5B Classroom News: Week of Feb. 11th

A note from Mrs. Burke:

It was a busy week leading up to our February break. In science students investigated the density of liquids. They had to figure out how to layer different liquids so they would stack on top of each other and not mix together. Also, every student in 5B participated in our classroom spelling bee. They all tried their best and I'm very proud of all of them! During language arts on Friday, students participated in a town meeting style debate about the American Revolution. They will be posting their thoughts about this event to our blog when they return to school after the break.

Happy Valentine's Day 5B!

Keep reading to see what our classroom reporters wrote about this week:

Science:  Structures of Matter

What did you learn about density of liquids from the density investigations in science?  Was there anything in your data that surprised you?

In science we learned about density. We also took a test, we studied, and then took the test.

-Aubree

Classroom Spelling Bee

Were you anxious during the classroom spelling bee?  What did you do to calm down?

I wasn’t that anxious during the classroom spelling bee, but I told myself that if I tried hard, I would make it in the school spelling bee!

- Flynn

Did you think the words in the classroom spelling bee were difficult or easy to spell?

It was difficult because I couldn’t spell some words.

-Nevaeh

They were easy in the beginning and then they got harder and harder.

-Owen

Did you feel you were prepared to participate in the classroom spelling bee?  What did you do to prepare for the spelling bee?

I think the spelling bee words would have been easy if I practiced more because I got out on the first word I had to spell.

-Madison

I thought that the classroom spelling bee was easy and that when I got out on a word I realized how you spell it.

-Lyndsey

I was not anxious during the classroom spelling bee because I knew that all the people around me were feeling a little nervous too. I thought some of the words in the class were a little too easy, but most of the words were just right. I felt I was prepared but some words I felt I forgot to study. To prepare for the Bee I studied the words then had my mom (she’s awesome) quiz me.

-Abby

I was anxious during the classroom spelling bee

-Jayden

I was very anxious during the spelling bee. What I did to calm down was to take deep breaths. I thought the words were mostly easy to me but a few. I did feel that  I was prepared to participate in the spelling bee. And I did participate in the spelling bee.

-Maximus

I felt nervous but I wanted to try. I didn't care that I lost, then I just cheered on somebody else.

-Jack

I thought some words were easy and some were hard.

-Zachary

I knew that I was not going to make it because I did not really practice for it and got a word wrong and I did not make it. Congratulations to Flynn, Aubree, and Abby for making it to the school Spelling Bee.

-Taylor

I was anxious during the spelling bee but I took deep breaths and succeeded. I feel like for me the spelling bee was easy. I feel like I was prepared for the spelling bee. I practiced all night before the spelling bee. I am in the spelling bee, and Flynn another one of my classmates is the class champion. And Abigail another one of my classmates is also going to the school spelling bee. I wanted to say all my classmates did wonderful and should keep trying.

-Aubree

5B Classroom News: Week of Feb. 4th

A note from Mrs. Burke:
Here are a some pictures from morning choice this week. The favorite activities were gel pen art, Legos, and math games on the ipads. Keep reading to see what our classroom reporters wrote this week about what they learned in science and language arts.

Science:  Structures of Matter

What did you learn about chemical and physical changes during the investigation we did with the 10 different stations?

In the 10 different stations some physical and chemical changes I learned about
are the PH paper and ammonia was a chemical change because the paper
turned purple. Also the vinegar and baking soda was also a chemical change
because the vinegar made a chemical reaction when added to the baking soda.

-Madison

When we did the 10 chemical and physical changes stations, I learned how
different chemicals, like ammonia, react with different items, like paper. My
favorite was when we put yellow paper in ammonia and it turned dark, vibrant,
purple.

- Abigail

We learned chemical and physical changes during the 10 different stations we
tried out. It was fun we did a lot. Physical changes are when the object changes
by itself. A chemical change is when the object changes if something touches
the object.

-Jayden

The paper turned purple in the Starch. The salt didn't disappear in the water it
combined in the water.The clay was a physical thing because we used our hands
to form it into a snake.
-Nevaeh

What we learned about chemical and physical changes during the investigation we did with the 10 different stations, is that chemical changes are when 2 or more different things are combined to make a new thing, and you can’t change it back. For example, when you put a piece of pH paper in ammonia, you can’t change the pH paper back to the way it was, and the ammonia and pH paper create a new thing. What I learned about physical changes from the 10 stations, is that you can undo a physical change, when something is physically changed, it is normally only its appearance that changes. For example, when you rip a piece of paper, it is still a piece of paper, it just looks different. Putting baking soda on a plate and then putting vinegar on the baking soda creates a new substance, therefore it is a chemical change, and when you shape clay, it is a physical change, because you can change it back to how it was. I have learned a lot from this investigation and I hope you have learned some things from reading my very long blog post.
- Flynn

I learned more about how Chemical changes are caused by two or more substances put together making a new material of Matter. Physical changes are where two of the same substances are put together to change it’s outlook; color, amount, appearance that sticks to the same matter. However, Physical change doesn’t change texture.

Example: Water mixed with food coloring. [Food coloring is a liquid just like water.] The food coloring will change the color of the water, but not the form.

Example 2: Salt mixed with warm water. [The salt is a solid, and the water is a liquid.] The water absorbs the salt, the salt dissolves, and melts down to become the same substance as the water.
-Braelyn

It was so much fun doing the 10 stations when we stuck a piece of paper in starch and it changed colors.
-Taylor

The 10 stations were fun. We got to do fun activities and see if it was a chemical reaction or a physical reaction. I had a lot of fun with my partners we Madylyn and Lyndsey I hope the teachers will do it next year so the fourth graders can have the same experience.
-Aubree

Language Arts:  The American Revolution

In the opinion essay that you are writing, what are some reasons and evidence you have written to persuade colonists to join the Loyalists?

My first reason to persuade them is how the Loyalists have more men/ soldiers than the Patriot army and my second reason is to pay the taxes and debt that go to the British soldiers to help them fight and have food when they are far away from civilization need food or a blanket or maybe even weapon bullets and even weapons so that the British are able to defeat the Patriots.

-Lyndsey

I think the King is so nice, he protected us during the French and Indian War.

He is so sweet, but we have to pay our taxes. I think that's a fair price to pay.

People of the 13 colonies, we MUST remain loyal to the King!

-Cash

One reason on my opinion essay is that you have to pay taxes to pay the British soldiers. Some evidence for that is that you can not just send the soldiers sent out to the colonies or war for free.

-Maximus

I loved this subject it is really fun and I never knew about the wars like the battle of Trenton. I learned a lot from the past few days.
-Jack

The Patriots are rag-tag soldiers without uniforms or lots of supplies.

-Randy

Some reasons and evidence I have put in my essay are the king is nicer

than George Washington.

-Zachary

In ELA we are having our end of unit assessment, we have to make a broadside

which is like an essay about the loyalist perspective. I like learning about how to

make a broadside. ELA has been fun so far.

-Aubree