Does everyone remember all the fascinating and fun things we learned in science this year? Let's run through a quick review:
1. Scientific Method - Using controlled experimentation to test a hypothesis. (Q: Is an experiment a failure if we find that the hypothesis is false?)
2. Pendulums - We made and tested pendulums with string and pennies. (Q: How can you make a pendulum swing slower?)
3. Lifeboats - Remember playing "Will It Float?" (Q: What is buoyancy? And why was Archimedes running through the streets yelling, "Eureka?")
4. Planes - We made and tested airplanes and learned how a wing works. (Q: Just what is an airfoil?)
5. Life Cycles - So much fun learning about earthworms, crickets, and lizards!
(Q: How are the adopted anoles doing?)
6. Human Body - Learning about the skeleton and the digestive system. Special thanks to Jared's mom for sending in the light box and the x-rays. And who could ever forget the model of the digestive system with the food processor and the panty hose - Yuck! (Q: Can you still find your patella? And just what did you find inside your owl pellet?)
7. Food and Nutrition - We tested foods for fats and sugars and learned a lot about good nutrition.(Q: Are you still able to read a nutrition label?)
8. Sun, Moon, and Stars - The scale model of the solar system was fun to make on the playground. And who could resist making moon phase models with Oreos?
(Q; Did you remember how to impress Grandma and Grandpa by pointing out a Waxing Gibbous?)
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
End of Year
Wednesday, May 29 - End of Year
Wednesday marked the last day of the 2012-2013 school year. As of now, all the fifth graders can call themselves sixth graders! Have a safe and restful summer break - but don't stop learning. Get to the library and do lots of reading.
_________________________________________________________
Maybe you'd like to follow up on our reading of science fiction at the end of the year. Here are some suggestions you might like to check out:
Nick of Time by Ted Bell
The Time Travelers by Linda Buckley-Archer
The Roar by Emma Clayton
Powerless by Matthew Cody
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Alien Secrets by Annette Curtis Klause
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Time Hackers by Gary Paulsen
The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick
Aliens on Vacation by Clete Barrett Smith
_________________________________________________________
And if you're ready for something a little more advanced, try:
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Sky Inside by Claire B. Dunkle
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
Wednesday marked the last day of the 2012-2013 school year. As of now, all the fifth graders can call themselves sixth graders! Have a safe and restful summer break - but don't stop learning. Get to the library and do lots of reading.
_________________________________________________________
Maybe you'd like to follow up on our reading of science fiction at the end of the year. Here are some suggestions you might like to check out:
Nick of Time by Ted Bell
The Time Travelers by Linda Buckley-Archer
The Roar by Emma Clayton
Powerless by Matthew Cody
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Alien Secrets by Annette Curtis Klause
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Time Hackers by Gary Paulsen
The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick
Aliens on Vacation by Clete Barrett Smith
_________________________________________________________
And if you're ready for something a little more advanced, try:
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Sky Inside by Claire B. Dunkle
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
May 28-29
Fifth Grade Awards
Fifth grade awards for second semester and end of year will be held in the MIS gym from 9:15 - 10:00. Parents and family are always welcome to attend.
BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)
A kitchen size trash bag would be a big help in carrying home whatever is left in lockers. (Some of them might need a couple of bags. LOL)
Grades
Grades for the current quarter and for the second semester will be finalized early this week. The Gold Team will be working on final grade reports Thursday morning.
Social Studies Projects
We had some great project presentations! The students had fun both presenting and sharing everyone's hard work. Thanks much to all the wonderful help from parents on this activity.
 |
| Pointing out the end of the Oregon Trail |
May 28-29 Agenda
Tuesday, May 28 (Blue)
Science: Tie up any unfinished work / Sort,clean, and store equipment
Social Studies: Tie up any unfinished work / Finish banner for teacher friends
Miscellaneous: Room clean out and clean up
Homework: Summer assignment packet
Wednesday, May 29
1. Locker clean outs (bring a bag to carry home)
2. Jump Room activities
3.Second Semester awards ceremony
4.Yearbooks: distribution and signing opportunity
5. Kickball Tournament
Friday, May 17, 2013
May 20-24
A Friendly Reminder
At this time every year students begin suffering from the effects of that inevitable May disease - "summer fever." Students, please remember, however, that the grades you earn at the end count just as much as grades earned at the beginning.
We only have a short time left, so keep everything on track until the end of the year. I know the kind of high quality work you're all capable of doing - I've seen it over and over this year. Just hang in there!
We'll be starting the presentations of the Social Studies project that was assigned at the beginning of May. Everyone is anxious to see what you've come up with for this important assignment.
________________________________________________
This Week's Agenda
Monday, May 20 (Gold)
1. Finally we have time for the Oreo moon phase project
2. Begin Social Studies project presentations
3. No Homework
Tuesday, May 21 (Blue)
1. Energy definitions and puzzle (Thanks to Vectren Energy for materials)
2. Continue Social Studies presentations
3. No Homework
Wednesday, May 22 (Gold)
1. Energy Resources
2. Continue Social Studies presentations
3. No Homework
Thursday, May 23 (Blue)
1. "They Led the Way: 14 American Women" / Read and write
2. Continue Social Studies presentations
3. No Homework
Friday, May 24 (Gold)
1. Vectren Energy take-home kit
2. Continue Social Studies presentations if needed
3. No Homework
________________________________________________
Medications at School
All medications, both prescription and OTC, must be picked up by 4:00 pm, May 29, 2013. Any medication not picked up by that deadline will be destroyed. Medications will not be stored in the clinic over the summer. Also, note that medications must be picked up by a parent or adult listed as an emergency contact. Students will not be allowed to carry medication home from school. If you have any questions or would like to make arrangements for the medication pickup, call Amy Dickman at 317-326-3121.
________________________________________________
Dow Science Program
The Dow Science program is this Monday, May 20 after school from 2:30-4:30. Students need to be picked up at the North door (behind the Gym) promptly at 4:30.
Registered Gold Team Students:
Jared Coyle Tara Edwards
Ashley Swango Emily Milne
Lucas Black Olivia Moss
Seth Young McKenna Sheffield
Chloe Hulen Tyler Antic
Saylor Leal Robert Hoffman
At this time every year students begin suffering from the effects of that inevitable May disease - "summer fever." Students, please remember, however, that the grades you earn at the end count just as much as grades earned at the beginning.
We only have a short time left, so keep everything on track until the end of the year. I know the kind of high quality work you're all capable of doing - I've seen it over and over this year. Just hang in there!
We'll be starting the presentations of the Social Studies project that was assigned at the beginning of May. Everyone is anxious to see what you've come up with for this important assignment.
________________________________________________
This Week's Agenda
Monday, May 20 (Gold)
1. Finally we have time for the Oreo moon phase project
2. Begin Social Studies project presentations
3. No Homework
Tuesday, May 21 (Blue)
1. Energy definitions and puzzle (Thanks to Vectren Energy for materials)
2. Continue Social Studies presentations
3. No Homework
Wednesday, May 22 (Gold)
1. Energy Resources
2. Continue Social Studies presentations
3. No Homework
Thursday, May 23 (Blue)
1. "They Led the Way: 14 American Women" / Read and write
2. Continue Social Studies presentations
3. No Homework
Friday, May 24 (Gold)
1. Vectren Energy take-home kit
2. Continue Social Studies presentations if needed
3. No Homework
________________________________________________
Medications at School
All medications, both prescription and OTC, must be picked up by 4:00 pm, May 29, 2013. Any medication not picked up by that deadline will be destroyed. Medications will not be stored in the clinic over the summer. Also, note that medications must be picked up by a parent or adult listed as an emergency contact. Students will not be allowed to carry medication home from school. If you have any questions or would like to make arrangements for the medication pickup, call Amy Dickman at 317-326-3121.
________________________________________________
Dow Science Program
The Dow Science program is this Monday, May 20 after school from 2:30-4:30. Students need to be picked up at the North door (behind the Gym) promptly at 4:30.
Registered Gold Team Students:
Jared Coyle Tara Edwards
Ashley Swango Emily Milne
Lucas Black Olivia Moss
Seth Young McKenna Sheffield
Chloe Hulen Tyler Antic
Saylor Leal Robert Hoffman
Friday, May 10, 2013
D.A.R.E. Picnic Tug of War
Thursday, May 9, 2013
May 13-17
Message from Glenda Ritz
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction
Re: ISTEP
---------------------------------
As Superintendent of Public Instruction, I want to reach out to you regarding the Online ISTEP+ testing interruptions that students may have experienced at their schools. I know how hard students, parents, and educators have worked to prepare for these test sessions and interruptions are unacceptable. I understand the frustration experienced by everyone.
Throughout the testing period, DOE has remained in constant communication with our testing vendor, CTB McGraw-Hill, to monitor the testing. When it was determined that the CTB servers were not able to sustain the volume of users for full-day usage, we made the decision to have schools alter their test schedules to lessen the number of users accessing the test sessions for a period of three days. We also extended the testing window until May 17 to allow for all students to complete all test sessions. I realize these decisions have been stressful for both students and parents and have disrupted both school and family activities/plans.
Our first goal is to complete the test sessions. After testing is complete, we will then work to determine the validity of test sessions. With students taking four to six test sessions, some sessions may be valid, and some sessions may be invalid due to interruptions. IDOE will be working with CTB, a third party, and schools to determine validity.
I want to assure parents that all test session results will be shared with students, parents, and educators even if there is a “note” that indicates the results of a particular test session may not be valid.
In closing, in addition to providing student learning progress information, the ISTEP+ tests are used to calculate school accountability grades and they inform educator evaluation. The IDOE understands these high stakes and will work diligently to determine how best to fairly address them with this year’s ISTEP+ results.
-Glenda Ritz, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Week's Agenda
Monday, May 13 (Blue)
1. Science: Review work on sun, moon, and stars
2. Social Studies project is due Monday, May 20
Tuesday, May 14 (Gold)
1. Science: Checkup (i.e. test) on sun, moon, and stars
2. Social Studies project is due Monday, May 20
Wednesday, May 15 (Blue)
1. Social Studies: Roots of the Civil War - Read and interpret
2. Social Studies project is due Monday, May 20
Thursday, May 16 (Gold)
1. Science: Energy conservation - workbook
2. Moon phase / Oreo project
3. Social Studies project is due Monday, May 20
Friday, May 17 (Blue)
1. Trip to GCHS planetarium
2. Energy conservation take home material
3. Social Studies project is due Monday, May 20
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction
Re: ISTEP
---------------------------------
As Superintendent of Public Instruction, I want to reach out to you regarding the Online ISTEP+ testing interruptions that students may have experienced at their schools. I know how hard students, parents, and educators have worked to prepare for these test sessions and interruptions are unacceptable. I understand the frustration experienced by everyone.
Throughout the testing period, DOE has remained in constant communication with our testing vendor, CTB McGraw-Hill, to monitor the testing. When it was determined that the CTB servers were not able to sustain the volume of users for full-day usage, we made the decision to have schools alter their test schedules to lessen the number of users accessing the test sessions for a period of three days. We also extended the testing window until May 17 to allow for all students to complete all test sessions. I realize these decisions have been stressful for both students and parents and have disrupted both school and family activities/plans.
Our first goal is to complete the test sessions. After testing is complete, we will then work to determine the validity of test sessions. With students taking four to six test sessions, some sessions may be valid, and some sessions may be invalid due to interruptions. IDOE will be working with CTB, a third party, and schools to determine validity.
I want to assure parents that all test session results will be shared with students, parents, and educators even if there is a “note” that indicates the results of a particular test session may not be valid.
In closing, in addition to providing student learning progress information, the ISTEP+ tests are used to calculate school accountability grades and they inform educator evaluation. The IDOE understands these high stakes and will work diligently to determine how best to fairly address them with this year’s ISTEP+ results.
-Glenda Ritz, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Week's Agenda
Monday, May 13 (Blue)
1. Science: Review work on sun, moon, and stars
2. Social Studies project is due Monday, May 20
Tuesday, May 14 (Gold)
1. Science: Checkup (i.e. test) on sun, moon, and stars
2. Social Studies project is due Monday, May 20
Wednesday, May 15 (Blue)
1. Social Studies: Roots of the Civil War - Read and interpret
2. Social Studies project is due Monday, May 20
Thursday, May 16 (Gold)
1. Science: Energy conservation - workbook
2. Moon phase / Oreo project
3. Social Studies project is due Monday, May 20
Friday, May 17 (Blue)
1. Trip to GCHS planetarium
2. Energy conservation take home material
3. Social Studies project is due Monday, May 20
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
ISTEP is Finally Done!
Finally!!!
We finished ISTEP this morning with the social studies tests. Our only
issue with the testing was a short two minute delay for one student. Her
computer froze up briefly during the second test, but came back online
with no further interruption. When the results of this year's testing
comes in, they'll be examined very carefully with an eye to the
difficulties experienced so that none of
our students is penalized for situations they had nothing to do with.
(We probably should have told them there was more testing
tomorrow...They were so relieved that the tension was finally over that
everyone was, to say the least, pretty wired up for the rest of the
day...LOL)
Tomorrow we have D.A.RE. graduation and the D.A.R.E. picnic on Friday. The gold team next week will be visiting the GCHS planetarium on Friday, May 17. Permission slips will be coming home this week.
Tomorrow we have D.A.RE. graduation and the D.A.R.E. picnic on Friday. The gold team next week will be visiting the GCHS planetarium on Friday, May 17. Permission slips will be coming home this week.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
May 6 - 10
ISTEP
Finally! We're finishing this year's ISTEP test with the social studies portion of the test Tuesday morning. Our fingers are crossed that the stress and frustration everyone experienced last week don't negatively impact student scores. So much emphasis has been placed on the importance of this testing that our children at least deserve the opportunity to take those tests without the problems we all experienced last week.
One of the cardinal rules of experimental design is the careful control of all variables. For an online testing program, it is essential that all test subjects have the same uninterrupted access to the testing environment. Not all students in Indiana received equivalent access, and last week not all students at our school received equivalent access. Indiana needs to take a long, hard look at the current system before we start planning for the 2013-2014 round of evaluations.
_______________________________________________
This Week's Agenda
Monday, May 6 (Gold)
1. Science: Make a constellation finder
2. Science Review: "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"
3. Reading: War of the Worlds
4. Homework: Social Studies Project due May 20
Tuesday, May 7 (Blue)
1. ISTEP: Social Studies test
2. Science: Finding pictures in the sky (constellations)
3. Homework: Social Studies Project due May 20
Wednesday, May 8 (Gold)
1. D.A.R.E. Graduation Ceremony
2. Reading: War of the Worlds
3. Social Studies: USA Weekly News Magazine
4. Science: Outdoor activity (Chemical reactions)
5. Homework: Social Studies Project due May 20
Thursday, May 9 (Blue)
1. Science: In class review of Sun, Moon, and Stars to date
2. Science: Checkup (test) on Sun, Moon, and Stars
3. Homework: Social Studies Project due May 20
Friday, May 10 (Gold)
D.A.R.E. Picnic at GCHS
Finally! We're finishing this year's ISTEP test with the social studies portion of the test Tuesday morning. Our fingers are crossed that the stress and frustration everyone experienced last week don't negatively impact student scores. So much emphasis has been placed on the importance of this testing that our children at least deserve the opportunity to take those tests without the problems we all experienced last week.
One of the cardinal rules of experimental design is the careful control of all variables. For an online testing program, it is essential that all test subjects have the same uninterrupted access to the testing environment. Not all students in Indiana received equivalent access, and last week not all students at our school received equivalent access. Indiana needs to take a long, hard look at the current system before we start planning for the 2013-2014 round of evaluations.
_______________________________________________
This Week's Agenda
Monday, May 6 (Gold)
1. Science: Make a constellation finder
2. Science Review: "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"
3. Reading: War of the Worlds
4. Homework: Social Studies Project due May 20
Tuesday, May 7 (Blue)
1. ISTEP: Social Studies test
2. Science: Finding pictures in the sky (constellations)
3. Homework: Social Studies Project due May 20
Wednesday, May 8 (Gold)
1. D.A.R.E. Graduation Ceremony
2. Reading: War of the Worlds
3. Social Studies: USA Weekly News Magazine
4. Science: Outdoor activity (Chemical reactions)
5. Homework: Social Studies Project due May 20
Thursday, May 9 (Blue)
1. Science: In class review of Sun, Moon, and Stars to date
2. Science: Checkup (test) on Sun, Moon, and Stars
3. Homework: Social Studies Project due May 20
Friday, May 10 (Gold)
D.A.R.E. Picnic at GCHS
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
ISTEP Day 3
1. Finally!!! We completed the mathematics section of the ISTEP test this morning. The Department of Education suggested that schools only test 50% of their students each day - and it worked.
Of course that means that our testing window will be stretched out a bit. We don't know tomorrow's schedule for sure yet, but look back here later for information as it comes in.
2. A social studies project is due Monday, May 20. Students who don't have the assignment sheet/grading rubric in their gold folders should ask me for a new one tomorrow morning.
3. DARE picnic is coming up next week on Friday, May 10. The graduation is tentatively scheduled for May 8.
Of course that means that our testing window will be stretched out a bit. We don't know tomorrow's schedule for sure yet, but look back here later for information as it comes in.
2. A social studies project is due Monday, May 20. Students who don't have the assignment sheet/grading rubric in their gold folders should ask me for a new one tomorrow morning.
3. DARE picnic is coming up next week on Friday, May 10. The graduation is tentatively scheduled for May 8.
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