Where the Red Fern Grows

We had a great time watching this movie and even played a little "Heads Up" while we waited for the bus.  Before the movie we previewed some questions that I had the kiddos think about while they were watching.  We had an impressive discussion after some writing reflection time here back at school.  We discussed foreshadowing, the most admirable characters, and differences between the movie and book.

Science--Models

We wrapped up our work with the black boxes this week.  Students used extra materials (empty black boxes, tape, rectangular or triangular shaped foam pieces) to try to create a physical model of their designated black box.  Most students were convinced that they had matched it perfectly after comparing the two.  Here are some of our drawings of our physical models.  We ended with an online black box activity in which students were using a laser light to identify hidden shapes.  They can log into this activity at home. 
1.  Go to fossweb.com
2.  Click on Class Login
3.  Username is wescience
4.  Password is wescience

Friendship Groups

In Friendship Groups this week we played a fun candy cane game that ended in everyone enjoying a delicious treat!  We also colored Christmas cards for veterans, residents of nursing homes, etc.  Friendship Groups are such a special time!

Parkview Carol Sing

Nothing is sweeter to listen to than children singing Christmas carols!  The residents had many requests and fun was had by all!  We all started in the main room, but then split into groups to carol throughout the different units in the nursing home. 

Literacy

The past two weeks we have been working REALLY hard to make inferences when we read as authors often have readers fill in the blanks as they are reading.  We make inferences when we use what we already know and combine it with clues the author has given us.  This can be such a difficult skill so we used some picture books to work through it and I also provided the students with some thinking stems to help them with this work.  This was also our focus in small group guided reading.

Most students are doing a GREAT job of keeping track of their own reading goals and adding up their pages.  Just a reminder that reading goals are due January 11, 2017. 

We have wrapped up our informational reports and students are working to prepare their presentation to the class.  We are also going to make 3-D representations of our topics to trace, cut, stuff, and hang from our ceiling.  The students have worked really hard on their informational reports so we are going to wrap up with a little bit of fun!

Math

Today brought the end of Unit 5 (Fractions, Decimals, and Percents).  Because Unit 6 (Addition and Subtraction of Fractions) is so closely related, we as a 5th grade team of teachers, have decided to wait to give the test as a whole at the completion of Unit 6.  Again, great Everyday Math Online games that can be utilized to practice current math skills are:   Fraction Percent Concentration, Frac-Tac-Toe, Fraction Top-It, and Fraction Of.  This would be a great alternative if you would still like your child to practice when there is no homework assigned. 

Chinese

This week in Chinese, Mrs. Hussey talked with kiddos about a Chinese tradition of making dragonflies that hang on Christmas trees.  This seemed like a very intricate process for which the students had to use a lot of patience to get to their final product!  Fun!

Science

Woven into our current science unit, Mixtures and Solutions, are components of the Next Generation Science Standards, including engineering and the use of models.  So while we are still in the Mixtures and Solutions unit, the past few science classes have been spent looking at, observing, developing, and improving models.  The students have learned that models are explanations of objects, events, or systems that cannot be observed directly.  After careful observation, collaboration, and analysis, students created a physical model of a "black box" with the other scientists in the room.  Our "black boxes" are sealed and students do not know what is inside.  This has driven them crazy!

Google Expeditions

MPCSD currenty has access to a Google Expeditions kit.  This is a virtual reality teaching tool that lets you lead or join immersive virtual trips all over the world.  Mrs. Beachy "took" the students to Machu Picchu after studying about it during Spanish class.  The kids absolutely LOVED it!  And I did, too!  So cool!

Elves. . .

Today we took some time to respond to 1st grade Santa letters.  This is one of our favorite things to do--the kids have a lot of fun with it and we enjoyed listening to some of our favorite Christmas songs!