Week 24- Habit 5 & Chemistry

Take a look at our Leader in Me display in the hallway for 5th grade. I know I posted a picture a few weeks back but every time we change a habit we change our display. We have been working on habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood. My kids drew a picture of their reflection in a mirror and then wrote "Reflections of a Good Listener." They listed ways they can be a good listener.



I also created a display on the cabinet in my room. I made these buckets so the kids can catch each other using the habits. When they see someone using a habit they write that person's name, what they were doing to use the habit, and sign it. Then they put it in the bucket that matches the habit they witnessed. At the end of the week I draw names from the buckets for homework passes and other little goodies.!



In reading this week we were learning about generalizations. I found the file on Teacher Pay Teachers: Generalizing Guru. We used the posters in the file and wrote generalizations about each one. Then the kids shared them and decided if they were faulty or valid.



If they were faulty, the students worked together to rewrite the generalization so it was valid.



We also had a lot going on in chemistry this week! We started the week with our mystery powders. The kids mixed 2 powders last week and then this week they took a new cup and tested it using their notes from previous experiments. Most groups were able to find out what the mystery powders were!





We also talked about using a talking stick and practiced by debating if helmets should be worn when riding a bike.





Later in the week we created our own mixture with iron filings, salt, sand, and beads. The kids had to work together to create a plan to separate the different items in the mixture.







I laughed the other day because my parents must think there are strange things going on in our classroom. I send an email asking for sweet tarts, antifreeze, burnt toast, and a few other items. They stepped up and sent in the supplies we needed so I decided to start with the burnt toast and bread.



They started by observing the properties of bread and burnt toast. It was important to point out that the toast was still bread but once it was burnt it can't be undone. We'll be following up on that next week.



STUDENTS: Create and share a valid generalization about our science lessons.

Week 23- Valentine's Day

In chemistry this week we have been learning about acids and bases. Of course, I have a song for that. So here is the song we sang all week!






We used iodine and BTB to test the powders we have been using in our chemistry unit.












Iodine is a starch indicator and turns black if starch is present in the powder.



BTB (Bromthymol Blue) is a pH indicator. The powder turns blue if it is a base and yellow if it is an acid.



Today we mixed up our mystery powders and the kids will use their notes next week to try to determine the two powders that were mixed together.

Fifth grade teachers went to a math workshop this week and we talked about using beans and pasta to make fraction plates. So Mrs. Reasner came up with the idea of using Valentine's candy to create plates of fractions.



In math small groups, the kids selected up to 20 pieces of candy to glue to their plates.



Then they had to write a fraction for each kind of candy they had on their plates. I challenged them to write the fractions in simplest form so it wouldn't be as easy to find their plate later. Here are just a couple of the plates that were created.





I found this Criminal Cupid activity on Teachers Pay Teachers. My kids loved it! I read the story to them and they each took notes about how the criminal looked. Then they were the sketch artist and had to create a picture of the criminal.



I also asked them to write a short paragraph about what happened. I let them decide if they would tell the story from the point of view of the criminal, the witness, or Cupid.





STUDENTS: We have a lot of songs that we sing in class to help you learn things. What is your favorite song so far? It can't be a brain break song, it must be a song that we have used to learn something in the classroom. Don't forget to use a 7 up sentence for a bonus ticket. Sentences start with a capital letter and end with some type of punctuation.

Week 22- Leader in Me Visit

Our school started The Leader in Me program this school year. Athens State University hosted a Symposium and the participants visited local schools to see what they were doing. Our school was chosen as one of the sites to visit so I thought I'd share some pictures from around the building.



We have positive quotes around the school above the doors.





In the front we also have a quote from each grade level posted. This one is the quote from 5th grade.



I also finished my 100 Ways to be a Leader bulletin board. I took pictures of some of the kids and added habits 1-6 in bubbles above their heads.



This is the hallway outside the lunchroom/library. We have our super leader bulletin board and then a display area for each grade level to feature what they are doing!



We also have banners on the ceiling with each of the habits listed.




First grade created a community of leaders wall.






Second grade took pictures of kids and this one says "Second Graders are LEADERS!"




Thursday we had a lot of visitors in the school and we had student leaders as tour guides. Colette and Bella were the leaders selected from our classroom to lead the tour groups.




Mrs. Lawrence, a 3rd grade teacher, dressed up as a super leader. She had her super leader cape and mask as a disguise.




We also went bowling Friday. The kids had a great time! They have been learning to bowl in PE and the PE teachers take each grade level to the bowling alley to practice their skills.











Finally, Friday night we had a Daddy Daughter dance! There were over 250 people who attended.





Yes, I took my daddy to the dance too! I couldn't resist because even as an adult I'm still a daddy's girl!



STUDENTS: Which habit is the most meaningful to you so far? We have learned about habits 1-5 up to this point. So tell me how you are using the habits to become a leader. (7 up sentences get a bonus ticket)

Week 21- Eating Crickets & Thinking About College

Mrs. Hardin brought it some really neat items for us to look at this week. She had a dinosaur print, a tooth, and an imprint of skin!



We have also been working on observing powders in chemistry. We started by recording the properties of the 6 different white powder.



Then we mixed each of the powders with water and vinegar to see what would happen. Each student has a chart in his/her interactive science notebook. They recorded all the results like scientists do!





We were reading Exploding Ants in our reading book this week. It talked about how people eat honey pot ants. So we all tried some flavored crickets.



They all laughed at me when I just tossed one in my mouth and ate it. Tastes a little like a flavored sunflower seed. You can see a few of the reactions here. I don't think they will be eating any more bugs.





Since our school started working to become a Leader in Me school this year, one of our goals in 5th grade was to have the lockers at the end of the hall covered for a display. So this week we wrote about college. The students wrote about what they want to be when they grow up, how they think college will be different from elementary school, and how they will need to use the habits to reach their goal. Want to use this project? Find it on Teachers pay Teachers: It's Never Too Early for College.



I used the app Face in Hole to take the pictures and make them look like grown ups on the job or graduating.



We had parent volunteers cover the lockers and put this together for us. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. The parents worked really hard and the end result was amazing!



Since the Super Bowl is this weekend we made our own football players. The kids had a lot of fun with this project! They wrote about the team they thought would win and then the habit the players would need to use to achieve their goal. I made a football player too and used him to add the title to our classroom lockers. Find the project on Teachers pay Teachers: Football Buddy.



Take a look at some of the football players!







STUDENTS: Are you enjoying the chemistry unit? Why or why not? If you use a 7 up sentence to answer the question you'll earn a bonus ticket this week.