HUMANITIES
This week, we looked at the reason why the English colonists wanted to rebel against the British throne: Taxation without representation. We simulated the cumulative effect of just a puny tax adding up to a big burden by collecting pencils in class every 5 minutes. It didn’t take long for the students to rebel against me – proving that something that seems small – a pencil – can be a great drain.
This exercise helped us understand better why Patriots were emboldened to fight against the British, a key piece of the background for our current class novel, My Brother Sam is Dead.
Students this week and last also worked on their submissions for the Hong Kong Young Writer’s Contest. The theme this year was New Tales of the South China Sea. Students were asked to submit a travel piece, and it was surprising to see how many wanted to write about their home, Hong Kong. I guess they took to heart the sage advice that all writers follow: write about what you know. Submissions from Grade 5 will be from:
Sam Khorsandy, Rubin Verebes and Joshua Ellis-Einhorn
MATH
Can 723 be divided by 3? If you know the rules of divisibility, you can answer this question quickly. Students are laying the foundation for a major unit in fractions coming up. We’ve been concentrating on our rules of divisibility, which is helping us find factors and figure out whether a number is prime or composite. A quiz on all our work over the last two weeks will be coming up on Tuesday. Encourage your students to get prepared!
Work on our fantasy stock portfolios continues, as well. Students reinvested some extra cash into new stocks based on our class visit from Seth Fischer from Oasis last week.
SCIENCE
Do you know how many calories your body needs? How many calories are in what you eat per day? What is a calorie anyway? We looked further this week at potential and kinetic energy. We looked at how calories translate into potential energy, and we use them up through kinetic activities that we do.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
In other news, it is worth noting that the school raised more than $7,600 for Haiti last week at our fundraiser. Despite it being a last-minute event, the fifth grade class really came through, bringing in more than $1,800! Well done.
JEWISH STUDIES - ENGLISH SPEAKERS
from Morah Epstein
• Reading pasukim from Parashat Vaeira
• Review pasukim learned by heart
• Discuss perakim four and five of Sefer Yehoshua
• Vocabulary quiz
• Parashat Hashavua
• Tu Beshvat - songs and customs
JEWISH STUDIES - HEBREW SPEAKERS
from Morah Yoel
• למדנו על טו בשבט הקרב ובא (שבת הקרוב). מדוע ט"ו בשבט חל בתקופה זו של השנה. מה המשמעות למעה של טו בשבט, כיצד מבחינים בין עץ לשיח לפי היהדות בכדי לדעת אם הברכה על הפרי הוא "בורא פרי האדמה" או "בורא פרי העץ".
• בנביא למדנו על המצווה של ברית מילה שיהושע עושה לעם ישראל לראשונה מאז 40 שנה שיצאו ממצרים וכיצד לא קיימו מצוה זו כ"כ הרבה זמן. למדנו על עשיית קרבן פסח (שתלויה במצוות ברית מילה) על הפסקת המן וראשית האכילה מתבואת הארץ.
• בחומש למדנו על חזרתו של משה למצרים להוציא את בני ישראל משם. על האותות שה' מוסר בידו, ועל ההצטרפות של אהרן למשה לשליחות שמה לא רצה.
• התחלנו ללמוד לקראת החידון העולמי של תנועת בראשית (הארגון העומד מאחורי הדף השבועי שהתלמידים מקבלים מידי שבוע) בנושא 'תאמין בעצמך'. למדנו על כוחותיו של האדם, ועל היכולות שלנו שלפעמים מפתיעים אפילו את עצמנו.
HEBREW - HEBREW SPEAKERS
• קראנו את הסיפור 'כי האדם עץ השדה' על יולק, נער ניצול שואה ששונא עצים, אך דווקא לעצי ארץ ישראל מתחבר. למדנו על המושג 'מולדת', ומדוע ישראל היא המולדת של כל היהודים, גם אם לא נולדו בה בפועל. הסיפור נמצא במקראה 'פיתחו את השער' שבביה"ס.
• במסגרת פרויקט 'סופרים ומשוררים' למדנו על עוזי חיטמן. על התלמידים היה להגיש תחילה עבודה, ואחכ" למדנו עליו בכתה. עמדנו על הסגנונות השונים שלו: שירי ילדים (אבל אני נשאר תמיד אני) שירים למבוגרים (שיר לשלום), שירי נבחרות כדורגל (מכבי חיפה) ועל תוכניות טלויזיה שלו (חלום עליכם, פרפר נחמד).
• באשכולית אנו לומדים את החוברת 'תארים' ומעשירים את אוצר המילים שלו במילים כגון פזיז, בהילות, עוצמה ועוד.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday, January 29
MATH
Complete the questions on the study guide -- and make sure to study your divisibility rules.
Bring in questions on Monday. I'm always available for extra help during recess or after school. Your quiz is on Tuesday. It will cover divisibility, GCF, LCM, prime and composite numbers, and evaluating exponents.
HUMANITIES
Please complete the open response question in your notebooks. We'll go over the answer in class on Monday!
SCIENCE
Keep working on your science projects and backboards!
Complete the questions on the study guide -- and make sure to study your divisibility rules.
Bring in questions on Monday. I'm always available for extra help during recess or after school. Your quiz is on Tuesday. It will cover divisibility, GCF, LCM, prime and composite numbers, and evaluating exponents.
HUMANITIES
Please complete the open response question in your notebooks. We'll go over the answer in class on Monday!
SCIENCE
Keep working on your science projects and backboards!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thursday, January 28
HUMANITIES
We've read chapters 4-7 of My Brother Sam is Dead. Now it's time to show what you know. Please answer the 8 questions in complete sentences. Do your best work: it will be graded.
Thanks also for getting your submissions in on time. We had 100% class participation! That makes us all winners!
MATH
Today we tackled eponents in class, which can be easy if you just remember one thing: Exponents stand for REPEATED multiplication, not a number times another number
6^3 is actually 6 x 6 x 6 (NOT 6 x 3)
so 6 to the third power (6^3) = 216.
Tonight, finish the worksheet on evaluating exponents.
SCIENCE
Today we talked about the potential energy of food, which we count by calories. How many calories do you need? How many calories do you consume in a day? You can find out by looking at the websites we started to explore in class.
Calories in Food
Calories You Need
We've read chapters 4-7 of My Brother Sam is Dead. Now it's time to show what you know. Please answer the 8 questions in complete sentences. Do your best work: it will be graded.
Thanks also for getting your submissions in on time. We had 100% class participation! That makes us all winners!
MATH
Today we tackled eponents in class, which can be easy if you just remember one thing: Exponents stand for REPEATED multiplication, not a number times another number
6^3 is actually 6 x 6 x 6 (NOT 6 x 3)
so 6 to the third power (6^3) = 216.
Tonight, finish the worksheet on evaluating exponents.
SCIENCE
Today we talked about the potential energy of food, which we count by calories. How many calories do you need? How many calories do you consume in a day? You can find out by looking at the websites we started to explore in class.
Calories in Food
Calories You Need
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 27
MATH
Today we talked about the difference between prime and composite numbers.
Prime numbers only have two factors, 1 and the number itself
Ex. 5 - 1,5
Composite numbers have more than two factors
Ex. 12 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Finish the worksheet handed out in class for homework. You might have a few extra questions to do on divisibility, too, depending on which focus group you were in.
HUMANITIES
Submissions for the HK Young Writer's Contest are due tomorrow. Make sure your piece is PERFECT!
Also, let's keep moving forward in our reading. Please read Chapter 6 & 7 of My Brother Sam is Dead.
SCIENCE
Science Fair reports are due Friday!
Today we talked about the difference between prime and composite numbers.
Prime numbers only have two factors, 1 and the number itself
Ex. 5 - 1,5
Composite numbers have more than two factors
Ex. 12 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Finish the worksheet handed out in class for homework. You might have a few extra questions to do on divisibility, too, depending on which focus group you were in.
HUMANITIES
Submissions for the HK Young Writer's Contest are due tomorrow. Make sure your piece is PERFECT!
Also, let's keep moving forward in our reading. Please read Chapter 6 & 7 of My Brother Sam is Dead.
SCIENCE
Science Fair reports are due Friday!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 26
HUMANITIES
Please edit and type your submission for the HK Young Writer's Contest for this Thursday. Make sure you are submitting your best work. Read your work not twice, but three times. Then, have your brother read it, or your mom. Better yet, then go to your dad for feedback and then maybe a friend. The more people who read it, the better it will be.
MATH
Please finish the worksheet on Least Common Multiples.
Your quizzes on dividing and multiplying decimals was handed back today. Please have them signed tonight.
SCIENCE
We talked quite extensively today about how to structure both your report and display for our Science Fair. Please look over your directions or refer to the websites below for help.
http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/elementary-science-fair-projects.html
http://www.cool-science-projects.com/Science-Fair-Project-Display.html
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_sample_final_report.pdf
Please edit and type your submission for the HK Young Writer's Contest for this Thursday. Make sure you are submitting your best work. Read your work not twice, but three times. Then, have your brother read it, or your mom. Better yet, then go to your dad for feedback and then maybe a friend. The more people who read it, the better it will be.
MATH
Please finish the worksheet on Least Common Multiples.
Your quizzes on dividing and multiplying decimals was handed back today. Please have them signed tonight.
SCIENCE
We talked quite extensively today about how to structure both your report and display for our Science Fair. Please look over your directions or refer to the websites below for help.
http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/elementary-science-fair-projects.html
http://www.cool-science-projects.com/Science-Fair-Project-Display.html
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_sample_final_report.pdf
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Thursday, January 21
MATH
Please look at the example on the top of tonight's worksheet, and follow it to answer the questions.
HUMANITIES
Tonight, put on your writer's hat and pen a great travel essay. Remember, you might be entered for a chance to compete in the Hong Kong Young Writer's Contest.
SCIENCE
Please and the questions from Investigation 1 handed out in class in your Science notebook.
Are you working on your science fair project? Next week, we'll start talking about handing in the first draft of your report. We're closer to the end than you think!
Tomorrow, support Haiti. Bring in your donations and be uniform free!
Please look at the example on the top of tonight's worksheet, and follow it to answer the questions.
HUMANITIES
Tonight, put on your writer's hat and pen a great travel essay. Remember, you might be entered for a chance to compete in the Hong Kong Young Writer's Contest.
SCIENCE
Please and the questions from Investigation 1 handed out in class in your Science notebook.
Are you working on your science fair project? Next week, we'll start talking about handing in the first draft of your report. We're closer to the end than you think!
Tomorrow, support Haiti. Bring in your donations and be uniform free!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Wednesday, January 20
HUMANITIES
Students started writing for the Hong Kong Young Writer's Contest today. This year's theme is New Adventures of the South China Sea. Fifth grade students were asked to write a travelogue about somewhere in this region.
First drafts are due on Friday.
MATH
Please finish the worksheet on GCF
SCIENCE
Please fill out the Science Fair Progress Report to let me know how your experiment is coming.
Students started writing for the Hong Kong Young Writer's Contest today. This year's theme is New Adventures of the South China Sea. Fifth grade students were asked to write a travelogue about somewhere in this region.
First drafts are due on Friday.
MATH
Please finish the worksheet on GCF
SCIENCE
Please fill out the Science Fair Progress Report to let me know how your experiment is coming.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Tuesday, January 19
MATH
Take a look at our divisibility rules again. Then finish the worksheet handed out in class.
HUMANITIES
Please have your test signed.
If you didn't finish the questions in class, choose any 15 questions from the Chapter 2 & 3 handout to answer in your Humanities notebook.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Monday, January 18th
HUMANITIES
Please read chapters 2 & 3 of My Brother Sam is Dead. We will start answering questions in small groups tomorrow.
Please read chapters 2 & 3 of My Brother Sam is Dead. We will start answering questions in small groups tomorrow.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Weekly Blurb - Week of January 15
HUMANITIES
How was the economy of the South built? Students learned this week that most of the plantations and cash crops were built on the backs of slaves. This week, we wrapped up a large unit on the original Thirteen Colonies, which also lays the groundwork for our next big unit focus: The American Revolution. The rumblings of discontent started in the later half of the eighteenth century, and students have begun to see that not everyone was on the side of democracy. In the book My Brother Sam is Dead, we meet Sam, a college student filled with ideas of revolution. However, his father believes that the learned men of Parliament and the King know what is best for the colonies. The book should shed light on how families were divided over this debate that eventually brought the colonies to war. Students will take a test on the thirteen colonies on Monday.
MATH
Another big unit in Math was finished this week when we took our test on multiplying and dividing decimals. We’ll continue to review these skills in daily warm-ups, but we’re ready to move into our next unit: fractions.
On Friday, when we would typically take a look at our fantasy stock portfolios, we had a real stock broker come to our class and give us tips on how to tell whether a stock is a good bargain or is overpriced. Seth Fischer, a broker at Oasis in Hong Kong, compared a company on the stock exchange to a lemonade stand. He peppered them with questions that made them think about competition. “What would you do if your brother opened up a stand next door to yours?” He asked them about the barriers of entry to market. “Could you just go out to the street and set up a lemonade stand?” (According to his experience with his son last summer, the answer is no. His son was shut down by the police who asked for his Hawker License.) He also asked them to consider what makes a product unique in the marketplace. “Does anyone have the secret recipe for your lemonade?” At the end, he left the students with a few more tools to decide how to purchase stocks. We’ll put into action what we learned next week when students will get a chance to reinvest their earnings and purchase more stock.
SCIENCE
We continued to look at matter in its various states and how it can change. Students had several items they observed. First, they looked at a block, and then at a glass of water. When students transferred the water to a different container, they saw first-hand one of the properties of liquids: they take the shape of the container that they are in. Air might not be visible, but blow up a balloon and we can see that it can fill up a space, as well. Students then had to determine whether each of the following were a chemical or physical change: adding salt to water, cooking an apple, burning a candle, melting ice. Think you know? Check your answers by asking your fifth grader.
Have a great weekend.
- Ms. Larson
How was the economy of the South built? Students learned this week that most of the plantations and cash crops were built on the backs of slaves. This week, we wrapped up a large unit on the original Thirteen Colonies, which also lays the groundwork for our next big unit focus: The American Revolution. The rumblings of discontent started in the later half of the eighteenth century, and students have begun to see that not everyone was on the side of democracy. In the book My Brother Sam is Dead, we meet Sam, a college student filled with ideas of revolution. However, his father believes that the learned men of Parliament and the King know what is best for the colonies. The book should shed light on how families were divided over this debate that eventually brought the colonies to war. Students will take a test on the thirteen colonies on Monday.
MATH
Another big unit in Math was finished this week when we took our test on multiplying and dividing decimals. We’ll continue to review these skills in daily warm-ups, but we’re ready to move into our next unit: fractions.
On Friday, when we would typically take a look at our fantasy stock portfolios, we had a real stock broker come to our class and give us tips on how to tell whether a stock is a good bargain or is overpriced. Seth Fischer, a broker at Oasis in Hong Kong, compared a company on the stock exchange to a lemonade stand. He peppered them with questions that made them think about competition. “What would you do if your brother opened up a stand next door to yours?” He asked them about the barriers of entry to market. “Could you just go out to the street and set up a lemonade stand?” (According to his experience with his son last summer, the answer is no. His son was shut down by the police who asked for his Hawker License.) He also asked them to consider what makes a product unique in the marketplace. “Does anyone have the secret recipe for your lemonade?” At the end, he left the students with a few more tools to decide how to purchase stocks. We’ll put into action what we learned next week when students will get a chance to reinvest their earnings and purchase more stock.
SCIENCE
We continued to look at matter in its various states and how it can change. Students had several items they observed. First, they looked at a block, and then at a glass of water. When students transferred the water to a different container, they saw first-hand one of the properties of liquids: they take the shape of the container that they are in. Air might not be visible, but blow up a balloon and we can see that it can fill up a space, as well. Students then had to determine whether each of the following were a chemical or physical change: adding salt to water, cooking an apple, burning a candle, melting ice. Think you know? Check your answers by asking your fifth grader.
Have a great weekend.
- Ms. Larson
Friday, January 15
HUMANITIES
Study for your test on the Thirteen Colonies. Here's what you should focus on:
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Study for your test on the Thirteen Colonies. Here's what you should focus on:
People to Know
- Puritans
- John Winthrop
- Roger Williams
- Anne Hutchinson
- King Philip
- Quakers
- William Penn
- George Calvert
Terms to know
- Common
- Barter system
- Hornbook
- Free-market society
- Trial by jury
- Indentured servant
- Slave
- Broker
Main Ideas
- Which colonies fought with the Native Americans? Which ones didn’t?
- What was the center of New England life?
- What were some of the commercial uses of whales? What were some of the difficulties of being a whaler?
- What was the triangular trade route? Which countries did they connect? What was traded?
- What were the main crops grown in the Middle Colonies?
- Why did England take over the colony that belonged to Netherland? How did they win the war?
- What were some reasons people wanted to immigrate to America?
- What was The Great Awakening? What were some of the results of it?
- Did the people of the Southern colonies fight with the Native Americans? What happened?
- How did most plantations operate? Who owned them? Who ran them? Who worked them? What did they resemble? Why?
- How did enslaved people keep their culture alive?
- Where did slaves who escaped run to? Why?
- What were the major cash crops of the Southern Colonies?
Map Skills
Be able to place all thirteen colonies on a map.New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
SCIENCE
Work on your science projects!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Thursday, January 14
HUMANITIES
Finish reading Chapter 1 of My Brother Sam is Dead. Answer any 15 of the 22 questions handed out in class.
Finish reading Chapter 1 of My Brother Sam is Dead. Answer any 15 of the 22 questions handed out in class.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Wednesday, January 13
MATH
Finish the division sheet handed out in class. SHOW ALL YOUR WORK!
HUMANITIES
We've been learning how to revise conclusions over the past couple of days. Put what we've learned into practice tonight and write three good sentences to sum up the main ideas. Remember to have fun while you're writing!
Finish the division sheet handed out in class. SHOW ALL YOUR WORK!
HUMANITIES
We've been learning how to revise conclusions over the past couple of days. Put what we've learned into practice tonight and write three good sentences to sum up the main ideas. Remember to have fun while you're writing!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, January 12
MATH
Complete the worksheet on dividing decimals. Need a review on how to do it? Look here.
SCIENCE
Finish the Investigation Worksheet on matter.
Complete the worksheet on dividing decimals. Need a review on how to do it? Look here.
SCIENCE
Finish the Investigation Worksheet on matter.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Friday, January 8th
MATH
During the lesson part of the class, we broke into groups. If you were working with Ms. Larson, you will need to correct the worksheet "Zeros in the Product" from the other night. If you were working with Ms. Yuen, please finish the challenge sheet that you had on mulitplying decimals.
SCIENCE
Just because we didn't have a Science class on Friday doesn't mean that you slack on our major class project: your Science fair project. Collect materials, write a survey (if your using one), do something to start!
During the lesson part of the class, we broke into groups. If you were working with Ms. Larson, you will need to correct the worksheet "Zeros in the Product" from the other night. If you were working with Ms. Yuen, please finish the challenge sheet that you had on mulitplying decimals.
SCIENCE
Just because we didn't have a Science class on Friday doesn't mean that you slack on our major class project: your Science fair project. Collect materials, write a survey (if your using one), do something to start!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Welcome back to 2010. I hope everyone got a well-deserved break. We're back up and at em, though, in class. Here's our homework for tonight.
MATH
Complete the worksheet on multiplying decimals.
SCIENCE
Get your Science test signed.
Start on your one paragraph proposal for the science fair. It is due this Thursday.
HUMANTIES
Write sentences for the words that you will be studying this week. Need a reminder of what they are?
1. Refuge
2. Trial by jury
3. Proprietor
4. Justice
5. Prosperous
6. Order
7. Expanded
8. Outnumbered
9. Diversity
10. Immigrant
11. Militia
12. Preach
13. Revival
14. Participation
15. Social
16. Prosperity
17. Artisan
18. Apprentice
19. Gristmill
20. Grain
MATH
Complete the worksheet on multiplying decimals.
SCIENCE
Get your Science test signed.
Start on your one paragraph proposal for the science fair. It is due this Thursday.
HUMANTIES
Write sentences for the words that you will be studying this week. Need a reminder of what they are?
1. Refuge
2. Trial by jury
3. Proprietor
4. Justice
5. Prosperous
6. Order
7. Expanded
8. Outnumbered
9. Diversity
10. Immigrant
11. Militia
12. Preach
13. Revival
14. Participation
15. Social
16. Prosperity
17. Artisan
18. Apprentice
19. Gristmill
20. Grain
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