Have a Wonderful Winter Vacation!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojtGHXsTXmU

Today's Squishy Circuits

The Sushi Circuit!

Fun video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDZo51k2BWQ

Squishy Circuits Day 1

Today we investigated lighting the lights, conduction versus insulating dough and series and parallel circuits.  We tried to figure out if our holiday lights were built as a series circuit or a parallel circuit.  Here are some of the creations!

We are having a tough day today!

Squishy Circuits

I like to review circuits with the class each year by making Squishy Circuits.  In order to do this, the class needs a lot of Conductive Dough and Insulator Dough.  I am sending home half the class with a recipe for Conductive Dough and half the class gets a recipe for Insulating Dough.  It would be great if you could find time to make a batch of the dough over the weekend and send it to school on Monday.  It's pretty easy to make and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand!  Stay tuned to the  class blog for pictures of our inventions!

Here is a link to a website where I learned about Squishy Circuits!

http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/index.htm

Thermal Energy

Can you create thermal energy by mixing matter?  Ask your kids!

Math Test!

I know students have a half day today, but that doesn't mean they can't take a math test!  We have just finished a unit culminating with the double digit multiplication algorithm.  Not only can they use the algorithm, but they can check their work another way, and explain why it works!

How Is Heat Produced?

How is heat produced?

See for yourself.....

Keurig!

My nice husband bought a Keurig Coffee Maker for my classroom.  If the kids bring in insulated mugs and hot chocolate or cider, they are welcome to use it.  I think a nice hot drink helps warm us up in these cold months!

Homework 11-25

Open Area Multiplication Practice Page - Some finished in class.

Character Development- Homework 11-20

In class we are working on developing characters in a realistic fiction story.  Tonight for homework, I've asked kids to start developing their secondary characters....

"We want to know our characters so well, that we know how much change is in their pockets!"

GRIT! It's what's for dinner.....

In class we talked about GRIT!  

Here is Angela Lee Duckworth's TED talk on GRIT

WE rewarded some pretty gritty kids and work with PAWS

http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit.html

Some Gritty Mental Math

The Standard Algorithm and Homework 11-19

We've done it!  We are learning the standard algorithm for multiplying in math.  It went pretty well.  There are some practice problems for homework.

Fun Math Games

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/math/transformation.html

Fun Friday

We had a busy week and ended it today with some Fun Friday activities.  We watched an episode of Fetch with Ruff Ruffman and played 7 up!

We also did some research on explorers, and we are working our way towards the algorithm in multiplication!

Verb Tenses and Homework

Today we reviewed verb tenses.  You have homework on verb tenses.  Here is a link to the game we played in class if you want to challenge family members!

http://www.eslgamesplus.com/verb-tenses-interactive-grammar-game-for-esl-jeopardy-quiz-game/

Cece takes over!

Cece teaches our new vocab word of the day.....criticize.

Some Websites for Explorer Research

Samuel de Champlain



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ei6ZcP4WQ8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv3XSSFcD38


John Cabot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJOvmicAGjw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whnUlKJiXqc
Jacques Cartier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeEsNH3w604
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0w2NsNcTz0





Christopher Columbus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My8Vd-NZ8Qo

Hernando Cortes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oicgynllrfY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPj4swVZZZM

Henry Hudson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuk21ciiZ6U

11-7. No homework tonight .

Homework 11-6

Writing Bug

11-5 No Homework Assigned Tonight

Homework 11-4

Please read the table on Christopher Columbus' three ships and answer the questions.

Thanks!

1492 The Age of Exploration

We're reading The World Made New by Marc Aronson and John W. Glenn.  We are learning about the importance of the year 1492.  This is the year civilizations on two great continents met.  We are learning the reasons for European Exploration.

Religion
Knowledge
Glory
Wealth and...
Competition

Silent Reading

Kids are hunkered down with some good literature the day after Halloween!

10-30

Compound word homework tonight.   Remember.....half day tomorrow.  ( sorry, not my idea). We will not be having a Halloween party.

Using Compatible Numbers and Our Writing Prompt

In math we talked about Compatible Numbers and using them to estimate.  We decided Compatible Numbers are numbers that are easy to to work with.  

Check this out!

http://www.modernchalkboard.com/social-studies.html

I think we may do this in class tomorrow.  Want a head start?

MARCO.......POLO!

NOTE************  Just weekly reading homework tonight- nothing extra.

Today we started reading about Explorers.  Why do humans explore?  What does explore mean to you?  We began to read about three reasons that Europeans began exploring in the 1400s.  
1. To get more land
2. To spread Christianity
3. To find a route to the Indies

We also read this book about Marco Polo

PAWS! Celebration

We have gathered another 100 paws for great behavior!  So, we have to have another celebration.  Kids put ideas in a basket and I pulled out.......

On Monday, kids are allowed to wear PJs to class, they are also allowed to bring in a stuffed animal.  I will provide ice cream pops or sandwiches, and we can have an extra indoor recess.  

Great Work Class!

No homework! 10-24

I had a half day meeting today, so no homework tonight!  You may want to play this review game!

http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy/usergames/May201019/game1273666578.php

Here's another one!


http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy/usergames/Apr201117/game1304194380.php

Moby Max

Do you want extra homework/practice time for your student?  I have signed up for a website called Moby Max.  It is a tailor made practice program for math and language arts.  I am sending a letter home to teach you how to sign in.  Kids have taken placement tests and are working on topics at their level.  They can earn badges and time for game playing as a motivation.  So, have some fun with Moby Max!

10-23 Homework

For tonight's homework, try this!  An every day edit.  Can you find ten errors in spelling, capitalization and punctuation?

10-22 Homework

Math

Oops! There is math homework tonight.

Don't forget, there is a math homework sheet on money; due tomorrow.

Chemical Reactions

Is science we were learning about what a chemical reaction is.  Don't be surprised if your student plays with vinegar and baking soda.  It's not a mess......it's science!~

Thanks!

A big shout out to Tristen who saved me when Mr. C. asked a question in science!
Why does a boat float if it's made out of materials that are denser than water?

The NED Show - and Science!

There was an assembly today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A7UxpSjVoc


And...today in Science we explored properties of matter.  We focused on density.  We watched a great video made in Hyde Park, Vermont to introduce the concept!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfgm2k-dHiI

Homework

Writing Bug for homework.

NECAPS out!

We are through with the NECAPS for the fall.  Science will take place in May.  Kids worked hard.  Homework will resume.  

As far as Jupiter grades goes, I was asked to hold off until next week when the whole school will send home midterms and letters.  

It looks as though I will be able to post homework assignments on Jupiter grades which will hopefully help with communication.

Mrs. Kimball has been helping me spruce up our room with some bulletin board displays.  Thanks to both her and Pinterest~!

Jupiter Grades!

We've done it!  We finally have a way for you to access your student's grades ONLINE!  WoW!  How hi-tech are we?  

I will be sending home a login letter with information that will allow you to access Jupiter Grades for your student.  I am also sending home a print out of current grades.

Please note that this is my first time generating report cards in this fashion.  It is in no way a final copy.  I would love questions or comments from families so that I can design a report that gives you the information that is helpful to you!  

One thing I noticed while entering grades was the damage missing work does.  I am always willing to take work, even if it's late.  I may or may not be able to recreate older assignments, however, if you want me to try, and you are willing to commit to finishing missing assignments, I will do my best.

Thanks!

Tracy Pearson

Scientific Method

We are learning about states of matter and scientific method.  We did an experiment about ice and how fast it melts.  We used a cup of just plain ice, a cup of salt and ice and a cup of sand ice.  We put the ice in at the same time and started our times to see how fast each one melts.  It took a really long time, and we had to watch the ice.