News from Room 305
April 29, 2016
Measuring Henry 'Box' Brown's box
How much space did Henry Brown have?
Creating a Cubic Foot
Reading, Writing, Social Studies
Students read about Henry "Box" Brown's creative escape plan this week in a close read. While reading, students recreated his box with masking tape and yard sticks. To help them determine the volume of his box, student groups created a cubic foot out of construction paper. I loved the collaboration shown between teams. Groups shared three different ways that they determined the volume - including that each layer of cubes could be thought of as a different 'floor.'
Students then added story event information to their Comparing Texts table from last week. Today, students wrote a short essay describing how the narrator's point of view influences how events are described using examples from either Almost to Freedom, "Sarah's Secret," or "Henry 'Box' Brown."
Creating Quadrilateral "Club" Rules
Can this quadrilateral join?
Sorting Triangles
Math
On Monday, we did a carousel activity where each group read a different amount of water in a graduated cylinder or found the mass of an object and then converted it to all metric units. Students did a nice job utilizing their knowledge of powers of 10. I also challenged student groups to create 3-D shapes using construction paper, tape, and a plastic model. Many groups figured out how to draw the faces in a connected way; thus, creating a 'net' of their prism or pyramid. Students learned the "Polygon Song" aka "Just a boring square" to help them learn the name of each polygon up to decagon (10-sided shape).
Students sorted a variety of triangles discovering that they could be classified by both their sides and angles. Students created a triangle poster and learned how to use a protractor, so they could create acute, right, and obtuse angles. Students learned about regular polygons, those that have all equal sides and angles. They did an investigation to determine how many lines of symmetry each regular polygon has and where they were.
Creating the rules for Quadrilateral "Clubs" was a fun way for students to find out the attributes of them. After researching and recording the rules, students acting as various quadrilaterals tried to gain admission into each club. The following day, students used these club posters to help them create a quadrilateral family tree flow-chart. Great conversations about similar and differing attributes (sides and angles) ensued. Students now have a strong understanding of these relationships after engaging in these thoughtful discussions.
Today, students used their knowledge of volume to create a composed figure. They put two different rectangular prisms (small boxes) together, sketched a diagram with dimension labels, and determined the new figure's volume. This activity, which required some pretty in-depth thinking, made the lesson in the GO MATH book much easier to understand. In it, students looked at a composed figure and had to determine how to break it into smaller rectangular prisms, so the figure's volume could be figured out.
If your child has not yet achieved 100% multiplication/division fact fluency, please have him/her continue to use Reflex Math nightly.
Science
We reviewed the scientific method this week while testing which dish soap allowed students to create the most bubbles inside of bubbles. Students really enjoyed collecting data with this experiment!
We also reviewed fourth grade electricity concepts - closed and open circuits, series and parallel circuits, as well as insulators and conductors.
Students enjoyed watching their corn germinate this week. We'll help our second grade buddies measure plant growth on Monday.
How many bubbles inside a bubble can be made?
Which dish soap will work best?
Next Week's Specials' Calendar:
Tuesday, May 3 - Day 1: Music
Wednesday, May 4 - Day 2: PE
Thursday, May 5 - Day 3: Art
Friday, May 6 - Day 4: Library
Upcoming 5th Grade Events
Friday, May 13-Fifth Grade Picnic (12:00 to 1:00; for fifth graders only)
Thursday, May 19-Fifth Grade Breakfast (8:30 to 9:30 A.M.; for fifth graders and their parents.)
Monday, May 23-Tentative Last Day of School (7:35-11:50 A.M.) At the end the school day, the fifth grade students will walk through the halls to wave goodbye to everyone.
Upcoming Events:
May
5/2-5/6 - 5th Grade Science and Math MAP Tests
5/4 - CiCi’s Pizza Night, 4:30-8:00 pm
5/5 - Art Show (Buy dinner from Two Guys & a Grill in the cafe) , 5:30 pm
5/10 - PTA General Meeting, 7:00 pm
5/11 - 5th Grade Picnic
5/12 - All Pro Dads 7:10 AM - LGIR
5/13 - 5th Grade Picnic 11:30-12:30
5/19 - 5th Grade Recognition Breakfast, 8:30 am – 9:30 am
5/23 - Early Release & Last Day of School, 11:50 am
Sign up for Camp Invention
Camp Invention July 11-15, 2016
Since 1990, Camp Invention has taken summer fun and transformed it from
ordinary to extraordinary!
In partnership with the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Liberty Oaks is pleased to offer the nationally-acclaimed Camp Invention program to children entering grades one through six. It’s an exciting, weeklong summer adventure with lessons that explore connections between science, technology, engineering and innovation. Children will work together to seek solutions to real-world problems and sharpen critical 21st century learning skills while rotating through several fascinating modules. The week begins on July 11 with Dr. Matthew Krohne, Innovation and Learning Coach, serving as Director of the Epic™ program!
Here is how young innovators will be spending their time:
- Brainstorming
- product ideas and building original prototypes using real tools and components found in everyday devices
- Exploring the lives of giant insects, colorful animals and their environments
- Constructing and personalizing a DIY solar-powered cricket with a unique habitat
- Discovering the science of slime, demolition, electronic sound, giant squid and coding
All activities give participants the opportunity to be a part of something big while having fun!
Local educators will facilitate program modules and enthusiastic high school students will serve as Leadership Interns ensuring that one staff member is in place for every eight children. Register on or before March 21, 2016 to receive $25 OFF the base price.
Every registration includes a complimentary Camp Invention t-shirt. Availability is limited, so visit
call 800.968.4332 to secure your child’s spot today!
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Contact Information:
(816)736-5600 x.2637