We had a lot of fun painting Easter eggs with out reading buddies!
In our new science kit, we are studying 4 types of nutrients in foods, how to test for them and why we need them in our diet. We have so far learned how to test for starch and glucose. In this kit we are also learning how to be careful scientists, making sure to avoid cross contamination by putting the correct foods in each testing tray, using multiple toothpick, and the right spoon for each food. We are also learning that sometimes we need to redo a test when our results don't match up with the rest of the class. It is always fun to read and discuss a book with a friend. In reading right now the fifth graders are doing just that. We have started literature circles, each member of the group is responsible for one part of the group discussion about their book. For our first literature circle all students are reading the same book Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco. Every Tuesday and Thursdays groups have been meeting to discuss the section they read. There are 4 parts to out group discussions. We have the discussion director who is in charge of leading the discussion, they have to write 6 questions about their section. We have the word wizard who is in charge of finding new vocabulary or interesting words from the sections. The third role is blogger, they have to take the role of one of the characters and write a diary entry about the sections they read. The last job we will be doing as a whole class, visual recorder, we will be making an avatar to look as close as we can to one of the characters to summarize the import events that took place in the story. Students have a list of meeting dates and what role they are responsible for. Students are placing their roles online using a website I created so there is not papers to hand in. They are also grading themselves each meeting, and I am also grading them as I walk around observing them. After this book, we will be starting another group where students will get to select 2 or 3 books they want to read and then I will place them in one of those groups. |