Math- Multiplication

Our first/second math unit of the year for the 5th graders was multiplication with greater numbers. We were taught many different strategies to help us, but my favorite strategy was called the area model. I liked it because it dealt with less numbers and adding together which is a strength to me in math. This is how it works:

I like this math method and it has helped me with greater number multiplication problems and lesser numbers multiplication problems. I loved this unit!

Writing- Feature Article

For our 3rd writing unit, the 5th grade wrote feature articles. For starters, we all got a 'mentor text' to help us understand how authors of feature articles write.....feature articles! I chose a feature article called "Big Talkers" and about elephants and how they communicate with each other. This is our unit:

1. Read the feature article once for fun, and twice for the better understanding (Day one)

2. We had a mini lesson on subject specific vocabulary, What it means, how we use it, where to add it in to our articles, etc. (Day one)

3. With a highlighter, highlight subject specific vocabulary (Day two)

4. Get with a partner and share your findings and the words you thought were subject specific. Also can give feedback if they are or aren't subject specific. (Day two)

5. Discuss as class your findings (Day two)

6. Have a mini lesson on how we can explain what the subject specific vocabulary. (Day three)

7. With a highlighter, mark in the article of ways that the author explained it. (Day three)

8. Choose a topic that you want your feature article to be about (Day four)

9. Make a list on google docs of subject specific vocabulary that relates and you will use in your article. Research on the web, dictionary, etc. (Day four)

10. Research about your topic (Day five)
11. Research about your topic (Day six)

Then we learned about bodies of a feature article such as.... introduction, conclusion, organizing topics into paragraphs. Then in our library time, we learned how to cite any image off the internet so that way we can insert images into our feature article. After many edits, writing, ideas, vocabulary, lessons, discussions, pasting, researching, Click here to see my piece.

Overall, I think this unit helped me understand the importance of organization, citations, vocabulary and how to express a topic of my interest. My favorite part about this unit is when we got to format our article.

3rd Unit of Inquiry- Forces and Motion/Reading informational

Our 3rd UOI unit was Forces and Motion. This unit ties in with HTWW (how the world works). Our central idea for our unit was Exploring the connection between forces & motion enables people to understand their application. Some of our lines of inquiry were:       

• The application of forces in our lives
• Variables that impact motion
• The process of scientific inquiry

In our unit, we had many exciting activities and tasks to help us learn about our unit. These are some of my favorites:

Reading books about Forces and Motion+ taking visual notes

At the beginning of the unit, Miss P divided us into 3 or 4 reading groups. Beata, Ghnema, Andrey and myself were all in a reading group called Maghabean. Don't ask why, you'll regret it. Every few days, we'd get a new book about forces and motion. This is what we'd have to do with it.

1. Read the book as a reader. (Read the book one time through)

2. Read the book as a writer. (Read again, but take visual notes as you read)

3. Label sketches with a phrase or one word

4. Discuss with reading group your findings/sketches/and notes. Talk about what you learned

5. (On a poster) Discuss with group who has the best sketches for an idea and each draw it on the poster.

We learned about magnetism, gravity, inertia, acceleration, friction, buoyancy, air/water pressure etc. It was really fun, and my favorite part is when we got to be in groups and share our learning:)

Forces in my Life Project

After doing our research through the books, Miss P decided to "quiz" us by giving us an assignment that was about forces and motion in our life. We had to take all of our knowledge of forces and motion, and take 5-10 pictures of forces/motions in our house or community. Then, on a google slides, we'd put one picture on one slide and write what the force/motion is, its application, and its function. I really liked this activity especially because we got to do it for homework!! Here is one of my slides:

Science Fair

Now it's the time we've all been waiting for! The grand finale. Now it's time to share ALL OF OUR LEARNING in one giant experiment! This is what we had to do:

1. Research about an experiment that we want to present at the science fair

2. Conduct the experiment at school and take pictures/videos while doing it.

3. Change one variable and do the experiment again with the variable change. Take pictures/videos while doing it.

4. Take pictures of your process (scientific)

5. Create a slides or poster (I chose poster) and paste pictures, captions, and bring a model of your experiment to school

I decided to do a water pressure experiment. To find my experiment, I found a website online, but changed a bit for the variable change and not the variable change! To see the experiment on the website, Here is where you'll find it! I LOVED THE SCIENCE FAIR!!!! It was so fun to present to other people and share my findings!

  

OVERALL, I LOVED THIS UNIT!!!! It helped me in my understanding on forces and motions and their jobs and what can affect them. Thank you 5th grade teachers for this amazing idea:)