Lunar Eclipse

People have been fascinated by lunar (Moon) eclipses for ages.  For a time during an eclipse, the full Moon seems to disappear as it changes color, darkens, and then reappears.  Through time, people have had different ideas about what causes a lunar eclipse.  Here are some ideas:

A: A near by planet passes between the Earth and the Moon
B: The sun passes between the Earth and the Moon
C: The Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth
D: The Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon
E:  The clouds block out the Moon
F:  A nearby planet's shadow falls on the Moon
G: The Moon's shadow falls on the Earth
H:  The Moon turns to the dark side and then back to the light side. 

Thinking about lunar eclipse only, not phases of the moon.  Which answer do you agree with most?  I am looking for the best explanations to get a prize this week.  Look for evidence online and list your sites.  Try to find sites that haven't been used before.  ASK.COM or ANSWERS.COM are not valid sites!  If you use these sites you will not be able to get into the prize box this week.  Do not "copy and paste" into the comment section try to put the information into your own words.  Disagreeing respectfully is always acceptable.

NEW and IMPROVED!!! Stemscopes!

We are so lucky to have access to a great science resource.  You will be able to review topics we have already gone over and get vital extra practice on test questions similar to the STAAR. 

The website is hereStemscopes

If that link does not work then the URL is https://springbranchisd.stemscopes.com/

Once you are at the log on screen you can log on exactly as you do when you log on at school.

Short log on and then the password is your lunch number.

This week's homework is to log on and complete at least 20 minutes of practice.  There are games and practice quizzes.  These would be VERY helpful when benchmark time comes around.  This first set will be due Friday November 30.

Hot and Cold Balloons

Mrs. Charles filled a balloon with air.  She tightly tied the balloon so no air could get in or out of the balloon.  She kept the balloon in a warm room.  An hour later she put the balloon in a cold freezer.  When she took the balloon out 30 minutes later, it was still tied tightly shut.  No air escaped form the balloon; however the balloon had shrunk.  Mrs. Charles wondered if the mass of the balloon (including the air inside it) had also changed. 

What do you think?  Is the mass the same or less than?  Give examples, try it out, research on line.  Remember Wikianswers is not a valid scientific website!

Anyone with the right answer and a GOOD explanation will get a pink free sit pass!

Rube Goldberg's awesome systems

We know a system is a group of objects working together to make something happen. Check out these! Can you find all of the energy transfer? http://www.rubegoldberg.com/ 

Also this video is really great example of energy transfer and systems!

OR this old honda comercial is fun too! 

Enjoy!

What's in the Bubbles?

Mrs. Charles is boiling water in a glass tea kettle.  she notices bubbles forming on the bottoms of the kettle that rise to the top and wonders what is in the bubbles.  She asks her friends what they think, and this is what they say:

Dr. Coolidge: "They are bubbles of heat."
Mrs. White: "The bubbles are filled with air"
Mrs. Demeris: " The bubbles are an invisible form of water"
Mrs. Juan:  "The bubbles are empty-there is nothing inside them."
Mrs. Harn:  "The bubbles contain oxygen and hydrogen that separated from the water."

Which person do you most agree with and why?  Look for evidence online or  by doing some investigating at home.  You will get a trip to the prize box for right answers by Friday.  Answers must be complete and have some evidence in order to receive a prize! Have fun!

Mrs. Juan Has Arrived!

Hey 5th graders...

I'm finally blogging!  I hope you have a safe and fun Halloween evening and gets LOTS of treats (and no tricks...spiders!).

Don't forget to watch your capitalization and spelling in your blogs...I'm watching you!

Your reading log is due tomorrow - and don't forget to find examples of personification, metaphor and simile in your novel.

Let me know if you see this - and watch your grammar!

Last call for science fair

2012-2013 Science Fair

RCE 1st-5th Grade Science Fair schedule will be:

Tuesday, November 13: Set-up 6-7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 14: Science Fair 6-7 p.m.

 

Science Fair Forms

 

 

 

Rolling Marbles

Five friends built a marble tower.  The marble tower had a curved track.  The track was designed so that the marbles would move down the track in a circular path.  The track ended on the floor.  Each friend predicted how she thought the marble would move when it rolled off the end of the track onto the floor.  This is what they said:

Mrs. Demeris: "I think it will roll in circles."
Mrs. White: I think it will curve for a bit and then straighten out."
Dr. Coolidge: "I think it will roll in one big curve"
Mrs. Juan: "I think it will roll in a straight line"
Mrs. Charles: " I think it will zig-zag for a little while"

Which friend do you think is right?  Look for evidence online OR by doing some investigating at home.  You will be given tickets for right answers by Friday.  Answers must be complete and have some evidence in order to receive the tickets. 

Some good news!

Hello scientist!  This week we will not have a blog activity.  Instead I want you to go outside and look for science in action.  We will be doing something with it next week, so don't forget make some observations. You do not have to write it on here or even come with it on paper! Just go outside and look around, maybe dig in the dirt, find some worms, check out some matter changing state, or just about anything! Science is all around you!

We will have a blog next week so enjoy!

It is not all fun and games!

This week's blog homework will be kind of fun!  You are to play one of our games and then comment your opinion of it and how it is helpful.  You can get bonus points if you find a science game of your own and post the link!

We have so much going on this week so sometimes we need to remember science is FUN!

If you can't log in then please write your answer on a paper and bring it to class. 
Triple beam balance
States of matter
Magnets
Electricity
Mixture
Mixtures and Solutions


Have Fun!

Boiling time and temperature

Mrs. Juan is heating a pure liquid on a stove.  She records the temperature a minute after the liquid starts to boil.  After 20 minutes of boiling, she records the temperature again.  When Mrs. Juan compares the first temperature with the second, what do you think she will find? 

Explain your thinking.  What "rule"or reasoning did you use to select your answer? 

If someone has already left a comment please read and either agree or disagree.  Provide an explanation for your answer.  If you are having computer problems you can pick up a paper version of this question from class. This counts as your weekly homework!

Disagreeing respectful is perfectly acceptable!

Prompts are based on the book uncovering student ideas in science by Page Keeley and Joyce

Solids and Holes

Mrs. White had a thin, solid piece of material.  She placed the material in water and it floated.  She took the material out and punched holes all the way through it.  What do you think Mrs. White observed when she put the material with holes back in the water? 

A: It will sink.
B. It will barely float.
C. It will float the same as it did before the holes were punched in it.
D. It will neither sink nor float.  It will bob up and down in the water.

Explain your thinking.  What "rule"or reasoning did you use to select your answer? 

If someone has already left a comment please read and either agree or disagree.  Provide an explanation for your answer.  If you are having computer problems you can pick up a paper version of this question from class.

Disagreeing respectful is perfectly acceptable!

Prompts are based on the book uncovering student ideas in science by Page Keeley and Joyce Tugel

Turning the dial

Mrs. Demeris is boiling water on the stove.  She turns the temperature dial up to high to boil the water.  The water is boiling vigorously with large bubbles quickly forming and bursting at the surface.  Mrs. Demeris then turns the dial of the stove down to low.  The water is boiling gently, with smaller bubbles slowly forming and bursting at the surface.  Mrs. Demeris wonders if the boiling temperature changes when she turns the dial.  What would you tell Mrs. Demeris? 
A: The boiling temperature is greater when the dial is set at high.
B. The boiling temperature is greater when the dial is set at low/
C. The boiling temperature is the same at both settings.

Explain your thinking.  What "rule"or reasoning did you use to select your answer? 

If someone has already left a comment please read and either agree or disagree.  Provide an explanation for your answer.  Disagreeing respectful is perfectly acceptable!

Prompts are based on the book uncovering student ideas in science by Page Keeley and Joyce Tugel

Practice Math Concepts Using these Websites and Apps

Use the links below to practice the concepts we are learning - Multiples, Prime and Composite, and Multiplication.

Multiples

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/multiple/multiple_frenzy.htm

Prime and Composite Numbers

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-5/prime-and-composite-numbers

Multiplication

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/numberballoons/NumberBalloons_times_level1.htm

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-5/multiply-by-2-digit-numbers-complete-the-missing-steps

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-5/multiply-numbers-ending-in-zeroes

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-5/multiplication-patterns-over-increasing-place-values
http://www.factmonster.com/math/flashcards.html

Apps to Practice Math Facts

Math Drills
Math Bingo
Pop Math
Hang Man Math
Math Ninja
Math Magician
Monster Math
Math Blaster
Rocket Math
Splash Math
Tribbslite
Math Wise
Fast Facts
Multiplication
KosmicMathLT

For your viewing pleasure

Everybody sing along!!! 

Note: These videos will not show on school computers, but should work fine at home! 

 

Wackos 50 states and capitals!

School House Rock Preamble!

We the people....

Some Apps and websites that might be of intrest!

Here are some apps and websites that might interest you! Enjoy!

 

MATH WEBSITES	MATH APPS
www.mathfactcafe.com	Math Dr.Lite
sumdog.com	mathninjalite
AcademicSkillBuilders	freemathfacts
MathPlayground	mathtables
	arithmeticmathflashcards
Coolmath.com	mymathflashcards
ixl.com	funwithmathflashcards
Khanacademy.com	mathblaster
Factmonster.com	mymathapp
Wildmath.com	zombieattackmath
Funbrain.com
SOCIAL STUDIES WEBSITES	SOCIAL STUDIES APPS
All50states.com	Stackthestates
Coolmath.com	StatesandCapitals
Pibmug.com	Statecapitals
Wakko's 50 states	TheUScapitals
Sheppardsoftware.com	CapitalsUSstateslite
50states.com	Statescapitalsstudybuddy
AcademicSkillBuilders	UsstateFlashcards
Schoolexpress.com	Usstateandcapitals
Kidsgeo
yourchildlearns.com

Is it a solid?

What type of things are solid?  What makes a solid? Below is a list of things.  Tell which ones you think are solids.  Explain your thinking.  What definition, rule, or reasoning did you use to decide whether something is a solid?

If someone has already left a comment please read and either agree or disagree.  Provide an explanation for your answer.  Disagreeing respectful is perfectly acceptable!

Is it a solid?

Rock                                                   rubber band                                           milk
feather                                                 cloth                                              baby powder
sugar                                                   foam rubber ball                                    Styrofoam
air                                                       flour                                                       dust
cooking oil                                          sponge                                                   iron nail
ice                                                      wood                                                     soil
melting wax                                        salt                                                         cotton ball


Prompts are based on the book "Uncovering Student ideas in Science"

Welcome!

The fifth grade teachers and I want to welcome you to 5th grade!  This is a very exciting year of elementary school.  Your class will be keeping a blog to document your vast learning experience and using a lot of technology along the way!  We are excited because we will be learning some new things from YOU, too!