5B Classroom: Week of September 17th

A note from Mrs. Burke:
I am very excited to share this week's blog post with you because the news was written by the students.  They took their classroom reporting task very seriously and wrote thoughtful entries.  Take a look and see what the classroom reporters have posted.

Also, I hope to see you at Open House this Thursday, September 27th from 5:30 - 6:30.  Please stop by the classroom and have your student show you around.  I look forward to seeing you on Thursday.


Language Arts:  The American Revolution

What have you learned this week about The American Revolution?

In Language Arts this week we learned about the Patriots in the American

Revolution.  We learned how they were not loyal to Britain, unlike the Loyalists

who were.

-Abigail

I enjoyed learning about the Patriots. Patriots were people who did not like the

taxes they had to pay to the king.

-Jayden

People dressed as Americans and dumped tea in the Boston Harbor.

-Jack

Some people did not want to pay taxes.        

-Randy

This week we learned that in The American Revolution there was one big war.

-Madylyn

We have been learning about the Patriots. What I have learned about the Patriots are that they believe in freedom, and American independence! My favorite part of the American Revolution was The Boston Tea Party! It was filled with surprising moments.

-Braelyn

In language arts I learned about Loyalists and Patriots. We had a mid unit 1

assessment. We had to write a whole paragraph about Patriots. I think

language arts has been very fun this year.

-Aubree

That there's Patriots and Loyalists. Patriots didn't want to follow the laws and they can't vote in the government and then they made their own government and laws.

-Owen   

What I have learned in language arts about the American Revolution is there were the Patriots and the Loyalists.

-Zachary

I learned that people did not have freedom and the Boston Tea Party, and about the Patriots, Loyalists, and colonists.

-Taylor

Science: Science and Engineering

Problem:  Two Lego men named Bob and Jack aren’t getting along.  They are about to go to battle. The town has decided that they may design a catapult to help them in battle.  The town council agreed that they may both only use the supplies provided by the town.

The supplies each man will receive are:

Rubber Bands

Two sizes of popsicle sticks

Mini Marshmallows

One bottle cap

If you were Bob or Jack how would you design your catapult so you would have the best chance of winning?

What have you learned about catapults in science this week?

In science we learned that catapults are a version of a crossbow and that the

bottom of the catapult is called a fulcrum. The catapult also  is usually on high

ground, example pirates put catapults or canons on their ships to battle.

-Madison

This week we learned more about different types of catapults Leonardo Da Vinci

designed.

-Abigail

I learned about catapults that they can fire: hot tar, rocks, pumpkins and stuff like that.  

-Jayden 

That if you pull back on a rubber band force pushes the other object.

-Jack

This week in science when we were learning about catapults we were learning

about how they work, and how you can create one of your own.

-Madylyn

In science we have been researching about catapults and how they work and

what they look like. We also got to go in groups and shared our research with

each other. Today we also got to make a plan of how we can make our catapults. We got to create a sketch and we got to see the items we can use to make our design.

-Aubree

This week in science, we have been learning about catapults. I have learned

many things about catapults, including different types of catapults, when catapults were made, and how catapults work. Some catapults were made a LONG time ago. The Roman Catapult was built in 1581. The way it is built is, in my opinion, very interesting. It is a big semi-circle that shoots arrows as it moves. Catapults are very interesting machines. You should ask us, (5B) about them!

-Flynn

That they were made in the 1400s or 1500s. Catapults were made not just to go

to war.

-Owen

Here are students sharing their research about catapults:

Students are making a labeled sketch of their catapult prototype while examining a sampling of the materials they will be using to build their catapults... they are using privacy shields to keep their designs top secret.

Second Step:

What game did we play in Second Step this week to learn how to listen with attention?

The game was pretending to go on a trip and when I go on my trip I’ll pack my suitcase and I’ll pack an apple, banana, Coke, dog earing, forest, and a goat That's an example.

-Nevaeh

We played vacation I packed...

One kid was focused on something else instead of the other person.

-Jack

This week in Second Step we played a fun game that my family and I always play. The game is called “I’m Going On A Trip.” It’s a game where you need to listen with attention which is a good thing, because that’s why we were playing the game.

-Flynn

What are some things you can do to show you are listening with attention?

Some things you can do to show that you are listening with attention are, having eyes on speaker, answering questions, and showing respect when speaker is talking.

-Madylyn

We learned some things you can do to show that you are listening with attention. These things are:

1. Keep your eyes on the speaker at all times.

2. Think about what’s going on.

3. Add on to the conversation.

4. Have all of your focus on what’s going on.

I hope you use these things in your next conversation!

-Flynn

Read Aloud:  Wonder

Our current read aloud book is Wonder. We are using this book to complement

the lessons we are learning about in Second Step. After we read a chapter or two,

students discuss how they can apply what they've learned in Second Step to the

characters in Wonder.

What has been happening in the story and how could you show Auggie empathy?

The other kids showed empathy to Auggie.

-Jack

Auggie can show empathy by being respectful to the other people in the book.

-Madylyn

In class we have bean reading Wonder and it is a wonderful experience. It goes

along with Second Step and teaches us about empathy.

-Rebecca

The story is REALLY good so far! Poor Auggie now has to make it threw middle school with him being self conscious about his disabilities to easily fit in. His mom thought it would be a good idea to send him to middle school with everyone else in the youngest grade, so that’s why he doesn’t seem like the new kid, or his mother having to homeschool him another year.

-Braelyn

Wonder is so fun to read. I have watched the movie but never read the book. The book is so fun so far. First Auggie is going to a new school. He got to meet a few of his teachers, Mr. Tushman and a few others, and then he got to meet some of the students. I love the book so far.

-Aubree

Wonder is very nice so far and is getting into accepting what you look like and that others have, too. Auggie has been through a lot in his life, but he is unique. When you meet Auggie you think WOW! Auggie has been through a lot in his life, but going to actual school is going to change his, life but he does not know that. Auggie just got a new adventure!

-Lyndsey