Nonfiction Text Features

Today we reviewed nonfiction text features.  The students found different graphics, print and parts of nonfiction books in the stories they are reading this week.  They used sticky notes to label them in their books.  They labeled close-ups, tables, headings, bold words, and more.

Conferences

This is just a reminder that conferences start tomorrow after school.  If you do not remember your conference time please let me know through a note, email or phone call.  I look forward to talking to all of you about your great children.

The Amazing Race

This week's math problem is based off of the t.v show "The Amazing Race."  At the end of each math class the students are given time to work with partners on this game.  They are given math challenges.  Their goal is to get to the end of the game before the other teams in the class.

Amazing Race Theme Song

Amazing Race Clip

Flight Schedules

1. Watch the two links above.
2. Now let’s start our own Amazing Race.  I won’t be asking you to jump from an airplane, but I will be asking you to solve some challenging problems.
3. Click on the link, Flight Schedules.  Find a flight to Atlanta, Georgia.  Write down the departure and arrival times.  Figure out how long you will be in the air if you traveled on this flight.  Then share your answer with me.  Once you get the okay from me you may move onto the next task.
4. Use the following link.  Watch the Challenge #1 video.  When you have completed this challenge share it with your teacher.  If you are correct you may move on to number 5. Challenge Videos
5. Click on the link, Flight Schedules.  Find a flight to Las Vega, Nevada.  Write down the departure and arrival times.  Figure out how long you will be in the air if you traveled on this flight.  Then share your answer with me.  Once you get the okay from me you may move onto the next task.
6. Use the following link.  Watch the Challenge #2 video.  When you have completed this challenge share it with your teacher.  If you are correct you may move on to number 7 Challenge Videos
7. Use the following link.  Watch the Challenge #3 video.  When you have completed this challenge share it with your teacher.  If you are correct you may move on to number 8. Challenge Videos
8. Use the following link.  Watch the Challenge #4 video.  When you have completed this challenge share it with your teacher.  If you are correct you may move on to number 9. Challenge Videos
9. Click on the link, Flight Schedules,.  Find a flight to New York, New York.  Write down the departure and arrival times.  Figure out how long you will be in the air if you traveled on this flight.  Then share your answer with me.  Once you get the okay from me you may move onto the next task.
10. Use the following link.  Watch the Challenge #5 video.  When you have completed this challenge share it with your teacher.  If you are correct you may move on to number 11. Challenge Videos
11. Use the following link.  Watch the Challenge #6 video.  When you have completed this challenge share it with your teacher.  If you are correct you may move on to number 12. Challenge Videos
12. Use the following link.  Watch the Challenge #7 video.  When you have completed this challenge share it with your teacher.  If you are correct you may move on to number 13. Challenge Videos
13. Click on the link, Flight Schedules.  Find a flight to Dallas, Texas.  Write down the departure and arrival times.  Figure out how long you will be in the air if you traveled on this flight.  Then share your answer with me.  Once you get the okay from me you may move onto the next task.
14. Use the following link.  Watch the Challenge #8 video.  When you have completed this challenge share it with your teacher.  If you are correct you may move on to number 14. Challenge Videos
15. Watch video and celebrate!  Celebration!

Record Holders

Over the past two days students have been reading nonfiction short stories on record holders.  They are using these stories to help them figure out the traits that record holders possess.  Today they discussed these stories in small groups and created an answer to explain what traits they feel record holders have.  Tomorrow each small group will share their thinking with the class.  Eventually we will use each group's ideas to create a whole class answer to this question.  We will share our final answer with you.  Below are a couple of links to videos of two of the record holders that we are reading about this week.

Erik Weihenmayer

Felix Baumgartner

Spelling Words

Every Tuesday the students get 10 new spelling words.  They practice spelling these words with a partner before they move onto their word sort activities.  On Mondays they are given a spelling test on these same words.  Their spelling words this week are:  again, are, our, right, write, thought, most, catch, knew, watch

Computer Science

The students began a course on coding.  Check out the website below.  This program is funded by leaders in the technology field.  Bill Gates and Michael Zuckerberg are two of the people that support this program.  They see a need in this field.  Their hope is to get more students excited about computer science, especially girls.  The students are excited about this website and may ask you to try it at home.  If you have any questions please ask.

code.org

Final Chemical Test

This afternoon the students took their final test for our chemical unit.  They were given a mystery mixture.  Their mixture could be a combination of the following chemicals:  alum, baking soda, baby powder, sugar and cornstarch.  Each group was given time to complete about 6 experiments with their mixture.  They heated them up, added vinegar to them, stirred them in water, and completed tasks with them.  After completing these experiments they compared them to their previous notes completed in past experiments.  Once they had a idea of what the two chemicals were that made up their mixture they move on to their chromebooks.  On their chromebooks they wrote a paragraph explaining what two chemicals made up their mixture and why they know it was these two.  This last part was completely independently.  Finally they sent their document to me.

My partner,Logan and I had mixture A .Logan and I think that mixture A is baking soda and cornstarch.  When we put  vinegar in it fizzled. When we put cabbage juice in it harden.Then Mr. Waara told us to heat it up mixture A and the outside turned black, but the inside was still white. So we think that mixture A is baking soda and cornstarch.
written by Austin

My partner Joey and I had mixture B. I think it’s sugar and cornstarch because when I mixed the vinegar it was starchy. When I let it sit it was sticky and hard to move. I think there is sugar in the mixture because in all the experiments the mixture was sticky.
Written by Tanner

I think experiment A is sugar and cornstarch, because when Mateo and I mixed water with it, it dissolved. When we mixed iodine with it, it turned purple. When we waited for a while it turned white. Then when we mixed vinegar with it and it turned sticky and was easy to move.
Written by Josephe

 My partner Sam and I had mixture C. I think my chemicals are baking soda and baby powder. I think one is baby powder because it smelled really strong and when I added iodine it was getting creamy. When I mixed baby powder by itself it got creamy too. After that I looked at the color of the chemical and it was the same as what it looked like by itself. Another chemical I think was mixed was baking soda. I think that because when I added vinegar it got bubbly, made sizzling sounds, and it all went where it wanted. Baking soda acted like soda because of the fizz it did when I added vinegar to it. When I added vinegar all by itself with baking soda it was about the same, because it was bubbly and the bubbles popped. Those are some reasons I think It's baking powder and baby powder.
Written by Allison