Reading on Friday with Miss Weiss

Today students made text-to-life connections between Lyddie, the main character in a novel we are reading about the Industrial Revolution, and themselves. We have watched Lyddie's goals and priorities change throughout the course of her story: in the beginning she wants to "fix" her family and put it back together as it once was. But slowly, Lyddie accepts that change is inevitable. She turns her focus from the past to her own future. She dares to dream bigger.

Students wrote in their RRJs (Reader Response Journals) about how their goals and priorities have evolved over the school year.  As they anticipate graduating, many fifth graders are treasuring the time they have with one another more than ever. The excitement for next year is certainly palpable in the classroom, but it's bittersweet.

Making text-to-life connections and text-to-text connections are skills we have been working on all year - not just in reading, but in other areas (like Torah Project and Social Studies) as well. At this point, making these connections has become almost like a reflex for students. I'm not sure they're even aware when they do it. It's great to see how far this class has come!

Factory Project on Thursday with Miss Weiss

For weeks, students have been hard at work on their Factory Projects. One factory, "MISS G" (for Micah, Inbal, Sandy, Sonya, and Gabe) is producing "graphic tees" -- tees that feature all sorts of cool images of sites from around the world. The other factory, "WHAN" ( for Westrick, Hammarstrom, Alezker, and Nassau) is producing the incredible Pencil-Pen. Their slogan is: "Is it a pencil, or is it a pen? It's both!"

It's very cool to watch the students work. They're taking the assignment so seriously. They've had disagreements about what to pay workers, where to get materials from, product prices, etc. It's great.

Today Jacob showed me a piece of paper that had his factory's budget-related Math calculations on it. He pointed to a number that was somewhere in the $2 million range and said, "Miss Weiss, I'm glad we don't really have to come up with all this money! You know, you need a LOT of money to start a factory!"

Rough drafts are due tomorrow and then we'll start on revisions. The finished products should be stellar -- ask to see them!

Math on Wednesday with Miss Weiss

Fifth graders took a quiz on properties of triangles Tuesday. As a class, they did very well, so kol hakavod to fifth graders!

In yesterday's Math class, we did more work with triangles: we categorized triangles in terms of the length of their sides as well as in terms of the measurements of their angles. In doing this, we encountered six terms to represent the six "types of triangles." Students sounded like pros, talking about acute isosceles triangles and obtuse scalene triangles, etc. It was great to hear!

Poetry on Tuesday with Miss Weiss

Fifth graders received their poetry unit final assessment assignment today. This marks our last writing unit of the year - aside from writing graduation speeches! (Yes, GRADUATION speeches!)
From their Personal Narratives at the beginning of the year, to Biblical Narratives, to G-d Writing, to Creative Stories (and more), the students have come so far in their writing skills this year. Mrs. Woods and I are excited to see the students' final poems -- and even more excited for them to be able to showcase the poems for all of you at Blue State Coffee in June.
See you there!

Solar Energy on Monday with Miss Weiss

Today your children were real scientists! After having studied solar energy and solar ovens for the past 3 weeks, fifth graders entered uncharted territory. They used what they know to come up with new, innovative ideas about how to insulate solar ovens (which we will begin to build later this week). The kids brought in all kinds of materials --- things I hadn't even thought of -- flower petals, bubble wrap, the stuffing inside a stuffed animal, to name a few. The students made all the "executive decisions" themselves --- whether to shred materials or test them as is, whether to re-test materials, how much of each material to use, etc. It was pretty awesome to watch!

I can't wait to see where the kids take this project next! Stay tuned...

Factory Project

Fifth graders were introduced to their "Industrial Revolution Culminating Endeavor" today, in which they will create plans for a factory produced product in groups.  This is an integrated project, which will draw on skills and content knowledge from most subject areas (Science, Social Studies, Writing, Computers, and Judaic Studies).  Please ask your child about it!  They will work on this project during the month of May.  Their plans will be pitched in early June.

Swimming in a Sea of Poetry

We began our poetry unit today.  "Poetry is emotion" is one of our main big ideas for this unit.  We began by brainstorming poetic words and phrases.  Slowly, slowly the words came at first, then they flew from mouths onto two large pieces of chart paper, falling fast from lips until the paper had been taken over with their poetic words.  We talked about words that evoke feelings and imagery.  Each student chose several words to display artfully, and then added string to the top, to be hung from the ceiling.  As they worked, I read poetry.  We intend to transform our classroom into a sea of poetry, so that we feel as if we're swimming in poetry.  It is my hope that our young poets will sleep, eat, and breathe poetry in the coming weeks!  Every night each fifth grader will bring home a different book of poetry, to spend five minutes reading independently and five minutes aloud.  The more poetry we read and hear, the better poets we will become.  Fifth graders will begin writing original poetry next week.  At 6PM on June 13th the class will recite their poems at Blue State Coffee on Thayer Street.  Mark your calendars!

Next Math Test

There will be a math test on ratios, probability, and percents on Wednesday, May 4th.  Students should use the chapter review in their text books to study.

Current Events

Starting this week until the end of the year, every Friday each fifth grader will bring in a news article, a short summary, and personal thoughts about it.  Parents may wish to monitor from which news sources students are reading.  Articles can be read online.  We talked about students doing no more than one "fluff" article, like the royal wedding!

Modern Child Slavery

In Social Studies today students read excerpts from real-life stories of children, in India and Thailand, sold into labor to pay off their parents' debts.  Students defined captive, ransom, advocate, and redemption.  We talked about the poverty that would cause parents to fall into such a horrible trap.  We acknowledged how deeply sad it is when children are forced to work, and in such terrible conditions.
On Friday we will examine a Jewish text about freeing captives.

Math Quiz

Students completed a math quiz on finding percents today.  The quizzes will be returned tomorrow.

Creative Stories

Writers are busy editing and revising their stories.  It's impressive to see them peer edit productively!  Students will hand these in next Friday.

In the garden

We tilled several beds this week, using the compost that we made this year, sowed sugar snap peas in two beds, started watering, and of course, said a Shehechiyanu!

Wind Energy

Paul Rich, from project Deepwater Wind, came to speak to the class about wind energy.  He gave a very engaging slide-show presentation, as well as fielded dozens of fabulous questions from fifth graders.  This project is cutting edge and hopefully the future of energy in RI, New England, and the world.  It looks like RI might be the first state in this country to have an off-shore wind farm.  Take a look: http://dwwind.com/

Among the great questions asked by the class: How green are the materials used to make the wind turbines?  Where do the materials come from?  What is the cost of making one turbine?  Why is it so much? 

Paul's response to my thank you for coming email was:
"My pleasure!  What a great group of engaged students. I found them to be inspiring!"

Percent in Math

Fifth graders did very well on a math quiz this week.  Our current unit is on ratios and percent.  There will be another math quiz next Monday.

Literature Circles by Micah

In Bunnicula our group used literature circles. Literature circles is a way to think about a book by questions, connections, inferences, art, parts of chapters you like, and new words. In our group the students controlled the literature circles. Each person in our group got to state their thoughts about the chapter and they presented to their literature circle. Also our group made a rubric to see how well we did. Overall this experience of literature circles was fun, and I think our group learned a lot.

Shma Books with Kindergarten

On Monday morning, the 4th and 5th graders had the opportunity to present their Shma books to the kindergartners. This has been a project they have been working on for the past few months in Iyyun Tefillah (Tefillah Study). It was a culmination of our year-long learning about the first paragraph of the Shma: the students already knew how to say the words, and now they know what the words actually mean. Over the course of the year, different rabbis and guests came to speak to the class about all of the phrases, and the students took notes on their presentations. They wrote about what they learned in their Shma books, and then taught the information to the kindergartners, who are just starting to learn about the Shma. Kol Hakavod!
-Eliana

Slater Mill field trip by Kevin

For Social Studies, we fifth graders went on a Field trip to Slater Mill.
We learned about many historical events that happened at Slater Mill.
We also learned about the slaves in the fields, and how the slaves were out in the heat picking cotton as fast as they could. We went to a house and saw how people lived back then and the trouble they had to go through if there was an emergency. When we visited a real water wheel, and a miniature replica, we saw the structure and how it starts and how it works. After we went to a factory.
In the factory that was where we saw all the machines that they were using and getting hurt on.
Last but not least we watched a movie that was talking about how kids were working in the factory, and what kinds of accidents could happen if you did something wrong. And overall, it was the most fun I ever had on a Social Studies field trip ever!

Bunnicula

On Monday, March 28th, students reading Bunnicula with Mrs. Woods will meet for one final time about this novel.  This has been an entirely student-led literature circle, with impressive discussions!  Kol Hakavod to the readers!

Math Tests and Friday Letter

Math tests will be returned to students on Friday.  Please be sure to look over your child's test. 
Because of the field trip to Slater Mill, students will not be able to write a Friday letter this week.  Hopefully the recent blog posts will give you a sense of life in fifth grade this week.

Tuck Everlasting Update by Miss Weiss

The Tuck Everlasting reading group tackled the question of the book yesterday:  if you had the opportunity to live forever, at a single age, would you take it?

When we entertained this question at the book’s outset, students thought living forever seemed like a great idea— you could do all the dangerous things you want without ever getting hurt! But through getting to know the Tuck family, students learned that there are negative implications of living forever too. You can’t have a family when your wife and kids age naturally and you don’t. You can’t have friendships or long-term jobs. Living forever at one age means falling off the "revolving wheel" that is the cycle of life.

It’s been wonderful to witness the students as their thoughts on the issue develop and evolve. They are so perceptive and make such insightful text-to-life connections about growing up, maturing, and changing. They've certainly taught me a lot! Monday students will have a final opportunity to share their thoughts on the issue with the group. I look forward to what I know will be a provocative and thought-provoking discussion!

Natalie's Post about our Special Guest

Today a woman from Slater Mill came to our class and talked about Samuel Slater, Slater Mill, the difference between Industrial and Agricultural, and how to make plants into thread into cloth into clothing. We learned a lot about cotton, where it comes from and how to make it into clothing. We learned about flax and the long two-year process to make one small piece of clothing. We also got a ball of cotton and de-seeded three seeds, which was so hard! I continued to de-seed the cotton, and I finally got the hang of how to do it. Now I have a ball of cotton, which is softer than the fur on a dog’s ear. I think I am going to plant a seed and try and grow cotton. It must have been a big change for the people that lived in those times. They started making their own clothes and then they were sending their kids to go work in the mill! It’s a huge change. I wonder if the mill owners liked having apprenticeships. They would have more competition if other people they trained opened up a new mill. Also I think it is so unfair that the girls got paid less than the boys. Girls can do just as much work as boys can! Another thing I couldn’t imagine was putting all those clothes on in the morning and not washing them. They probably stank so badly that people would run away from you because you smelled so bad. Anyway I think it was a very interesting presentation, and I loved the spinning wheal that she showed us at the end. It was so cool! The visit was the highlight of my day, and I can’t wait to go to Slater Mill!
P.S. I also can’t wait to see Micah ville, Gabe ville and Kevin ville! Haha

Chag Purim Sameach!

It truly was a happy Purim that we celebrated together on Monday. The 5th graders amazed the school with their fabulous megillah readings. In addition to learning a section from the megillah, the students wrote a poem and illustrated their section. The rest of the school loved hearing from the seniors!
Other highlights from the day: baking hamantaschen (including gluten free hamantaschen) that the whole school got to eat at lunch, making masks and graggers, hearing Klezmer music from the Brown-RISD group, and visiting Tamarisk. The 5th graders were excellently behaved and brought smiles to the faces of the elderly residents of Tamarisk.
Kol Hakavod to all!
-Eliana

Writing and Math

The creative stories are really developing!  Writers are learning how to correctly include dialogue into their stories.  They are also working on coming up with original similes and metaphors, which are so much better than the cliches!
We reviewed in math yesterday to prepare for Thursday's math test on multiplication and division of decimals.

Student Post

Today Miss Weiss and Mrs. Woods co-facilitated a class discussion.  Many big ideas and important questions came up while at our debate on Monday.  We posed a couple of questions to the class on Tuesday, and they voted on which question they'd like to focus a discussion around.  The big idea of believing a cause is worthy of risking your life for emerged from our studies of the American Revolution.  As you'll see in the follow post, by fifth grader Jacob, this big idea was transferable to a variety of content they've encountered.

And now please read this post (unedited by anyone other than the writer):

In social studies,we talked about what- if anything- is worth dying for. We thought that things such as going to the military in a war, standing up for people and just doing what is right are great things, even if you die in the process and how the thought is a big part of it. We related this to the story of Esther  and when she went up to the king (which she wasn't allowed to do) and attempted to save the Jews, which she did, even though she risked a punishment or even death in the process. She wasn't afraid to stand up for her people so she saved them. We also related this to Moses and how he saved the Jews by freeing them in Egypt. After some encouragement from God, he put himself in danger to stand up for what was right. There were many different thoughts about this, and we came up with some great ideas.
                                                                Jacob

Creative Stories

Fifth grade writers worked on developing their characters this past Tuesday.  We are all in the drafting stage of the writing process.  On Thursday we'll revisit our plots, to see how knowing our characters more deeply might impact plot developments.

Today's Field Trip

All fifth graders delivered impassioned speeches during today's debate in the Old South Meeting House.  It was exciting to have this opportunity to re-enact history.  The tension between the violence of the Patriots and our yearning to see our beloved Patriots as "right" was palpable.
Lunch at the Milk Street Cafe was also a fabulous experience.  How many restaurants have mezuzot on them? 
The whole class behaved very well, and I was proud of how they represented JCDSRI.
Thank you to Marissa and to Laura for driving and helping make this trip a reality!
Please ask your fifth grader for their personal highlights.

Shabbat Shalom and God Writing

Please be sure to read your child's Friday letter for their take on the week.  They each brought home a booklet, filled with their writings about God.  These are very special.  You might take the time to read them this weekend.  This is one of my favorite writing assignments of the year.
Shabbat Shalom,
Mrs. Woods

JS Update

This week, the students had the opportunity to read about the famous encounter between God and Moshe at the burning bush. We read the text together, and then created skits to reenact this amazing, awe-inspiring experience. Still to come- what will Moshe's reaction be to this encounter, and will he be excited to become the savior of the Jewish people. Here is a question to think about: Why did God choose to come in the form of a burning bush to Moshe? What does this symbolize? How is this image a metaphor for the experience of the Jewish people in Egypt?
In lashon, we have been working on the past tense- student scan now talk about what is happening and what has happened!! Kol hakavod to everyone for picking up a difficult concept so quickly!
Torah Project continues to roll along: this week, we checked out a great website that has a video summary of each parshah, with pictures and songs. Check it out at www.g-dcast.com
What a fabulous experience it has been working with this group of 5th graders- I am looking forward to another great week!
Shabbat Shalom
Eliana

Tuck Everlasting from Miss Weiss

On Wednesday, some of the fifth graders started a new book: Tuck Everlasting. It’s a fantasy book—our first of the year, and so first, we unpacked what a fantasy book is. After reading about the genre, we found that fantasy writing is more than just text that’s make-believe or grounded in the imagination. Good fantasy stories push us to ask ourselves larger questions and ponder larger concepts in our own lives.
Now, we’re less than 20 pages into Tuck, and students have already posed all sorts of guesses as to what the big question examined in this book may be. Their excitement is contagious!
The students can’t wait until next class to see what happens next in the novel. I can’t wait to see what insights, questions, and inferences the students come up with next! Good stuff.

After break

I wrote a lengthy post on Monday, which seems to have gotten lost in cyber space.  I'll try to recap: it was fabulous to be reunited as a class kehilla on Monday.  Students shared highlights from their week off.  We started a math unit on multiplying and dividing decimals.  Math tests (on triangles) went home on Monday.  Tomorrow I will go over the tests with individuals.  We've done two science experiments on energy this week.  Ask your child what happened to the bouncy balls when they were soaked in hot water.  Ask your child about the vinegar experiment!  We are seeing how thermal energy is transferred.  We finished Bridge to Terabithia on Monday.  Students are preparing for their debate in the Old South Meeting House on Monday.  Thank you for promptly returning the field trip forms!

New Books

Miss Weiss began Tuck Everlasting with a reading group today.   She will share details about this soon.  Please let us know if you'd like a copy.  With my group, we worked on how to do literature circles, which we'll be doing for our upcoming book.  Stay tuned!

RISD Art Museum

Today's field trip was incredible!  Students sat poised for an hour in the "Collision" exhibit, taking notes on the art that spoke to them.  Readers wrote similes and metaphors about the art and made connections between their experience and Jess's.  The security guard commented to me on how well behaved they were.  I was imprsessed by their focus, creativity, and engagement.  All agreed they grew as individuals from this experiential learning expedition!
Shabbat Shalom,
Mrs. Woods

JS Update

We have so many exciting things going on!
First and foremost, we are getting ready for our role in the Zimriyah: singing a special 5th grade rocks song, doing a dance- choreographed by 5th graders, and reading the narration between the songs, What great honors, and what a way to show off how amazing the 5th grade is!
In Lashon, we have spent some time thinking about tzedakah, and I was SO impressed that the students were able to have a discussion (mostly) in Hebrew about Rambam's 8 levels of tzedakah. Which do you think is a higher level: when the giver and the receiver do not know each other, or when the giver gives to the needy without being asked? This has prompted a lot of great debate in our class. I hope you find a chance to talk it over, perhaps at the dinner table!
This lesson is related to the tzedakah project that we have taken on: former JCDS student, Nicholas Lowinger, has created a tzedakah box to collect NEW shows for kids in need. Please bring in a new pair of shoes to add to our collection. 5th graders have made posters and announcements to the school about this campaign- please help us support them!
In Chumash, the students just handed in recommendations that Moshe be the leader of the Jewish people- God liked their work so much that God has asked Moshe to become the savior! Students presented their work to each other- what a creative bunch we have! From power points to letters, from songs to raps to posters, it was a great day in class to hear from our students about Moshe's strengths and weaknesses. Kol Hakavod!

Math with Miss Weiss on Wednesday

Today fifth graders had fun with geometry! With graph paper, scissors, and some stellar problem solving skills, students folded rectangles and squares diagonally in half to form right triangles!
After some trials and errors, the class arrived at the "Area of a Triangle" formula.

God Writing

Wow!  Their work is incredible.  I can't wait to share these.  This assignment is due before students leave for February break.  Fifth graders are thinking deeply and expressing their complex thoughts very clearly on paper.  Impressive!

No Taxation without Representation

We recently enacted what and how it means to pay a tax, while students learn about the colonists' struggles with taxation.  On March 7th we will go to Boston to re-enact the tea tax debate in the Old South Meeting House.  Stay tuned for information about that formative field trip.

Math Update

Math tests will be returned tomorrow, Wednesday.  Please check in with your child.  I am impressed by the improvements in solving word problems!  We began a new unit on geometry--- our focus is on triangles.
-Mrs. Woods

Hand powered Flashlight

During science yesterday fifth graders explored, puzzled over, and figured out how to make light from a hand powered flashlight.  Then in pairs they mapped out all of the energy transfers which took place, from the the sun right on through until the flashlight produced light.  They will try out this new skill by mapping out an energy transfer at home.

DOL Quiz Friday

Please note that there will be a D.O.L. quiz this Friday, on weeks 9-12.  Students should study 10 minutes/night.

You say you want a revolution?

We began our American Revolution unit in Social Studies today.  One of our big ideas in this unit is that there are many events that lead to war, not just one.  Fifth graders learned a little bit about the French and Indian War today.  We talked about how proud we all are of our country being founded on important ideas, like everyone being equal!

Potential & Kinetic Energy

Fifth graders took a quiz yesterday to assess their understanding of potential and kinetic energy.  Quizzes were returned this morning.

From Eliana

In Torah Project, I introduced the long term project that will help us learn the Summer Parshiyot. Each student will be responsible for learning about one or two parshiyot and then teaching it to their peers. We are working on writing clear, concise, complete and correct summaries of the parshiyot. This will be a fantastic learning experience for the students and I look forward to seeing them all as teachers.
We are starting to prepare for the Zimriyah- make sure to mark your calendars for February 17!!

Fractions and Mixed Numbers Math Test

Fifth graders took a math test today, on fractions and mixed numbers.  I have already looked them over, and I plan to return them tomorrow, Wednesday.  If you see an "S" written next to your child's work, that means "simplify."  A "P" means the student was given "partial credit" because some of the work was correct.

"Story of Stuff" Assignment Returned

I loved reading these!  These were returned to students today, so please be sure to check in with your child to see how well he or she did on this assignment.

Snow and Recess

Please remember to send you child with a hat, gloves, boots, and warm jacket.  Natalie and Sonya had a blast playing outside during recess today.  Hopefully we can enjoy the snow as a whole class!

Math Test Tuesday

Our math test was pushed back due to the snow day and the newspaper project.  It will be on Tuesday.

Colonial Newspapers

Fifth graders handed in their newspapers today!  They should feel so good about all that they've accomplished with this project.  This morning they did as self-assessment, and then each group read the other group's paper.
Kol Hakavod!

Math with Miss Weiss

Eliana and I met with the other DeLeT mentors yesterday, at JCDS- Boston.  We are always trying to learn how to be better mentors!

Miss Weiss taught classes in the AM.  The following is from Miss Weiss:

Yesterday in class fifth graders used their knowledge of fractions and
mixed numbers to solve real-world problems. First, they helped me
figure out my portion of a meal in which I split five appetizers
evenly among myself and two other people. Then students worked in
pairs to solve a slew of other challenging real-world word problems on
a variety of topics. In fact, the fifth graders were such math
superstars yesterday, they plowed through the assigned problems and
the problems I had intended to give them for homework all before the
end of the class period. Kol HaKavod, fifth graders! Keep up the good
work!

New Science Unit

We began our new science unit today: Energy.
This unit will have three parts: an energy overview, wind energy, and solar energy.
Students wrote and shared what they think they know about energy and what they want to learn.  They took a pre-assessment and they worked on creating their own definitions for energy.  Then we read a bit about different forms of energy, highlighting main points along the way.  I think they were surprised to learn that there is the same amount of energy in the world today as there always has been.  I think it's fascinating!

Making Stuff

This might be a great series for parents and fifth graders to watch together!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/making-stuff.html

Writing about God

Fifth graders began a new writing project today: expressing their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and ideas about God.
This assignment does not have a rubric.  At this time there is also no fixed due date.
Putting a topic that is difficult to express in words on paper is a real challenge.
I can't wait to see what they write!

Lashon

We have been listening to the song "Orchim Lakayitz" in Lashon this week as we make a connection to our Jewish value of the month, Hachnasat Orchim, Welcoming Guests. In the song, the kids are excited about welcoming guests to their homes and learning about their different cultures. We have been writing about how to be welcoming in our classroom, our school and our home.
Enjoy the you tube links below, and sing along with the songs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHbCC8CH6VY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9trM_dxqR4&feature=related

Colonial Newspaper- 5th graders using google docs

Fifth graders are busy working on their newspapers.  By using google docs, they are able to all work on one document in real time.  They are very excited about it!

"It's so awesome! You can see other people type while you are typing on the same document!" wrote Sonya.