In math, we finished up our unit on counting coins. Students participated in a 3 Act Math challenge called It All Adds Up! to review what they learned. They watched a video that set up a mystery to be solved about what combination of coins went into a bank to equal $1.00. We discussed what we noticed and what we wondered after watching the video. After getting a few clues, students worked in partners to solve the mystery! Our next unit is on graphs and data. Students have already learned about tally charts and picture graphs.
Students listened to some wonderful read alouds this week to help them practice summarizing the big ideas of a fiction book. They were able to pick out story elements and think about the beginning middle, and end of the book to summarize.
In writing, we are nearing the end of our informational unit. Students finished up their 2nd drafts by revising with partners and using editing checklists. They are now publishing one of their two drafts to prepare for our writing celebration.
This week's science investigations were focused on finding materials that would be good to use for designing prototypes of penguin habitats. Students observed a variety of materials like felt, foil, bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and more to determine which had the properties of being insulators and which were transparent. We tested the materials under the heat lamp to record temperature changes. Then, students used this data to pick which materials they would include in their design sketches. Students completed individual sketches first. After that, they formed teams based on common material choices. They worked together to collaborate and create a revised team sketch that used the best of everyone's ideas. The students are excited to build their prototypes next week!
In math, we have finished up the lessons in Chapter 8. Students have been working on word problems involving money and are finding multiple ways to count coins that add up to one dollar. The kids love it when our fifth grade math leader comes to help the class! We will be reviewing on Monday and Tuesday. Please watch for review sheets to come home. Our test will be on Wednesday.
In reading, we have continued our study of cause and effect by exploring examples found in non-fiction books. We read a book about the life cycle of butterflies and were able to write cause and effect sentences about what we learned.
The children finished drafting their subtopic chapters and wrote conclusions in their informational book drafts. After that, they chose important vocabulary words related to their topics to include in a glossary.
In science, students learned that matter can change states. We did several hands-on activities to explore how heat and temperature changes can cause matter to transform from solids to liquids and gasses. Children recorded observations of candles and then were able to see how the materials in the candles changed after being lit. We were able to see changes in state, size, and color. Students saw the wax go from solid to liquid, and then back to a solid. They also compared how much an ice cube melted when it was under a heat lamp vs. not under a lamp. Students recorded both temperature and the amount of liquid that occurred due to melting.
The children had a wonderful time celebrating Valentine's Day! They decorated bags, passed out Valentine's, and participated in fun games and craft activities at our party. Thank you to all of the parent volunteers that helped!
In math, students have been working on identifying and counting quarter, dimes, nickels, and pennies. They are reviewing their skip counting skills in the process. Next week we will cover the remaining lessons in Chapter 8, which focus on word problems and dollars.
The children explored a variety of materials in science in order to compare and contrast their properties. They looked at wood, brass, paint, rubber, and other items in order to record data about size, texture, flexibility, color, and more. We also discussed that different materials are best for different functions, and that this will be important to think about when choosing materials for a penguin habitat at the zoo. Finally, students were able to see how several materials can be combined together to build a tool like a pencil.
In reading, we are learning about cause and effect in fiction books. We read Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, which has a great message for the Valentine's holiday, and it's full of examples of cause and effect surrounding the main character. The kids also had lots of fun with their flashlight reading reward!
The students spent time in the library learning research skills that helped them find facts for their informational writing. The children used Pebble Go on the iPads and searched in books to take notes that can be added to their drafts.
