Reading and Writing

        In Reading this week we have been continuing our reading groups with more reading and writing assignments about the book.

        In writing this week we have been continuing through the writing process. Some kids are even on content conference with their self, a peer or a teacher.

Math, Science and Number Corner

In math in this week we have been moving into unit 6. In unit 6 we are going to learn more about fractions and newly learn about decimals. This week we were looking at different sized sections on a geoboard and trying to figure out what fractions they were.  After this, we extended our thinking by making connections with the fractions (for example, 2 1/4’s = 1 1/2). We actually ended up adding and dividing fractions!

In science this week we have been learning more about light and sound. This week we read a book about the subject. We then filled out definitions for words that were mentioned in the book. For example we had to define photon, light and reflection. Also, we did stations about light with prisms!

In number corner we have been recording the trip and mileage of the trip going on in our calendar.

Other Important News and Events

-The Jogathon has been moved to Tuesday the 28th

By: Greta Powers and Juliet Hassenberg

Reading and Writing

In reading this week we have been continuing our survival books and reading groups with more reading assignments and more writing assignments. Although not a lot of groups have been able to meet because of NECAPS groups met and discussed a question about our book.

In writing this week we have been continuing writing first drafts for our fictional writing piece.

Math,Number Corner and Science

In math this week we worked on posters for our data that we did a pretty long time ago.The data that we collected where stuff that people asked your opinion on.We showed our data on the poster by picking something like a bar graph, pie chart and so on. We also had a conclusion on our posters to show what we learned.

In Number Corner this week we have been continuing our record for our calendar. We also have been continuing recording the mileage for the calendar trip. We have to be careful adding this though because if we mess up one mile total, it messes up our whole record of the mileage.

In science this week we had a test. We are also slowly moving into light and sound.

Other Important News and Events

-Jog-o-thon 5/23

Reading and Writing

In reading this week we have been starting reading groups. The theme for the the reading groups is survival. Everybody is reading different books about survival in their reading groups (for example Island of the Blue Dolphins, My Side of the Mountain and Hatchet). Every group has their own meeting day and each group, every week gets a new reading assignment and a new writing assignment about the reading. Also, we went over the reading workshop expectations and rules to make everyone feel happy!

In writing this week we found out that our class is writing fictional pieces. To get our minds flowing with fiction, Mrs. Crowther has been giving us prompts to start first drafts. Also, we have been writing myths about gods, goddesses and explanation for natural phenomenon. After we have written a lot of these first drafts we will pick one to go through the writing process and make our final draft.

Math, Science, Number Corner

In math this week we have been learning about probability by using “mini cards” and pictographs. Mini cards are well, miniature cards that come in a set of 40. The numbers go up to 10 and there is 4 of each card. Mini cards helped us when we had to answer questions about the probability of mini cards getting pulled or drawn (we also had to do some adding and subtracting during this). A pictograph is a graph with pictures. First, we looked at 2 pictographs to compare and contrast them.  Then, we answered questions about the pictograph. Also this week we played a game. This game we had to spin a spinner that had different  sized sections  and numbers in it.  We played  this game  with a partner and after a game we added up  the numbers to see who won. After 3 games, we totaled  our scores and recorded  the info  on a class data  chart  the next day, we made generalizations about the data .

In science this week we  have been learning deeper about our  matter  vocabulary  words and we have been preparing for the Science NECAPS  for next week. To learn  more about our matter vocabulary words we looked them up on the  DE Science  website as a class to really understand them. This week we got our Pre-Science NECAPS back. Some kids also got a rubric  with their scores (Mrs.Crowther didn't get to correct everybody’s assessments). Mrs. Crowther did notice though  that our class hasn’t had any practice with writing steps with a procedure. This meant that we had to practice more with writing steps for procedures and we did.  Our class wrote steps for a procedure to find the melting point of ice cream, ice and butter.

In number corner this week we have been starting to observe our calendar. For this month the days on our calendar are coordinate points from a map. This month we are tracking the travel of a family going across the United States. Each day we record where the family has traveled by using the coordinate points and a map. Also, we record how many miles they have traveled each day by using a key and addition.

Other Important News and Events

-NECAP Science Assessment this week!

- Chorus Concert 5/9 at 7:00pm

- Jogathon 5/23     

Reading and Writing

In reading this week we have been starting to get props and act out our Reader’s Theater skits! Also, continuing April as poetry month we finished reading normal Shel Silverstein poems and we are now starting to read Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook by Shel Silverstein. Now Runny Babbit is a poetry book but every other 2 words’ first letters are switched. So instead of saying, “Reporting is fun.” You say, “Feporting is run.” Then you’re speaking Runny Babbit language! Every day 2-3 kids are picked to read a Runny Babbit poem and then read the poem again in English. Sounds fun, right?”

In writing this week we have been finishing our State Reports before April break. We have been having editing conferences with the teacher, yourself, and a peer. Other than that we haven’t been doing a lot in writing.

Math, Science and Number Corner

In math this week we are working on probability. For example, we are talking about impossible, unlikely,likely as unlikely, likely and certain.We also had a practice test for science NECAPS! Also, we did data collecting by surveying people around the room and asking questions about favorite sports, ice cream and so on. After we are going to create a pie chart another kind of graph to represent the data.

In number corner this week we are looking at our calendar and realizing  that all the shapes have a perimeter on the calendar. We are figuring the perimeter out. Also, we are having a fraction race against  Mrs. Crowther where the number corner people pick a fraction each day and we are trying to fill up 4 wholes before Mrs. Crowther.

In science this week we did an experiment.  In the experiment we were trying to figure out the density of different liquids and objects. To do this we filled a jar with molasses, oil, fresh water and salt water. All the liquids had a different spot to lie on top of each other. Then we dropped different objects into the jar and recorded the density levels of where the objects landed.

Other Important News and Events

-NECAP Science Assessment 5/7 and 5/8

- Chorus Concert 5/9 at 7:00pm

- Jogathon 5/23  

By: Greta Powers and Juliet Hassenberg  

Reading and Writing

    In reading this week we have been comparing and contrasting stories about King Midas. First, we read the first story altogether as a class and then we split up into groups and read the second story. While we were doing this we filled out a chart about story elements. There were categories such as theme, setting, climax and plot. From these stories we learned be careful what you wish for. After this we started planning for another Reader’s Theatre skit! This skit is about Greek Gods where Perseus is capturing Medusa’s head for his King!

    In writing this week we have been  going  farther  into writing  our  state reports with peer and self conferences. Through these conferences we have been revising giving ourselves and others suggestions about our reports. After this revision we had a conference with Mrs. Crowther then we started our second drafts. Although, a lot of us are at different points in this process.

Math,Science,Number Corner

    In math this week we have been learning the  difference between a net and  surface area. A net is a 2D shape that can be cut and folded into a 3D shape.Surface area is the outside area of a 3D shape.  We figured out that a net and the surface area are the same thing! We also  did a post assessment on  Unit 4  because it has ended. Now we are slowly transitioning into Unit 5 where we are going to learn about decimals and percentages.

   

    In science this week we did a test on the computer. We each did the test about force and motion. We just finished the test and are JUST moving onto matter. We have learned that there are 4 different kinds of matter. The kinds are solid, gas, liquid and plasma.

In number corner this week we inspected the calendar. We realized that each day is a shape and the number corner people are going to record the perimeter of the shape each day.

Other Important News and Events

- Come see our class reporter Greta Powers in Oliver! The Musical at the Flynn Theater on

April 11-14!

- John Gailmore is coming 4/11

By: Greta Powers and Juliet Hassenberg

Writing and Reading

    In writing  this week we are working on our state reports.We each have a state to learn and research about. We have finished our note taking in class and we are  now moving onto a planning sheet called a Painted Essay Format. We write down our controlling idea and 3-5 evidence sentences to support the controlling idea. We learned how to write good hooks and wrote down some hooks in our writing journal.

    In reading this week we are reading myths. Right now we are split into groups to learn about different places where myths come from. All the myths are different so it is really exciting.The group myths are Australian myths,Chinese myths and Egyptian myths. We read passages about the myths to do the planning sheet.The planning sheet  asks you to sort the gods in place.The sorting categories are The Beginning, Air,Water,Underworld and Sky.We also have a box to write down notes. Each group gets to read 2 of the different types of notes. That is what we did in reading and writing this week.

Math, Science, Number Corner

    In math this week we are continuing our unit on geometry while we are also moving into volume and surface area with our 3-Dimensional geo-blocks. We are measuring the geo-block’s volume with cubic centimeters and we’re measuring the surface area of the geo-block with centimeter paper. Yesterday we were determining how much centimeter paper we had to use to cover all the faces of a geo-block cube. Today we measured the surface area of all the geo-blocks of a rectangular prism and cube. After that, we used nets (a 2-Dimensional shape that you can cut and fold to turn into a 3-Dimensional shape) to try and predict what a geo-block will look like.

    In science this week we have been doing an experiment in the classroom about force and motion. The experiment was called Swing Time where we had to figure out what variable made a pendulum on a clock move differently. The 2 variables were the length of the string we were using (30cm&15cm ) and the size of a paper clip (small or large). To make this test fair we could only change 1 variable at a time. If you change more than 1 variable at a time the test wouldn’t be fair.

    In number corner this week we have been keeping track of our Water Evaporation experiment by recording a line graph of how much water is being evaporated. The water is almost gone! We have also been looking at our calendar showing different fractions and making some last observations and predictions because the month is coming to an end.

Other Important News and Events

- NO SCHOOL on 3/29

- Our fellow classmate Delaney Miller-Bottoms has won the State Champion Gymnastics Meet for the 4th time in a row!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- If you want to check out the myths of how our world began here is the link:  

                                                                                                         http://www.mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/2_eng_myths.htm

- Also we have new class reporters! Juliet Hassenberg and former reporter, Greta Powers!

                                                                                                                          

By: Juliet Hassenberg and Greta Powers