Hi Everyone!
Another update in our Earth and Space Science unit! Today we did a lesson about gravity and how it affects the solar system. First, we discussed what gravity is to each one of us. We came up with a class definition for gravity, and then thought it might be cool to test it out with an experiment. I held 3 balls of different masses (baseball, tennis ball, paper ball) up and we dropped them in repeated experiments, recording our data on our datasheet titled, "Which is First?" (Ask your students to see their results and discuss with you!) We found that gravity is proportional to all objects, thus making everything hit the floor at the same time.
Then we talked about how gravity affects us here on Earth - helping us stay grounded on the floor and not floating in the clouds! This led to some interesting questions such as: if gravity makes us attracted to larger objects than ourselves, why aren't we attracted to the Moon? and if the Sun is larger than the Earth and it attracts all the planets toward it, why don't they all just crash into the Sun? Ask your student for the answers...they're great science experts in Space Science and gravity now.
Please keep in mind that your students do have a Science homework assignment tonight. They are to write a well-developed paragraph answering one of the following questions:
Write a paragraph about what you think it might be like if we did not live on a planet that had gravity? OR write a paragraph about what would happen to the solar system if the gravity suddenly stopped ‘working’?
Overall, our students did well today. This is a difficult subject in this unit to cover in such a short period of time, but rest assured that this will be thoroughly gone over before the test. If for some reason your student seems to be struggling to grasp today's material, please do not hesitate to reply to this post, email me, or call one afternoon to discuss how we can all help the students succeed. I am always here to help them do their best and look for your help to do so too!
Have a good night, and we'll see you tomorrow!
Ms. Opdyke
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Our Math Unit
Hello Parents,
I wanted to update you on our first math lesson of this new unit! In our last unit, we focused upon fractions, decimals and percents. In this unit we're starting with ratios and proportions. This allows us to draw upon our recently learned knowledge from fractions because we use them in ratios and proportions.
In this lesson we discussed what the dictionary terms as ratios and proportions, and what we as students term as ratios and proportions. I then demonstrated how to do the problems, and the students practiced the problems on their own after I demonstrated.
We then tied this math lesson into our Earth Science lesson by talking about the sizes of the planets in our solar system. We've been using our SmartBoard to copy and paste graphics of the planets to the board, and then manipulating them with our hands. It's an amazing feat to be able to click, drag and move things on our "chalk board" with our hands! We then found the ratios and proportions between Earth and the rest of the planets in our solar system. You will be seeing homework this evening for the students to complete the assignment. This will require them to have the sizes of the additonal planets at the ready, and you may be asked for some help finding the planet sizes. If you're looking for where to find the sizes of the planets, I suggest using http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/messenger/psc/PlanetSize.html
You can also reach this link by going to delicious.com and looking for my tag : shoupgr5
On this website they also show you the ratio, which may be helpful!
I hope you enjoy seeing the planets come alive in your students' work --- in all subject areas!
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reply to this post or e-mail or call me.
Hope all is well and bustling in your lives!
Ms.Shoup
I wanted to update you on our first math lesson of this new unit! In our last unit, we focused upon fractions, decimals and percents. In this unit we're starting with ratios and proportions. This allows us to draw upon our recently learned knowledge from fractions because we use them in ratios and proportions.
In this lesson we discussed what the dictionary terms as ratios and proportions, and what we as students term as ratios and proportions. I then demonstrated how to do the problems, and the students practiced the problems on their own after I demonstrated.
We then tied this math lesson into our Earth Science lesson by talking about the sizes of the planets in our solar system. We've been using our SmartBoard to copy and paste graphics of the planets to the board, and then manipulating them with our hands. It's an amazing feat to be able to click, drag and move things on our "chalk board" with our hands! We then found the ratios and proportions between Earth and the rest of the planets in our solar system. You will be seeing homework this evening for the students to complete the assignment. This will require them to have the sizes of the additonal planets at the ready, and you may be asked for some help finding the planet sizes. If you're looking for where to find the sizes of the planets, I suggest using http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/messenger/psc/PlanetSize.html
You can also reach this link by going to delicious.com and looking for my tag : shoupgr5
On this website they also show you the ratio, which may be helpful!
I hope you enjoy seeing the planets come alive in your students' work --- in all subject areas!
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reply to this post or e-mail or call me.
Hope all is well and bustling in your lives!
Ms.Shoup
Monday, November 16, 2009
Introduction Lesson
Hi Everyone!!
Our 5th Grade Class wanted to update you on our unit in Earth Science. This past week we began our unit with an introductory lesson about Earth Science. We started off with a great Chalk Talk (ask your students about it!!) and this allowed our class to brainstorm what we already knew about our solar system. We discussed our previous knowledge, then filled out a KWL (What I: Know, What to Learn, and Learned) chart to help us gauge our progress throughout this unit. Then in our new Science Learning Groups, we drew the solar system and wrote what each group knew about the specific planets - in order from the Sun outward of course! We ended our lesson with a brief 'quiz' on photos of the planets. We used this iClicker Quiz as a means to help us learn to recognize each of the planets based on photos and appearance alone. This introductory lesson helped our 5th Grade class get our feet wet with Earth Science, and we would love to keep this learning going throughout the unit!
Our students did a great job with this lesson. They were attentive, actively engaged, and had fun. They showed the teachers a thing or two, and let us know what they already knew...just so we don't cover it again and bog the class down in lessons we don't need to go through. Our students were insightful, hard-working, and thoughtful throughout this lesson. They helped their fellow students through the learning process, and we are pleased to say that this unit looks as though it might be one of the best ones yet!!! Keep checking back with us during the course of these lessons, and if you'd like to check out the lesson plans from the teachers, feel free to do so by asking your students to show you on BlackBoard. Any other questions, please do not hesitate to send us an email or call us. We'd love to keep you just as involved as the students! Have a great day!
:-)
Ms. Opdyke
Our 5th Grade Class wanted to update you on our unit in Earth Science. This past week we began our unit with an introductory lesson about Earth Science. We started off with a great Chalk Talk (ask your students about it!!) and this allowed our class to brainstorm what we already knew about our solar system. We discussed our previous knowledge, then filled out a KWL (What I: Know, What to Learn, and Learned) chart to help us gauge our progress throughout this unit. Then in our new Science Learning Groups, we drew the solar system and wrote what each group knew about the specific planets - in order from the Sun outward of course! We ended our lesson with a brief 'quiz' on photos of the planets. We used this iClicker Quiz as a means to help us learn to recognize each of the planets based on photos and appearance alone. This introductory lesson helped our 5th Grade class get our feet wet with Earth Science, and we would love to keep this learning going throughout the unit!
Our students did a great job with this lesson. They were attentive, actively engaged, and had fun. They showed the teachers a thing or two, and let us know what they already knew...just so we don't cover it again and bog the class down in lessons we don't need to go through. Our students were insightful, hard-working, and thoughtful throughout this lesson. They helped their fellow students through the learning process, and we are pleased to say that this unit looks as though it might be one of the best ones yet!!! Keep checking back with us during the course of these lessons, and if you'd like to check out the lesson plans from the teachers, feel free to do so by asking your students to show you on BlackBoard. Any other questions, please do not hesitate to send us an email or call us. We'd love to keep you just as involved as the students! Have a great day!
:-)
Ms. Opdyke
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Welcome!
Hi parents and guardians,
Welcome to the blog for our 5th Grade classroom!! We really appreciate you taking the time to catch up with your students' work and taking an active interest in their learning. This blog is dedicated to chronicling our adventures in our new Science unit called Space and Our Solar System!!!
Both Ms. Opdyke and Ms. Shoup will be teaching lessons, and some days we'll even be co-teaching lessons. The unit incorporates writing, reading, research, math, and science all in one. It also strives to engage our class in learning through different mediums of technology. Topics included are: planets and their demographics, introduction to the solar system, Galileo, creating models of the solar system, and creating our own planets.
We will be updating this blog periodically with the lesson plans and activities that our students will be taking part in. Please look for these updates! If you have any questions about our unit of study, our classroom, or these lessons please feel free to email or call either Ms. Opdyke or Ms. Shoup.
Have a great day!
Welcome to the blog for our 5th Grade classroom!! We really appreciate you taking the time to catch up with your students' work and taking an active interest in their learning. This blog is dedicated to chronicling our adventures in our new Science unit called Space and Our Solar System!!!
Both Ms. Opdyke and Ms. Shoup will be teaching lessons, and some days we'll even be co-teaching lessons. The unit incorporates writing, reading, research, math, and science all in one. It also strives to engage our class in learning through different mediums of technology. Topics included are: planets and their demographics, introduction to the solar system, Galileo, creating models of the solar system, and creating our own planets.
We will be updating this blog periodically with the lesson plans and activities that our students will be taking part in. Please look for these updates! If you have any questions about our unit of study, our classroom, or these lessons please feel free to email or call either Ms. Opdyke or Ms. Shoup.
Have a great day!
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