Category: Science - Mrs. Morehead's 5th Grade

Welcome Back!

1/10/2014

Dear Parents and Friends,

Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed the break and is well-rested as we gear up for the second half of the school year! Students will be coming home with report cards for this semester. On the orange grade card, you will see 3 columns of grades, the first is for Quarter 1, the second for Quarter 2, and the third is an average for a semester grade. Please let me know if you have any questions about student grades. Students were given many opportunities to make up any missing work throughout the quarter, and again the last week before school was out for Winter Break.

As we dive into this quarter, I wanted to tell you about a few upcoming projects. Next week in science, students are beginning severe weather booklets. They will be researching different types of severe weather and creating informative booklets, including survival tips. We will also spend some time identifying clouds and talking about the atmosphere. After finishing weather and the water cycle, we will begin the solar system unit.

In math, we are adding and subtracting fractions, and then will be moving on to graphing and converting measurement. We are finished with the colony unit in social studies and will begin the Revolutionary War next week. In writer's workshop, students will be working on opinion/persuasive pieces this quarter. In reader's workshop, students are continuing to work on critical thinking skills relating to fiction and non-fiction texts.

Don't forget to check the assignments tab under "Class" for tonight's flipped lesson. Welcome back!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Morehead

It's Nearly Thanksgiving!

11/22/2013

Dear Parents and Friends,

There have been a whirlwind of activities in our classroom since first quarter conferences. Today, the students put up their human body research displays, which will be presented next Monday, and the Native American tribe projects, which turned out great! I will upload pictures of the students hard work! We had amazing artistic displays, and some delicious food items!

In math, we are hard at work learning all about fractions, and different ways to represent them. Next week we will be reviewing skills previously taught, and so there will not be a flipped lesson this Friday or next Tuesday. In reader's workshop, we are finishing learning to identify the main idea and will begin inferring/drawing conclusions after Thanksgiving. In writer's workshop, students are beginning a new project, called an exhibit sign which will put into practice skills needed for writing to communicate information.

This Tuesday, November 26th, is our Thanksgiving Luncheon from 11-1pm. Thank you very much to all the parents who have volunteered food items and their time to help make this a success. The same Tuesday afternoon, our class will be celebrating a "Cozy Winter Party" with the movie Polar Express, pjs, and hot cocoa. Please look for more details on the pink flyer sent home in Friday folders today. Since we have a short week next week, your students do not have new spelling lists or spelling contracts, but they will be getting two reading logs which will be due Friday, Dec. 6th.

The choir concert is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 9th at 7:00pm. Students should wear red or green and nice pants-no jeans, sweats, shorts, etc.

Please check out the Photos page, there are several pictures from the BSSE field trip in October.

I hope you all have a fabulous holiday, and enjoy the time spent with family.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Morehead

November!

11/1/2013

Dear Parents and Friends,

Thank you very much to the parents who attended conferences and made the student-led conferences such a great success! The students were proud to show off their work, and it meant a lot to them to be able to share it with you.

I spoke with a few of you about having regular flipped lesson nights to get into a routine. I've decided to assign them on Friday nights (so students have time over the weekend to get it done) and on Tuesday nights (I can stay after school most Tuesdays and Ms. Kathol does Homework Club on Tuesdays-there is bus transportation home at 4:45). Hopefully this will help everyone be successful with the flipped lessons. This week's flipped lesson is available here. Adding and subtracting fractions and decimals will be our focus in math this quarter.

In science, we are learning about plants and photosynthesis, and will shortly move to learn about the human body. In social studies, we are learning about early explorers to America, and will study Native Americans over the next few weeks. In reader's workshop, our focus is identifying the main idea and supporting details and inferring, and we are finishing our memoirs next week.

The school year is well under-way and I know the end of this calendar year will fly by! Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a fantastic weekend!

Sincerely,
-Mrs. Morehead

Friday Already!

9/20/2013

Dear Parents and Friends,

Another week has very quickly passed! Students are busy at work in every subject.

The student-created lessons in scientific inquiry will be finished and presented on Monday and Tuesday next week. We will then be working on classification systems.

In math we are wrapping up decimals this week with some visual aids and word problems, and will be moving on to number sense and divisibility. The flipped lesson assigned on Monday was a great success! I was really pleased with how many students watched the video and took great notes on their own! Thank you for supporting them with this! We may move in to two videos a week sooner than I thought! They will definitely have one on either Tuesday or Wednesday night, I'll keep you updated to let you know when to expect this.

We had a special guest with us today, Mrs. H. came with her St. Bernard to introduce herself and read a book. Mrs. H. will be a regular guest in our classroom with the dog, as an opportunity for students to practice fluency in reading. Once we're all settled, I'll be sure to post some pictures!

Students are beginning to prepare for our BSSE field trip on October 21st (Monday) by completing job applications and interviews for positions. They will be assigned into countries by next Tuesday and will start researching the country and completing loan paperwork over the next few weeks. There are many opportunities for parent volunteers for this field trip (free lunch included) so please let me know if you'd like to sign up!

DARE is beginning the week of October 7th. Our DARE time will be every Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 through early January. This curriculum is only taught in fifth grade, and now focuses on students making good choices and knowing how to problem solve when an issue is brought up. Students will each receive a DARE t-shirt and should try to wear them on our DARE days.

This Friday, September 27th is our annual Paradise Park night. This is a fundraiser for our school, and is also a great time to have a blast with your family. We are providing bus transportation to and from Paradise Park again this year, please let me know if you are interested in this and I will send home the paperwork.

Your student's first progress report will also be sent home next Friday, the 27th. Please use this opportunity to discuss any issues with your student and me so we can make sure he/she has a successful remainder of the school year.

Have a fabulous weekend!

-Mrs. Morehead

Happy September!

9/6/2013

Dear Parents and Friends of A-124,

Welcome to another Friday! We are continuing to move forward with curriculum and students are doing well at our established expectations.

In math we have finished place value with whole numbers and will be moving on to decimal place value beginning on Monday. We have done one in-class flipped lesson to practice taking notes. I would like to do one more in-class flipped lesson next week before the students start doing them at home the following week. Remember to expect one flipped lesson or so each week for a little while, and we will slowly build to 2-3 by December.

In science, students have spent time learning the steps of the Scientific Method and will be working on a problem-based learning activity on Scientific Inquiry. I am really looking forward to this, because the students will be designing their own science experiment, conducting research and testing a hypothesis. This will take us through the next few weeks.

In social studies, the students finished their social studies presentations and we will begin learning about economics in preparation for the field trip to BSSE in October.

In reader's workshop we are finishing the first 20 days of expectations and procedures. Student will be assigned to write me a letter about their book each week. We have gone over the procedure in class and the guidelines and an example letter is in the student's reader's notebook. Students should be writing these letters in class to be turned the day the student is assigned.

In writer's workshop, students have been building their writing stamina and working on personal narrative and free write stories. In the next week, we are beginning a memoir writing project, which will be this quarter's cumulative project.

Some important upcoming events:

Tuesday, September 10th, fundraising orders are due!
Wednesday, September 11th is student picture day. If you would like to order pictures, please return the envelope that was in Friday Folders last week.
Thursday, September 12th is our first early release day. Students will be dismissed at 12:40pm.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Morehead

Hang Out Night

4/12/2013

Dear Parents and Friends,

Another week has quickly come to an end. Please look for a note from me about writing a letter for MAP testing in Friday Folders. I am asking parents to write a letter to their students to encourage them on our testing days. Please have this letter returned to school on April 19th, as some students will be testing the week of the 22nd.

In science, students are on a new unit about Force/Motion. In math, students are learning about the Order of Operations and will begin creating algebraic expressions next week. In reader's workshop, students have been spending time on types of figurative language and analyzing characters in fiction text. Next week we will move to a deeper understanding of non-fiction texts. We are spending time in writer's workshop on standard conventions with grammar, punctuation, capitalization, etc.

Students are working hard to finish out the year strong. I know they will work to show everything they have learned on this year's MAP test. Our last homework contract will be assigned next Friday, due on the 26th. Reading logs will still be expected through May. I have seen a huge increase in students communicating our daily activities with parents through signing the agenda.

*Don't forget, tonight is Hang Out Night from 6:00-8:00pm! See you there!*

If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know!

Sincerely,
-Mrs. Morehead

End of 3rd Quarter

3/15/2013

Dear Parents and Friends,

Third quarter ended on March 7th and we are officially in Fourth Quarter. Grade cards are coming home in Friday Folders. Please sign the envelope and return that to school on Monday. Please keep the grade card inside! If you have any questions about your student's grade, please send me an e-mail at jmorehead@bsd124.org and I will respond as quickly as I can. Don't forget this link:
http://theprudentpatron.com/2010/06/report-card-rewards-free-stuff-for-good-grades.html
which takes you to a list of places that give kids discounts and freebies with good grades!

Next week is our last full week before spring break, and is also exactly one month from MAP testing. Please look for information coming home in Friday Folders about MAP testing next Friday.

As a part of our classroom reward system, our class earned 25 compliments and so we have scheduled our celebration for next Friday the 22nd. The class voted to have a PJ/movie/pizza party in the afternoon. The movie we will watch is "Wreck it Ralph." I will provide the pizza and drinks, although if you are able to donate a maximum of $1 to help cover the cost, it would be greatly appreciated! (but is not required)

Scholastic book orders are also in Friday Folders today. Please consider ordering online (you can pay with a debit/credit card) and you also get a coupon for $5 worth of free books if you order online. Orders are due on Friday, April 5th.

Students will be finishing up their persuasive writing project by next Friday, and completing Dear Senior letters before the end of next week in writer's workshop. Book report projects for March are due by April 3rd at the latest. Students can choose from the same three projects as before, the Burger Book Report, Book in a Box, or a 2 page letter. Instructions for each of those are provided to the students, and are also posted under the assignments tab in Reading/Writing. The students are wrapping up their Space projects (due Wednesday) and will move to Algebra in the coming weeks.

Quick reminders:
4th grade visits are next week, band students please bring instruments on Monday
Last day to turn in fundraisers is Monday morning!

Have a great weekend!

-Mrs. Morehead

Snow is Falling!

3/1/2013

Welcome back! It's certainly been a few very short weeks since the snow storms have reached Kansas City! Hopefully they will be the last as third quarter is wrapping up and we prepare for fourth quarter and MAP testing!

On Monday, our class will be going to the Book Fair, so if they would like to purchase anything, they must bring money on Monday!

March Madness is also beginning next week and the students are very excited about it. March Madness is a fundraiser for the P.E. program at Mill Creek, which is why the cost of $5 per student. In past years, the money raised has been used to purchase the awesome things we have at Mill Creek (climbing net, disc golf, etc). If students are not interested in playing basketball, they can also sign up as cheerleaders for the same cost. The important thing to remember is that behavior and grades are a factor and no refunds will be issued if a student is removed from March Madness for these reasons.

The last day of third quarter is next Thursday, March 7th and grades will be going home the following Friday. Students are still expected to be turning in weekly homework contracts and reading logs, along with any other daily homework.

In Reader's Workshop, we are finishing our unit on non-fiction texts and will be moving into features of fiction and really working on mastery of reading comprehension skills and critical thinking. Book Report Projects will be due March 22nd. These are the Book in the Box, Burger Book Report or Letter that can be found under the Class Info->Assignments->Reading/Writing tab. In Writer's Workshop, students will begin working on persuasive writing pieces and Voice. Geometry is the latest concept the students are working on in math, and we will be moving to Algebra shortly. The solar system and planets are the focus in Science.

If you'd like to order a yearbook, the cost is now $17. Orders must be placed befSpring Break is March 25th-29th and MAP testing begins a month after that. Be looking for some more information on this in the next few weeks.

I hope you have a great weekend!

-Mrs. Morehead

Friday!

12/7/2012

Dear Parents and Friends,

We've made it through another week, and are quickly approaching the end of the first semester. As a part of the winter festivities, Mill Creek will have its annual winter party next Thursday on our early release day. This will be an exciting time for students to celebrate their first semester of fifth grade, and hopefully motivate them to work hard for next semester's spring party.

I would like to thank everyone who donated canned foods or toiletries for the local shelter. With your help, we collected 179 items and will celebrate with a movie party before winter break! Thank you for your generosity, it benefits a great cause.

In our own classroom, I would like to have a book exchange for the holidays. This has worked well in year's past. Please send a book that your student has already read and that would be appropriate for a fifth grader. If you are able to send it wrapped, please do so, otherwise I will wrap it. Each student will be able to donate a book they have read in exchange for a new-to-them book. Please contact me if you are unable to donate a book, and also contact me if you are able and willing to donate more than one. I would like every student to be able to participate, so let's work together to make sure this can happen!

In math, the students have learned to add and subtract fractions with both alike and unlike denominators and are working on mastering this skill. We will finish out the semester with learning how to add and subtract decimals.

In science, students are learning about the water cycle, and conducting experiments to create their own water cycle in a tupperware container.

In reader's workshop, students are nearing the end of a colony research project which will be presented next week in class. I'm really impressed with the number of people turning in completed reading logs, and I hope this continues over the break. In writer's workshop, the students are working on a how-to story (expository writing piece) which will be published next week.

The weather is quickly returning to cold, so please send your student with a jacket/coat as necessary. We will go outside for recess until the temperature feels like 20 degrees.

Sincerely,
-Mrs. Morehead

Week Wrap Up

9/14/2012

We had another successful week! The students have been working on mastering long division with two, three and four digit dividends and a one digit divisor. Next week, we will move to two digit divisors! In Science, the students are being classification systems and will be spending some time working on identifying the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species of different animals. In Reader's Workshop, we are noticing our thinking about books and asking questions of ourselves as we read. When reading with your student at home, make sure to ask them "Why" questions to help deepen their thinking. Ex: "Why do you think the character made that choice?" or "What do you think will happen next? How do you know?" We are working our way through the writing process in Writer's Workshop. Students have been finishing up rough drafts for their first stories and will move to editing and publishing within the next few weeks.

Don't forget that next Friday is Paradise Park night. This is a fun event for our school, and this year, Mill Creek is able to provide transportation to families who would otherwise be unable to get there. Simply return the form in Friday Folders and you and your family will be able to ride a bus to Paradise Park.

I hope you all enjoyed Spirit Week, I know the students had a blast! I'm looking forward to continue learning and growing along with your children!

-Jaclyn Morehead