We have been very busy with District testing. This week we are going to make and work with telegraphs. Then each student will have an opportunity to design their own project to demonstrate their mastery of Magnetism and Electricity. We will get our blog going again next week with lots of information about our projects. Please check back next week!!!
Ms. B
After you complete your investigations on series and parallel circuits, discuss what you learned. Why do you think knowing this information might be helpful to you in the future?
Sept. 19
Science
We are going to work with series and parallel circuits this week. The students will learn the different ways to make these two circuits, then they will have a problem to solve. I really do think the class as a whole is really enjoying working with magnetism and electricity.
Math
We are learning new algorithms for addition, subtraction, and multiplication. These are not the traditional algorithms so don’t be shocked if you see your student doing “funky” math.
Spelling
This week our words come from our novel study as well as our science. The students have choices of many products to produce for their spelling grade this week. Their packet is due Friday morning.
battery, electricity, filament, component, switch, conductor, insulator, series circuit, parallel circuit, component, captivity, reaction, illusion, recognition, submitted, manipulated, ritual, astute, baffled, consternation
Reading
We are still reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. It is getting very interesting.
We have a new weekly project called Probe Books. This week’s topic is The Symbols of Texas. Each student has a week to research anything they wish on this topic.
Yesterday we used one wire and a d-cell to light a small light bulb. Today, we learned how to use a switch to make a motor run and light a bulb, and learned to draw schematic drawings. What did you like the most? What did you think about the activities that you participated in? What would you like to learn next about electricity and why do you think we are studying magnetism and electricity together?
We had a learning week last week learning how to post comments on our new blog. Hopefully we will get better each week.
Reading – We are continuting our novel study of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. This fantasy novel has rats and mice a the main characters. They all have human qualities. Check with your student to find out what is happening in the novel.
Math – This week we will be working on place value to the hundred millions place, finding the maximum, minimum, range, and mode of a set of data, and we will learn a new algorithm for addition called the column addition method.
Language Arts – We will continue to find nouns and verbs in sentences. Combining sentences using compound subjects and predicates, identifing run-on sentences, and sentence fragments will be the focus of our study this week.
Science – This week we are going to explore simple electrical circuits.
Spelling – The students that made 85 or above last week on the spelling test will not have spelling homework this week. They will still have to study for the test Friday. The rest of the class will have a nightly spelling activity to complete. This week’s words are taken from our novel study.
spacious, access, preceding, gnaw, numerous, clearing, poisonous, orderly, route, recalled, contrary, hostile, explicit, futile, presumably, efficient, intense, scrutiny, converged, donned
Fantasy Book Reports are due Friday!! I can’t wait to see all of the wonderful products!!
Welcome to our first blog under announcements. We are going to try to make a new post every Monday with our week’s academic activities listed. Hope this helps parents and students.
Reading – We are going to continue our novel study of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. The entire class seems to be enjoying this fantasy novel.
Fantasy Novel Book Reports – Each student needs to read a fantasy novel and create a report for the class. This time the report activities will be from the Novel Menu. Each student has a copy, a copy will be posted in the classroom, and you may feel free to email me at bboulter@irvingisd.net and I will send you a copy. These will be due Sept. 15.
Math – This week we are going to review line segments, lines, rays, obtuse angles, acute angles, right angles, and various geometric shapes. The students will take digital photos around the building depicting each of these concepts. A digital project will be produced by each student showing their understanding of each concept.
Spelling – Our spelling words come from our novel study. The same words will be used this week as last week. I forgot to remind the students of the test so I am going to use the same words. Here is a list of the words:
essence, plummeted, foil, expedition, surge, updraft, ventured, gnarled, solution, feasible, agitated, deference, eavesdrip, domain, intertwined, feverish, muscular, cordial, alarmed, adjourned
Each student will have spelling homework to complete each night.
Science – We are starting a new unit, Magnetism and Electricity. Check our post and comments on this unit often. The students should gain great insight during this study.
Texas History – We will take a short break from TX History this week to get our science unit started.
Writing – Our lessons this week will deal with subjects and predicates.
We will start a new science unit this week titled Magnetism and Electricity. Every day you will complete a new investigation. After each investigation, you will need to make a post either as a group or as an individual. I know you are going to enjoy investigating The Force!
