Book Project -- Winter Break 2015

This winter break you have four options for book projects.  Please make sure that you complete this project over the break and submit it during the first week back from the break.  All books need to be approved by me before you do your project.

Check out your options here.  

Happy Reading!

Figurative Language Review

Watch the slideshow above and do your best on the quiz at the end.  If you want more information on figurative language, check out this teacher's website.  You can also practice with these flashcards from Time for Kids.  The rap video below is just for fun.

Adding Fractions Review

This is a video of a kid explaining this concept.  See if it helps you understand it better.
This page has links, quizzes and tutorials on this concept.

Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators

Example of subtracting fractions with unlike denominators: If you conquered adding fractions with different denominators, then subtracting fractions will be a snap.

Adding Fractions

How to add fractions that have different denominators: To solve this problem, we need to find the least common multiple to get at the common denominator.
Once you have watched the video above, check out the practice page.

Math Playground also has a good video explaining this concept.

Introduction to Fractions -- Webquest

As an introduction to fractions, we will start with this webquest.  If you finish early, try out Khan Academy's fraction page.

Debate Topics 2015

We will be debating this week in preparation for our persuasive writing unit.  Check out a few of the debate topics available to us:

1. Should schools require uniforms for students?
2. Should sports teams be allowed to use Native American mascots? (Washington Redskins)
3. Should animals be kept in zoos or cages?
4. Should skateboarding be allowed on city sidewalks?
5. Should junk food be banned in schools?
6. Are books better than television?
7. Should Pluto be changed back to a planet?

Math Practice Over the Break -- Fractions

One of your options for math practice over the break is to use this blog and/or Khan Academy for practice.  Our next unit in math will be about fractions.  Check out Khan Academy's fraction page for 5th grade.You can also get free lessons from Math Antics by clicking on the fraction tab.  Another good page for lessons and practice is McGraw Hill's page.  Be sure that you click on the links about fractions.

Remember that you need to practice math for at least 15 minutes on five different occasions.

You can also use the math hashtag at the bottom of every math post on this blog to find more 5th grade lessons.

Early English Settlements in America

History.com has quite a few videos about Jamestown.
Jamestown for kids.

Video - The Mystery of Roanoke.
New clues about Roanoke.
The Lost Colony for kids.

Plymouth Colony - History.com
Plymouth for kids.

More Division with Decimals

Dividing decimals by whole numbers -- step by step examples.

Math is Fun -- Dividing Decimals

Personal Tutor (Short Video)

Self Check Quiz

Review the basics (Short video)

Division with Decimals

Dividing a decimal by a whole number

Now try out Virtual Nerd's division page.
Cool Math has step by step directions on decimal division.

FACT PRACTICE!
Try these math flashcards from Factmonster. (Practice multiplication and division at different levels.)
Try out multiplication and division games on Math Playground.

The Age of Exploration

Read about European explorers on Social Studies for kids.  Check out their drop down menu for information on specific explorers.  This website has links for several explorers.
Another website, Cybersleuth, has resources for most of the explorers you will be studying.  This teacher also has a great website about explorers.

The first European in North America actually got here 500 years before the Age of Exploration.

Esperanza Rising Post #2: CA & The Great Depression

Esperanza will soon be moving to California.  In the 1930s California was caught in the midst of the Great Depression.  Learn about the historical setting of Esperanza Rising using these links.

Long Division

Watch the video above for division review.  Need more?  Check out Khan Academy's long division page with multiple videos and practice opportunities.

Still struggling?  Try out this step by step practice page.
More guided practice.
You might also want to practice your division facts online.

Muscles, Skeletons and Nerves ... Oh My!

Learn more about bones.
Learn about muscles.
Learn about nerves.

If you are still interested, please research each of these topics on this website.

Esperanza Rising Post #1 -- Historical Setting

Use this link for today's work on the historical setting of Esperanza Rising.

Pancho Villa vs. Porfirio Diaz -- Mexican Revolution

Both Esperanza Rising and Elena refer to the Mexican Revolution.  This is one of the many parallels between these two stories.  In Elena, you learned about two men, the rebel/bandit/folk-hero Pancho Villa and the dictator Porfirio Diaz.  Read about these two men and decide whose side you would be on. Defend your decision with reasons based on the reading.  Post your decision and reasons on kidblog.

The Mexican Revolution

Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa -- PBS
Pancho Villa -- Factmonster

Porfirio Diaz
Porfirio Diaz -- PBS
Porfirio Diaz -- Factmonster

Converting Units of Measurement

Unit conversion: centimeters to meters: Which are smaller: centimeters or meters? If you know the answer to that question, then solving this problem gets a little easier.
Try out Khan Academy's practice page.

You should also read about how to convert units of measurement.

Are you good at this?  Test yourself.
Converting customary units.
Converting metric units.

Converting Units (Class Lesson)

Multiplication with Decimals

Multiplying decimals word problem: We're multiplying decimals again, but this time answering a common question: what's the cost of filling up the car tank?

Try out Khan Academy's practice page.
Check out this personal tutor for more help.
Take a look at a visual model.

Multiplication Review

Multiplying: 2 digit numbers: The trick here is to remember your place value as you multiply and then add the numbers. We'll demonstrate and make it perfectly clear!


Now try out some practice.

Multiplication with Area Models

Multiplying: using an area model: Using graph paper we'll map out an area model to help us with a multiplication problem.
Watch another video on this concept and try out some online practice.

Reading Lists for 5th Grade

Some of your parents have been asking for a book list for 5th graders.  Check out this list.  The link to it will be posted on the side of this blog for the remainder of this school year.

Circulatory System Review

Check out this video for an amusing review of the circulatory system.


Fascinated?  Read more about the circulatory system.

Decimals Webquest

Now try this webquest as a review of the what we have learned about decimals so far.

If you finish early, explore more about math at learnfree.org.

Multiplying and Dividing Decimal Numbers

Decimal Multiplication Basics

Introduction to multiplying decimals: Multiplying decimals can be confusing because there's always the question as to where the decimal goes in the answer. We're about to show you so you'll never have to question it again!

Constitution Day!

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." (Preamble to the U.S. Constitution)
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Read about the different articles of the US Constitution.
Learn about the Bill of Rights.
Learn more about the Constitution today.
Take a Constitution quiz.
Try a Constitution scavenger hunt.

Scholastic News

Scholastic News -- Sept 14 edition

Featured Video

Cells Webquest

Try out this webquest on cells after you have watched the video.  Take your time on this webquest.



When you have finished try out this song about cells.
You should also watch more videos on cells from Watch, Know & Learn.
If you still have extra time, work on an extra credit slideshow about cells using your Google account.

Scholastic News

Digital Edition -- Sept 7

Decimals in Expanded Form

Decimals: expanding out place value: Let's expand a decimal out and really try to understand what it represents.
Khan has a number of excellent videos about word form, expanded form and standard form.  I encourage you to watch them all.

Cells -- Bill Nye Video -- (E.C.)

This video is a good review of cells, which we have been learning about in science this week.  If you would like extra credit for watching this video, you should post a summary of what you learned on our class Kidblog page.  You can read more about cells using this link.

Place Value Rap

I found this on youtube and it amused me.

Prime Factorization

Watch the video above as a refresher on prime factorization.  You can watch more and try a few practice problems on Khan's website.  Try out a few quizzes on prime factorization and exponents.
Quiz #1
Quiz #2

Place Value with Decimals

Once you have watched the video above, make sure you check out the slideshare presentation below.

Can you find examples of when you would use decimals in everyday life?  Write down two examples to share with the class.

Math Review to Start the Year

Watch the Khan Academy video above to review this basic skill from 4th grade.  When you have finished, try some Khan Academy practice.  You can also watch additional videos on this topic if you still need help.

Remember, in fifth grade you will need to know all of your basic math facts.  If you need to practice, try out these websites:
Math Playground
Multiplication.com Quiz
Multiplication Games

Welcome Back to School

Welcome to all of my students who find me on this page.  This is going to be a great school year!  You will use this blog for many educational purposes throughout the year.  You can find useful information, such as your school supply list.  You will also be able to access educational videos, links, and activities related to classroom lessons.

Try a few of these links:
Khan Academy grade 5
Internet4Classrooms grade 5
Mr. N -- Grade 5 science

You can leave comments to let me know you were here or if you have questions.  Can you find my other teacherp website?

It's Not Too Late!!!

Post a comment with the books that you read.  It's not too late to be recognized for the Summer Reading Challenge.

Check your status here.  See you on Monday!

Summer Adventures -- What have you done this summer?

How has your summer been going?  Leave a comment if you want to let others know about something fun you did over the summer.  (You get bonus points if you did something educational.)

You can follow my summer adventures with my family at my old teacherp tumblr page.

It's not too late to complete the Summer Reading Challenge.

Practice Math This Summer

Check out the following math websites to keep your skills sharp this summer:

1.  Khan Academy

2.  Soft Schools

3.  Math ABC

4.  IXL

5.  Common Core practice

6.  Front Row (You can still use your account from the school year.)

Summer Reading Challenge -- Library Style

Hello Students,

I hope your summer is going well.  I would like to encourage you to continue your great work on the Summer Reading Challenge.  Feel free to encourage others to join as well.  A great way to expand your reading options this summer is to utilize the San Jose Public Library system.  They also have a reading challenge for the summer.

Check out the library's summer reading list.
If you have never been to the MLK library downtown, I recommend it as a summer field trip.  Tell your parents to take you.

Happy reading!  Don't forget to leave comments on this post to update me with which books you have read.

Introducing the 2015 Summer Reading Challenge!

Are you sad about the school year being over?  Do you pine away in front of the TV or computer screen wishing that you had something to read?  Perhaps you yearn for adventure and inspiration.

If so, THE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE OF 2015 is for you!!! (Perhaps you just enjoy a good book.  If so, it's still for you!)

How does it work?  The challenge is to read at least 5 good chapter books before the summer is over.  A champion reader would read at least 10 good chapter books.  An elite reader would read at least 15 good chapter books.

Every time you finish a book, leave me a note in the comment section of this blog with your name and the title and author of the book you read.  Then I can update your status.  You can follow your progress and your friends progress on the Summer Reading Challenge Status Page.

Not sure what to read?  Check out these reading lists.
5th grade list: Education World
5th grade list: Good Reads
Don't forget about the San Jose Public Library this summer.

A man, a plan, a canal, Panama! -- Palindromes

In the story Holes, the main character's name is a palindrome.  A palindrome is a word or series of words that are spelled the same backwards and forwards. Stanley Yelnats likes this particular fact about his name.

Please look up the definition of palindrome.

Use these websites to help you understand palindromes:

1. Fun with Words.
2. Kids Pages
3. Enchanted Learning
4. Fun English

Try out a few quizzes:

• Palindrome numbers quiz (math)
• Guess the Palindrome
• Enchanted Learning Quiz

What is aibohphobia? (Answer this in the comments.)

(You get to ignore punctuation in palindromic phrases when you are trying to spell them backwards.  I can't believe I just told you that!)

Health Assignment -- Health & Nutrition for Growing Kids

This week you will be using your Google accounts to create slideshows about how to be a healthy kid and teenager.  This will be an in class assignment that should be completed by Friday.  Please create a slideshow that is at least 12 slides long, includes relevant images, and has been proofread.

Please focus on the following topics:

1. Eating healthy -- Use the links at Choosemyplate.gov, especially the 10 tips page.  You can also research nutrition on Mayoclinic's website or nutrition.gov.
2. Exercise -- Use links from the USDA, kidshealth.org, Kaiser, letsmove.gov, or Mayoclinic.  You may want to have fun researching this at Kaiser's kid page.
3. Limiting Screen Time -- Use these links: Screen Time & Children, and Mayoclinic.
4. Tobacco -- How is tobacco harmful?  How do you say no? -- Read about the dangers of tobacco on Smoking Stinks!, PBS kids, and Be Tobacco Free.

  Work hard and create a slide show that shows kids how to be healthy!

Take Your Coordinate Plane Knowledge to the Next Level

Parallelogram on the coordinate plane: Remember our discussion of the coordinate plane? Sure you do! Let's graph the given coordinates of three of the polygon vertices, and find where the 4th vertex is.

Check out more videos and practice on this concept.
Move ahead of this concept at Math Planet.

Coordinate Planes

Coordinate plane examples: Let's get familiar with the x/y coordinate plane, both from the perspective of plotting points and interpreting the placement of points on a plane.
We have been learning the basics of coordinate planes.  Watch the video above and check out more on Khan Academy's website.

Check out a few Learnzillion videos about the same concept.

Quiz time.

Three Branches of Government Project

Check out a few videos on the three branches of government as a supplement to your research:

1. http://www.teachertube.com/video/the-three-branches-of-government-117875
2. http://www.teachertube.com/video/three-branches-of-government-115192
3. http://mrnussbaum.com/presidents/georgewashington
4. http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/james-madison/videos/america-gets-a-constitution

Make sure you complete your project on time.  (Follow the directions posted here.)

Quadrilateral Kidblog Post -- Homework

This weekend, please post a paragraph on Kidblog comparing and contrasting two types of quadrilaterals.  For example, please tell me the similarities between a parallelogram and a rectangle.  What properties do they have in common?  (Make sure you include that a rectangle is a type of parallelogram.)  How are they different?  A really good post should probably include a few pictures of these shapes.

Bonus:  Watch these Khan Academy videos on quadrilaterals.

Exploring Quadrilaterals

Please read the following links to explore and learn more about quadrilaterals.

Learn the basics of quadrilaterals on Math Is Fun.
Math.com also explores the basics of quadrilaterals.  (Make sure you get through step 4)

Now read about and explore different types of quadrilaterals.  Each link has a cool quadrilateral that you can change the shape of.  Make sure you read about and try out each one.

1. Trapezoid
2. Parallelogram
3. Rhombus
4. Kite
5. Rectangle
6. Square

Bonus:  Check out Khan Academy's page on quadrilaterals.

Three Branches of Government Project & Webquest

Watch the slideshow above as an introduction to our Webquests and PBL unit on the United States government.
Follow this link to begin your project and webquests.
Don't forget that you can use your power cards and social studies book as references during this unit.

Find your group here.

Trapezoids

Read about trapezoids at Math Is Fun.  Please try out the trapezoid that you can move and manipulate with your mouse.  Learn about many types of quadrilaterals that we will be studying.

Try out a quadrilateral game.

Coordinate Plane

Coordinate plane examples: Let's get familiar with the x/y coordinate plane, both from the perspective of plotting points and interpreting the placement of points on a plane.

Practice this concept online.

Testing This Week

Testing this week will be on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  We will also be testing next Monday.  Please try to be at school on time and eat a good breakfast.

The Constitution -- 3 Branches of Government

Learn about the three branches of the government of the United States.
Read more at Congress for Kids.
Read about how a bill becomes a law.

Poems for 5th Graders

Paul Revere's Ride -- Longfellow
A Dream Deferred  -- Langston Hughes
Dreams -- Langston Hughes
The Cremation of Sam Mcgee -- Robert W. Service
Willow and Gingko -- Eve Merriam
The Say Hey Kid -- Sue Mason
Casey at the Bat -- Ernest Lawrence Theyer
Casey's Revenge -- Grantland Rice
Barbara Frietchie -- John Greenleaf Whittier

Figurative Language Practice

Figurative Language Terms from kjhatzi

Figurative Language from Emma B. Ward Elementary

Volume Introduction -- 1D, 2D, & 3D

Volume: how measure it: Volume is a measurement in the 3rd dimension. This means that it not only has width and height, but it has depth as well. Let's watch this video in which we get a great explanation of how we measure volume.

Why Pluto Went from Planet to Dwarf Planet

Watch the video above for information about this fascinating topic.
Read more about your planet for your planet project.
Planets for Kids
Kid's Astronomy
Dwarf Planets: Space.com
Dwarf Planet Facts

Math Homework -- Fractional Recipe Assignment

Your math homework over the break is to find a recipe with at least 3 fractions in it and post it on Kidblog.  You then need to triple the recipe and you need to cut the recipe in half.  I have posted an example for you to see under my daughter's account.  Please make sure you type in the list of ingredients neatly.  I recommend using bullet points or numbers.

Don't forget to include the instructions and the amount that the recipe makes.  As extra credit, you can post a picture of yourself making the recipe or with the finished product.  (Actual cooking is not required for this assignment, unless you want extra credit.)  Be creative.  This is a fun way to share a favorite family recipe.

Front Row Bonus:  Those of you who work on Front Row Ed for at least 4 days over the break can claim a Front Row Bonus from me when you get back.

Dividing Decimals by Decimals

Get a head start on this week's lessons.  Learn about dividing with decimals above.
Need more?  Check out Khan Academy's page on this concept.

Check out this page for tutorials and quizzes.  (Use lessons 5 & 6).

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Make sure you read about the aquarium before we go on our field trip tomorrow.

Monterey Bay Aquarium homepage.

The aquarium runs a research institute.
Check out their Seafood Watch page.
You can also read about it on Wikipedia.

Congratulations to the Class Cooks

Congratulations to Lorelei and Ethan C for entering the District's recipe contest and placing third and fourth.  If you are interested in trying out their recipes, they were kind enough to post them online.  Check these out!

Lorelei's Fruit Trifle Minis

Ethan's Tropical Green Smoothie

I am very impressed with both of you.  These recipes look awesome!

Introduction to Dividing Fractions and Whole Numbers

Practice this concept at Khan Academy.
Try this Learnzillion video.
Practice on IXL.

Weather Mythology -- PBL

Throughout history there have been many different types of myths and legends about the weather.  These range from stories and legends to deities.  Please pick a few to read about as a supplement to your weather project.

Gluskabi and the Wind Eagle (Native American legend)
Why We Need Wind (Native American story)
The Bird Whose Wings Made Wind (Native American legend)

Chuqui Illa, Inca Thunder God
Njord, Norse Wind God
Susanowo, Japanese Storm God
Tawhiri, Maori God of Wind and Storms
Thor, Norse Thunder God
Tlaloc, Aztec Rain God
Tonenili, Navajo God of Water
Xib Chac, Mayan Rain God

Modern Folklore about weather
Myths, legends and folklore about weather put together by an elementary school.

Changing Decimals to Fractions and Back

Quiz yourself on converting decimals into fractions.
Quiz yourself on converting fractions into decimals.

Multiplying Fractions

Multiplying two fractions: example: Let's practice multiplying two fractions together. We'll learn to simplify the answer, too.

Practice this on Khan's website.
Try out this tutorial for more help.
Quiz time!

Eyewitness Video -- Weather

Weather Project -- PBL

How does weather affect the lives of the human populations throughout the world?

This is our driving question for this project. This week you will be creating Google Slideshows to present this to others. For this project you will need to pick one climate or weather problem that has an effect on humans.

Suggestions:
Blizzards
Climate Change
Droughts (& CA's drought)
Floods
Hurricanes
Thunderstorms
Tornadoes

In your Google Slideshow, you will need to include the following:
1.  A cover slide with your topic and the driving question.

2.  At least 10 slides which explain the following:

• What causes your weather event?
• What are the characteristics of this weather event?
• What kind of damage can be caused by it?
• How does it affect people?
• How do humans react and respond to protect themselves?

3.  A final slide with a list of links and resources that you used to gather information for this project.

Bonus work:  If your group finishes early, you can create an online poster at Lucidpress.

Word Problems -- Multiply Fractions by Whole Numbers

Multiplying fractions word problem: milk love: Who doesn't love milk? Our family sure does. Let's figure out how much milk is consumed each month if each person consumes a fractional amount of milk.

Watch the video above and then tackle a few word problems using the links below.
Khan Academy
Math Teaching Resources
Quiz yourself with some easy problems.
Try another short quiz.

Multiplying Fractions by Whole Numbers

Conceptual understanding of multiplying fractions and whole numbers: Here we have a nice visual explanation of how a mixed number is really a multiplication of a fraction and a whole number.

Try out a few of these practice problems from Khan Academy.  You can also watch more videos on this subject using that link.

Try out more practice on IXL.

Paul Revere -- Legend vs History

Paul Revere was written about in a famous poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  The poem is called "Paul Revere's Ride" and is probably the most famous American history poem ever written.  We will be using this graphic organizer to analyze this poem.

This poem may not be entirely accurate.  We will read about Paul Revere's ride in his own words and compare this to the poem.  Read Paul Revere's letter about his ride (abridged).  Read the full text of this primary source here.  We will use this organizer to analyze this letter.

Finally, we will compare and contrast the poem and his letter.

You can read more about the myths vs the facts of Paul Revere's ride.
This lesson was taken from this website.

Paul Revere and the Battles of Lexington & Concord

Read about Paul Revere.
Read about Paul Revere's midnight ride.
Read about Paul Revere's ride in his own words. (primary source)

Learn about the battles of Lexington and Concord. (short video)
Read about these battles.
Learn more on Liberty's Kids.
American Revolution for kids.

As you are reading and watching the videos, you should be taking notes about what happened on your organizer.  When you have completed the reading and videos above, please summarize what Paul Revere did in 1775 and what happened at the battles of Lexington and Concord on Kidblog.

Ledesma Science Fair!!!

I hope you are as excited about the Ledesma Science Fair as I am.  Our class will be participating in the science fair, which will occur in April.  We will be using the month of March to work on our projects.  Please check out Teacherp's science fair directions and refer back to them as you work on your project.  If you have an idea that is not an experiment or demonstration, please talk to me about what you want to do.

Your first assignment related to your project is to figure out and write about what you will do your project on.  What will your experiment or demonstration be?  How will you make it work?  What materials will you need?  Please post this information on Kidblog.

Do you need ideas for a science fair project?  Try these links:
https://kids.usa.gov/science/science-fair-projects/index.shtml
http://www.education.com/science-fair/
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/projects.html
http://www.parenting.com/gallery/easy-science-fair-projects-kids

Fractions as Division Problems

Try a few of these problems from Math Antics.


Try a few problems from Common Core Sheets.

Weather Project -- Post #1

We will be blending language arts and science in the next few weeks of school.  As a culminating event we will create and present a project about weather.

Here is our driving question for this project:
How does weather affect the lives of human populations throughout the world?

Watch this video as an introduction to this topic:

Math Review -- February Break

Don't forget about your math practice over this break.  You can use the math tag on this website, or any of the other options on your homework list.  Here are a few suggestions:
Front Row
Xtra Math
Khan Academy
Illustrative Mathematics

Webquest -- Declaration of Independence

Watch the video above and then try out your webquest.  Use the links on this page to answer the questions on your paper.

---------------------
Extra Credit:
If you finish early, research Patrick Henry and write a paragraph on Kidblog about how he had an influence on the American Revolution.
Liberty Kids -- Patrick Henry
Social Studies for Kids -- Patrick Henry
Biography -- Patrick Henry
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" (primary source)

Fractions Review

Subtracting fractions with unlike denominators: word problem: To find the answer to this word problem, we'll have to convert the mixed numbers into improper fractions first.

Use Khan Academy's website to review adding and subtracting fractions.

Water Cycle Music Videos -- Which one do you think is better?

Which video is more educational?  Which is more interesting?  Cast your vote in the comments section of this post.

Subtracting Mixed Numbers -- Webquest

Try out this webquest to review mixed number subtraction.

If you finish early, work on Frontrowed.com.

Patriots and Loyalists

In social studies this week, you will use your Google accounts to make slideshows contrasting Patriots and Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War.  Please follow these directions as you work on this project with your group.

1. Make sure you include a title slide with the names of your group members.  Don't forget to label the slideshow in the upper left corner or it will remain "untitled."
2. Each slideshow should include a definition of a Patriot and a definition of a Loyalist.
3. Please include at least 3 slides about a famous Patriot from your textbook.  Include who they were and what they did to promote the cause of independence from Britain.
4. Please include at least 3 slides about a famous Loyalist from your textbook.  Include who they were and what they did to fight against independence from Britain.
5. Proofread your slides.
6. If you finish early, look up other famous Patriots and Loyalists using Google and include slides about them.  Make sure you indicate whether they were a Patriot or Loyalist and what they did to make them famous.
7. Publish your slideshow to the web and add a link to it on your Kidblog page.

Links that might be useful:
Thomas Hutchinson
Jonathan Boucher
Lord Dunmore
Benjamin Franklin
Samuel Adams
Mercy Otis Warren

What Is A Verb?

Learn about the differences between action verbs, linking verbs and helping verbs in these slideshares:
What is a verb?
Types of verbs.
This one explains linking verbs really well.  (The activities at the end don't work so well.)

Identifying verbs quiz.
Helping verbs quiz.
Linking verbs quiz.

Climate Change Experiment Tracks Lizards & Butterflies

We will watch this video in relation to our rain forest unit.  Make sure you look for steps in the experiment process.

What is Climate Change?
Information from the US EPA.
Information from NASA.

Adding Fractions with Different Denominators

Try out this concept on the Khan Academy website.
Watch another video on Math Antics.
Try out more practice adding fractions.
Quiz yourself.

Fractions In Simplest Form

Still need help?  Learn more at Math is Fun.
Practice this skill.

Quiz yourself on simplifying fractions.
Quiz #2 (longer).

Action Verbs and Direct Objects

Learn about action verbs.

Action verbs explained.

Balloon verb game.

Action verbs practice.

Action verbs quiz.

Learn about direct objects.

Direct objects explained. (You only need the first few examples for 5th grade).

Direct objects practice and explanation.

Direct objects quiz.

Scientists Who Inspire

Who inspires you?  We are reading about a rainforest scientist in language arts class right now.  Can you think of a scientist who is an inspiration to you?  Why do they inspire you?  What did they study?  Why should other people learn about them?

Here are a few suggestions:  (Feel free to find your own scientist who inspires you.)
Albert Einstein
Benjamin Franklin
George Washington Carver
Archimedes
Marie Curie
Charles Darwin
Isaac Newton
Mae Jemison
Stephen Hawking
Galileo
Rosalind Franklin

Please write at least one paragraph about a scientist who inspires you on kidblog.  Please answer the questions at the top of this post as part of your paragraph.  I suggest using Google to find out more information than the links I provided on this post will give you.

Adding Fractions with Rectangular Models

Try out a few of these links:
This website has some good examples and practice problems.
This parent handbook also has good examples and explanations.
You can also find models on this page.

This video is just for fun because this guy is awesome!

Adding Fractions With The Same Denominator

Adding fractions with like denominators: With like denominators, you're basically just adding numerators. That's not too bad, right? Can the resulting fraction be simplified?

Try out Khan Academy's practice problems.
Try Khan Academy's number line practice.
Review how to add fractions on a number line.
Practice number lines on Visual Fractions.
Practice on IXL.

Equivalent Fractions

The unit we are beginning assumes that you know all about equivalent fractions.  Please watch this video and try a few of these activities to refresh your knowledge.
Equivalent Fractions with models
Equivalent Fractions matching game
Equivalent Fractions triplets game

These links could be useful for all of the fraction lessons under standard 5NF1.