November 2, 2011

This week in Reading we did Literature Circles. We read certain parts of a book and wrote about something. There were six roles that you could chose from.  They were Discussion Director, Passage Master, Creative Connector, Artful Artist, Word Wizard, and Super Summarizer. I was the Creative Connector. I had to make three text-to-self connection or text-to-world connections or text-to-text connection.


This week in Science we learned about fossil fuels.  Fossil fuels are coal, oil and other types of energy that come from fiossils underground.  They pollute the Earth.  So let's try and stop it!

Global Warming is killing animals especially Polar Bears because there’s a blanket that covers the Earth. That blanket is getting warmer so the glaciers are melting and the polar bears are dying because they are drowning. The reason why is because people are using coal and other fossil fuels. It gets me so mad when people only think of themselves.

November 4, 2011

This week , in Science, we've been learning about energy.This week in particular we've been learning about sound. Did you know that your ears are like funnels? Our ears take the sound and use nerves to send the information to the brain. Then the brain will know or recognize what the sound is-like your best friend talking to you-like that. This happens so fast, yet so much happens in a lot less than a second! It also involves air molecules, but that's a different story.

This week in reading we read a book called "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," which you might know as the new movie "Hugo".The genre is Historical Fiction. Hugo lives alone.Why, you ask?Because all of his family members had died. Before you watch the movie read the book.  I'm sure you'll like the book better. 

This week in math we had our Chapter 3 test. We learned about prime numbers, (which have only 2 factors, 1 and itself) and square numbers, like 4. 2x2=4, and obviously the factors are the same. We also learned about Factor Trees. They start with a number and then you split the factors until they are all prime. Then you write the prime numbers to get the number sentence!

by Philip, Connor, and Zack

October 14, 2011

This week in Science we learned about energy. Electricity is transmitted in 2 forms. AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current). Direct current was the first way electricity was transmitted. DC can only travel in one direction, making many more wires necessary. However, AC, developed after DC, can travel in both directions, eliminating the need for a lot of that wiring. To understand how electricity is made, we must go much smaller. To the scale of atoms, to be exact. Atoms are made up of protons and neutrons bunched together to make the nucleus. Elections zip around the nucleus. Sometimes, one or more electrons may be pulled from it's nucleus, then jumping to another nucleus. These jumping electrons are what generates electricity.
   In reading this week we learned about parts of speech. The two parts of speech we learned about are prepositions and conjunctions. Prepositions are words that show direction. Some examples are on, over, with, by, in, above. Some examples in sentences are: The cat sat on the fence. Or: The rabbit slept inside his hutch. Conjunctions are a joining word. Some examples are and, because, so, if, although. Some examples in sentences are: I went to buy dog food at the store but they didn't have any more. We also had spelling an vocabulary tests this week. For our parts of speech test next week we got a study sheets. On the test there will be nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, and prepositions. Our classroom got a new "Time for Kids" it is about monarch butterflies. That is what we did in reading this week.
         In writing this week we did our personal narratives.When people were editing their narratives they used a editing checklist.On that editing checklist you are supposed to read the paper backwards.We also did some other things in writing too.We did a writing prompt.We did that for a few hours.Each of us either wrote a rough draft or if we had time to do a final draft.The story we were supposed to write something that was great and tell why it was great.

October 6, 2011

This week in class we learned about Kinetic and Potential energy. Potential energy is energy that is standing still or just not moving at all. Kinetic energy is energy that is moving energy. Other types of energy include sound energy, eletric energy, and lght energy. A car moving on a highway is Kinetic energy. When it stops at a gas staition, it shifts into Potential energy.
This week in writing we had to draft our own personal naritives. We had to add internal and external voice. It took us a few days to draft. We had lots of fun but had to work very hard.
This week in reading we wached 5 different School House Rocks. I could tell we loved them. We saw one about nouns, one about verbs, one about pronouns, one about ajectives, and one about adverbs. I can't wait to see the one about conjuntions.

By Alex, Elizabeth, and Jake

August 24, 2011

Hi everyone!

We will be using this blog to share what we are learning in our classroom throughout the year.  The blog will usually be written by a team of students, but I will also occassionally provide an update.

I know you may be sad that summer is ending (and that you'll need to start getting up earlier for school), but I promise we're going to have a great year as we embark on your fifth grade journey together.  I have been busy getting the classroom all set for your arrival next week!  I can't wait to see you all again!

Mr. Weinstein

June 3, 2011

     This week in Science, we made the Ball & Cup Desin Challenge. We split up into groups of four and were given four different balls, a ruler, a cup with a big hole in the side. Some teams did things like how far the ball pushes the cup or how fast the ball goes. The main idea is that the new fifth graders get to experement with variables. This will be used next year for the new fifth graders. Also, we are playing a new game on the iPad. It's called "Cut the Rope". It tested you timing and memory. It turns out we were actually learning while we were having fun.
    In Math we are learning about probability and checks.We are also doing a 1,000,000 dollar project. We have to pretend to buy something,subtract it from 1,000,000 until we get to our next number.We have to use at least 500,000 dollars.We have to spend in between 500,000 dollars and 1,000,000 dollars.For example you can buy an iPad,car, house,sports team,pet,and much much more!!!
    Room 32 has been working on Literiture Circles for the past few weeks.Some people are reading "Fifth of March"which is about a girl who is a servant for John and Abigail Adams during the Boston Massacre.Others are reading "Fever 1793" which is about a girl who lived during the Yellow Fever epidemic in 1793.A few people are reading "Out of the Dust"which is about a girl who lives during the Dust Bowl.Finally some are reading "Secret School"which is about a girl who has to teach a one-room-schoolhouse all by herself!We are also assigned jobs to write about the story.There is Super Summarizer,Disscusion Director,Passage Master,Creative Connecter,Artful Artist,and Word Wizard.They are really cool!Have you ever read any of these books?

May 27, 2011

Science
  This week in Science we played on the iPad. There is a game called "Simple Physics." In the game, there are tons of cool levels! There are levels that involve water, amusement park rides, and tree houses. You always have to build to make, stop, or prevent something.

Math
  This week in math we did probability. Sometimes we pick out of a hat and before we pick, we guess the probability of picking a color. We also played some cool math games on the iPad. We played this one game called Alien Equation. You try to line up math facts. The longer the equation is the more points you get. That is all of the things we did in math this week.

 Reading
    This week in reading we did centers, each person gets a group A,B,C,D,or E. Every other day we have centers.The centers that we have are spelling,vocabulary,comprehension packet,Time for Kids,guided reading,and independent reading.We also have literature circles. We  are all reading different books. The books are Fever 1793, Fifth of March, Out of the Dust,and Secret School.Every week we meet and discuss are book. That's what we did in reading this week.


by
Makayla,Jordan,and Jonas

May 16, 2011

Hi everyone,

I apologize for the lengthy delay between postings, but we had some technical difficulties that prevented me from getting onto the website.

In Reading, we are involved in Historical Fiction Literature Circles.  The students are reading books with a small group and twice each week, they respond to the text in different ways.  They'll be using art, connections, vocabulary words, and discussions to share their feelings as they read.

We have just finished learning about the Revolutionary War and will next be moving into the founding of our government.  We'll be learning about the Articles of Confederation, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and three branches of Government.

In Writing, we're going to be writing about the themes in either Lois Lowry's "The Giver" or Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet" and how those themese can provide lessons for us in our own lives.

The students will be taking over the blogging again this Friday!

Have a great week!

Jeff

Week Ending March 12

Hi All,

This week we had our Wax Museum and I couldn't prouder of my class and the entire 5th Grade.  The students chose a Biography to read.  Then, they wrote a summary and a speech.  They had to memorize the speech, create props and costumes and present them in the evening to our guests who walked around the classroom bringing the statues to life by shining a flashlight on them.  If I could capture the amount of energy in that room, we wouldn't be worrying about an oil crisis in the Middle East :)

We also started reading Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet." It's a great adventure book and the students are identifying key information as they read and respond to the text.  They seem to be really enjoying it!

Another big learning area was in Social Studies.  We learned a great deal about the injustices of slavery thanks to our wonderful student teacher, Mrs. Coburn.  The kids really enjoyed reenacting the journey on a slave ship.  One of the things that I love most about teaching fifth grade is the students' ability to foster a deeper and more meaningful understand of why social justice is important.  They were shocked that human beings were treated the way slaves were!

Next week we're off to the Museum of Fine Arts-it's going to be GREAT!

Mr. Weinstein

February 11, 2011

 WAX MUSEUM   

 For our February book that we read every month we must read a biography.With our biography we will be participating in a Wax Museum.Wax Museum is when we come after school and act as the famous person we read about.Our Wax Museum will be on March 9,2011.The entire grade will be in it.This year our class will have some famous people we have never had before.Hopefully everyone comes and it will be a big success!

READING

This week in reading we had centers.There are 5 different centers.There is independent reading,Time for Kids magazine,guided reading,comprehension packet,and spelling and vocabulary.In spelling and vocabulary we got to play a game called Spelling City on the computer. It helps you with your spelling by playing games and then taking the test. Also we have been learning about homophones.We had a project where we had to write sentences with a homophone in each one.That is what we did in spelling.

SOCIAL STUDIES 

This week in Social Studies we learned about the British Monarchy.The British Monarchy is about having kings and queens, and saying if they are better than ordinary person.A guy named Stephen Hasele said that "Anybody that is a citizen should be able to be head of this country".I think he is right because if a queen gives birth, that baby is not different than a citizen's baby because it did not do any thing to earn it.

Reading:  Fantasy Fanbook    By: Catherine O'Donnell

   Our class had to make a fanbook. You had to pick out a fanasy book. Then when you are done reading it yo get a white, blue or green piece of paper and make it into a fanbook. Then you write 6 important events from the book. You also have to make a cover and leave a page p
blank for commennts and the grade. You also had to color the pictures neatly in colored pencil, crayon or make a collage and spell everything correctly. On the cover you would write the name of the book, the author, your name and the date. It was due on January 28, 2011.

Reading: Wax Museum   By: Paige Hofschire

On March 9th, the 5th grade will be doing something called the wax museum. For the wax museum, we choose a person to read a biography about. Then, for the wax museum, we dress up as  the person and pretend we are them. We tell about them, like when they were born, tell about their life, and other stuff. When people come to the museum (families, friends) they will have flashlights, and when they shine the flashlight, we start talking about our person. The wax museum is gonna be in the evening and be super cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reading:  Homophones and Homonyms   By: Sally Donovan

This week in reading we learned about homophones and homonyms. A homophone is word that sounds like another word but means the same thing but it is spelled differently.Some homophones are pair-pear,one-won,see-sea. A homonym is one word that has two or more meanings to it. Some examples are run,fair,coat,there, and there are many more too!!

January 7, 2011

Engineering

 This week in Engineering we started making windmills. We got partners to make them with. We had a packet so we could draw our ideas, answer questions and some other things. We have to follow the "Engineering Design Process" which is ask,imagine,plane, create and improve. On January 6, 2011 we started our ask and imagine stages, some people already started creating. We are having so much fun doing this.

Social Studies

 In Social Studies, we learned about the 13 colonies. It was a "Jigsaw" project.Our teacher Mr.Weinstein split the class into 3 groups.The 3 groups were the Northern Colonies, Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. All 3 of the groups had to get information on the colony name,the founder,the main resources,the main religion in the colony, and one interesting fact about the colony. After we found out all of the information we had to make a map of the colonies.After we did that, we recopied the information on a poster board.The 13 colonies were much different back then, than right now.This was a fun project!

                           

Health

 This week in health we did a cool thing . We put goggles on called "drunk goggles." They show you how people see when they are drunk. Mrs.Kinsella put a long piece of tape on the rug and told us to try to walk in a straight line.She said to listen to your eyes, and not your brain. When you have the drunk goggles on, you see double of everything. If you are drunk, when you are driving, it is not safe for you and the other people on the street. You might see two yellow lines and accidentally go on the wrong side and have an accident with another car. That's why you must NEVER drink alcohol when you're driving.

By Jordan, Jonas,and Elias