social Studies, we began Chapter 11, which discusses whether the colonies should declare independence or not. We discussed the differences in the beliefs of Patriots, Loyalists, and Neutralists, and talked about the arguments 3 prominent Loyalists had for remaining loyal to King George. 

On Tuesday in Math, we took our post-test over standard 5.G.4 and did our usual graphing and data analysis. 

In Science, we created a 3-d model of photosynthesis and discussed how oxygen is a waste product of photosynthesis and is released by the stomata in the leaves. 

In Social studies we continued talking about the views of Loyalists and Patriots. Specific Patriots we discussed were Benjamin Franklin, Mercy Otis Warren, and Samuel Adams.

On Wednesday, we began the day with the 5th grade spelling bee! After 8 rounds, our winners were:

1st Place - Austin Keeton (Dennis' homeroom; left)

2nd Place - Hannah Crouch (Neace's homeroom; center)

3rd Place - Abigail Edger (Neace's homeroom; right)

What We're Learning this Week! (January 26-30, 2015)

Standards of focus: Math: 5.G.3; Science 5-PS3-1

Last Week's MobyMax Math High Scorers!: Kayla (142) and Elzy (81)

On Monday in Math, we continued working with attributes, or characteristics, of shapes. We discussed how shapes can actually fall into more than one category, based upon its properties. 

We are also getting into the groove of our new Math rotations and teams. On Monday, we worked with Mrs. Elliott in small groups where we reviewed and then played a review board game to get us ready for our 5.G.3 post-test. We also worked on the KindleFires and classroom computers to complete our assigned MobyMax lessons (this week we are responsible for the Exponents lesson; a review), and at the Skill Work station, we played a Classifying Geometric Shapes board game with small groups within our teams. We are also becoming pros out making sure we follow our team's "CAN Do" and "MUST Do" activities, we are all a little different, based on our team's needs. 

One activity that we ALL complete in our rotations is the MobyMath/Choice Activity station. Mrs. Elliott assigns various lessons that either go along with our current learning or are review skills, that we have to complete by the end of the week for a grade. After we complete those assignments, each Team has different "Choice Activities" that they may complete. 

Here, members of Team 3 have chosen to play a Math board game, "Head full of Numbers" as one of their Choice Activities. 

Here, we are completing our Skill Work rotation. On Monday, we played board games in our Teams to review geometric shapes. 

In Science, we discussed the last Physical Science standard, 5-PS3-1. This standard had us talking about the 4 purposes of animals' food, which are to maintain body warmth, growth, movement, and body repair. We also discussed that all of the energy our food give us for these 4 purposes comes from "the big yellow guy in the sky", the SUN!

In Social Studies, we continued working on our American Revolution projects. They are coming along quite nicely and Mrs. Elliott CANNOT wait to see and display the final products!

What We're Learning this Week! (January 12-15, 2015)

Standards of focus: Math: 5.G.2; Science 5-PS2-1

Last Week's MobyMax Math High Scorers!: Joe Mullins (235) and Oceonna Hernandez (90)

In Math on Monday, we took our pre-test for standard 5.G.2, which the majority of us did an AWESOME job on, the best pre-test scores so far this year! After taking our pre-test, we discussed our new "I Can..." statements, which include graphing points in the first quadrant of a coordinate grid to answer real-world and mathematical problems. We are basically rock stars at it, no joke! :)

In Science, we continued our focus on gravity and its downward pulling force. We discussed how when we say gravity pulls objects "down", that we really mean to the center of Earth, or its core. To test our engineering skills at trying to "defeat" gravity, Mrs. Elliott posed a challenge for us in an activity called "Helicopter Drop". Working in small groups, we have to design a helicopter out of a standard design, including using two paperclips to symbolize the pilot and a passenger, that stays in the air the longest period of time. We created data tables to test each design we created with 3 trials, so that on Friday, we have the best choice, with evidence to back up our decision, to give to Mrs. Elliott for our class-wide competition. The winner from our class will compete against the winner from Mrs. Neace's class. We brainstormed ideas with our groups and began planning our designs to test!

In Social Studies, we began our study of Chapter 10, which focuses on events that led up to the American Revolution. Specifically, we discussed the French and Indian War, with its misleading name, and analyzed the key players and their motives or desires for getting involved: Britain wanted land west of the Appalachian Mountains to settle, the French wanted the same land, but to further their fur trading economy, and the Native Americans wanted to trade with the Europeans, yet still hold onto their way of life, along with the land on which they had lived for centuries. We practiced "close" reading and citing evidence from texts and passages we read in an effort to answer questions. 

2nd Semester, Here We Go!!!!

Only a few days left until we return for our second half of the school year! Let's make it the best one yet! Lot's of good stuff coming up and in the works! Stay tuned!