September 2-5

Activities and Assignments for September 2-5
The specific lesson outlines for all six teachers on the Maxwell Intermediate School fifth grade team have migrated to the M.I.S. fifth grade link on the Maxwell website. The Max Lab blog will continue as a site for expanded tips, clues, hints, and help on math and science. So, continue to look here for a link to lesson outlines not just for Mr. Ellars but for Mrs. Ashley's outlines all at one location.

Link to Ellars & Ashley Lesson Outlines


Extended Practice on Factoring
An essential skill as we move toward more extensive work with fractions this year is the ability to break numbers down into factors. Here's a link to an easy to understand explanation of the process of breaking down a number into factors. We've learned the divisibility rules mentioned in the lesson and all students have a copy of the rules glued inside the front cover of their Math Journals.

Extended Practice on Factoring a Number

August 25-29

Activities and Assignments for August 25-29

Monday, August 25  (Gold)

  * Bell Work: Multiplication Practice

  * Practice Estimation Skills
  * Math Journal pp 29-31
  * Science: Construct foam boats and measure capacity
  * Homework: Skills Link Worksheet 2.1

Tuesday, August 26  (Blue)

  * Bell Work: Science Puzzle

  * Review Addition Algorithms
    (Partial Sum and Column Addition)

  * Math Journal pp 32-34
  * Science: Journal entries and FOSS story booklet

  * Homework: Skills Link Worksheet 2.2

Wednesday, August 27  (Gold)

  * Bell Work: Addition Practice

  * Review Subtraction Algorithms
    (Trade First and Partial Differences)

  * Math Journal pp 35-36
  * Science: Buoyancy experiments

  * Homework: Skills Link Worksheet 2.3

Thursday, August 28  (Blue and D.A.R.E.)

  * Bell Work: Subtraction Practice

  * Everyday Math Game: "Subtraction Target Practice"
  * Science: Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)

  * No Homework

Friday, August 29  (Gold)

  * Bell Work: Addition/Subtraction Practice

  * Weekly Review Quiz

  * Using mathematical models to solve problems

  * Math Journal pp 37-39
  * Science: Graphing results and drawing conclusions

  * No Weekend Homework

    

August 18-22

Building "Square" Numbers

Activities and Assignments: Aug. 18-22, 2014
Monday, August 18  (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Five Minute Math problem
2.Math: Square Numbers (Journal pp 20-21)
              (Math Boxes p 22)
3. RTI (Small group instruction)
4. Science: Variables / vocabulary and data review
5. No homework tonight

Tuesday, August 19  (Gold)
1. Bell Work: Five Minute Math problem
2. Math: Unsquare numbers (i.e. square roots)
               Factor Bingo
3. RTI (Small group instruction)
4. Science: Variables / "Will length of string affect
                   the pendulum's performance?"
5. Homework: Math - Study Link 1.7

Wednesday, August 20  (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Math puzzle
2. Math: Prime factorization with Factor Trees
3. D.A.R.E. with Cpl. Steve McCarley of the GPD  (more info)
4. Homework: Factor Tree Worksheet

Thursday, August 21  (Gold) 1. Bell Work: Squares and square roots
2. Math: Benchmark Test (Just to check where we are at the
    beginning of the year - a starting point for planning this
    year's instruction.)
3. Science: FOSS Science Stories
4. Homework: Math worksheet

Friday, August 22  (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Science wordsearch
2. Math: Unit 1 Review and checkup
3. RTI (Small group instruction)
4. Science: Wrap up pendulum work
5. No weekend homework


              

August 11-15

Take Home Folder Notes
(Notes from papers that came home last week in student folders)
1. Student Council paragraphs are due Friday, Aug. 15
2. Friday, Aug. 15 is also picture day.


Assignments and Activities August 11-15
Monday, August 11  (Gold)
1. Bell Work - fact families
2. Math: Divisibility Rules
3. Science: FOSS Reader: partner read
4. Homework: Study Link 1.5

Tuesday, August 12  (Blue)
1. Bell Work - extended multiplication
2. Math: Prime & Composite Numbers
3. Science: Construct pendulums
4. Homework: Study Link 1.6

Wednesday, August 13  (Gold)
1. Bell Work - subtraction practice
2. Math: Square Numbers
3. Science: Pendulum experimentation
4. Homework: Study Link 1.7

Thursday, August 14  (Blue)
1. Bell Work - factor boxes
2. First DARE class today
3. Math: Analyzing pendulum data
4. No homework tonight

Friday, August 15  (Gold)
1. Bell Work - square numbers
2. Weekly Quiz #2
3. Math: Unsquaring Numbers (i.e. square roots)
4. Science: Pendulum variables
5. No weekend homework

August 4-8, 2014

Welcome Back
Today marks the first full week of the 2014-2015 school year. I couldn't believe as I was writing the date on the board for the first day of school last week that I was writing the word "July." It's been a great three first days and I'm looking forward to the next 170 with a great group of students.

Notes to Sign and Return
Students have received three notes that need to be returned as soon as possible:
* The note that indicates you've seen your student's handbook
* The D.A.R.E. permission slip. (Should be starting next week.)
* The Science Lab Safety Contract
* Tuesday night sign Behavior Card for Wednesday return

Activities and Assignments for This Week
Monday, August 4   Blue Day
1. Bell Work: Chunking subtraction problems
2. Math: Get familiarized with the SRB and the Journal
3. Science: Review safety rules and distribute safety contract to sign
4. Homework: Return a signed safety contract

Tuesday, August 5   Gold Day
1. Bell Work: Subtraction
2. Math: Rectangular Arrays (Journal pp.5-6)
3. Science: Introduce variables and put vocabulary in science journal
4. Homework: Math Journal p. 7

Wednesday, August 6   Blue Day
1. Bell Work: Place value
2. Math: Factors and factorization (Journal pp. 10)
3. Writing about math
4. Science: Scientific Method and using variables
5. No homework

Thursday, August 7   Blue Day
1. Bell Work: Math puzzle page
2. Math: Multiplication facts review
3. Math: Factor Captor game
4. Science: Pendulums
5. Homework: Math Study Link p. 14

Friday, August 8   Gold Day
1. Bell Work: Math review page
2. Weekly checkup of work covered Monday-Thursday
3. Math: Divisibility Rules  Math Journal p.14 and partner
    work on Study Link p.15
4. Science: Pendulums continued
5. No weekend homework