Week 33- Atoms, Physical Changes, & Math Review

We started this week with a very difficult concept for my 5th graders to understand, atoms. My student teacher, Ms. Jordan, found this activity to help students visualize an atom so we did it!

I had to break it down step by step to help them understand protons, electrons, and neutrons. In the end, I think they understood it! This hands on activity really helped them process this very abstract concept. 

I got to introduce chemical and physical changes to my students in a fun way this week! Each student brought in a small bottle of soda and we prepared them for a physical change. 

Shake them up and much as you can and put them in the freezer for 3 hours 15 minutes. You get a soda slush! Now this is my kind of physical change! Some of the bottles didn't freeze so we took the opportunity to discuss variables and what might have happened to prevent some from freezing. Overall it was a success. Click here to view the YouTube video to explain how to freeze a soda. 

Ms. Jordan also tried out Plickers! I love using this with my class and so she wanted to test it out too. 

Have you ever seen the old game show $50,000 Pyramid? Here's a spin off that which helps students review math vocabulary learned for the year. I divided the students into groups and had each group create a pyramid. Then one team (not the ones who created the pyramid) came up and turned their back to the board. The class gave hints without using the words on the pyramid to try to get the team to guess the word in the blank. 

We had fun and the students reviewed lots of math in a very short period of time. Want your own copy? Click the photo below to download one to try. 

We also reviewed by playing Task Card Grave Yard and task cards for skills we have studied this year. 

Playing SPOONS was also another fun rotation to review. 

Do you follow Chalk One Up for the Teacher on Facebook? She shared this word sort idea and I wanted to try it! I listed vocabulary for chemical and physical changes. Check out the picture below to see what I did and our sort poster.

At the end of the week we had to say farewell to our student teacher Ms. Jordan. The kids brought in goodies and we helped her start her supply stash! Everyone knows there are some things you can never have enough of when you're a teacher. Classroom supplies are always on the wish list!

We are super sad to see her go but I have no doubt she will be an amazing teacher! Ms. Jordan was willing to try new things and teach without the textbook (like I do). This is something that isn't easy to do when you're learning the content but she did great! She soaked up everything I shared with her and I could see it in her lessons. She used interactive notebooks and lots of technology (just like me)! She was willing to listen, try new things, and learn from her mistakes. Ms Jordan's passion for teaching was evident! We will miss you Ms. Jordan!

STUDENTS: Think about the review games that we played (listed above). Which was your favorite and why?

Week 32- ASPIRE Testing

This week we started and completed most of our ASPIRE testing. We only have 1 test left to take next week. I saw this great idea about writing positive messages for the students on the sidewalk so I bought some sidewalk chalk and recruited a little help.


We wrote positive notes for the students on the bus circle sidewalk, car rider sidewalk, and front entrance sidewalk.

We started each testing day with a piece of chewing gum and a little yoga. Here is a peek at Darby leading us in yoga this week. She went with a little more ambitious poses than I do. 

Our wonderful parents sent snacks in for each testing day. We had these once we successfully completed a testing day. I sent home a schedule of days/snacks. We had some great treats this week!

We wrapped up Friday with a half day and #TLIM Leadership Club day. I lead dance club and we had a great time dancing the whole time. Then the teachers brought lunch for us to have a get together and have a Mexican Fiesta. Yum!

 My principal, Dr. Davis, and my student teacher, Ms. Jordan were twins this week and they stopped me to take their picture. This is our last week with Ms. Jordan and we are really going to miss her when she leaves us. We do wish her all the best and I know she will be a fantastic teacher and can't wait for her to get her own classroom and share her success stories! She's willing to try all my crazy ideas!

STUDENTS: Which test do you think was the easiest? Why?

Week 30-Congressman Visit, Volume, & Math Review

We started off our week with a visit from Congressman Brooks. He spoke to the fifth grade about the government. 

The kids were full of questions and learned a lot!

We learned about volume this week in math. I love using these cubes that the students create and then fill with base 10 blocks to help them understand what volume really is.

Towards the end of the week I started reviewing for our state testing. I was looking for a fun way to do this and found it! I have tons of task cards for different math topics that I've purchased on Teacher Pay Teachers. So I printed out several from different standards, folded them up, and put each one inside an Easter egg. 

I asked some 3rd grade students to "hide" our eggs and off we went. My students were really excited to do the egg hunt and each team reviewed math as they went.  

Each group worked at their own pace and solved the problems. Each person had to record their own answers but could get help from their group members if they needed it. I loved this idea and my students wanted to know if we could do it again next week. 

 STUDENTS: Which math standard do you feel that you have mastered and which would you like to review before our upcoming state test?