Thursday

Last day before holiday vacation.
Try this out: Your Inner Animal.

Friday December 10th

Good Morning Fifth Graders!

You have an awesome Friday planned for you.

~First you will learn all about reindeer, exploring facts and myths regarding these fantastic creatures. Then, current events and yes, you will be writing notes :-P. Next,  art, recess as usual, followed by TFK-2010 Cool Inventions. If you have extra time, think about what's next. What will kids like you want or spend money on? Who knows maybe your invention could be the next big thing!
~The substitute will also be giving you the Unit 4 Math test, don't freak out, just try your best. I'll be back on Monday and if any of you still have areas that need extra practice, we'll get to it then.
~DON'T Forget to transfer your old work into your new work folder and show it to your parents this weekend. Make sure to write that down in your agenda books (I forgot to tell the sub).   
After lunch you will have buddies and then the pep assemble. What a fun filled Friday! Have a great weekend! Continue to challenge yourself via IXL, blogs, reading, etc.
Lots of love to you all-BE GOOD!
Your teacher~Mrs. Smith :-)

Tuesday 12/7/10

Today we remember Pearl Harbor. We learned about the history of this day. 
In the computer lab, we focused on IXL math (Allen is in the lead with Nick only 21 minutes behind, Karina-3rd, Sara-4th & Melody-5th and student blogs. Melody, Victor, Madison, and Nadia have also joined the blog world. The race to see who has the most places on their Revolver Globes continues. So far, Allen is in the lead with 19 locations total. 9 more days left! Who will win?

Reading/Writing- Spelling packets & Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (focus on WW2)
Math-Focus on ending the unit on long division and beginning a unit on fractions
Geography- Final Today! 
Science-Daily observations on our growing pumpkins-we're testing the question; Does the size of  a pumpkin's seeds affect the rate & size at which it will grow?

Homework

1. Read 30 minutes-pick at least 3 sources to read for your standards' log

2. Math-Unit 4 review green packet due Friday

3. Spelling-packet/ study words (focus on holidays & abbreviations)

4. Science-Do you have a unique experiment idea?

5. Any unfinished home/classwork assignments-all due by Friday :-)

Thursday December 2nd

Point to a nonrenewable energy source! 

Our class began the day with reading, writing, science & social studies! 

We read about the North & South Pole, discussed Pangaea, and reviewed the following vocabulary words:

Resources (renewable & nonrenewable), conservation, & environment. 
After PE & recess, we continued our focus on business and entrepreneurship skills (Thank you Jason), we discussed jobs of the future, filled out a resume and played a job skills game and learned about Sylvan Goldman, the guy who invented the shopping cart.
What a great short day, full of learning! :-) 


*Homework :-)
1. Read, update reading logs-due tomorrow

2. Math practice-Division pg 392 & IXL OR page 393

3. Geography *Final is next week please refer to green Geo. folder!

*What did you learn today? Comment!

Last day of November!

Wow, this school year is passing quickly!

We began the day with art where we focused on tessellations. Then we went to the computer lab to practice IXL math. So far, Nick is in the lead. Go Nicholas!

During reading/current events, we read an article called, Learning Chinese. It was really interesting. Some of the vocabulary words for today, include; bilingual: adj able to speak two languages, immersion-adj: method of instruction where only the language being taught is used, assurance-n: promise or pledge, blockbuster-n: a hit movie.

In math, we are focusing on long division and review of place value.
In Geography, we had our quiz on 4 locations (Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iran & Iraq)
We concluded the day with the school spelling bee. Devon & Ani represented us well! Great job girls! :-)
**HOMEWORK: Don't forget to update your reading logs (multiple sources), each day after school by reading for 30+ minutes each night, study for geography final, your math study link and any unfinished class work/assignments. :-)
~What was your favorite part of today? Comment! 

Communicating With Our Burmese Students

Burma Refugees

Melody's Biome

Thanksgiving week:

We are learning all about colonial history. We read/discussed pg 130/131 of our social studies book and began our KWL chart which will be ongoing this week. 

Tuesday Computer Lab:  
1.  Web Quest

2. Thanksgiving History

3. Mayflower Voyage

Mountain View, CA

Our class says hello to bloggers in Mountain View, California.

November 16, 2010
Our class began the day with nonfiction reading comprehension about magnets and insects. For an additional morning challenge, we collaboratively brainstormed answers to brain teasers and wrote them in our journals. At about 9:15, we transitioned to our morning meeting where we discussed current events. We continue to think about, discuss, and relate daily current events to our Environment/Biome Projects- understanding geographical features, environmental and human impacts.
Computer Lab Options: 1. Work on final presentations 2. Create an X-tra Normal or Toon Doo about your Environment to link to class blog 3. IXL Math Practice
Math-Watch this video on Partial Quotients Division
Geography- New countries of study include; Mediterranean Sea, Israel, Egypt & Lebanon

ENVIRONMENTS PROJECT!
Review your list of biomes.  Working in a group of 2-3, you will choose/research a biome and its environment, and then report your findings to the class in the form of a 3 dimensional display box/poster.  Complete your research using the Internet, books (including textbooks), encyclopedias, magazines, etc.  Be sure to keep track of all of the references you used. Write/attach to your project a list of references (websites, books, additional sources). 

 *Don’t forget to use your rubric as a guide.                                                         

Math- Log in at IXL Math and gain some extra practice!