Week 26

The kids were amazed when I mixed two clear liquids together to make this bouncy ball. The most amazing part? After we left it for a day it flattened out and took the shape of the bag it was in. So it had the properties of a solid and a liquid. Everyone wanted to take this one home.



We also spent a lot of time exploring the properties of different white powders. We are using six different powders: salt, sugar, powdered sugar, corn starch, plaster, and baking soda. We'll be using these same powders to do different experiments. The important things we did this week was describing each of them in a way to tell them apart from all the others. We also mixed a little water and vinegar in each to see what happened. Make sure to check back to see what else we do with our six white powders.



When I was showing the kids how to use a hand lens they laughed because I looked like I had a huge eye when I was using it the wrong way. So Timothy wanted to give it a try and use them as glasses.



We have also been working on writing a how to paper. Our topic, How to Blow a Bubble. I can't wait to show you the end product for this project. The kids have been writing and sharing with each other. We should be able to wrap this up next week for you to see.


STUDENTS: I wasn't at school Thursday when you mixed each powder with water and vinegar. I would like for you to tell me about what you did and what reaction you remember the most. Make sure to write at least 3 sentences for this response.

Week 25

We had fun at the recording studio Sunday! If you want a copy of the math CD just send in a blank CD and I'll burn you a copy. We ended up with about 21 math songs. Even the teachers did a math song!





This week in math we were learning about area and perimeter. The kids used Cheez Its to form shapes and then determine the area/perimeter. They really seemed to enjoy this.







We also used our candy hearts to do a lesson on ratios, fractions, decimals, and percents. In my bag, you can see I had a greater probability of pulling out a green heart. So, we took our heart and drew out different hearts to see if the probability would be close to the percentage in the bag. As you can see, it was close!



The students all made math Valentine boxes. They shared them with each other Monday before we used them to collect Valentine cards Tuesday.





Thanks to everyone that sent in goodies for our Valentine celebration. The kids were sugared up by the end of the day (sorry parents). However, it was fun to take a little break from all of our work to have some fun with snacks and cards.





Sebastian and his mom brought in dirt cups for everyone. They were yummy! And it even reminded me of the Saving Fred activity we did in science back at the beginning of the school year.



We wrapped up the week by making perimeter & area robots. This is the robot that I made. Can you tell it is a ballerina?

STUDENTS: We have started our chemistry unit and I know we are all excited to start our experiments. Before we do that I'd like to see what you have learned. So tell me 3 things about chemistry that you have learned so far.

Week 24

This week we had an assembly to celebrate our school recycling program. We are the first school in Madison County to start recycling at school. It has been a big success and we wanted to celebrate. The kids brought in change to raise money to pay for our recycling bins. They were able to put their change in jugs to "vote" for the teacher who would kiss the pig. Thankfully I didn't "win." But it was a lot of fun to watch those who did win. They had to kiss a pig!



These are the girls from our class on the Green Team. They are responsible for emptying the recycle bins daily.





Wilbur was so cute! This is the pig they all kissed.



Even TJ kissed the pig. Her mom, Mrs. Webster, had to do it and she didn't want her mom to have to do it alone.



We finished our unit on the events leading to the Revolutionary War. Here is a snap shot of one of the pages from our interactive notebook where we kept track of each event.



Friday we finished our unit on light and the eye. The kids loved dissecting cow eyes! It is so much fun watching them because these eyes are juicy. Many were grossed out but they all had a great time.







STUDENTS: We are about to start our big chemistry unit. We will be doing lots of experiments and this is my favorite subject in science. So, tell me what you already know about chemistry.

Week 23

We are learning more "brain dumps" for math. These are the last two we have learned.




If you are following us on Twitter you know we learned that "King Henry likes Diamonds BUT Diamonds Cost Money." That is how we remember how to convert measurement. We're still working on that one but the kids can tell you about the king.



Our reading story this week was a play. The kids love any excuse to be able to pull out the puppets. So I let them use the puppets and read the play aloud to the class.



Friday we went bowling. The kids have been learning to bowl during PE time and this week we got to see what they have learned. I must say we had some naturals in the group. Most of them cracked me up because they would roll the ball and then just walk back (without even watching the pins fall).



Look at the concentration on Caleb's face. He was serious.





I even bowled a game with this group. I was very rusty and Aviana was a natural!

STUDENTS: Do you think brain dumps are helping you remember math? Why or why not?