Snyder and Davis 5th Grade News… 3/7/14
Live Kind Choose Happiness Unleash Learning
What we have been up to…
Math: Many discoveries about fractions are happening in math! Students have been working hard finding fractions of whole numbers, learning how to multiply fractions, adding and subtracting mixed numbers that have like and unlike denominators as well as regrouping at times. It has been fun working with the kids and especially challenging them to explain to their classmates and me why their strategies work. Students are doing a great job sharing their thinking skills and taking risks participating. I am proud of them!
If you are able to help us out…March 14 is pi day! We will be learning the concepts of pi, circumference, diameter, etc. on this special. A blue paper was sent home about this asking for help with PIE donations. We will be using PIE to learn about PI. J If you are interested in donating, please ask your child to pick up this blue form or email me. Please avoid peanut butter or nuts as we have some kids with allergies to these foods. Many thanks!
Reading: We continue our journey of reading non fiction texts and continue to explore structure, main ideas, supporting details, point of view and purpose of the non-fiction text we read. We find ways to interact and respond to text. We have discovered that even though non fiction texts often have multiple main ideas, there is something that touches us and stands out. We call this the heart of the text.
We are also appreciating the author's use of language in all the books we are reading (both non-fiction and fiction.) The choice of words, metaphors, similes and also the descriptive language authors use paint vivid pictures in our mind as we read.
We continue to read Rump, and find ourselves cheering him on in his journey to find the rest of his name, and therefore his destiny. Ask your child about what is happening in the book.
Science: Light: Let your light shine! We are learning about and exploring about light. We discovered that light travels in waves along a straight line away from the source of light. We compared this to the pictures of the sun we have drawn since we were young. We decided we were accurate in our drawings, and now we know why. We have found that one thing light does when it hits something is to reflect if the surface is smooth and shiny. When we look in a mirror we see a reflection, because light is bouncing back. We have also discovered that light reflect off of a mirror at the same angle the light hit the mirror. This is called the Law of Reflection. Students discovered this on their own! We learned that light can also refract. Light can travel through an object and bend/break. When light travels through a prism, it will bend, and can also break apart into the colors of the spectrum. When light changes speed as it travels through water, light is refracting and a straw in the water looks broken.
We discovered the reason we colors as well. Ask your student to explain why they see the color you are wearing!
Social Studies: We continue to add some more background information about the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans. Students are starting to understand the role these cultural groups played hundreds of years ago. Our next group we will study will be explorers and how they also helped shape our Western part of the world.
Word Study: This week we featured the root word, bio. Your child brought home 10 words to study their spellings and meanings. The classes are really building their vocabulary and applying their words in everyday conversations. It is neat when we see connections such as two of their words they already had due to the graph root as well. Any extra support and practice at home is appreciated.
Reminder:
Grades will be posted today (go live) at 3 p.m. This is the second 12 weeks progress report.
Upcoming events:
Recorders are needed for Music class.
Plastic containers are needed for art.
Friday, March 7 Progress reports released for second 12 weeks today
Thurs., March 13 HCR PTO mtg. at 7 p.m.
Friday, March 14 Book orders due
3/24-3/28 Spring Break
Celebrations:
Many thanks to Mr. Conklin for inviting our classes to the gym for a little friendly fun! Our classes participated in bobsled races. The classes had a great time with our HCR version of this Olympic event.
We had a great Late Start this past Wednesday. Lots of time was spent on writings and creativity. Make sure to ask your child about his/her doodle for Google. J
Live Kind Choose Happiness Unleash Learning
What we have been up to…
Math: Many discoveries about fractions are happening in math! Students have been working hard finding fractions of whole numbers, learning how to multiply fractions, adding and subtracting mixed numbers that have like and unlike denominators as well as regrouping at times. It has been fun working with the kids and especially challenging them to explain to their classmates and me why their strategies work. Students are doing a great job sharing their thinking skills and taking risks participating. I am proud of them!
If you are able to help us out…March 14 is pi day! We will be learning the concepts of pi, circumference, diameter, etc. on this special. A blue paper was sent home about this asking for help with PIE donations. We will be using PIE to learn about PI. J If you are interested in donating, please ask your child to pick up this blue form or email me. Please avoid peanut butter or nuts as we have some kids with allergies to these foods. Many thanks!
Reading: We continue our journey of reading non fiction texts and continue to explore structure, main ideas, supporting details, point of view and purpose of the non-fiction text we read. We find ways to interact and respond to text. We have discovered that even though non fiction texts often have multiple main ideas, there is something that touches us and stands out. We call this the heart of the text.
We are also appreciating the author's use of language in all the books we are reading (both non-fiction and fiction.) The choice of words, metaphors, similes and also the descriptive language authors use paint vivid pictures in our mind as we read.
We continue to read Rump, and find ourselves cheering him on in his journey to find the rest of his name, and therefore his destiny. Ask your child about what is happening in the book.
Science: Light: Let your light shine! We are learning about and exploring about light. We discovered that light travels in waves along a straight line away from the source of light. We compared this to the pictures of the sun we have drawn since we were young. We decided we were accurate in our drawings, and now we know why. We have found that one thing light does when it hits something is to reflect if the surface is smooth and shiny. When we look in a mirror we see a reflection, because light is bouncing back. We have also discovered that light reflect off of a mirror at the same angle the light hit the mirror. This is called the Law of Reflection. Students discovered this on their own! We learned that light can also refract. Light can travel through an object and bend/break. When light travels through a prism, it will bend, and can also break apart into the colors of the spectrum. When light changes speed as it travels through water, light is refracting and a straw in the water looks broken.
We discovered the reason we colors as well. Ask your student to explain why they see the color you are wearing!
Social Studies: We continue to add some more background information about the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans. Students are starting to understand the role these cultural groups played hundreds of years ago. Our next group we will study will be explorers and how they also helped shape our Western part of the world.
Word Study: This week we featured the root word, bio. Your child brought home 10 words to study their spellings and meanings. The classes are really building their vocabulary and applying their words in everyday conversations. It is neat when we see connections such as two of their words they already had due to the graph root as well. Any extra support and practice at home is appreciated.
Reminder:
Grades will be posted today (go live) at 3 p.m. This is the second 12 weeks progress report.
Upcoming events:
Recorders are needed for Music class.
Plastic containers are needed for art.
Friday, March 7 Progress reports released for second 12 weeks today
Thurs., March 13 HCR PTO mtg. at 7 p.m.
Friday, March 14 Book orders due
3/24-3/28 Spring Break
Celebrations:
Many thanks to Mr. Conklin for inviting our classes to the gym for a little friendly fun! Our classes participated in bobsled races. The classes had a great time with our HCR version of this Olympic event.
We had a great Late Start this past Wednesday. Lots of time was spent on writings and creativity. Make sure to ask your child about his/her doodle for Google. J