Hello family's of room 274 and 275, this past week we had a blast! We have been working on simplifying and expanding algebraic expressions. In science we have been doing FLASH. We were also translating Article one of the constitution, and Article two section two paragraph two of the constitution, and Article 3 section paragraph. Tomorrow we will have a field trip to the Living Computer Museum & Labs, we will be learning about the history of computers, microcomputers, minicomputers, robotics, big data & AI, self-driving cars, mainframes, 80's computers, internet of things, game makers, and digital studio.


In math we have been doing Algebra. Most recently, we have been writing and evaluating equivalent expressions. We have also investigated the difference between the two. For example, an equation can be solved, but an expression asks to be simplified, or expanded. Another topic related to Algebra is our class algebra based role-play! 

Weekly Update 1/22/20

Science: 

I have assigned the science fair project today and all fifth grade students are required to participate. A packet was given to each student and they will be given time each Monday during class but will need to spend time at home to work on it. The packet is also available on Schoology.

It is due March 27th, and we will have a fifth grade science fair in school the following Monday, the 30th. The PTA Science Fair is the 1st of April and students are encouraged to participate and use the same project but are not required to participate or attend the night time event.

Please feel free to email me at jdhill@seattleschools.org if you have any questions. 

Math:

We started this week with our algebra unit. We are working on finding equivalent expressions and simplifying expressions. I also gave each student their Math IXL username and password again and directed them to spend time practicing each night that they do not have written homework.

Language Arts: Students started off January by finishing up and publishing their narrative writing. They shared and read each others' stories, and some students will be submitting stories to the Write out of this World writing contest put on by MoPoP. Students have also started the their reading challenge! Students have soft deadlines posted in their project packets, and I'm excited to see students already reading outside of their default genres.  

Social Studies: I'm excited to tell you that we have started social studies. I decided to start with civics this year, as history is being made as we speak! Students have been working on reading a primary document, the Constitution, and translating it into easy to understand language. Students have also been exploring book resources as well as online resources, helping them compile and comprehend the types of sources they will be using to learn about government and history. 

Weekly Update 1/17/19

Math 

In math we just finished percent's and started a new unit. We were doing simple interest and even did a little business project. In the project we did mark up, discounts, inventory, loans and interest. We even made an advertisement for what we were selling.  

We were doing how to find percent's of numbers and how to convert fractions into percent’s. We did percent proportions. We took a number of something out of another number and we would see then the percent of the smaller number. Like a fraction. We did percent change and percent error. We then did some percent’s with money. We did percent mark-up and mark down. We also found what the selling price was if there was some kind of percent mark-up or mark down. After that unit, we took the chapter 3 assessment.  

Now we started a new unit with algebraic expressions. We know how to now write those expressions depending on the situation. We learned to make those expressions and then fill in the variables and solve problems. We learned to also correctly evaluate algebraic expressions. 

Science 

In science we are working on patterns of Earth and Sky. We were looking at an artifact that had constellations for the seasons. One part was missing. We found it out by using the simulation on the computer. We could see constellations at different times of the year. After we finished that, we did A project where we picked a constellation and wrote all about it. We took the constellation and labelled each star on it how far away it was from Earth. We also drew it. We looked at planets and did a little about light years and stars how far away stars are from Earth. We did a scientific explanation about why we can’t see the stars in daytime. Also it was about the artifact that we figured out what constellation was on the missing piece of it. 

We investigated stars and how far away they are. We also looked at constellations and took notes on which months you could see a certain constellation. We now are investigating patterns that some constellations make. We are asking a question about a star or constellation and then investigating and taking notes on that constellation or star. 

We use the simulation a lot to find constellations and investigate them.