Friday, January 27, 2012

Next Week... Jan. 30


   Unit Objectives:
Reading- As we continue to focus on persuasive text, we will look closer at what authors use to persuade readers. This week we will focus on persuasive letters and the author’s purpose. Students will be asked to show evidence from the text to support the author’s opinion.
Writing- This week in writing we will continue our next writing cycle in small groups. Our focus this week is to add that extra voice to our expository papers. Even though it is informational, we can still make our readers laugh.
MathThis week we will continue our study of Fractions. Students will describe and compare fractional parts of whole objects or sets of objects, use concrete objects and models to generate equivalent fractions, describe fraction quantities greater than one, locate and name points on a number line (such as halves & fourths/ tenths & hundredths), and compare fractions to decimals. We will have our post TEST on these skills Thursday!
ScienceThis week we will begin our study of Force and Motion.  Students will describe and investigate the effect of a force on an object such as a push or a pull, friction, gravity, or magnetism.  We will begin applying our knowledge of forces to simple machines.
Social StudiesThis week we will continue to study the influence of persuasive letters, essays and speeches on history. We will study Martin Luther King Jr. and his accomplishments.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Combining Sentences

A simple sentence has one sujbect and one verb. A compoud sentence is made up of two simples senteces that are usually joined by a comma and the words and, so, but or or.

The computer words well. The printer often breaks. Simple sentences.

The computer words well, but the printer often breaks.  Compound sentence.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Brain Study....

Can you read this???

7H15 M3554G3
53RV35 7O PR0V3
H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N
D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5!
1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5!
1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG
17 WA5 H4RD BU7
N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3
Y0UR M1ND 1S
R34D1NG 17
4U70M471C4LLY
W17H 0U7 3V3N
7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17,
B3 PROUD! 0NLY
C3R741N P30PL3 C4N
R3AD 7H15.
PL3453 F0RW4RD 1F
U C4N R34D 7H15.

Math HW 1/19

Write each fraction in simplest form.
1.) 5/25            2.) 7/13            3.) 2/6              4.) 14/21


Order from Greatest to Least
5.) 2/5;  3/8; 7/8

6.) 1/8; 4/5; 10/11

Find the equivalent fraction.

7.) 4/8              8.) 2/9              9.) 3/6              10.) 1/3

For # 7-10; write whether the fraction is in simplest form.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Next Week

Parents-
As many of you are already aware, beginning this spring the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) will replace Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). The test coincides with the new Texas Standards and has brought forth a few changes with the testing procedures.

Tuesday, January 17 and Wednesday, January 18 we will take a STAAR Objectives assessment in Writing. To be consistent with the actual STAAR assessment on March 27 & 28, students will be asked to write both a narrative and expository paper and answer a portion of revising/editing questions.  It is very important that students are on time as Tuesday & Wednesday will closely resemble actual testing dates in March. 

The new test is now limited to 4 hours. We will begin testing at 9:00am and will continue until lunch time. Students will have the opportunity to use the restroom and have snack during their testing but time will not stop. After lunch and a class restroom break, we will resume testing for the 50 additional minutes.


Please help your child with the following reminders:
  • Have them get a good night sleep the night before.
  • Allow time for a healthy breakfast.
  • Snacks will not be provided on the practice objective days next week. Students may want to bring a snack to hold them over until lunch. We are asking that it be something that is not sticky and can be eaten with their fingers. Example: goldfish, gram crackers, cheerios, animal crackers, etc. 
  • Students should bring a jacket or sweater in case they get cold in the classroom.

Next week’s writing assessment will not be scored for report card purposesHowever, it will give us an idea of where students are at this time. As we go through the writing process in class, we will provide feedback about students’ progress.  We are very excited to see how our students will do on Tuesday & Wednesday.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Homework has changed for math.

Page 242-243 #1-23  Use TIPS on all word problems.

Ready, Set, GO!

Ready, Set, GO!
If you were to stop an old man walking down the street, his answer for how he lived to be his age would not be sitting around watching the TV. To live a healthy lifestyle begins at a young age. Whether hopping around your backyard, playing a game of chase at recess, or just enjoying the great outdoor, exercise is the key ingredient to a life supply of healthiness.
            Tie those shoe laces and get off the couch. Exercise is the most important part of living a healthy life. Running, jumping, swimming laps in a pool all get your heart pumping and your adrenaline rushing.  You don’t even have to be sprinting; just a good pace will lead you down the road to success.  Calories are in everything we eat.  Maybe I might enjoy that extra bag of candy or order some French fries instead of apples, if you step outside with a water bottle attached to your hip and music in your ears you can hit the pavement like a bank robber running from the cops in a high speed chase.  It doesn’t matter where you’re at you can always add a little exercise.  Stairs instead of elevators will add months to your life. Or playing a hearty game of basketball instead of DSI basketball will add days to your life. When I’m bored with nothing to do, I never hesitate to stop outside and feel the wind in my hair as I race around the neighborhood. My dog, Gino, is always ready for a good exercise.  So whether you taking the stairs, running a marathon, or just participating in a game of volleyball, exercise will add decades to your life and leave you feeling pretty darn good!
            So to sum it up, get up and go! Exercise is all you need to live old like the man walking down the street.

“Choosing a Healthy Snack”

Sam Andrade – Final Draft
            There are many ways to stay healthy like keeping your self clean, exercising everyday, getting enough sleep, or, for the most part, eating healthy.
            “Huhh… huhh… huhh…”I panted as I tiredly passed through the doorway. I was sweating from head to toe because I biked all the way from school.  I was so hungry that I wanted to steal everything in the refrigerator. Suddenly, I heard a loud noise that sounded like my stomach grumbling. I tossed my backpack and my bike in the garage, and I dashed to the kitchen and searched everywhere for food like Sherlock Holmes looking for fingerprints. Finally, I found three tubes of Pringles sitting in the corner. It was my favorite snack because it was crunchy and salty. I ripped open a tube and started munching some of the chips. My mouth was as dry as a desert and it needed a liquid to wash it down. I opened the fridge and spotted a can of soda. I was just about to jug it all down, but at the corner of my eye, something fascinating interested me, something I also like but not as much as Pringles. It was a challenging dilemma. I glimpsed upon a bowl full of green grapes and two cheese sticks ready to be eaten. I moved closer and I can almost hear them say to me, “Eat me!” in a squeaky voice. I grabbed the bowl and the cheese. I looked intently at the food in my hands like a scientist staring at their experiment, then jerked my head to the Pringles can. I was just about to forget about all of that, but I realized that the grapes and cheese were nutritious and good for my body. I set the bowl down on the counter and slammed the cap on the Pringles can. I had my grapes and cheese, but something just didn’t complete the picture. My drink! I turned to get my Coke but I noticed a humongous   bottle of clear water. I held both of the drinks tightly in my hand. The Coke felt as heavy as a ton of boulders. This was not a good sign. I pushed the Coke in its correct position on the refrigerator shelf. I know that the water was healthier for my body. Finally, I twisted off the cap of the water bottle. The goodness of the water regenerated my energy. I happily munched on a cheese stick which tasted good and creamy in my mouth. The grapes were juicy and fresh. A jubilant smile crossed my face. I knew I was enjoying a healthy afternoon snack.
            I’m glad that I made the right choice to help my body grow and stay strong. It was a difficult choice but it was worth it!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Share your thoughts...

Thanks Sara for sharing this with us!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Monday, January 2, 2012

THIS WEEK!


Reading- To kick off the new year we are starting our persuasive and media literacy unit. The class will discuss  what we know about persuasive tactics. We will identify author’s positions and evaluate what methods author’s use to convey their point of view.
Writing- We are starting a new cycle of expository writing. We will also be focusing on editing and revising compositions, using the grammar rules we learned in the fall.
Math – This week we will begin our study of Fractions.  Students will describe and compare fractional parts of whole objects or sets of objects.  We will be creating a "Most Important Things About Fractions" book, at fraction kit, and exploring equivalent fractions.  Students will be using their multiplication and division facts in order to do this.  Keep practicing!Science – This week we will begin our study of Thermal Energy, which is an extension of our Matter unit.  Students will observe and investigate changes in the states of matter caused by the addition or reduction of heat.Social Studies – This week we will look at the advantages and disadvantages to Texas being annexed by the United States.
Character Trait – Gratitude

Science

Project will be due on January 24th. We will discuss in more detail tomorrow during Science class.

Science Fair

December 6, 2011

Dear Parents,

During the winter, Fort Bend elementary schools will conduct their annual science fairs.  The most outstanding projects will be showcased and honored at the district Elementary Science Exposition.

Fourth and fifth grade students will be participating in their school’s fair.  Best of Division winners from the schools will be invited to display their projects at the district Elementary Science Exposition. 

Please read and discuss this information carefully with your child.  It is important that students meet and follow all criteria and guidelines.  The science projects should show the student’s interest and workmanship.  Parents are encouraged to support but not participate in their student’s project.

Students are strongly encouraged to purchase project boards ASAP because these will become scarce as students across the district will be working on projects at the same time.

A completed science fair project must include a lab report.  Once you have decided on a question or problem to investigate, have identified the variables to be tested, and have formulated a hypothesis, the next step is to design an investigation.  The information that describes your investigation and the results of the investigation are recorded in a lab report.  A lab report should include the following information:

  • A title that tells what the investigation is about
  • The question that you are trying to answer
  • The hypothesis of the investigation
  • The experimental procedure is step-by-step directions telling how to perform the experiment.  The procedure should identify the manipulated, controlled, and responding variables.  Materials used in the investigation should be listed, and how many times the test will be repeated, or how long it will last should be specified.

  • The results are the data (measurements or observations) that you collect during the investigation.  Sometimes it is best to display the information in a graph.

  • A conclusion should state whether or not the hypothesis was supported.
  • The investigation may lead to questions for further study.  Maybe the hypothesis was confirmed, but the investigation raises a set of new questions.  If the hypothesis was not confirmed, maybe the experiment could be changed in some way.

As previously stated, the Best of Division project winners will have the opportunity to display their projects in the district Elementary Science Exposition.  Should your child’s project qualify for this exposition, you will be contacted in writing.



The Science Fair Committee
 
Rules

The Scientific Method must be followed.
         1.  Question
         2.  Hypothesis
         3.  Make Predictions
         4.  Perform Experiment
         5.  List Results
         6.  State Conclusion
         7.***No MODELS will be accepted.
         Ex:  A model of the human heart does not TEST anything.  A test must be conducted.


         8.  Your project display should be neat, well organized, and self-explanatory.
         9.  The materials to construct your display may be hardboard, cardboard, thins      sheets of plywood, cork board, or a commercially bought display board.
         10.  There is no minimum size for the display.
         11.  Maximum display size set up is limited to:
                  Front to Back- 30 inches
                  Side to Side- 36 inches
                  Top to Bottom- 36 inches

Restrictions:
         1.  Liquids, food, accessible chemicals (including household products), gases, or open flames may not be displayed. Wrappers may be used on displays instead.
         2.  Controlled or illegal substances, including drugs, alcohol, or tobacco may not be displayed.
         3.  We are asking that there be NO experimentation with live animals.
         4.  Micro-organisms, molds, or fungi cultures may not be displayed. Pictures may be used instead.
         5.  Knives or any other sharp objects may not be displayed.  Use plastic items instead of glass ones when possible.
         6.  Liquids may not be displayed. They may be simulated by using unflavored gelatin or blue plastic wrap, etc.

Science Fair Day
         Judging will take place on Friday, January 27, 2012 here at Jan Schiff.  Ribbons will be awarded on that day.
         If you are interested in being a judge, please contact your child’s teacher.
         Parents are welcome to judge projects in grade levels that they do not have a child in.  (Just to keep it fair J)
         Every child that participates is a winner!!!
         Students will be awarded, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, as well as Honorable Mention
         3 projects will be selected to be showcased at the district competition
         Two 5th grade projects and One 4th grade project will be sent to the EXPO.