Fortune Fish - Science Room News

Did you ever get a Fortune Fish at a fair?  It twists and curls in the palm of your hand and, depending on how it twists, the movement is supposed to indicate something about you.  Well, there IS a scientific reason for this!  5th grade students designed an experiment to determine just what makes the fish curl.  We had many hypotheses; body heat, air currents, blood pressure and many more.  Stay tuned for the answer next week!

Español

It has been so much fun playing "aeropuerto" (airport)! We are learning how to give directions and guide our imaginary airplanes to a safe landing. Some of the new phrases we are using include: camina, para, toma un paso pequeño/grande, voltea (walk, stop, take a small/large step, turn/spin around). The biggest challenge is listening to directions while blindfolded! We are all excited to have a turn at this challenge.

The Answer! Science Room News

Students worked very hard to design an experiment to determine the percentage of water in a carrot!  The secret was in weighing the carrot at the beginning of the experiment and again at the end.  All of that hard work paid off.  Every group came within three points of the correct answer, which was a first in 5th grade.  Congratulations for a job well done.  Curious about the answer?  Ask a 5th grade student!  The answer may surprise you!

Integration Planning

Fifth grade had its first integration planning session on Tuesday. We love our group! Perhaps because of the fact that Anne, the scribe and Jane, the talker, were bickering and joking like an old married couple, we laughed a lot and made wonderful plans to incorporate the ideas and talents of all our resource and classroom teachers as we begin our study of Greek mythology and ancient culture. Samantha will begin a study of Greek masks and theater that will connect with children choosing and researching a Greek god, goddess or hero. Look for more details coming soon.

MUSIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Attention all boys between 8 and 18 that LOVE TO SING!

Here is a magnificent opportunity to sing in Verizon Hall.

Click on the link below to read more about the

Keystone State Boychoir’s 10th Anniversary Invitation to B1K.

B1K

Sunday, October 30th • 3 pm
Verizon Hall
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Philadelphia, PA

Click here for more information

Elegant Lunches

Lunches are truly wonderful in fifth grade. Eating in the classroom is a privilege for fifth grade. The children love having a special privilege and the adults love the calm, quiet and friendliness of eating in the classroom. We encourage fifth graders to sit with different classmates and enjoy conversation with the children at their table. In recent days, we've added some touches of elegance. We now have table clothes, and today we added tissue paper flowers and classical music. Ahhhh

Physical Education with Mr. C and Lisa

Football, Football, we're playing Football!

My what an awesome time we are having learning the skills of throwing and catching a football in Physical Education class! We have learned how to properly hold a football. Oh my, what a spiral throw looks and feels like... we love it! Fingers on the seams are so important. Point, step and throw. Make sure that you have a good target for catching! Tuck that ball when you catch it.

When we had class outside earlier in the 7 day cycle rotation, we learned a fun lead up game to football called "2 Minute Drill". We had three people in our groups and were given position titles. Center, Quarterback and Wide Receiver... Ready, Set, Hike!!! Touch Down!!!

The highlight of the unit was playing the lead up game, "Ultimate Football"! Two teams; three players on the playing surface. The members of the team on the sidelines are important because they can help the three players to advance the ball to the End Zone.

Defense, Defense, Offense too! Touch Down, Touch Down, Touch Down, Whew!

International Day Of Peace Meeting For Worship

5th grade musicians were such a beautiful addition to our
International Day of Peace Meeting For Worship.
Many of our faculty and students commented on the joy and peace felt
both during and after "I've Got Peace Like A River."
I look forward to our future performances together.

How Much Water is in a Carrot? Science Class News

Do you know how much water is in a carrot?  This week, 5th grade students designed and carried out an experiment according to the scientific method to answer this question.  Everyone had a different hypothesis; the guesses ranged from 25% to 90% water!  Students determined that they might have to evaporate the water from the carrot in order to answer the question.  Each group had a different way of setting up their experiment.  Stay tuned until our next science class for the answer!

SELF POTRAITS DURING INTEGRATION

Here is a self-portrait project that Karolye began with fifth grade students. She was interested in helping them recognize the tone or value of a color. She wanted them to experiment with tonal value to create interest and excitement in their self portraits. Working with black and white tempera paint they created a grey scale. They sketched their image in pencil from a black and white photo of themselves, then spent time observing the placement and shapes of light and shadow on the photo. This allowed them to bring dimensionality to their portraits once they started to paint.








This project was a perfect challenge for fifth graders, building on what they have already learned about creating self portraits in previous years. It was also a great way to use our first integration period, since the challenge meant that many children needed support as they tried to add depth rather than flat highlights to their faces. Here Rosanne talks with Colin about shading and highlights.

During Integration, 5th Grade students sketched and painted their
Self Portraits in grayscale.

Day Two -- YAHOO!!

Map Coloring Project

Fifth graders Celine, Jazzmin and Miles try to determine the fewest number of colors that can be used to color a United States map so that no two edges have the same color. This discreet math project is a favorite. Now to come up with a theory for why it's three or four or five. Devon, Margaret and Lily are hard at work to answer this question.

Our first day

Reading in Jane's room becomes a group activity. Jack, Aidan, Devon and Josiah are all fascinated by the book Man of War. Here they are talking about an illustration of a cross section of the ship.

Leilah, Isabelle, Bela and Skye explore a new game--Quirkle

Welcome to fifth grade

We had a great summer! Hope you all did as well. We're ready to begin reading, writing, talking, solving problems, painting, researching, and having great recesses. Let us know what you're looking forward to doing this year.