The Amazing Human Body!

We began our study of the human body by learning that it is made up of cells.  As we investigated the muscle and skeletal systems, we discovered how they are held together and how they work. Dissecting a chicken leg allowed us to examine bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.

Then we had the opportunity to figure out how they all work together by constructing our own models of a human arm. We were given a variety of materials as we explored resources to see how others have made similar models. 

We drew up our own plans and made a prototype. 

Based on what we found with the prototype, we made our final models. It was fun seeing the final models work similar to real arms!

Here are our finished models!

Wait, do we have Amazon Prime? : A Math Update

In math, the girls continue to work with manipulating numbers with decimals and percentages.

To practice their skills with calculating sales tax, the girls got to go on a little "shopping spree" this morning!

The spreadsheet they were using to track their purchases had columns for item description, price, sales tax, shipping fees, and total cost.  

When asked if there were any questions before starting the spree, the girls quickly inquired, "Do we still have to calculate shipping costs if we have Amazon Prime?" 

From the Library

Fifth graders read Sharon Creech's Granny Torelli Makes Soup over several library classes. Ask your daughter about Pardo and Violetta and the haircut and Marco, about Bailey, and Janine, and learning braille, and double Marco and beloved Granny herself and her pauses, about cavatelli (little dough canoes) and how Tutto Va Bene. This semester's library project is to read a book that's written in the form of diary entries or letters and then to write and present another entry. They have until spring break to complete this project. So far we've heard from Tovah, a Jewish Russian girl traveling to the US with her family in 1920, Mary, Queen of Scots about to marry a French prince in 1553, Lady of Ch'iao Kuo who lives in Southern China in 531, and a sneaky dog able to escape the most elaborate baby gate and chair barricades. Girls are taking elements of the original story and using their imaginations to create an entry that happens before, during or after the story.

Your homework is to study. Wait. What does that mean?

An inside look at study skills practice in fifth grade.

In fifth grade, we often ask our students to study.  Study for your math test.  Study for your science test.  Study your spelling or vocabulary words.  But what are we really asking?  Do we know?  Do our students know?

We have talked about certain study skills throughout the year, but as the 100th day of school came and went, and we inch closer to middle school, reinforcing these skills will become more and more vital to our students' success after lower school life.

Take a moment to review the same tips and tricks the girls reviewed this morning.  After all, a decent amount of "study" time often takes place outside of the classroom.

https://collegesuccessformoms.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/studyhabits/

Using class time to practice our study skills.