We are working and getting ready for the upcoming TAKS test. The kids are very knowledgable in fifth grade science, and I am sure they will do great! I am just making sure that I cover all that is needed, so the kids will feel success next week on the test. I am excited for them! The words this week are review words. They have seen these words before, but I feel that it is important for them to see them again! The TAKS test will be next Thursday, April 29.
1. adaptation- a structure of behavior that helps an organism survive in its surroundings.
2. reflection- the bounching back of light waves from a surface.
3. Moon Phases- the regular changes in the way the moon look from Earth.
4. Delta- a large flat area of land a the mouth of a river formed by deposited sediment.
5. revolution- one complete trip of a planet around a star.
6. photosynthesis- the process of using the energy in sunlight to make food from water and carbon dioxide.
7. sun- the major source of energy to Earth.
8. fossil fuels- a fuel that was formed from the decayed remains of ancient plants and animals.
9. food chain- the path of food energy from one organism to another in an ecosystem.
10. rotation- the spinning of a planet or moon on its axis.
STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!!
I love you.
Mrs. M
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Apologies...and our field trip!
I have neglected this little blog! I am so sorry for that. I know that there are people who truly keep up with what is going on in Mrs. M's room and that I reaaly need to update!
Right before spring break, we went on a great field trip. Lee high School created "Lee lab days" to help get students that are feeding into Lee interested in science. I think it worked. I had several students tell me that day that day that they are going to be a scientist! I also got to see my ninth grade biology teacher. It was in his class that I realized how much I love science and it was great to see him! I got to tell him that he made in difference for me...and teachers love to hear that kind of thing!!
Right before spring break, we went on a great field trip. Lee high School created "Lee lab days" to help get students that are feeding into Lee interested in science. I think it worked. I had several students tell me that day that day that they are going to be a scientist! I also got to see my ninth grade biology teacher. It was in his class that I realized how much I love science and it was great to see him! I got to tell him that he made in difference for me...and teachers love to hear that kind of thing!!
The students watched a Mad Science presentation, dissected a cows eyeball, made flubber, then got to talk with one of the coaches and see a real skull! It was pretty cool day. And I know the kids enjoyed it!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Field Trip!
Today we went on a field trip! It was very fun! We got to tour the George Bush Childhood home. What a neat place to visit. It was fun to imagine life in the 50's. Its amazing how much our world has changed since then. It was also pretty awesome to stand in the very house that two presidents lived.
I think my favorite part of the trip was the bus ride! The kids sang from the time we left the school all the way to our destination. We have enough songs to last us a 15 minute bus ride! The bus made us all sound wonderful! The bus driver told me that she had the most fun driving us around and thought that we were a very fun class! I was a proud teacher!
I sure do love my days with these kids!
Mrs. M
Monday, March 1, 2010
food chains and new vocabulary
Today we discussed food chains. All food chains can be traced all the way back to the sun. Tonight, trace your meal all the way back to the sun and use your science vocabulary!
Week twenty-five Vocabulary
March 1-5, 2010
Your spelling and vocabulary test will be on Friday, March 5, 2010 . You will be responsible for knowing how to spell each word correctly and the definition for each word.
1. Food chain- the path of food energy from one organism to another in an ecosystem.
2. Food Web- overlapping food chains with different pathways for the flow of food energy in an ecosystem.
3. Producer- an organism that makes its own food.
4. Consumer- an organism that gets energy by eating other organisms.
5. Decomposer- an organism that gets energy by feeding on dead materials and wastes.
6. Predator- an animal that hunts, catches, and eats another animal.
7. Prey- an animal that is hunted, caught, and eaten by another animal.
8. Herbivore- an animal that eats only plants or plant products.
9. Carnivore- an animal that eats another animal.
10. Omnivore- an animal that eats both plants and animals
What a fantastic day!
Mrs. M
Week twenty-five Vocabulary
March 1-5, 2010
Your spelling and vocabulary test will be on Friday, March 5, 2010 . You will be responsible for knowing how to spell each word correctly and the definition for each word.
1. Food chain- the path of food energy from one organism to another in an ecosystem.
2. Food Web- overlapping food chains with different pathways for the flow of food energy in an ecosystem.
3. Producer- an organism that makes its own food.
4. Consumer- an organism that gets energy by eating other organisms.
5. Decomposer- an organism that gets energy by feeding on dead materials and wastes.
6. Predator- an animal that hunts, catches, and eats another animal.
7. Prey- an animal that is hunted, caught, and eaten by another animal.
8. Herbivore- an animal that eats only plants or plant products.
9. Carnivore- an animal that eats another animal.
10. Omnivore- an animal that eats both plants and animals
What a fantastic day!
Mrs. M
Friday, February 26, 2010
Can you find the hidden moths?
Today we studies camouflage of animals. We "hid" some around the room! Aren't these kids creative?
oh, how fun!
Mrs. M
oh, how fun!
Mrs. M
Monday, February 22, 2010
Week twenty-four Vocabulary
February 22-26, 2010
Your spelling and vocabulary test will be on Friday, February 26, 2010 . You will be responsible for knowing how to spell each word correctly and the definition for each word.
1. Adaptation- a structure of behavior that helps an organism survive in its surroundings.
2. Biome- a very large area of land with a certain kind of climate and certain kinds of organisms living there.
3. Camouflage-the shape, color, or pattern of an animal that helps it blend in with its surrounding.
4. Community- populations of different kinds of organisms that live in the same place at the same time.
5. Ecosystem- all the living and nonliving things that interact with each other in an environment.
6. Habitat- the environment where an organism lives.
7. Mimicry- one organsim’s looking like another kind of organism in its environment so it can escape predators or catch prey.
8. Niche-the role that an organism plays in its habitat.
9. organism – a living thing.
Your spelling and vocabulary test will be on Friday, February 26, 2010 . You will be responsible for knowing how to spell each word correctly and the definition for each word.
1. Adaptation- a structure of behavior that helps an organism survive in its surroundings.
2. Biome- a very large area of land with a certain kind of climate and certain kinds of organisms living there.
3. Camouflage-the shape, color, or pattern of an animal that helps it blend in with its surrounding.
4. Community- populations of different kinds of organisms that live in the same place at the same time.
5. Ecosystem- all the living and nonliving things that interact with each other in an environment.
6. Habitat- the environment where an organism lives.
7. Mimicry- one organsim’s looking like another kind of organism in its environment so it can escape predators or catch prey.
8. Niche-the role that an organism plays in its habitat.
9. organism – a living thing.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Week 23 Vocabulary!
Week twenty-three Vocabulary
February 16-19, 2010
Your spelling and vocabulary test will be on Friday, February 19, 2010 . You will be responsible for knowing how to spell each word correctly and the definition for each word.
1. Learned behavior- a behavior that an animal develops by observing other animals or by being taught.
2. Instinct- a behavior that an animal inherits from its parents
3. Inherited trait- a characteristic that is passed from parents to offspring
4. Migration- the seasonal movement of animals from one place to another
5. Hibernation- a deep sleeplike state when an animals body processes slow down
6. Stimulus- something that makes an organism act in a certain way
7. Response- something an organism does when it senses stimulus
February 16-19, 2010
Your spelling and vocabulary test will be on Friday, February 19, 2010 . You will be responsible for knowing how to spell each word correctly and the definition for each word.
1. Learned behavior- a behavior that an animal develops by observing other animals or by being taught.
2. Instinct- a behavior that an animal inherits from its parents
3. Inherited trait- a characteristic that is passed from parents to offspring
4. Migration- the seasonal movement of animals from one place to another
5. Hibernation- a deep sleeplike state when an animals body processes slow down
6. Stimulus- something that makes an organism act in a certain way
7. Response- something an organism does when it senses stimulus
Inherited Traits Song!
The kids have loved singing this song! It is fun and funny! The intentions for this song is to remind the students that inherited traits are passed from parents to offspring.
Inherited Traits...passed from parents to the offspring!
Hair so brown, eyes so green...passed from parents to the offspring!
B: Like my hair?
G: yeah, its rad!
B: Thanks I inherited from my dad!
G: Like My eyes?
B: They’re the bomb!
G: Thanks I inherited from my mom!
Inherited traits! passed from parents to the offspring
Hair so brown, eyes so green...passed from parents to the offspring!
Inherited....TRAITS!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Growing Beans!
About three weeks ago, we planted a bean seed in a bag! We were hoping atleast a few of them would grow into bean plants! There is no better way to learn about plant life cycles and photosynthesis than to grow a plant of your own!
We had a few beans actually sprout and begin to grow! Watching the plants grow is just as cool as watching these kids grow in their love for science! My favorite is watching the kids talk to the plants each day in hopes of giving it more carbon dioxide! Here are a few of the growing plants!
This has "bean" a great project!
Mrs. M
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Week 22 Vocabulary
Week twenty-two Vocabulary
February 8- February 12, 2010
Your spelling and vocabulary test will be on Friday, February 12, 2010 . You will be responsible for knowing how to spell each word correctly and the definition for each word.
1. Behavioral characteristic- something an organism does.
2. inherited trait- a characteristic that is passed from parent to offspring.
3. Instinct- a behavior that an animal inherits from its parents
4. physical characteristic-how an organism looks
5. heredity- the passing of characteristics from parents to offspring.
6. offspring- new organisms that come from parent organisms
7. carnivore- an animal that eats other animals
8. herbivore-an animal that eats only plants or plant products.
9. Omnivore- an animal that eats both plants and animals
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Extra Extra!
Several of our kiddos are going to be on the news! We had Big 2 news choose us as the "School of the Week" for January 25-29th. Each morning, at 6:30, a student from our school will be asking the question of the day! Tune in to support our school!
I love this school!
Mrs. M
I love this school!
Mrs. M
Friday, January 15, 2010
Over the Moon!
Today we discussed the phases of the moon! We made cool "moon sliders" to help us better understand each phase of the moon! We watched videos and went to a cool website showing how the moon changes!
After making our sliders...we ate the moon! Didn't you know the moon is made of Oreos? Not really, but in our class today, it was!
After making our sliders...we ate the moon! Didn't you know the moon is made of Oreos? Not really, but in our class today, it was!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Websites to Visit!
This website will tell you your age and upcoming birthdays on all of the planets! It will also give you your weight on the planets, moon, and sun as well! Just click on the link below!
http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/age/index.html
This website will show you an animated model of Earth's rotation!
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0404/es0404page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
This website will show you an animated model of Earth's revolution!
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0408/es0408page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
Happy Surfing!
Mrs. M
http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/age/index.html
This website will show you an animated model of Earth's rotation!
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0404/es0404page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
This website will show you an animated model of Earth's revolution!
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0408/es0408page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
Happy Surfing!
Mrs. M
New Vocabulary!
Week Eighteen Vocabulary
January 11- January 15, 2010
Your spelling and vocabulary test will be on Friday, January 15 . You will be responsible for knowing how to spell each word correctly and the definition for each word.
1. Axis- an imaginary line that passes from the north pole to the south pole through Earth’s center.
2. First Quarter moon- moon phase in which the right half of the moon is illuminated.
3. Full moon- moon phase in qhich the entire moon is illuminated
4. High tide- the time of hight water. Tides are caused by the gravitational pull between the Earth and moon.
5. Last quarter moon- moon phase in which the left half of the moon is illuminated.
6. Low tide- the time of low water.
7. Moon phase- the changes in how the moon looks to people on Earth
8. New moon- moon phase in which none of the moon is illuminated
9. Orbit- the path that one object in space takes around another object in space.
10. Revolutions- one complete trip of a planet around the sun
11. Rotate- the spinning of a planet or moon on its axis
12. Seasons- teh four natural divisions of the year, spring, summer, fall, and winter.
January 11- January 15, 2010
Your spelling and vocabulary test will be on Friday, January 15 . You will be responsible for knowing how to spell each word correctly and the definition for each word.
1. Axis- an imaginary line that passes from the north pole to the south pole through Earth’s center.
2. First Quarter moon- moon phase in which the right half of the moon is illuminated.
3. Full moon- moon phase in qhich the entire moon is illuminated
4. High tide- the time of hight water. Tides are caused by the gravitational pull between the Earth and moon.
5. Last quarter moon- moon phase in which the left half of the moon is illuminated.
6. Low tide- the time of low water.
7. Moon phase- the changes in how the moon looks to people on Earth
8. New moon- moon phase in which none of the moon is illuminated
9. Orbit- the path that one object in space takes around another object in space.
10. Revolutions- one complete trip of a planet around the sun
11. Rotate- the spinning of a planet or moon on its axis
12. Seasons- teh four natural divisions of the year, spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Toilet Paper?
Yes! Today we used toilet paper to learn about science! How fun is that? To better understand how far from the sun each planet is we made a model. Remember kids...I am not Ms. Frizzle and can't turn our school bus in to a rocket ship and take you to the moon, therefore we have to make a model. The solar system is way to big to "see" so we have to model it! Toilet paper came in handy today for our solar system model!
The students were put into groups today and assigned two different planets. They were provided with a chart telling them how many sheets of toilet paper each planet is away from the sun. Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, was 3 sheets of toilet paper from the sun. Neptune, the farthest planet from the sun, was 224 sheets of toilet paper from the sun. The kids did quite a bit of counting today!
I was very proud of the teamwork efforts. The students seem to take every assignment seriously in Science! Even if it does involve toilet paper!
After this activity, we went back to the classroom and made bar graphs in the science notebooks!
Solar System tips-
Students need to know the following:
The Earth Rotates as it revolves around the sun
One rotation of the Earth is one day...24 hours
one revolution is a year.
the Earth revolving around the sun is also called an orbit...
gravity holds all the planets in orbit
My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nachos...is a good way to help remember the order of the planets...Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
the sun is a star made up of gases
Today was "out of this world!"
Mrs. M
The students were put into groups today and assigned two different planets. They were provided with a chart telling them how many sheets of toilet paper each planet is away from the sun. Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, was 3 sheets of toilet paper from the sun. Neptune, the farthest planet from the sun, was 224 sheets of toilet paper from the sun. The kids did quite a bit of counting today!
I was very proud of the teamwork efforts. The students seem to take every assignment seriously in Science! Even if it does involve toilet paper!
After this activity, we went back to the classroom and made bar graphs in the science notebooks!
Solar System tips-
Students need to know the following:
The Earth Rotates as it revolves around the sun
One rotation of the Earth is one day...24 hours
one revolution is a year.
the Earth revolving around the sun is also called an orbit...
gravity holds all the planets in orbit
My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nachos...is a good way to help remember the order of the planets...Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
the sun is a star made up of gases
Today was "out of this world!"
Mrs. M
We're Baaack!
Wow! It has been a while since I got to update my post. I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday! I did, but must admit I missed my kiddos! It was fun to come back to school and get back to work on the Solar System! One of my favorites! Do I say that every time I start something new?
On Wednesday we made diagrams of the Solar System in our science notebooks. I always love to see the work of my students, the creativity is so exciting! Good job guys!We also played a silly and fun game to help us remember the order of the planets! I attached index cards with the eight planet names and one for the sun to the students foreheads. They did not know what their card said.
When I gave the signal, they had to get themselves in order without TALKING! (a big challenge for these fifth graders!).
As you can see...they did wonderful!
My job is "out of this world!"
Mrs. M
On Wednesday we made diagrams of the Solar System in our science notebooks. I always love to see the work of my students, the creativity is so exciting! Good job guys!We also played a silly and fun game to help us remember the order of the planets! I attached index cards with the eight planet names and one for the sun to the students foreheads. They did not know what their card said.
When I gave the signal, they had to get themselves in order without TALKING! (a big challenge for these fifth graders!).
As you can see...they did wonderful!
My job is "out of this world!"
Mrs. M