Science: Learning about the Human Body

The girls have been busily learning how their bodies function. We examined each system to learn what it looks like and what it does. Then we were able to discuss how that system interacts with the other systems we have studied. The girls have been eager and attentive as we discovered some of the mysteries and the wonders of our amazing bodies.

Dissecting a chicken leg helped the girls visualize and understand the functions of the muscles, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments.

We looked at models with removable organs.

Of course, games can make learning even more fun!

Up the Hill

MATH -

The girls have been concentrating on decimals in math.  They are adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals to add to their knowledge of how to manipulate numbers.  The small details are very important - accurate computations, correct decimal placement, and correct units in word problems.  Studying money is a wonderful way to practice decimals!  Ask your daughter to help you add (or estimate) the cost of two or more objects and how much change you should receive after a purchase.  

HISTORY -

We have been researching and writing about explorers this month!  Each girl has an explorer that she has learned a lot about in order to compose a written report that will become a Google presentation, complete with pictures, a route map, and a timeline of that explorer.  Stay tuned - the reports are works  in progress!

LANGUAGE ARTS - 

We are getting ready to switch Newbery unit groups on Tuesday!  The girls who have been with Mrs. Gilbert will move to Mrs. Emala's Newbery unit, and the girls who were with Mrs. Emala will now be with Mrs. Gilbert.  Both teachers have enjoyed working with all the fifth graders; this is a wonderful opportunity to get to know girls who are not in a teacher's math group or home room.  Mrs. Gilbert's group has read and analyzed Newbery Honor book Savvy, and Mrs. Emala's group has been reading all sorts of books that were published last year (2014) and blogging about them.  We are so excited about the upcoming Newbery Lunch (February 27) and our speaker, Ingrid Law.  

Miscellaneous - 

Half the class has had the opportunity to have lunch with Mrs. Nothstein this week in the fifth grade building.  The other half of the class will join her on several days next week.  It is a wonderful opportunity for Mrs. Nothstein to chat informally with your girls and to have a chance to check in with them to see how things are going.  The girls are enjoying these lunchtime meetings! 

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day party today.  Many thanks to Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Trousdale, and Mrs. Reidel for all their help!  We loved seeing you!

Happy long weekend!

Up the Hill

The verdict is in! The 2015 Newbery Award goes to........The Crossover by Kwame Alexander.

The two honor books are El Deafo, a graphic novel by Cece Bell, and Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson.

The girls have been very busy reading many of the books that were published in 2014; there are many other books they have loved reading that did not win the Newbery but are still favorites! 

We are very excited about our upcoming Newbery Lunch with Ingrid Law, the author of Savvy and 

Scumble (and soon-to-be-published Switch).  The lunch will take place at the Mt. Washington facility on February 27th.  The girls are preparing by reading her two books and thinking of questions they would like to ask this Newbery Honor winning author!  We look forward to seeing many of you then!  Until then, happy reading!

From the Library

Fifth graders are about half way through Sharon Creech's beloved book Granny Torelli Makes Soup. Many in the class of 2023 are already Sharon Creech fans, but Granny Torelli is a new story for most. Ask your daughter about Rosie and her best friend Bailey, Pardo and Violetta, the lost dog, the new neighbor Janine, learning braille on the sly and how that surprise backfires. If your daughter wants to make homemade pasta, Granny Torelli may be her inspiration.

Timelines in Tech

We began the month with a review of digital citizenship and created comic strips about digital super heros.  Next, we create a personal timeline using a timeline generator from Read Write Think.  We discussed how to determine beginning and ending points on a timeline and what information should be included.  We are now working on apply these skills to create a time for the explorers project.  We are also continuing to work on our keyboarding skills.