Sunday, March 31, 2013
Room 20 Classroom Notes April 1-5
As we prepare for our journey to the Oregon coast and our science camp, I want you all to know we are excited and will take this week to prepare. This week we will be working on Science and taking a break on Social Studies (although it is always lurking about!). Homework this week will be science read/respond, math, and spelling. We will read a story about television and movie special effects. This will be the literature we use to study informational nonfiction and use the reading strategies of drawing conclusions. We will be doing a vocabulary and spelling study based on this story, also. Students regularly create digital presentations about weekly vocabulary words. Please ask your child to show you some of their work! We will be working on our first drafts of our persuasive writing pieces. We will have three other peer editors who will proofread and share comments using google docs' collaboration aspect. In math, we begin a unit working on fractions, decimals, and percentages. Please speak with your child about percentages and when they are used. Thank you all for responding to the Women's History Month interviews. They were very powerful! In Science, we will be reviewing and learning new aspects of the curriculum. We will have a magnet station in the classroom and will also talk more about simple machines. Yet, we will also be working with many of the science vocabulary specified on marchyok.blogspot.com. Science Fair grades are in the process of being sent out. Fifth grade will send home many reminders this week on what to bring and what NOT to bring to camp. I hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weather we had last week. Here's to many more!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Science Ideas and Vocabulary
Soils differ from place to place (Geology)
Power of data-- collecting data and why?
Microscope, binoculars, magnifying glass, telescope-- When do we use them?
Space: movement of celestial bodies-- describe the way the planets move in relation to the sun
Eclipses-- What are they and the difference between solar and lunar
Poles of Magnets-- when do they repel/attract?
Producer, consumer, decomposer-- what are the differences and some examples?
Camouflage and other animal adaptations
Reading charts, graphs, and data representations in Science
Classification: amphibian, reptile, fish, arthropods, vertebrate, invertebrate-- Know the difference
Plant Life Cycle-- Rock Cycle-- Water Cycle
States of matter: liquid, solid, gas... when do they change? How?
Energy: heat energy, chemical energy, electrical energy. light energy
Simple Machines: Plane, Screw, Pulley, Lever
Science Websites
EARTH SCIENCE: How the Earth works, water cycle, soils, space, water, plate tectonics
FOODWEB: Who eats whom?
BIOLOGY: Plant/Animal Systems- Microorganisms, Plants, Vertebrates, Invertebrates, Cells
Fifth Grade Science Practice Test
FOODWEB: Who eats whom?
BIOLOGY: Plant/Animal Systems- Microorganisms, Plants, Vertebrates, Invertebrates, Cells
Fifth Grade Science Practice Test
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Classroom Notes Room 20 March 18-22
Good Week!
This week will be mostly review. In math, the students will be finishing a non-graded assessment reviewing the year so far. We will go over answers and make sure we are all on the same page before Spring Break. Fractions continue to be our main focus. Yet, we also need to move forward with percentages, decimals, and probability. In reading, we will read sections of "One Crazy Summer," and develop our higher-level reading strategies such as theme, inference, and drawing conclusions. In writing, we will develop our arguments for a persuasive essay. This will be based on a controversial topic. One of the topics I suggested for students was "school uniforms." Every student has selected a topic. We will research what the pros and cons of the topic are and take a side and thus try to persuade the opposition. Some of the students asked whether they could start a debate team! In Social Studies, we continue to learn about women's history and the American Revolution. At the end of the week, we will play a game about the food web with gardening coordinator Kathleen. We WILL have homework over spring break to stay on track. Please remember permission slips for our journey to Sellwood Middle School on April 3rd. Students have been turning in homework regularly-- well done, everyone!
This week will be mostly review. In math, the students will be finishing a non-graded assessment reviewing the year so far. We will go over answers and make sure we are all on the same page before Spring Break. Fractions continue to be our main focus. Yet, we also need to move forward with percentages, decimals, and probability. In reading, we will read sections of "One Crazy Summer," and develop our higher-level reading strategies such as theme, inference, and drawing conclusions. In writing, we will develop our arguments for a persuasive essay. This will be based on a controversial topic. One of the topics I suggested for students was "school uniforms." Every student has selected a topic. We will research what the pros and cons of the topic are and take a side and thus try to persuade the opposition. Some of the students asked whether they could start a debate team! In Social Studies, we continue to learn about women's history and the American Revolution. At the end of the week, we will play a game about the food web with gardening coordinator Kathleen. We WILL have homework over spring break to stay on track. Please remember permission slips for our journey to Sellwood Middle School on April 3rd. Students have been turning in homework regularly-- well done, everyone!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I'll Get You, Posterous!
Thanks, posterous. I didn't need you anyway! Hmph! blogger is better anyway! Welcome, room 20! This will be our cyber-home now. Unpack, get your favorite stuff, and dig in!
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