Ben's Bells!

Julian is going to Ben's Bells to paint charms again Friday 12/30 at 2:30. I will try my best to be there also, but can't promise at this time. I need a baby sitter for Clare. Two year old + paint = disaster!

*****Come if you can!  Thanks Julian*******

Pictures of new classroom coming soon! :-) 

New classroom update:

Expect it to be MUCH smaller and a bit crowded. Things will be different, but it will be okay. We'll work together to make Tuesday a smooth transition back to learning. :-) 

                   Science

How's your project idea coming along? 

Science Buddies are here to help!

Precious Evie

Evie is 42.5 cm curved carapace length. She had been feeding on spider crabs which is the main food item of Kemp's ridleys in Pine Island Sound, Florida. Evie's tag is sponsored by Christopher, Jeannie and Mrs Smith's class! Thank you fifth graders for such a generous, unique and selfless surprise! We will have a ton of fun tracking this big guy on his journey through recovery and the big wide open sea.

** *NEW CLASSROOM MOVE***

Interested in helping me move this weekend? I hope to be there Sat., Sunday and Monday after 1:00 pm. Have your parents Email me as soon as possible at kesmith@amphi.com and leave your phone numbers. I didn't have time to contact everyone yesterday and bring your phone numbers with me. E-mailing me will help a lot and save me time today. THANKS EVERYONE!!!!     :-)

Bear Essential New for Kids

Tonight, more of our class represented Walker School in hopes to get articles published. I am VERY proud of all of you who wish to go above and beyond, exceeding the fifth grade expectations daily. What and incredible opportunity you have before you! Great job, I know I am looking forward to next month's newspaper! Woo Hoo!
Happy Holidays EVERYONE!!!!
Interested in participating?

Conservation Efforts

 Our BEAUTIFUL Earth!

• Polar Bears if you scroll down, there is a fantastic video explaining the science behind tracking polar bears.
• Sea Turtles-Track a turtle, Adopt a turtle
• Need a unique gift for someone? Sponsor an endangered creature!
• Adopt a sea turtle

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!!

         12/2/11 Reading/Science focus on MARS  

         Science Presentations

 in progress-Dioramas look AWESOME! 

This weekend: Guide your scientific thinking. 

Check these links out:

1. SARCEF
2. Google online science fair! COOL!!

3. Our friend NEWTON!
4. See a very cool sample of a science experiment
5. Love the i-pad? Want to create your own game? THINKERS!
**********More Math Practice
Monday-Deep focus on Reading Log & Organization for writing**********

Hope to see you tonight!

Bear Essential News Reporters
Great job everyone who is currently challenging themselves!
*Reading to learn and then writing about it is tough, but worth it!
Please comment below to nominate:
Peace Buliders/Ben's Bell Kindness Charms

11/14/11

Happy Monday!!!
Science News, Kids
What is a computer programer?
Check out a new program developed by MIT called, SCRATCH
Save the World Challenge!
Math-Tesselations & Other reccomended links

Veteran's Day Weekend!

How wonderful it is to have Friday off from school. Tomorrow as you enjoy this time off, please consider using your time to think about and remember our Veterans. What is a Veteran? Don't forget to read, write your report, finish any missing assignments. Spelling packets and test on Monday. Geography quiz on Tuesday. 

Try these links:
1. Do you enjoy a challenge?

2. Love science? 

3. Do you want to be a scientist someday?

*Sierra, Kristen and Julian are going to the Humane Society. Take pictures, so we can add them to the newsletter! Who is up for volunteering their time?

How are you spending your weekend? Comment below: :-)

WEAR WARM CLOTHES TOMORROW!

It's going to be COLD All Week!

How did you spend your 30 minutes of reading?

I spent a lot of time reading about why I lost my voice and have to stay at home, not talk, etc. instead of being with my awesome fifth graders. :-(

I hope you are washing your hands! If you catch a cold virus, it could progress into what I have! 
 Use this link for more information: The less I use my voice, the faster it will come back! 

Colds: Avoid them (hand washing) or let it run its course...

Did you know that you can't get rid of a cold-caused sore throat with antibiotics (medicines)? That's because colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics only work against bacteria. Besides, taking antibiotics unnecessarily can contribute to the growing problem of "Super Bugs" or microbial resistance. When bacteria are frequently exposed to antibiotics, and become "Superbugs", you won't be able to be treated with regular medications. YIKES!

Do Pumpkins float?

Science Blog

End of October...Where does the time go?

Science-Focus on Environments and Ecology
1. Create biomes- Research (thanks Kristen!)
2. Build a virtual biome
3. Ecosystems
4. Practice Vocabulary
~For those Interested: Cells ALIVE! (Eddie)
*Oh my goodness, gracious! Check out the sand bacteria, GROSS, but cool! :-)
* Take a quiz if you'd like.
*What's smaller than the tip of a pin? WOW, who knew?
Reading sites:
1. Into the book
2. Comprehension Interactive
3. Study Zone
4. Latin/Greek Roots to challege your self :-)
MATH/Social Studies: Today we leaned about the purpose of a census. Check out some cool sites to read some mathematical statistics. One of my favorites-Appromimate $ earned per level of education. See you tomorrow!!!
What did you read for your 30 minutes?

Biomes Mix & Match

Biomes Mix & Match

Current Event Sites

1. Technology
2. Australia- See the Great Barrier Reef live!
3. Environment

 Roentgen Satellite or ROSAT, will tumble to Earth sometime in early November

 Track it! Sorry guys, it's already down..

Friday we discussed briefly the impact of natural disasters, specifically, Hurricane Katrina. Some of you expressed interest in seeing more of the Make It Right website.
Have a great weekend!  

October

Geography Locations:
Spain
Portugal
Germany
Denmark
Want to go to Paris?
Science-Quarter 2-Focus on Environment & Biomes
Learning about our Earth-Preservation, conservation & future
Biomes
Just for fun!
Virtual Science Lab

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do,"

"If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on." Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, R.I.P.  1955-2011

Digestive System

Explore more information about what we have learned. Take a quiz! (Reading these pages can count as your 30 minutes!)  :-)
EWWWW Gross Check this out-Microbe World
Did you know:
1. Americans eat about 700 million pounds of peanut butter.
2. Americans eat over 2 billion pounds of chocolate a year.

3. In your lifetime, your digestive system may handle about 50 tons!!
GEOGRAPHY
Quarter Two Locations INCLUDE:
Countries in EUROPE & ASIA
Europe Games

Want to buy books before Monday? 
See this link: Walker's Scholastic Book Fair

Last week of September!

Weather
Antarctica web cam
Track Hurricanes & Tropical Storms
Adel and Julian would like to share some webcam views.
1. New York City-Time Square
2. NY's new WTC
3. Want to pretend you are on a beech half way around the world?
See a live camera of a beach in Australia! It's night during the day here, why? ;-) 
*BUDDY CLASS- BEN'S BELLS PROJECT

LIVE REAL TIME SATELLITE TRACKING AND PREDICTIONS: UARS

Rumor has it, UARS is down...Just waiting for NASA to confirm.  Videos of fireball taken from backyard in Washington  on  space.com

REAL TIME SATELLITE TRACKING AND PREDICTIONS: UARS 

ALL EYES ON THE SKY TONIGHT!!!! As of on Sept. 23, 2011, the orbit of UARS Re-entry (UARS finally hitting Earth), is expected between 11 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m., Saturday morning.  During that time period, the satellite will be passing over North America, more specifically, Canada, then, Africa and Australia, as well as vast areas of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. 
          * The risk of getting hit by this satellite is 1 and 3200, very unlikely! Don't be scared....   ;-)


Track with Google Earth: http://www.n2yo.com/ if you keep trying, you'll be able to see it.  

  ~Try This Link It has worked well in our class,  you just have to click "refresh" a lot.
*Learn more about SPACE
*Keep us posted!
           Comment Below! :-)
UARS was launched in 1991 by the Space Shuttle Discovery. It is 35 feet long, 15 feet in diameter, weighs 13,000 pounds, and carries 10 instruments. UARS orbits at an altitude of 375 miles with an orbital inclination of 57 degrees. Designed to operate for three years, six of its ten instruments are STILL functioning! UARS measures ozone and chemical compounds found in the ozone layer which affect ozone chemistry and processes. UARS also measures winds and temperatures in the stratosphere as well as the energy input from the Sun. Together, they help answer the question, what is the role of the upper atmosphere in climate and climate variability?
CHECK OUT:
* CNN Heroes, vote for who you think deserves to win. :-)

Week of 9/19-9/23

SCI-JINKS Science
1. Review of Circulatory System

2. Review Cells-We'll be using microschopes to compare what they actually look like soon!
3. Virtual Body
4. Take a Quiz
5. See a virtual heart!
6. Games
7. Knee joints-Mr. McConnell taught us all about this!
*Additional Human Body Links 

Week of 9/12-9/16

• Spelling Words-Focus on Plurals (s, ies & es)
• See list of all plurals, games, and more!
• Geography Locations-Puerto Rico, Caribbean Islands & Sea, Cuba, Gulf of Mexico
• Time Lapse Web Cam Pictures of WTC New York-REALLY COOL! Live web cams of site at the bottom of website. 
• Monsoon or Tropical Storm Remnants?

• Monsoon season is typically from mid June through early September.

  By mid August, the increasingly lower sun angle (think planets and their rotation around the sun) in the northern hemisphere becomes less effective in maintaining the monsoon ridge. The high temperatures begin to decrease as the polar jet stream begins to shift south from Canada. Breaks become longer between thunderstorms. However, the combination of wet soil and continued rain over Mexico usually keeps low level moisture in place over Arizona.

  This is the time of year when the tropical eastern Pacific becomes a concern. Very warm water temperatures support tropical storms and hurricanes west of the Mexican coast. Most of these hurricanes move harmlessly west into the open Pacific. However as the monsoon ridge shifts south, moisture from these systems can be steered toward Arizona. When this happens, thunderstorm rains can be enhanced and lead to flash flooding.

September 12, 2011

IXL MATH Log-in & Passwords are ready!
Please log in tonight for at least 15 minutes:
1. Practice Fifth Grade-A1 Place Values & Number Sense
2. Don't forget to study Geography Locations (Greenland, Iceland, & Newfoundland)
3. Read at least 30 minutes!

Remembering September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001, there was an attack on America.

There are some men that decided that they didn’t like what America stands for: freedom, liberty, and the rights of men and women of all races, backgrounds, and beliefs. So on the morning of September 11, 2001, they hijacked four planes and attacked America in a terrible way.

Two of the airplanes were crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. The third plane was crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The last plane was going to crash into another building in Washington, D.C., but the passengers stopped the hijackers, and the plane crashed into a field   instead.


Thousands of people lost their lives through these attacks. Hundreds of people were on the planes. Thousands died in the buildings that were hit by those planes.


The men that arranged this terrible attack want Americans to feel afraid and disorganized. They want to make people who live in this country do what they say by threatening us. Basically they’re big bullies.


The people of the United States are a strong group of people. Keep faith in who you are and what our country stands for and we will become even stronger than before.

Links:

1. Science behind the Twin Towers
2. 9/11 Memorial
3. Nick News
4. Brain Pop

Are you keeping updated this weekend?

Track Hurricane Irene
Check out the beach cams on the bottom. Watch for storm surges.

Thursday!

"Hello, I am your skeleton. What are you eating today? NOT junk food...AHHH!!!!!"

"Hmmm...what did YOU learn today?"

Science Continued...YAY!

EVERYTHING about the human body systems!

Happy Tuesday!

In science, our current focus is on body systems:

1. Quiz

2. Virtual Body

3. Muscles (3 types-smooth, cardiac & skeletal)

4. Sketetal System

5. Nervous System-Brainy Games

Extra Time? Bacteria Invasion

*How CELLS work in our bodies. 

Technology Tuesday

1. First take a quick quiz to see how much you already know about geography
2. Use this site to write three or more facts about each continent, if you can't find at least 3 facts about each continent, try the floowing sites:

• World Map
• Powerpoint Presentations

3. Geography Games

HAPPY SUMMER!

I hope you are all enjoying your summer vacation! Keep in touch via, blog comments, facebook, or e-mail. 

Try these really cool brain teasers.
Have fun!

Two Links 2 Share Related to Current Events Today

Debt Clock
World Trade Center Stories

Cupid shuffle groups? It would look really neat if we varied up the routin a little. What do you think? Comment!
1. "C" & Shuffle Steps
2. Another version
3. Actual video

Wednesday

State Facts:

1. Ben's Guide

2. Arizona

Challenge yourself:

1. Math

2. LEARN math online

3. Web Math

Student Survey

Please make sure to take this survey. Thanks!

April 26, 2011

 3-D Solar System!

Vocabulary Worksheets | Have Fun Teaching

Vocabulary Worksheets Have Fun Teaching

Friday April 22, 2011

MAP Reading test is on Tuesday! Don't forget to study your notes.

Student & teacher suggested MAP practice sites:

1. Mrs. Smith

2. JJ

3. Melody
4. Jacob
5. Miss Farr 

Thanks! :-)

NWEA MAP Test

Reading test is on Tuesday, April 26th! Time to study. Try these websites out:

1. RIT 
2. Practice 
3. Reading Reference

Make sure to also study your reading standards packet and Vocabulary list. :-)  

 

Focus for Friday

1. Brain Teasers

2. Current Events

3. TFK

4. Math

5. Art

6. Lunch

7. Focus on vocabulary-Suffixes, GRE

AIMS Week

We have learned A LOT this year! Now it's up to YOU to show what you know! I know each and every one of you will give your ABSOLUTE BEST next week. In the mean time, here are some suggestions to help you study. "Study, study" the materials in your assessment folder. I know.. "Nag, nag"...Remember, it takes the brain at least 5-100 times of exposure to learn something new (storing information into long-term memory). I've got news for you....It's very difficult to teach ALL of the 5th grade standards over 100 times. It's up to you to read over the concepts and study what you don't know at this point. That is why I have assigned practice packets and study guides...Not to torture you, but to help you. :-)

In addition, try these links out:

1. Poetry

2. Writing Links

3. IX

Have a wonderful weekend-don't forget to shop for HEALTHY snacks!

Tuesday April 5, 2011

AIMS testing begins Monday, April 11th and lasts the entire week! We've learned a lot and have prepared all year, and it's time to study. Here are a few great resources to use at home:
1. IXL math
2. AIMS practice tests
3. Test Quest
4. BBC
5. NWEA MAP Prep. based on your scores

Happy April!

Today's Highlights:
*Report cards were handed out-make sure to get your agenda book signed by your parents.
*Our class set goals and discussed upcoming end-of-year assessments.
*Mrs. Farr taught us about Folktales and we read really interesting stories that we didn't want to stop reading.
*In math and science, we worked with our kindergarten buddies to study/measure WORMS!
~Monday, we will begin our AIMS studying with a fun lesson on affixes.
:-) I hope you are challenging yourself by reading & studying your standards' packets!
Have a great weekend! :-)

Wednesday

Let's make our community a safer place by learning what to do if you were in an emergency situation.
On March 19-this Saturday, there will be a unique opportunity to learn essential CPR and first aid skills at a free training event. This is a nationwide event honoring Congresswoman Giffords, whose district largely overlaps with the service area of our American Red Cross chapter.  More than 100 Red Cross chapters will be participating nationwide. We hope you’ll spend just one hour with us.
WHEN: Saturday March 19, 2011
            9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm
WHERE:  Six locations across Southern Arizona, in Tucson, Green Valley, Nogales, Sierra Vista, and Douglas.
COST:  Free
INCLUDES: Training in hands-only CPR, controlling external bleeding and managing shock. Will last 45-60 minutes.

REGISTER ONLINE at www.redcrossarizona.org/sals 

to take part in this valuable training.

March 8, 2011

Happy Tuesday! Mrs. Smith was back today since Miss Farr was at a training. We continue to learn a lot. Keep updating your student blogs. Please remember to keep them educational. Here a few fun websites to try:
Math
A fun weekend event at the U of A Mall
Iditarod

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Happy LOVE OF READING WEEK! In honor of Love of reading, we will have a read in tomorrow along with 4 guest readers throughout the day. Also, I want you to think about when you were little (er), did you have a book that you just absolutely loved? You made your parents read it over and over and over and... you get the idea. Bring that book in and we'll be reading it to one another in class. FYI, I'll be bringing, "There's a Monster at the End of This Book".

If you  have time, visit the following links: SeussVille, RAA, doors

Monday-February 28th

Beginning at 4:00am- WORLD'S MATH DAY Competition! Log in as many times as you can that day until 12:00am to help set another Guinness Book of World Records- 2011. Yey Math!!!
Nick and My will be at school representing our class from 4-7pm, but you can compete from any computer with internet. Join this fun event! 

Happy March!

Our science fair has come to a conclusion-except for our SARCEF winners (don't forget to register by March 1st). If you LOVE science and don't want experiments to end become a member of Mad Science.

Up Coming Events for March-We will enter the door decorating contest on Tuesday the 2nd, Grandparents/Special Person's day is on Wednesday, March 16th, Spring Break is March 21-25th, World's Math Day competition ends this month, don't forget to practice your math skills with IXL math!

Happy February!

Today we focused on a lot. For reading we discussed functional text and explored advertisements while looking closely for deception. We examined slogans in articles, advertisements, and compared the information/promises with their nutrition labels. It was really interesting. Cooper, Taylon, and Sara were very motivated. They actually brought out some of their snacks and we read and discussed the labels. Jacob had blueberry yogurt as part of his lunch and it DID have REAL blueberries! What's in YOUR snacks? Red #40? Blue #1 or #2? Yellow #5 or #6, artificial flavors? If it does, you may want to put that snack down according to this article. YIKES!

In math, we finished lesson 5.10 and 5.11. Unit test coming very soon! Please use your user names/passwords to log into the following website competitions:

1. IXL

2. World's Maths Day

Current events/geography-Miss Farr taught the lesson today

Science projects-ongoing

The importance of.....

Functional Text: Do you like blueberries? have you been tricked by false advertisements? If you are a careful reader, you won't get tricked.

January

What an unbelievably BUSY month! Science fair is coming, it's time to get creative! Take a look at some of the SARCEF winners last year. Winners get special prizes like money and even scholarships! The most creative and environmentally savvy projects usually win. On January 26th (100th day of school), Mrs. VF & our class will be going to Tumacacori to explore/compare it with the Mission. What a great time that will be, and ice cream when we return as we celebrate the 100th day of school-woo hoo! Mrs. Smith will be at a training at AHS on January 27 & 28th. Mr. Matchett & Mrs. Farr (student teacher) will be your  teachers on those days. 

* Congratulations to our class for filling yet another sticker chart-time to buy something sweet-AGAIN!! I'd say stop earning 5's in specials, but that's kind of the point of our class sticker chart! Great behavior 5th graders-keep it up! 
Here are some science project links for the following students: Jacob, Ani, Allen, Victor, Clarissa, Melody, Devon, Sara, My, Nick,

To do or not to do?

http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Science_Fair_Project/

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

Happy New Year 2011