Hello Everyone!

I cannot believe it is already almost February!  This year is flying by so fast!

This week in math, we are going to continue to learn more about decimal numbers.  Last week, we learned how to round decimal numbers using both place value understanding as well as using the number line.   This week, we will learn how to add, subtract and multiple decimal numbers using both a written method as well as a visual representation on the place value chart.  Students will also continue their own independent studies on Khan Academy.  Students will have access to Khan on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays during the math workshop for about 20 minutes.

In reading, we have begun a new research project on the American Revolution.  Although this is a history themed unit, the students are continuing to learn good reading habits that promote research skills.  For example, students are learning how to synthesize information across texts and compare and contrast how different texts provide information on 1 topic.   Additionally, this unit is a continuation of our unit on argument.  Students have chosen a research question ( see below for the options) and will eventually have to form a claim and support it with reasons in order to answer it.  Students will then work in teams to present their findings to the class.

Questions:
Was the Revolution justified?
Were there good guys and bad guys? ( Who were the good guys and bad guys?)
Who were the true heroes?
Which army was truly the strongest?
Which battle had the largest impact on the war?

In writing, students are finishing their argumentative essays on chosen topics.  This week, I will work in small groups to tailor instruction to the needs of the kiddos.  We will also be learning about good editing habits, specifically rules about commas and strategies to check for spelling.

Last week in science, we wrapped up our series of sound lessons.  We culminated this study with a design challenge in which students had to construct a pair of headphones that would absorb sound waves. See below for some fun pictures!!  This week, we will begin to learn about light energy!  We will learn about the different ways light interacts with objects through a series of centers.  In these centers, students will explore concepts such as reflection and refraction.


Have a great week!
Ms. Phillips

Hello Everyone,


Last week, we wrapped up our math unit on fractions! Students have learned multiple ways to add and subtracts fractions and mixed numbers.  This week, we will begin a unit on decimals. Students will learn how to compare, round, add, subtract, multiply and divide with decimals. Thus, making this unit a bit longer and more intensive than others.  One way we will support the depth of this unit is by having students use Kahn Academy during our math workshop and as an optional homework assignment. Students will get to log into Kahn Academy for the first time this Friday during computer lab.

In writing, we have finished the first section of our argument writing unit with an essay about whether or not schools should serve chocolate milk.  The students did research and wrote a first draft early on in the unit.   Then, we engaged in lessons about how to find further evidence, analyze evidence and explain our thinking, include powerful quotations, and form rebuttals for counterclaims.  Students then used all they know about about good argument writing to write their second draft including these elements.  This week, we will continue the study of argument writing, however students will be writing an essay on the topic they have been studying during reading.

Speaking of reading....students have engaged in researching a second debate topic.  For the topic choices, see the blog post below.  This unit is meant to directly support the writing unit in that students are learning good researching habits, such as taking notes, finding information in unexpected places, and thinking about authors reliability and perspective.   This week, we will finish researching these topics during reading with lessons on analyzing authors crafts as well as evaluating arguments made by authors.

In science, we have been studying energy and sound.  We began our unit with different forms of energy, learning that energy can transform from one type to another.  Then, we narrowed our focus to sound energy in particular.  We explored with some different materials and developed the idea that sound is formed from vibrations.  Students explored this idea further by creating paper cup telephones.  Next, we thought like engineers and decided we came up with ways to make the telephone better, such loudness, clarity and usefulness.  Students then conducted an experiment to test for one of the ideas.  They decided to test whether changing the string or the cups made a difference on loudness or clarity.   This week, we will continue to study sound.

Below are some pictures from the telephone cup activity as well as from our researching!

Have a great week,
Ms. Phillips

New Year...New Units

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year!

Thank you all who came and supported our writing celebration before vacation ( see below for pictures).  It was a great success, and I know the kiddos enjoyed getting to share their writing with all of you! I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing vacation and enjoyed making some special memories with your families.

I always love the start of a New Year as it usually marks the beginning of some new, fabulous units.   This week, we will begin new units in reading, writing and science.   In reading and writing, students will begin to learn the art of argument.  This is always a fifth grade favorite as kids this age tend to want to argue everything :).  They will choose one of the topics listed below and research both sides of the argument during our readers's workshop.  Our mini lessons will focus around good research habits, debate skills and how to determine authors points of view of a text.  Meanwhile, in writing, we will begin to learn how to write using argumentative craft moves.  We will all test the waters in this genre with the topic of Chocolate Milk and whether or not it should be served in schools.  Then, as students learn strategies in this style of writing, they will use their research from the reading block and write an argumentative piece about their chosen topic.

Below are the topics students may choose from. Students will choose their top 3 and I will try my best to make sure everyone gets their first or second choice.  However, some topics may be more popular than others.

Are extreme sports worth the risk?

Should Killer Whale Shows be banned?

Should zoos be supported or boycotted?

Should plastic water bottles be banned?

Should plastic bags be banned?

Should people be climbing Mount Everest?

Should we protect humans from sharks or sharks from humans?


In science, we will begin our light and sound unit.  In this unit, students will learn about how sound is produced and how frequency is related to pitch.  Students will get to experiment with sound by making a paper cup telephone as well as experimenting with different objects and how they produce sound.  Students will also get to design a set of head phones using materials that absorb sound.  Students will also learn about how light interacts differently with specific objects.  Students will learn about the reflective and refractive properties of light.

In math, we will continue our unit on adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers.  Before vacation, students learned how to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators using models. However, this week, we will introduce a written method for adding and subtracting fractions.

*** Reminder: Friday is not an early release day!

Have a great week!

Ms. Phillips