Update

We wrapped up our Weather and Water Cycle Unit and have begun learning about matter.

No tests scheduled this week.

Here are the new vocabulary words and definitions

Vocabulary Matter/Changes in Matter

Matter—Anything that takes up space and has mass.

Element—a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions

Atom—the smallest unit of an element that has the properties of that element

Molecule—two or more atoms joined together

Property—a characteristic or quality of a material or substance. These properties include: mass, volume, density, shape, color, hardness, texture, odor, taste, attraction to magnets and temperature.

• Mass—The amount of matter a substance or object has.
• Volume—The amount of space an object or substance occupies.
• Density—a measure of how many particles are packed together into a certain amount of space

State of matter—The form matter can take (e.g., solid, liquid, gas).

• Solid—matter with a fixed volume and shape
• Liquid—a state of matter with a defined volume but no defined shape
• Gas—a state of matter without any defined volume or shape

Change of State - the process of changing (by heating or cooling) one form of matter into another form of matter with different characteristics

Physical change—A type of change that involves the physical properties of a substance.

Chemical Change—a chemical reaction; a process that changes a substance into new substance

Mixture—a combination of substances that can be physically separated from one another

Dissolve—to add a solid material to a liquid in such a way that its particles completely disperse into the liquid, usually becoming invisible within the liquid

Solution—a mixture in which a solid and a liquid or two liquids are mixed so evenly, that it is not possible to see the separate particles

Suspension—a heterogeneous mixture in which fine particles are suspended in a liquid or gas where they are supported by buoyancy

Solubility—the ability of a substance to be dissolved in a liquid

This Week....

Working on our weather unit.  Student have been recording weather data.

Vocabulary Quiz will be Friday on the Weather and Water Cycle list.

We've been learning about different Native American groups.  Student are working to create books for a kindergarten class.  These look AMAZING!

What's going on....

We are still are working on the water cycle.  We'll be starting weather this week.

Vocabulary Quiz THURSDAY

Block 2: Create Your Own Water Cycle Project due Nov. 1st

Water Cycle Songs

This Week....

We are starting our unit on Weather and the Water Cycle.  Students will be getting new vocabulary words this week.  Our first focus will be on understanding the water cycle.

SC.5.E.7.1 Create a model to explain the parts of the water cycle. Water can be a gas, a liquid, or a solid and can go back and forth from one state to another.

SC.5.E.7.2 Recognize that the ocean is an integral part of the water cycle and is connected to all of Earth's water reservoirs via evaporation and precipitation processes.

We are continuing to learn about Ancient Indians.  We'll be learning about Mound Builders and the Anasazi.

This Week...

SCIENCE: We will be wrapping up comparing and contrasting adaptations displayed by animals and plants that enable them to survive in different environments such as life cycles variations, animal behaviors and physical characteristics. (SC.5.L.17.1) Short test on this Tuesday or Wednesday (depends on how much we accomplish in class).

We'll be starting our new unit on weather and the water cycle this week as well.

SOCIAL STUDIES: We are also studying ancient Americans.  Students will be able to compare cultural aspects of ancient American civilizations (Aztecs/Mayas; Mound Builders/Anasazi/Inuit).  So far we've learned about the Maya, and will be focusing on the Aztec, Anasazi and Mound Builders this week.

SUPER GREAT NEWS! Another Donor's Choose project was funded!  We will be getting two new tablets this week.  Students will be able to use these tablets with our new robots as well as for other purposes.  I'm looking forward to the interesting ways students will be able to use both of these new things.

TESTING THIS WEEK
Unit Test: Computer Based District Assessment on Life Science Tuesday
Adaptation Test: Tuesday or Wednesday (depending on how much we accomplish in class)
Vocabulary Quiz: Friday Life Science Vocabulary Quizlet Link

This Week

We've been working on learning about adaptations.  

Students will be able to compare and contrast adaptations displayed by animals and plants that enable them to survive in different environments such as life cycles variations, animal behaviors and physical characteristics. (SC.5.L.17.1)

We've also been studying ancient Americans.  Students will be able to compare cultural aspects of ancient American civilizations (Aztecs/Mayas; Mound Builders/Anasazi/Inuit).  So far we've learned about the Maya, and will be focusing on the Aztec next.

We've also started a 5th grade garden.  Students will be getting some hands on experience with plants to help them understand plant structures, and life cycles.

And, the MOST EXCITING thing happening is our Dash and Dot robots.  Through a Donor's Choose project our class now has three little robots.  Students will be learning about code and creating programs that the robots will be able to run.

TESTS
Still aiming for Friday test on animal adaptations and our Life Science Unit Test.