Monday, March 31st

It's the last day of March, and we are busy!  We worked more with finding perimeter today.  Students were able to determine the unknown length of a side when given the length of one side and the perimeter.  We also started working with area.  We took a look at what area means, and we determined the equation: Length x Width = Area.  Students were able to determine the area of several squares and rectangles.  They also practiced determining the length of the unknown side when given the area and the length of one side.  Students will be practicing this more tonight for homework.

We took a look at how simple machines work together to create complex machines today.  Students played the game Mouse Trap.  They constructed a complex machine by piecing together many simple machines.  We determined the simple machines used, as well as the different forces that were present when the machine was in action. Ask your child to tell you more!!

We reviewed subject and predicate today.  Students were able to identify these items when reading sentences.  We also reviewed prepositions and prepositional phrases today.  Students will have independent practice with these items tomorrow.

Have a great evening!

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Math, NO SPELLING THIS WEEK

Friday, March 28th

It's Exploration Day!!!!  We spent most of the day excited about going to our explorations.

We began working with perimeter today.  Students utilized color tiles to build rectangles and determine the area.  Ask you child to tell you more!

We had so much fun at our explorations this afternoon!  I love seeing the excitement and hearing the stories about baking, cooking, learning French, creating planets, creating comics, discovering the cure for diseases, being physically active, and so much more.  Ask your child to tell you about their exploration!

Don't forget to visit learning.com this weekend to work on your assignments.

Have a great weekend!!!

READ!

Thursday, March 27th

We accomplished a lot today.  Students worked hard to solve multi-step word problems utilizing mixed units.  I am enjoying the improvement and confidence I am seeing from our class.  Keep it up Superstars!!!  Students were given several word problems to complete for homework.  They should complete all of the problems and return them tomorrow.  It is important that this work be returned each day.  I am looking at them each day to determine understanding of concepts.

We took a look at the Trail of Tears today.  Students discussed the impact of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, passed by Andrew Jackson.  We discussed the driving forces behind the Indian Removal Act and the impact it had on the Native Americans.  Students also determined the similarities and differences of travel to the west and the Trail of Tears. (Remember: the Trail of Tears was not just one trail.)  Ask your child to tell you more!!!

Students are greatly looking forward to Explorations tomorrow!  We are always excited for this fun opportunity at FAVE!

See you in the morning!!

Homework: Read 30 minutes, Math

Wednesday, March 26th

Students were very excited to sign up for their explorations this morning.  We went to the Falcon's Nest (aka: the new multi-purpose room) for sign-up.  Explorations will occur at the end of the school day on Friday.

Students worked to analyze a reading about the Mormon Trail.  They worked with a partner to read the passage and and determine the main idea of each paragraph.  Partners then worked to compare and contrast the Mormon Trail to the Oregon Trail.

We had a busy day and I am looking forward to another busy day tomorrow.  Students should complete and return their social studies reading activity for homework tonight.  They should also practice their spelling words.  Their spelling test will be tomorrow, rather than Friday, due to explorations.

Have a great evening!

Tuesday, March 25th

Good afternoon!

What a nice day we had.  We finished up math stations today and students began working with addition and subtractions of various units of measure.  This is similar to what we have already explored.  Students improved with the practice again today.  They are to complete only part of their homework and return it tomorrow.

Students explored levers in science.  We created levers using classroom materials and utilized spring scales to measure the Newtons required to balance our levers.  Ask your child to tell you more about what they discovered and how they moved the weight on the lever!  What effect did this have on the force required to lift the weight?  How does distance from the fulcrum effect the force needed to do work?

We compared and contrasted letters written in the early 1850s.  These are letters from the California Gold Rush.  Students were able to discuss the meaning in each letter and then compare and contrast the perspectives of the authors.

Now is the time to make use of the Compass learning, MAP, and CRCT resources linked on the blog.  Students can do some each night after finishing homework, or on the weekends for a little extra practice.  Lessons take about 15 minutes or so.

Don't forget that students can work on learning.com to complete their media center lessons.  They will have the opportunity to work on them when we visit the media center, but with limited computers they may not have time to complete all nine assignments before spring break.  See the post from last Friday for login information.

Have a great evening!
Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Math (only part)

Monday, March 24th

We had a wonderful day!  So much was accomplished in a short amount of time.

We continued working in math stations with one left for tomorrow.  We will continue our look at standard and metric conversions this week.

Students worked to create posters for simple machines in science.  We also took a closer look at the California Gold Rush.  We will continue our trek tomorrow.

This afternoon, students made great progress on their research papers.  Many began outlining and drafting today.  They are doing a great job of making connections to our UOI.

We will be signing up for Explorations on Wednesday.  Students will be looking at the options tomorrow to narrow down their choices to their top three.

We have another busy day ahead of us.  See you in the morning!

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Spelling, Math Workbook pg 63

Friday, March 20th

We had a nice end to the week.  We looked at some standard conversions in math today.  Students worked in stations and will continue those next week.

We took a closer look at some of our simple machines.  We are looking forward to some hands on activities next week.

Students are enjoying completing their stories about traveling on the Oregon Trail.  They have been working well with their partner.  Students will be given some extra time on Monday to complete their stories.

For homework, students should visit learning.com.  They will log-in and complete assignments for the media center.  There are nine assignments in all that need to be complete before spring break.  Most students have completed at least one or two.  The log-in information and link to the website is below.  Don't forget to read!  See you Monday!!

Learning.com

User Name Example: CSanders
Password: student
District: Decatur City 773

Thursday, March 20th

Happy first day of Spring!!!  We thoroughly enjoyed the warmer weather at recess today.

I am so excited to finally announce (so sorry for the delay) our class elected Superstar of the Month for February!  We had a tie for the first time this school year.  Congratulations to Jemethia and Sequoia!!!

We worked with multistep word problems today.  Students have received practice problems for homework.  They will select three problems to complete.  Should those problems only take a short amount of time, they can complete more.  Homework should take them about 25 minutes.

Students worked to use their scientific inquiry skills to determine what our next topic will be.  They discussed and sorted mystery pictures.  They were looking for similarities and characteristics between the pictures.  Ask your child to tell you what they discovered about our next science topic!

Thank you to those who donated tissues to the classroom.  We are still in need of a few more boxes.  If you are able to send a box in, it would be greatly appreciated.

See you tomorrow!!

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Math (pick three problems, do more if time permits)

Tissues Needed

We are down to our last two boxes of tissues.  If you are able to send in a box to get us through the remaining school days, it would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for all that you do to support your children and our classroom!!

Wednesday, March 19th

It's the last day of winter!!!  We had a great day in math exploring and converting measurements of time.  Students worked with conversion charts, and partners to complete several multi-step word problems.  They did a great job and are improving greatly and having a plan for solving these word problems.  Students received their math test back today.  They took time to reflect on each question, determine what they did well, and what they still need help with.  Student brought their math tests and reflections home with them today, so take a look!!

Students took their summative on force and motion today.  They did a wonderful job and will be able to reflect on those assessments tomorrow.  We will begin looking at simple machines tomorrow.

We took a look a paraphrasing today.  Students were able to practice paraphrasing different sentences from nonfiction text.  We looked at characteristics of accurate paraphrasing and compared them to our own.    We then connected this paraphrasing to our UOI (driving force behind the lesson), and applied it to our research.  Students have selected a movement to research.  This research will be used when completed their writing summative at the end of the term, and it connects to the UOI.

It was a great day!  See you tomorrow!!!

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, math

Here are some pictures for our gallons, quarts, pints, and cups conversions.  Students can utilize these to assist with homework in the future.

Here's a story to remember how to draw this:  In the land of gallon, there are 4 queens.  Each queen has 2 princes, and each prince has 2 children.

 Conversion problem

Monday, March 17th

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We worked very hard today!  Students were able to complete two science experiments and work on their virtual science lab related to force today.  We completed Whacky Washers and Game Time with Marbles.  We were inquiring into the effect that mass has on force.  Ask your child to tell you more!!

Students began to look at The Oregon Trail today.  We had an opening discussion about the possible hardships faced and supplies that may have been taken along.  Students found it challenging to determine the most important items to bring along for the over 2,000 mile journey.

We began working to create an outline of our research in writing.  Students were provided a sample outline and we discussed important characteristics.  They then worked with a partner to read and create an outline of a nonfiction text about caves.  Students worked independently to continue researching their writing topic and begin creating their own outline.

We are ready for another busy day tomorrow!  See you in the morning!!!

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Spelling

Thursday, March 13th

Happy Thursday!

We spent a significant amount of time today solving multistep word problems involving metric conversions.  Students did well and are improving at utilizing problem solving strategies.  I have returned last night's homework.  Students are to keep the homework if there were no mistakes.  If changes or completions are needed, they should attempt those problems again and return their completed work tomorrow.  Below you will find a word problem with a solution that utilizes a tape diagram.

Sheep in a jeep????   We looked at a simple story from a scientific perspective today.  Below you will find a link to the story.  Ask your child to explain all of their scientific observations to you!

                  Sheep in a Jeep             

We continued our research today for our nonfiction summative piece.  Students worked to organize their research questions and resources.

See you tomorrow!
Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Spelling (due tomorrow)

Wednesday, March 12th

We had a busy day.  Students examined the relationship between our metric units of measure and our base ten place value system.  We looked to compare mixed metric units, and order them on a number line.  This proved to be a challenging task.  Practice homework was sent home this evening.  Students are expected to try the homework to the best of their ability and return their efforts tomorrow.  It is not expected that students correctly complete the homework, simply that they try.

We continued our look at the Texas Revolution and the annexation of Texas.  Students were walked through some major events of the revolution today.  Ask your child to tell you more!!!  Students are also working to create advertisements both for and against the annexation of Texas.

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Math practice

See you in the morning!!

Tuesday, March 11th

Students continued working with metric units in math today.  We looked at measurement comparisons for capacity and worked to complete and discuss homework.  We also began some exploration of area, which we will continue tomorrow.

We also completed an exploration in Science.  Students utilized to their iPads to place different sized train engines on either side of a wagon.  They watched to determine how the size of the train engine affected the speed of the wagon.  Ask your child to tell you more!

Students also worked to pair Texas grievances from 1836 to their modern day translations.  Some groups have begun to determine what they believe to be the top five grievances that Texas had with Mexico and rank.  Ask your child to tell you more!

See you tomorrow!!

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Finish Math Homework from yesterday (if you have not yet turned it in), Math workbook page 29 (remember - parenthesis first)

Friday, March 7th

We had a busy day.  Students completed math stations and we worked with a word problem involving metric conversions.

We attempted an experiment in science involving balloons and straws.  There were some successes and failures.  We learned a lot about how scientists have to be open minded and flexible in order to complete experiments.

We also began looking at manifest destiny.  Ask your child to tell you more!!

Monday is class picture day!!!!!  Don't forget to wear your smile. :)

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, March 6th

Even with the dreary weather, we accomplished a lot today!

We had a busy math block, working in stations.  Students rotated through 3 of the 5 stations today and will complete the remaining two tomorrow.  They worked different measurement activities involving cm and m, played a factor review game, used cards to work on rounding, and completed Compass Learning.

Students also completed their territorial expansion timelines.  These include many important details about the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

We also took a look at our summative activity for this term.  Students will be completing research throughout the term that will be utilized for their end of term summative writing.  We had some laughs at the end of our day when discussing our options.

See you tomorrow....it's FRIDAY!!

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, complete math homework practice (given yesterday), Spelling (week 1, Thursday only)

Wednesday, March 5th

Students worked extra hard today.  We continued looking at our metric conversions.  Today we worked with grams and kilograms.  Students were given practice for homework.  This work can be turned in on Friday.  Please ensure that your child is returning and completing all homework assignments.  Thank you!

Students worked to create timelines featuring events of territorial expansion and the driving forces behind those events.

I am looking forward to another busy day tomorrow!

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Math practice (due Friday)

Tuesday, March 4th

Back for another fun day!

We continued our exploration of measurement today.  Students worked to complete word problems utilizing simplifying strategies.  They have been assigned review pages for homework tonight.

Could you use these materials to get the egg in the glass of water without breaking it?  You can't use your hands to pick it up and put it in.

We can!!!  Ask your child to tell you more about our experiment with force today.  They can even tell you how force works to get a penny in a cup using only a note card.  Hmmm.....

We began our look at the westward expansion of the United States today.  Students were given pictures and descriptions.  They were asked to match the picture to its description, put the pictures in order of occurrence, identify the change or movement occurring, and discuss the driving force behind that movement.

We continued our close read on territorial expansion in ELA.  Students reviewed yesterday's strategies and worked to complete their reading with a partner today.  They were working to identify the main idea/gist of each paragraph in their reading.

See you tomorrow!!!

Math Mania for Friday has been cancelled.

I have added some links that provide support for MAP testing.  Check them out when you have time!

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Math workbook pages 41 and 57

Monday, March 3rd

Welcome back!  I hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend.

We began discussing measurement in math today.  Students were working to compare cm, m, and km.  We did lessons with practice activities, and students received extra support again at then end of the day.  They have four word problems for homework.  They should try their best and go as far as they can with the problem.  Students should bring what they have done to school tomorrow.  We will look at it together to answer questions.  It was explained that students should not spend two hours attempting these problems.  Please allow them to work out what they can and return incomplete if necessary.

We were introduced to our new UOI.  Information regarding this term's UOI was sent home in red folders today.  Students sorted pictures in science, discussing the action occurring and whether the action involved a push or a pull.  We had some great discussions today!

Students were then given different scenarios in Social Studies.  They were to discuss each scenario from the causation lens, why it happened.  Students were looking for the driving force behind each decision that was made.

From these two activities our class was able to create two different definitions for force.  Ask your child to tell you more!!!

I am looking forward to another busy day tomorrow!

Homework: Read for 30 minutes, Math practice problems, Spelling (Week 1, Monday only)