Thank you for a wonderful time at Springfield. :)
We will finish this unit on Conserving our Resources on Tuesday. Chapters for this unit have included: Minerals and Rocks, Air and Water, Other Land Resources and Saving Resources. We will have a test on this unit on Thursday.
Sixth grade students have chosen a topic that has concerned them in this chapter and are currently composing a persuasive letter to their state senator to explain their thoughts. We will type these letters on Monday. Please proofread their letter for them and sign it this weekend. The students presented projects this week that included brochures for farmers on how to conserve their resources. They designed posters encouraging families of the importance of recycling and have created a life cycle of "Zippy" the Plastic Bag. Please discuss these projects with your child.
Fifth grade students have wrapped up their chapter on weather.
The test is Tuesday. They have been given a review along with a sneak peak at the essay questions. They are to work on the essay questions this weekend. These should be done in their notebook.
Hopefully you had an interesting conversation with your sixth graders during your dinner hour this week. We looked at the incredible articles about our planets water in the latest issue of National Geographic Magazine. We then looked at our own community and our impact on it-either for the good or for the bad. We were amazed at how many plastic ziplock bags the schools in just this area use in one year and the impact that has on our natural resources.
Things have been rattling and rolling around science this week! The students in both grades have been learning about earthquakes and volcanoes!!!!
Sixth graders have presented their papers on the earthquake that they researched. Fifth graders are getting ready to choose one of three volcanoes to build! Materials for that are due in class on Monday.
Earthquakes
Introduction Paragraph (1)
Body of the Paragraph (2-3-4)
Conclusion Paragraph (5)
This article on page 238-239 describes the study of earthquakes over the centuries. It explains how human knowledge about earthquakes has changed. Research a major earthquake that occurred in the past. Then write a five paragraph essay that describes the earthquake and it's effects on people's lives.
Create a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the ancient view of earthquakes with the modern view.
Complete a cover page with the Location of the earthquake, a picture along with your name and room number.
The essay should be typed. The Venn Diagram is hand written.
Extra 5 points if handed in on Monday, March 15th. Otherwise it is due March 18th.
My electricians have been experimenting with electricity-both current and static-in the science lab!
They have designed experiments to display both types of electricity.
They researched an electrical device and are now in the process of presenting their project. The models they created are incredible.
We are moving onto landforms so each student needs to bring in a 12x12 piece of cardboard by Wednesday. Please don't buy it-be creative! We will be creating a relief map of the United States and will need the cardboard to do that!
No 5th grade science class this week due to Terra Nova Testing.
Good luck...you will be brilliant!!!!
Reread page 184.
Create your own drawing of the WATER CYCLE. Illustrate and lael with the vocabulary words from page 184.
This is due on Wednesday.
On looseleaf (rough draft in your notebook), write a short story from the point of view of a drop of water as it passes through the water cycle. Be sure to include the different changes that occur to the water droplet. This good copy is due on Friday.
Mutualism is a relationship that is beneficial to both partners. Mutualism can seem very strange because the most unlikely creatures do amazing things to help each other survive. Some act as body guards or booby traps, others as hairdressers or housekeepers.
Find another example of mutualism besides clown fish and anemone.
Locate a picture that shows one of the following:
Symbiosis mutualism
Symbiosis commensalism
Symbiosis Parasitism
You need to know the name of the the two organisms and bring in a picture.
