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!

What We're Learning this Week! (November 17-21, 2014)

Standards of focus: Math: 5.NBT.7; Science 5-PS1-3

Last Week's MobyMax Math High Scorers!: Conner Clem (135) and Scott Coffey (15)

Monday was off to a rocky, or should I say snowy start as we had our first weather delay of the school year so far. This put us a little behind, but we still got quite a bit accomplished today!

In Math, we began our last standard of the Numbers & Operations in Base-10 unit by taking our pre-test over standard 5.NBT.7. This standard is partially a review (adding and subtracting decimals) and partially new or newer information (multiplying and dividing decimals). We were pretty good at the adding and subtracting part, but we forgot our decimal rule when multiplying and the division problems really threw us for a loop! Nevertheless, we are cruising right along and will continue practicing and refreshing these skills as the days pass. 

After missing Tuesday due to a snow day, we were right back at it on Wednesday. We practiced adding and subtracting decimals by playing board games in small groups of 3-4 students. 

In Social Studies, we had to become detectives to solve crimes! After reading about crimes and the clues that were left behind, we had to figure out which colonial region the suspect came from. 

In Math on Thursday, we began taking notes on multiplying decimals in our Interactive Notebooks. We discussed how multiplying decimals isn't any different from multiplying whole numbers except for the last step of inserting the decimal back into the product. 

In Social Studies we began working on colony brochures. We were allowed to pick any of the the 13 original colonies and from here, we had to create a travel brochure highlighting its features. 

In Math on Friday we took our usual Weekly Math Quiz over morning work, lived scored them and then analyzed our data. Mrs. Dennis' homeroom won this week!

In Social Studies, we completed our colony travel brochures and Mrs. Elliott hung a few of the realllllllly good ones on the proficiency board outside. 

What We're Learning this Week! (November 10-14, 2014)

Standards of focus: Math: 5.NBT.6; Science 5-PS1-3

Last Week's MobyMax Math High Scorers!: Derek Butcher (112) and Karalyn Swartz (145)

Monday had us presenting our Veterans Day Program for the community (see post below) and we were off on Tuesday to celebrate the holiday.

Wednesday, when we returned, we were right back at it, back in the learning groove. On Wednesday and Thursday we continued reviewing long division, especially the larger and more complicated problems that incorporated 4-digit dividends and 2-digit divisors. 

In Social Studies, we kicked off our chapter 7 studies, which focuses on comparing the original colonies and their regions (New England, Middle, and Southern) by working in groups to complete a colony scavenger hunt. Mrs. Elliott hung posters all around the room of the 13 colonies, which included information such as who they were founded by, their reasons for establishment, the geography of the land, the economy, and so on. We had to complete the recording sheet that asked us various questions about each. 

On Friday, in Math we took our post-assessment for 5.NBT.7 and reviewed both long division and multi-digit multiplication by playing "Turkey Trot". It also got us in the Thanksgiving mood! :)

Happy Veterans Day!

Monday was our annual 5th Grade O.E.S. Veterans Day Program and all of our hard work throughout the past few weeks paid off because it was FANTASTIC! We switched it up a little this year, from past years, but the result and hard work of the entire 5th grade was evident! Check out some of the pictures and videos below of our program if you were unable to make it. 

Our simple, yet beautiful bulletin board in honor of those who have served. The poem "Flander's Field" is so beautiful and a favorite of mine, so we made 3-d flower poppies to help decorate. In fact, every bulletin board in the entire 4-5 grade hallway was decorated in some fashion to honor our Veterans so that on their journey from the front office to the gym and cafeteria, they would know how much the students of OES appreciate and thank them for all of their contributions. 

Here's a link to the tribute video of Veterans that are relatives to students, teachers, and faculty of our school. 

Honoring Our Veterans

We were also fortunate enough to have Jodi Cassidy, daughter of the late Roscoe Cassidy (the oldest living WWII Veteran in the state of Kentucky before passing away recently)

Post by Owingsville Elementary School.

 Jodi Cassidy, Mr. Harvey Tackett, Superintendent, and Mr. Jarrod Slone, Principal

 The Morehead State University's ROTC posted and retired the colors at the beginning and end of our ceremony.


Some of our fabulous 5th graders speaking during their Reader's Theater in honor of our Veterans. 

5th Graders singing "Color Me America"

Honoring all of the military branches during the Armed Forces Medaly. 

After the program, our Veteran guests enjoyed a reception in the cafeteria in their honor!

What We're Learning this Week! (November 3-7, 2014)

Standards of focus: Math: 5.NBT.6; Science 5-PS1-3

Last Week's MobyMax Math High Scorers!: Derek Butcher (107) and Gavin Brown (75)

On Monday we began really focusing and practicing on our Veterans Day Program. We've been practicing our song for week during Arts & Humanities with Mrs. Rice, but we began rehearsing our speaking roles, our introductions, our movements, and really putting it all together into a wonderful program. 

Because of our focused practicing, we didn't get a lot of actual class time on Monday. In Math, we focused on reviewing and practicing dividing by 1-digit divisors and going back to correct any mistakes we were making before we move on. We're still using Mrs. Elliott's "Cheat Code" as the process to solve division problems and making sure that we double check all of our answers using division's inverse operation: multiplication. 

In Social Studies, we watched most of "Pocahontas" as it tied directly into our studies of early American settlements, specifically Jamestown, one of the three settlements (Roanoke, Jamestown & Plymouth) we've focused on. We discussed the motives of the English, as well as their thoughts, ideals, and treatment of the Native peoples. We've also been jamming to this song lately: 

What We're Learning this Week! (October 27-31, 2014)

Standards of focus: Math: 5.NBT.5; Science 5-PS1-3

Last Week's MobyMax Math High Scorers!: Joe Mullins and Karalyne Swartz

This week is Red Ribbon Week! To celebrate being drug-free, our schedule of activities is as follows:

Monday: "Drugs Can't Find Me!' (Camo Day)

Tuesday: "Love and Peace, be Drug Free!" (Tie-dyed Day)

Wednesday: "I'm a True Blue Jean-ius, I'm Drug-Free!" (Blue shirt and blue jeans Day)

Thursday: "Red-y to Live Drug-Free and Make a Difference!" (Red out Day; wear as much red as you can)

Friday: "Scare Drugs Away!" (Costume Day; no masks or anything that resembles a weapon)

In Math on Monday, we continued our focus of multi-digit multiplication by reviewing 2x2-digit and 2x3-digit multiplication and taking notes over 3x3-digit and larger multiplication. We discussed how once you got the pattern of the order in which to multiply (we talked about how it's like a windshield wiper...up to the right and sweep to the left!) the only other hard part is to remember those zero place holders. But, as a reminder, we started calling our zero the "hero" because without him, we will always get our answers wrong, even if we multiply and add correctly! 

In Science, we are still pluggin' away at physical properties of matter. Today we viewed a Mixtures & Solutions PowerPoint and completed our guided notes that go along with it. We discussed how solutions are really just special types of mixtures, where one of the substances dissolves into the other. 

In Social Studies, we've been working on a CSI Investigation in History...the Mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. We began this project on Thursday and worked with it on Friday as well. In our groups, we worked through our CSI case file and read background information on the colony of Roanoke, as well as read about many theories as to what happened to the colonists there. Today, we wrapped up our investigation and watched a really neat documentary from the History Channel that talked about many of the same pieces of evidence that we discussed. For homework, we had to write a case conclusion, discussing what WE thought really happened, using evidence and backing up our theories. 

You can view the documentary in its entirety, titled America Unearthed: Mystery of Roanoke, by clicking the link. 

On Tuesday in Math, we practiced our multi-digit multiplication one last time before taking our post-test over this standard by completing some Spider and Halloween themed task cards. 

In Science, we completed a handout over mixtures, as we continue our focus of physical changes in matter. 

In Social Studies, we began our chapter 6 guided notes, which had us looking at and focusing on three early American colonies: Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth. We completed sensory figures for these colonies where, using a word bank, we summarized what we read about each colony using sentence stems and our senses. 

Wednesday was a short day for us! We began the day with a "Trix Sticks" that got us fired up about being drug-free! 

Then, in Math we completed our 5.NBT.5 post-test that we did really well on! We are now ready to begin 5.NBT.6, DIVISION!

In Science, we completed a handout over solutions, tying in the notes we completed on Monday. 

In Social Studies, we completed our sensory figures by summarizing and using our senses pretending we were a Plymouth colonist.  

On an unrelated note, Mrs. Elliott finished our class fingerprint plate today for the Fall Festival auction. It turned out really well!

This is SO fitting because every time we take a walk with The Walking Classroom, Mrs. Elliott compares us to marching ants! :) 

On Thursday in Math, we took our pre-test for 5.NBT.6, which focuses on long division. We also took notes over the steps and started small by focusing on dividing numbers with 1-digit divisors, which was a review from 4th grade. 

In Science, we completed a test prep lesson over mixtures and solutions, requiring us to read a passage and complete a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the two.

In Social Studies, we did another dice simulation, which we LOVE doing! Everyone's turns out differently and your "life" is in the chance of the die role. This time, since we are talking about early English settlements, our dice simulation was focused around Pilgrims. We had 5 places to go, beginning in England, as that's where the Pilgrims originated from in search of religious freedom:

We LOVE these dice simulations and really get into them!

Each area has a table that goes with it that tells what the role of the dice means and indicates where to go next. A lot of use "made it" and were successful in creating a functioning, thriving colony. However, many of us died due to various reasons. After "making it", passing away, or 20 dice rolls, we then created Pilgrim Journal entries that elaborated on our journeys. Using our recording sheet of roles, we matched our journals up with what happened during the simulation, explaining how we made it during the harsh winters, our sail over on the Mayflower, or even how we passed away. 

On Friday, we celebrated Halloween and Fall by having our annual Fall Party. We made slime, watched "Are You Afraid of the Dark?", an oldie-but-goody favorite of Mrs. Elliott's and may or may not have watched "The Giver", which Mrs. Dennis had read aloud to us earlier in the year.