May 24th

TESTING!

Science (5th grade only) yesterday, May 16th
ELA (English language arts): Thursday, Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Math: next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

What else?

WRITING:
Choice Piece #3

MATH:
We are finishing the last pages from Unit 7 and taking the post-test this week.
We will also begin our unit on Geometry.

SCIENCE:
Reading Chapters 1-3 (taking notes)
Energy Scavenger Hunt

SCIENCE FAIR:
Conduct the science experiment.
Question, hypothesis, materials, procedures, data table should be completed by this Friday.
If you don't already have it, purchase a display board.

SONGS (optional):
We are making slide shows for the songs that we are singing for the end of the year.

Classwork May 16th: Wrapping it Up

We are wrapping up several major projects:

SOCIAL STUDIES
Know Your Rights: read and summarize each of the 27 Amendments to the Constitution.
Government Prezi: students have created presentations with a partner showing the branches of the government and the checks and balances.

SCIENCE
Science Fair: students should have a question, hypothesis, materials, and procedures.  It is time to do the experiment!  Make sure to record data on the data sheet AND then change the procedures to reflect exactly what they did in the experiment.

CISPUS JOURNAL (5th grade only)
Students had 25 questions to answer in their small Cispus memo books.  These were due last week, but many forgot.  I have given a week extension.

MATH
Arnold: working out of Algebra.
Greene, Knox, Lafayeette, Steuben: pg. 289-290.
Washington: pg. 283-285.

PROBLEM OF THE WEEK
Square Footage: Pick three things to measure and calculate their square footage (area = length x width).

EXTRA:
Kids are now starting to put together slide shows for the songs that we are singing for the end of the year concerts (June 14th @ 2:00pm and 6:30; June 15th @ 9:00 am).

Some Helpful Math Sites

Division from Skillswise
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/topic/division
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/0/

Virtual Manipulatives
http://nlvm.usu.edu/

INTERACTIVE
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/

Math Brain
http://www.funbrain.com/brain/MathBrain/MathBrain.html

Math Aids
http://www.math-aids.com/

Catchup Math
http://catchupmath.com/math-games/

Arcademic
http://www.arcademics.com/

Study Jams
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/

5th Grade: Packing List for YOU KNOW WHERE

FOR BUS TRIP
BANDANA!
Backpack (for day hikes)
Hat (for sun)
Reuseavble Water Bottle
Sleeping bag or blanket (can go in big bag)
Pillow (can go in big bag)
2 Pencils (+lead refills or pencil sharpener)

FOR BIG BAG
Sleeping Bag (can go on bus)
Pillow (can go on bus)
Fitted Sheet
Warm windproof jacket / Rain Gear
2-3 changes of under clothes
2-3 changes of outer clothes
Lots of extra socks
Shoes (waterproof / hiking boots are best)
Pajamas
Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, towels, soap, washcloths, brush, etc.) IN A PLASTIC BAG

OPTIONAL
Camera
Chapstick
Bug Spray
Reading Materials
Stationary and stamps

DO NOT BRING
Knives, Radios, Cell Phones, Electronics, Video Games, Money, Food, Snacks, Fishing Gear, Valuable Items, Barnyard Animals

Classwork: May 2nd

Social Studies
We have been studying the American Revolution.  This week we are reading chapter 13, writing down main ideas and key details, and evaluating weather or not those details were an advantage for the British or the Patriots.  We are also having "Trivia Battles" where students ask questions of each other based on their reading.

Science
We are working on our science fair projects.  Students should have a question and an hypothesis by this Friday.  They should also check in with you to see if they have your permission to do their experiment at home.

Language Arts
Choice Piece #2 is past due
Choice Piece #3 is due at the end of the month.
Word Journal: 10 words containing "bio-" or "geo-" and 5 other choice words with their definitions.

5th GRADERS ONLY
$3 for snack food at Cispus
Pack your bag


Math
Our students are working in groups named after famous Revolutionary War Heroes
Everyday, your student should have one or two pages of classwork/homework.

In addition we are doing "Math Menu".  This is an another attempt to differentiate for students who have a wide variety of needs and abilities.  For Menu, students are required to do three open ended questions.  They evaluate themselves and turn in their work each Friday.  If done early, there is a "dessert" of challenging and interesting math projects to work on.

Science Fair!

Science Fair is Tuesday, June 7th!


To be ready, we are going to be writing up the lab report at school.
Each week, one step of the process is due.

The experiment itself is to be conducted at home.

It is never to early to buy a display board.

Please ask your student THIS WEEK what they plan to do.  If the project is dangerous (some want to light fires) or use human test subjects, I will require a permission slip.

Due Dates
Question:  due April 29th
Hypothesis: due May 6
Materials: due May 13th
Procedures (rough draft): due May 20th  + Experiment Completed
Data Table + Procedures (final draft): due May 27th
Conclusion: Due June 3rd
Poster Board Complete: due June 3rd
Science Fair: June 7th

Classwork: April 26th

Science Fair: Question (due Friday)
Have a question written up for your science fair project.

Choice Piece #2 Final Draft (due Friday)

Word Journal #6: 10 words beginning with "cred-" + 5 choice words with definitions

Reading: Chapter 12 Notes (re: Declaration of Independence)

Math Menu 7.1

+ Book Work for each math group (check with your student)

Math Challenge Celebration Permission Slip

MATH CHALLENGE CELEBRATION

On Friday, April 22^nd, 2016, those students in Mr. Samson’s class who turned in a math challenge form from Spring Break will stay after school for the Math Challenge Celebration.  We will be playing games in the gymnasium at Hansen Elementary School from 3:02pm until 4:15pm.  Parents are expected to provide transportation for their kids promptly at 4:15.  No other equipment or materials are required.

I agree to let my student, __________________________________________, participate in the Reading Challenge Celebration.

PARENT SIGNATURE________________________________________DATE______________________

My child will be picked up by ______________________________________ at 4:15.

Classwork: April 11th

Welcome back!
I hope that you break was restful and restorative.
Sometimes I feel like I need a vacation to recover from my vacation.

Here we go!
We are working on our  choice pieces.  By the end of the year, they should have three final drafts:

• short story (3-4 pages with a beginning, middle, and end)
• information essay (5 paragraphs on a topic of their choice)
• opinion essay (5 paragraphs trying to convince someone of their point of view)

We will be finishing our unit on advanced addition and subtraction this week (Unit 4 for 4th and Unit 3 for 5th).  Next week, we start a unit on geometry.

In addition, we are doing a Problem of the Week:

If we all lay down in the hallway around the outside of the Library, could we stretch all the way around? 

We have started our unit on the American Revolution.

Students should read and take notes on Chapter 10: "Tensions Build".

Particular attention should be paid to how King George III would have felt and how the colonists would have reacted to these major events (think Boston Tea Party; Stamp Act; Boston Massacre; etc.).

Class photos are this Friday.  Look for order forms on Wednesday.

Classwork: March 28th

Revisited Voice Work:
I corrected and turned back the voice work.  This week they are working to correct or complete any missing sections.

Chapter 8 Notes: Slavery

Cottage Art (still working to draw pictures using 2 point perspective technique)

Choice Piece #1: due Friday
THIS IS HOMEWORK!!!!
Students must write 3 choice pieces: narrative; informative essay; opinion essay

Word Journal #5:
con-  com-

Settler Presentations

POW: Marathon

Portfolio Evaluation: pick 3 pieces and write a reflective piece about why you picked them
a) best quality work;  b) where you learned the most; c) best teamwork



EARLY RELEASE
Tuesday through Friday 11:45

Classwork: March 21st!

HAPPY SPRING!

Reading: Ch 9 and Ch 7 of our Social Studies Alive Book; this includes notes.
Writing: Choice piece #1 (kids must write three pieces by the end of the year: 1 narrative story; 1 informative essay; 1 opinion essay).
Drawing: 2 point perspective building/cottage
Word Journal #4: circ- circum-  (find ten words using these prefixes, define prefixes, find 5 other words of your choice with definitions)
Group Project: students are finishing their research on a specific colony; then, with a group are creating a presentation; most are choosing slide presentation, but others are writing scripts for news programs, "PBS specials", or a time-travelling adventure.


GREENBELT PERMISSION SLIP
(see permission slip below)
We will need 3-4 parent volunteers this Friday.
Also, bring in pruning shears (hand held ones; not the long loppers) if you can.

Greenbelt Service Project

Friday, March 25th

Mr. Samson’s class will be participating in an action project this Friday, March 25th, from 1:15-2:30.  We will walk down to the green belt (the green space just south of Hansen’s lower soccer field) and work to clear the trails.  Students will be working to clear brush, cut back plants, and pick up trash.  The goal is to make the space and the trails accessible to students at Marshall and Hansen.  Students may be in contact with middle school students as this is a joint project with Marshall Citizen Science Institute.  Students will want to bring raincoats, rain boots and work gloves.  Students may be using pruning shears.  

I give permission for my student, __________________________, to participate in the Greenbelt Service Project.

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE_______________________________Date_____________

⏯ I do NOT want my child using pruning shears.

MAJOR UPDATE!

I have reorganized the way we are doing both math and language arts.

We now rotate through stations for both subjects.  

MATH:  all of this work is kept in a math folder at school

STATION	Description of what they are doing at that station.
WW Word Work	Students are writing mind maps that define relationships between math vocabulary.
POW Problem of the Week	Students work to create solutions to challenging problems.
Mr. Jefts	Kiri's grandfather leads a small group, focusing on group-work and collaboration.
I Independent work	Students are given assignments when they work with me or with Mr. Jefts.  They use the “I” time to complete this work.  After finishing, students should correct their work, or work ahead on pages from their unit.
Mr. Samson	I deliver a lesson, then give an assignment.
Work Places	Work places are part of Bridges; games designed to reinforce math skills.

LANGUAGE ARTS: these assignments are kept in their Homework Folder

Mr Samson	We set goals, discuss assignments, and work on specific skills related to classwork.
Word Journal	Students are listing ten words with a given prefixes.  Afterward, they add any ten words from any source. The goal? 20 words a week.
Writing	They are using the writing process to work on their choice writing piece.  They should be quietly engaged.  Laptops are available.
Independent Reading	Students can read their choice of book, but should pick a book that helps them work on their reading goals (think word journal).
Buddy Up	Students work on their fluency by reading quietly to another partner.
Comprehension	One of two sessions where students finish their notes on chapter 6.

This week, we are putting finishing touches on our letters to the restaurants.

We continue to improve our writing through voice activities.

We are beginning a unit on colonization, including reading and taking notes on Chapter 6 from Social Studies Alive.  Students are also beginning a group project about an American colony (Spanish; French; or British).

Classwork: Feb. 22

Food and Nutrition Wrap Up.
1) Student Complete Human Body Packet
2) Students Finish Group Posters showing a system (including a paragraph description of one organ)
3) Opinion Letter: analyze 3 food items from a restaurant and write a formal letter stating your opinion about how healthy those food items are.
4) Test
5) Sugar Test: which cereals have the most sugar?  (please send in 1/2 cup of cereal)

Writing: VOICE WORK
We are learning about voice and including some ways to improve our writing:

• use vivid verbs
• add adjectives or adverbs (or take them out)
• use figurative language
• add description that engages that sense

 Math: wrap up of fraction unit
Post-assessment coming soon.

Assignments: February 8th

We are working big time on Food and Nutrition Unit.

We are making human body posters in teams.
We are researching what it takes to make a well balanced meal so that we can a) plan a menu for a day's worth of meals; b) analyze nutritional information from a restaurant in order to write an opinion letter about whether or not their food is any good.

We are plugging away at fractions.
This week we are making maps of a 30km river with landmarks at half-way, quarters, fifths, sixth, fifths and twelfths.  In addition, we are working on renaming fractions, converting improper fractions to mixed numbers (and back) and more.

Big news, on Thursday, we are doing our second of our two water quality field trips. 

Optionally, if your kid (probably 5th graders) wants to go to the South Sound GREEN Congress, they have an essay to write: "Why is clean water important?"

Classwork: week of Feb. 1

I have changed a few things, due to a class meeting discussion about work.

First of all, the students said that due dates were stressing kids out too much.  So, we are just working on things until they are done.  Kids who finish early with all their work will do learning contracts to extend their learning in content related fields.

Second, we aren't doing math groups by grade level any more.  There was too much of a mix up.  Instead, we are all working on the best problems from the fourth and fifth grade curriculum.  I am giving daily lessons (number talks and problem strings) and then we follow up with some problems on related content.

This week, we are starting the Food and Nutrition unit:

•  reading Food and Nutrition: take notes using the "Nutrient Table"
• label and color diagrams of the human body systems
• bring in three (or more) food labels containing ingredients and nutrition information.

 Please refer to the page on the entire unit:

http://mrshomework.blogspot.com/p/food-and-nutrition.html

Classwork: January 25th

This week we are:

Presenting our Explorer Projects
Finishing up our Explorer Maps
Working on an OPTIONAL Boat Project (poster or recycled material model)
Finishing Chapter 5 Notes about (you guessed it) EXPLORERS!
Reading "Island of the Blue Dolphin" excerpt and taking a comprehension test on Friday
Taking the MAP test for reading and Math
Reading aloud Around the World in a Hundrd Years  and taking notes about famous EXPLORERS!

In math we are working on double number lines to help us solve fraction problems.
Example:  what is 5/7 of 4900?  What is 5/8 of $56?

A few changes

After a class meeting last week, many of the students complained of too much work during this explorer project.  We have made a few adjustments worth mentioning to you.

1st:  There will not be "Math Groups" any more.  We are still working in groups during math, but we are all doing similar problems.  It was just too loud and too many groups were having trouble working together.  I am picking the best lessons and especially the best problems from each grade level to give to the entire class. 

2nd:  We are getting rid of due dates.  Students are still expected to work on and finish assignments, but are expected to finish them outside of class if they aren't getting things done in them done during the time provided.

3rd:  I will be providing time in the mornings (from 9-9:45 on Tues; from 9:30-10:30, W-F) for CAFE.  This will be limited to reading and writing assignments.  Project time will be separate.  Many kids complained that there were too many things to do during CAFE time.


If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thanks,
Matt

Classwork for January 19th

Happy MLK Day!

Sorry about no post last weeks.  It was just one of those weeks where the Universe works to kick you in the can.


This week:

EXPLORER PROJECT:

• notes and outline should have been wrapped up last week
• Rough Draft due this Friday
• Two Pre-Voyage Checklists (evaluation rubrics filled out by peers)
• Presentations next week.

 MAP:
We have all traced maps depicting where our explorers traveled.   This week we are working on coloring them in.

BOAT:
(Homework project):
Creatre a model of a boat out of re-used or recycled materials.
OR
Draw a diagram of a sailing ship with 10 labels of parts.


MATH POW:
How many handshakes will there be if all 29 of us shake everyone else's hand?
 due Friday

GROUPWORK 3.7
Due Friday

Classwork: January 4th

Happy New Year!

EXPLORER UNIT BEGINS:

EXPLORER PRESENTATION
Pick an Explorer and Find 3 Sources (due Jan 8th)
Collect Notes and Write an Outline (due Jan 15th)
Create a Rough Draft of presentation (format optional; due Jan 22nd)
Create the Final Draft and Present (due Jan 29th)

EXPLORER MAP (due Jan 15th)
Trace a map using the overhead projector.  Map should show the routes taken by your explorer.

READ
Ch. 3 (due the 8th) and Ch. 4 (due the 15th)
Take Notes

EXPLORER SIMULATION LOG (in class)
We are pretending to be explorers, sailing their ships to the "New World" to stake a claim and strike it rich.  Students will write in a log detailing the adventures of their team as they sail away.

MATH:
We have started our third unit on fractions.

GROUPWORK 3.3 + 3.4 (due Wed. and Fri)
Students work in small groups to choose assignments, work together to complete, then correct their work as a team.  

POW: Granola
If granola costs $6 for 5 pounds, how much money will it cost for:
11 pounds? 8 pounds? 13 pounds? 50 pounds? 3/4 pounds?
For each, create an illustration showing each step of the process (example: ration table).