A Christmas Carol Read Aloud

We will be reading an abridged version of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  This will be read by our class as a play.


Charles Dickens was a famous British author from the 1930s.  He wrote many pieces of influential literature.  A Christmas Carol was a novella written and published in England in 1843.  It had an enormous impact.  It was originally designed to be read aloud in about 3 hours.  I encourage anyone who wants a challenging read to tackle his original version.  Happy Holidays!

If we have time in class, we may try out this writing assignment.  I encourage you to try it over the break if we don't have time.

Subtracting Fractions

Santa Claus Drawing Contest of 2017

Cast your vote in the Santa Claus Drawing Contest of 2017.

Adding Fractions Using a Common Denominator

Don't forget to simplify your answer!

Winter Book Project

You have four options for book projects over the winter break.  Please make sure you complete this project by Friday of the week we return to school. (January 12)  All books must be approved by me before you do your project.

Book project options.

Happy reading!!!

Adding Fractions with Different Denominators

Practice these concepts on Khan Academy's website.

Poems All Fifth Graders Should Read

Willow and Gingko -- Eve Merriam
The Duel -- Eugene Field
Paul Revere's Ride -- Longfellow
Acquainted with the Night -- Robert Frost
The Cremation of Sam McGee -- Robert Service
Barbara Frietchie -- John Whittier
Dreams -- Langston Hughes
The Arrow and the Song -- Longfellow
Jabberwocky -- Lewis Carroll
Little Orphant Annie -- James Riley
The Children's Hour -- Longfellow (This one reminds me of my kids.)
Harlem (A Dream Deferred) -- Langston Hughes (My personal favorite.)

Landforms Research

Learn about types of landforms on Mocomi.com.
Try out OneGeology.com for information.
Read information on Geology for Kids.

Try out this glossary of landforms to find one you would like to research.
Check out this slideshow for some basic landform and geology terms.

Science Extra Credit -- Acids

If you would like to earn some extra credit in science class, you can try one of the following ideas:

1.  Dissolve the shell of an egg. -- Exploratorium

2.  Make Fizzy Lemonade -- Science Kids

3.  Make your own sherbert. -- Planet Science

When you have tried on of these projects, please write about it on Kidblog to get the extra credit.  Please include what you did, how you did it, what happened and what you learned in a well organized paragraph.  If you can take pictures and include them, that would be an excellent addition.

Introduction to Fractions

Watch these two videos and then go to Khan Academy for more.

Divide Completely To Get A Decimal Quotient

Try out a few practice problems and watch more videos on decimal division.

The Mystery of the Lost Colony

The Lost Colony of Roanoke
Social Studies for Kids - Roanoke
Have We Found the Lost Colony of Roanoke?
Watch a video and read about Roanoke.

The contributions of female explorers

We have been reading about European explorers in class.  This is an interesting video about some female explorers who also had an impact on history at a time when women were not really allowed to do things like exploring.

Dividing a Decimal by a Whole Number

Explorer Reports -- Due 11/30

If you would like help researching your explorer, I recommend the following websites:
Social Studies for Kids
Ducksters -- World Explorers
Mr. N -- Famous Explorers
Kid Info -- Explorers

Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences

Practice simple and compound sentences here.
Quiz yourself here.

Lllllooooonnnnnggggg Division Review

If you need to review simpler long division problems, try this video too.

Practice Your Division Facts Today!

Practice your division facts:
Computation Practice
Drag Race Division
Division Derby

Khan Academy Practice

Converting Units of Measurement -- Metric System -- cm to m

European Exploration

When Europeans started to explore the world by sea, it changed history in many ways.  Watch the video below to find out how they used new inventions and math to help them.



The video below discusses why Europeans explored and what Europe was like at the beginning of the Age of Exploration.

Converting Units of Measurement -- Customary System -- Yards to Inches

More Multiplying with Decimals

Follow up on this video and learn more about multiplying with decimals.

The Mexican Revolution: Background Lesson for Esperanza Rising

We will be reading the book Esperanza Rising in language arts class.  In order to understand this book, you need to know a bit about the Mexican Revolution.

Multiplying Decimals Introduction

Watch more videos about multiplying decimals on Khan Academy.

How to Draw a Haunted House

How to Draw a Haunted House

How to Draw a Complex Haunted House

Happy October!

PBL Unit -- Native Americans -- Create a Slideshow

How did Native Americans adapt their way of life to the resources available in the environment?

This is our driving question for this project.  Everything you add to your slideshow should be based on this question.

1. Please create a slideshow with your group that is between 6 and 10 slides long.
2. Make sure you include the driving question on the first slide.
3. Choose one Native American tribe from North America.  Research and read about them online.
4. Create slides that show how they used their resources to survive.  Make sure you explain what they did and how they did it.
5. Use pictures and images that are related to the information on your slides.
6. Include at least one slide that talks about what region your tribe is from.
7. Proofread your slides.

Here are some resources to get you started:

Native American Facts for Kids.

Kid Info:  Native Americans

List of Native Americans

Native American Regions

You may need to use Google for more information on a specific tribe.

Please ask for help if you are not sure that the tribe you picked was from North America.  I can also help you if you are having trouble choosing a tribe.

Multiplication Review

Check out the first video for a review of how to multiply with an area model:



Now watch the second video for a review of the standard algorithm when you multiply.


Finally, watch more videos and try some practice on the Khan Academy website.
Don't forget to practice your math facts!

Prime Factorization Review

Atoms and Molecules

Read about atoms.

Read about molecules.

Order of Operations

The song below is just for fun.  Watch the video above for good information.

The First Americans -- Where did they come from?

Scientists don't all agree with your history book about when the first Native Americans migrated here.  Read about it in National Geographic.

Read more in these articles:
Early People of the Americas
Bering Land Bridge visual activity
The Bering Land Bridge
10 Facts about the First Americans

Video -- First Americans

When you have finished studying The First Americans, write a summary of what you have learned on Kidblog.  How did the first Americans arrive in North America?

Decimals Webquest

Work on this Decimals Webquest during math on Monday and Tuesday of this week.  Make sure you record your quiz scores and answers on your worksheet.  Watch the video below for fun:

Phases of Matter -- Bill Nye Video

Check out this Bill Nye video on the phases of matter.

Read about the 3 states of matter.

Take your knowledge beyond the 3 basic states of matter and read about 5 states of matter on Chem4Kids.com.

Dividing a decimal by a whole number

Geography of North America -- Extension

Try out these practice sites:
USA Physical Map Quiz
USA Geography Practice
USA Map Puzzle
Test Your N & S America Knowledge
Countries of N America Quiz
N America Map Puzzle

Human Rights

Watch this video as part of our unit on human rights.  What message is this video trying to share with you?  What do the creators of this video want you to think about when you watch it?

Subtracting Decimals

This math book has a good resource for adding and subtracting decimals.
Adding and subtracting decimals -- word problems.
Try this lesson about decimals and word problems.
Check out this game about decimals.

Latitude and Longitude Webquest

Watch the video below as an introduction to this webquest.  When you have finished the video, answer the questions and do the activities on the webquest.  Remember to take your time and do your work accurately.  This activity is not a race.  I would prefer it if you take your time and learn from the webquest.  Latitude and longitude webquest link.



When you have finished your webquest, you may watch this video with a longitude and latitude song.  (Just for fun.)

Three States of Matter & Mass vs Weight

Rounding Numbers & Decimals (Review)

Read a lesson on rounding decimals.

Take a quiz to practice this skill.  How did you do?

Decimals and Powers of 10

Practice multiplying and dividing by powers of 10.

Intro to Exponents

7 Continents and 4 Oceans

Try out this online quiz on the continents and oceans.
Try this quiz too.

Decimal Place Value part 2

Decimal Place Value

Basic Long Division Review

Now try some long division practice and watch more videos at Khan Academy.

More Multiplication Practice

I noticed that we need to practice multiplication in this class.  Please watch the video below.


Practice multiplication at this link.

Solar Eclipse -- August 2017

What is a solar eclipse?
What is an eclipse? - NASA
What's up? -- NASA
Eclipse -- Nat Geo
Astronomy for Kids Solar Eclipse
-----------------------------------------------
Watching the eclipse:
How to safely view a solar eclipse.
Eclipse Live -- NASA
Exploratorium Live Stream
Eclipse -- CNN

Practice Your Math Facts

Practice your multiplication or division facts this weekend.  You may use the following links:

Multiplication.com
Math Playground
Math Is Fun
You could also use an app or flashcards to study your facts.

Leave a comment telling me what you did to study.

Practice Typing This Weekend

As a homework assignment this weekend, I am encouraging you to spend 15 minutes practicing typing.  Log into your Google account and use the Clever link on the side of this blog.  Please practice by using Nitro Type or Typing.com.  Leave a comment when you finish this assignment.

Welcome Back to School!

Welcome back!  I am looking forward to a great school year and I hope you are too.
Here is your school supply list.

There is no time like the present to prepare yourself for this year's math lessons.  Review the basic concepts and leave me a comment to let me know you were here.

Start by reviewing 2 digit multiplication:


Need more practice on multiplication?  Check out Math Antics.

Once you have reviewed the video above, try out a few 4th grade concepts that you thought were hard last year.
4th grade math review -- Khan
4th grade math review games
4th grade practice and review

Summer Reading Challenge 2017 -- Library Style!

The San Jose Public Library system has a summer reading challenge too.  Why not tackle two things at once and join the library's program while you read for my challenge?

San Jose Library Summer Reading Challenge

Check out the San Jose Library's summer book lists:
3rd grade
4th grade
5th grade
6th grade

Don't forget to keep reading and leaving comments on your status.  Follow your progress here.

Summer Reading Challenge -- 2nd Post

I'm now officially back from my vacation.  I was in a place that had no internet coverage (Gasp! Shocking! Astounding! How did he survive?).  I will make sure I keep up on comments and book updates for the summer.  Make sure you read new books this summer and leave a message each time.

Need ideas?  Check out these book lists from the American Library Association:
ALA grades 3-5 summer reading list
ALA grades 6-8 summer reading list

Don't forget to track your status on the Summer Reading Challenge list.

Happy Reading!

The Summer Reading Challenge of 2017 -- BooYah!!!

Teacherp wants you to join the Summer Reading Challenge!

This summer your goal is to read at least 5 good chapter books.  Notify me in the comments section if you want to join the challenge.  I will add you to the official Summer Reading Challenge page.

Each time you finish a new book, write the title and author's name in the comments section so I can update your status.

Categories:

1. Participant -- complete 5 chapter books.
2. Champion reader -- complete 10 chapter books.
3. Elite reader -- complete 15 chapter books.

Anyone from school can join!  Tell your friends!  Make your siblings participate too!  

Happy reading!!!

Palindromes

In the novel Holes, the main character's name is a palindrome.

Stanley Yelnats

Learn about palindromes by watching the song below:

Three Branches of Government Extra Information Post -- Civics PBL

How is our government outlined in the Constitution?  How was our government designed to protect the rights of ordinary citizens?



Watch the informational video above and the fun song below as a supplement to what we are studying in our Civics PBL unit.

Quadrilaterals on a Coordinate Plane

Check out the video below for review of a few different concepts we have learned this year:


Practice these concepts on Khan Academy.

Three Branches of Government Project -- Civics PBL

How is our government outlined in the Constitution?  How was our government designed to protect the rights of ordinary citizens?

Watch this slideshow as part of our PBL unit on Civics.
Please post a comment stating the main idea of the the slideshow.

Follow this link to begin the webquest that goes with this project.
The link above also has information outlining what you will be expected to do for your slideshow.

Find your group here.

Coordinate Plane Practice and Games

Check out these 4 games found by "R" anonymous student.

Fun Brain -- What's the Point?

Simple coordinates game.

Simple maze game (increase the number of mines)

Maze game (increase the number of mines)

Articles of Confederation -- Civics PBL Introduction

How is our government outlined in the Constitution?  How was our government designed to protect the rights of ordinary citizens?  

This will be the driving question for our Civics PBL unit.  As an introduction to this unit, please watch the following video and read at least two of the links below about the Articles of Confederation.  This was the government that existed before the Constitution was written.  The Articles of Confederation failed.  Why?  Please answer this question on Kidblog.  



Articles of Confederation -- Mr. D
Articles of Confederation -- Ducksters
Articles of Confederation -- Social Studies for Kids
Articles of Confederation -- Mr. N

Coordinate Plane Basics -- 4 Quadrants

Debate Topics -- 2017

This week we will be holding debates in class.

Check out a few of the debate topics ahead of time:
Fiction vs. Nonfiction
Extra Tax on Soda
Chocolate Milk in Schools
Are athletes paid too much?
Recess every day?

Energy -- Potential & Kinetic

Bill Nye Energy - TeacherTube


Read about the different types of energy.
This page explains kinetic energy.
Check out Physics 4 Kids.

Kinetic vs. Potential Energy

The video above shows the differences between potential and kinetic energy.  The video below shows how energy is never destroyed; it simply changes form.


Need more information?  Read about energy.  Please make sure you at least do the first link.
Step by step energy lesson.  (Click all the links.)
Types of energy
Energy for Kids
Physics 4 Kids
Energy Kids

Coordinate Plane

Try out some online practice and watch more videos on Khan Academy.

The Constitution and the Three Branches of Government

Quad Quad Quad Quadrilaterals

Do you get the joke in the title?



Check out this review video on polygons:

What is the best possible name for your quadrilateral?

Intro to Quadrilaterals

Coming up in math we will be studying quadrilaterals.  Watch this video as an introduction.


Now try out these activities:
Right angles in quadrilaterals.
Identifying quadrilaterals.
Practice identifying quadrilaterals.

Multiplying Mixed Numbers Using the Area Model

Planet Project 2017

Here are your planet project groups.

Eclipse Post -- Solar vs Lunar

Read about solar and lunar eclipses.

Volume = Length x Width x Height

Practice 1
Practice 2
Quiz yourself on volume.

Introduction to Volume

Learn more about volume on Khan Academy's website.

If you like volume, there are some advanced (above grade level) concepts in this Math Antics video.

American Revolution & Declaration of Independence -- Schoolhouse Rock

Long Division -- Decimal Divisors

Practice this concept online.  You will need scratch paper.

Using Reciprocals to Divide Fractions

Weather Forecast Homework

This week you will have a weather forecast homework assignment as a supplement to our PBL unit on weather.  I would like you to watch a meteorologist give the weather forecast on at least three separate days.  I am posting three websites that you can use to watch the forecast.  I also recommend watching the 5 o'clock or 6 o'clock news when the meteorologist comes on.  Remember, I want you to watch an actual weather scientist speak about the weather, not just look up the forecast online with an app or website.
CBS 5
NBC Bay Area
ABC 7

Multiplication As Scaling

Fun Atmosphere Video

Earth's Atmosphere

Read about the layers of the atmosphere:
Kids Geo
Science for Kids

Multiplying Fractions

Now try out this step by step tutorial.  Can you find where they should have used cross cancelling?

Take a self-check quiz.

Hydraulic Fracturing -- Scholastic News Supplement

The main article in your Scholastic News talks about earthquakes in Oklahoma due to hydraulic fracturing.  See what else you can learn about it here.

Scholastic Video -- Earthquakes

Science News for Students articles:
Explainer: What is Fracking?
Fracking Waste and Quakes

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 cut it in half.  Please make sure that you type the list of ingredients neatly.  I suggest using bullet points or numbers.  I posted a sample recipe for you to look at under my daughter's account.

Don't forget to include the instructions for the recipe and the amount that the recipe makes.  For extra credit, you may choose to make the recipe and post a picture of yourself making it.  (You don't need to actually cook unless you want extra credit.)  Be creative.  This is a good way to share a favorite family recipe.

Iready bonus:  Those of you who complete at least 4 Iready math lessons over the break can claim an Iready bonus from me when we get back.

Multiplying Fractions

Learn how to multiply fractions with the video below:

Plant Review Video

Watch the Bill Nye video below for a review of plant basics:

Be the Plant Professor -- Resources

How did plants develop photosynthesis?

Plant Basics

Why leaves change color

Photosynthesis for kids

What is pollination?

Plant pollination strategies

A Plant Puzzle

Photosynthesis (the big picture)

Fraction Multiplication Basics

Understand the basics of fraction multiplication by watching the video below.  We will be working on this in the upcoming week.

Fractions as Division

More from Khan Academy on this topic.

Line Plots and Fractions

Watch the video above as an introduction to the concept of line plots that we will be going over this week.  Practice with line plots here.
Find out about the basics of line plots here.

Science Fair -- Hypothesis Time!

It is time to come up with your hypothesis for your science fair project.  A hypothesis is an educated guess about what will happen in your science experiment.  A hypothesis should show that you have done some research.  Please post your hypothesis on Kidblog.

What is a hypothesis?

If you are doing a demonstration instead of an experiment, you will need to explain what you are demonstrating before you complete it.  Please show that you did significant research.

Our school science fair is on February 9.  Please make sure your science project is completed and brought to school by February 7.  Check out the science fair directions. 

Esperanza Rising -- CA History Setting

Use this link to find out more about the setting of Esperanza Rising.

Action Verbs, Main Verbs & Helping Verbs

Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers Review

Try out this step by step lesson from Math.com.

Now try some practice.

Science Fair

I hope you are excited about the science fair at school.  Our whole class will be participating.  The science fair is February 9.  Check out the science fair directions.

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

Need help figuring out ideas?  Check out 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