What have we been up to?
And that's a wrap!
May 25, 2016: The fifth grade students have successfully finished elementary school! While it is a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to their time here at Gilberts Elementary, they will always be remembered and missed greatly. I can't wait to see the great things they accomplish in their future and who they grow up to be! Good luck in middle school fifth graders! Reach for the stars!
Here is a video I put together of our year together. Enjoy!
Here is a video I put together of our year together. Enjoy!
Shark tank!
May 2016: The students all did an excellent job "pitching" to the sharks on why their new product was the best thing on the market! Great job entrepreneurs!
The cam clip
Civil War Technology projects!
March 2016: The students have just finished their technology Civil War projects! They worked in groups to create a project that reviewed everything they learned about the Civil War! They were excellent. Great work students!
Civil War RapJulia, Shelby, Jenna, Kristion, Kevin, Gavin, and Carter
civil war google slidesLogan, Brooke, Kayla, and Joanna
civil war websiteMorgan, A.J., Alli, and Maverick
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civil war playCienna, Lilly, Reese, and Declan
civil war Haiku DeckIsabella, Ally, Colin, and Ian
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A visit from superintendent mr. heid!
Friday, February 26, 2016:
Today, our superintendent, Mr. Heid, came to visit our classroom! Last week he challenged our class to tell him who the two major generals of the Civil War and today we were able to impress him with our knowledge! We are looking forward to him coming back to listen to our Civil War technology projects in a couple of weeks! Thanks for visiting Mr. Heid and excellent work 5th grade! |
valentine's day celebration!
Friday, February 12, 2016
Genius Hour Round 2!
Gavin: Bubble tea |
Declan: Origami |
Alli: Norway |
Shelby: Gallbladder Cancer |
isabella: dolphins |
Ian: stealth jets |
Ally: Contemporary lyrical danceSophia Lucia: Dance Example Video
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Joanna: Zeus |
A.J.: The Lochness Monster |
cienna: Canvas Art techniques |
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Jenna: history of youtube |
Julia: Gabby Douglas |
logan: world war 1 |
carter: The History of Soccer |
Kristion: Origami |
Kevin: History of the seattle seahawks |
Morgan: Leonardo da vinci |
Lilly: Bunnies |
maverick: ninjas |
Zoya: Lego |
More students passed their xtramath! Congrats!
Mr. Z Teaches Us Science!
January 25, 2016: As a former science teacher, Mr. Z was able to stop by and teach us about energy and matter! We participated in many fun and knowledgeable experiments including breaking eggs and launching rockets! Thanks, Mr. Z!
Experimenting with Physical and Chemical Changes!
Station 1: Lava lampstation 2: Glue Bouncy BalLs |
January 2016: Students have been studying matter and its interactions throughout this science unit. To explore the differences between physical and chemical changes, students participated in various experiments. The 6 stations included: 1. Lava Lamps
4. Apple Slice
station 3: Origamistation 4: apple slice |
escape from alcatrazJanuary 4-8, 2016: This week during reading, students have been learning about three daring men who attempted to escape the nation's most secure prison. If successful, these men would have been the only ones to have ever escaped Alcatraz. The whereabouts of Frank Morris, Clarence Anglin, and John Anglin are unknown. Were they successful or did they drown in the cold and dangerous waters of the San Francisco Bay?
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winter party celebration!
December 18, 2015
thank you for all of the canned good donations!
What affects a star's brightness?
December 9, 2015:
Today in science students explored how size and distance of a star from Earth can affect its brightness. To demonstrate, students held flashlights representing different sized stars at the same and different distances. We made observations and then came to conclusions about the size, distance, and brightness of these stars. To conclude our investigation, we discussed how our sun is a star that appears larger and brighter than other stars only because it is closer. |
Tides in motion!
December 8, 2015:
During our study of Earth's place in the universe, the students have been exploring the force of gravity. Today, we discussed tides and how the moon's gravity has a strong influence on the level of the oceans' waters. To solidify this understanding, the students formed a circle which represented the Earth and its water. They then took turns acting as the moon by walking around the Earth. As the moon walked around the Earth, the students acted as the tidal bulges caused by the moon's gravitational pull. We had such a great time exploring tides and gravity! |
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malala the powerful
December 2015
This week the students have been reading about a brave and courageous girl named Malala in this month's Storyworks magazines. Malala Yousafzai was 15 years old when she was shot by the Taliban in Pakistan for fighting for girls' rights to go to school. She survived and was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Today, she continues to fight for girls' education in Pakistan and inspire others. |
congratulations to lilly and kevin!
December 1, 2015: On November 26 (Lilly), and November 28 (Kevin), Lilly and Kevin both completed all of their XtraMath practice! They were able to successfully pass their math facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, addition 2 seconds, subtraction 2 seconds, multiplication 2 seconds, and division 2 seconds! Great work Lilly and Kevin!
Genius Hour!
November 16-18, 2015: This week the students are presenting their Genius Hour projects. They are doing a fantastic job and we are learning so much! Great job 5th grade!
What is Genius Hour? Genius Hour is time set aside in class for students to study a new idea or skill that they choose and are passionate about. There are only 3 rules: 1. Research something 2. Create something 3. Present something Goals of Genius Hour:
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our geniuses' amazing creations!
Shelby"All About Simone Biles"
Jenna"All About Cats"
Cienna"How Interior Designers Do Their Job"
Kristion"All About Cars"
AJ"All About Remote-Controlled Vehicles"
Julia"How to Make Cheer Bows"
Brooke"Desserts Cookbook"
Joanna"All About Diabetes/ Diabetic Cookbook"
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Alli"All About Leukemia"
Lilly"All About Baking"
Kevin"How Computer Games are Made"
Reese"All About Cats"
Logan"The History of Rome, Italy"
Morgan"The History of Cheerleading"
Maverick"All About Rocketry"
KayLa"All About Robots"
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Declan"All About September 11, 2001"
Ally"All About Dogs"
Colin"How Baseballs are Made"
Gavin"How Computer Games are Made"
IAn"All About Cars"
Isabella"Atlantis: The Lost City"
Carter"All About Stars"
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We're Moving West!
October-November 2015
The students are participating in a simulation where they pretend to be pioneers traveling west from Fort Independence, Missouri and heading towards Oregon in search for a better life and new land! "Playing settlers starting for Oregon in 1846, students determine which supplies to carry west, keep diaries, make trail decisions, and write reports to gain credits that move their wagons across a map. Fate cards interject problems such as weather, wagon breakdowns, wild animals, and even death." (InterAct) The students have received identities and have been working cooperatively with their wagon trains to make decisions related to real decisions pioneers had to make on their journey west. Who will make it to Oregon first? |
Watch me (Decimals) Music Video!
October 2015: The students have just finished recording their music video about the addition and subtraction of decimals! The song is performed to the instrumental version of the popular "Watch Me Whip Nae/Nae" song. Students created all of the posters and dance moves! Great job 5th grade!
American revolution war hero/heroine speeches!
October 2015
Gilberts 6th annual walk-a-thon!
October 15, 2015
Scholastic's Design-a-monster contest!
October 2015: Students had the option of entering Scholastic's "Design-a-Monster" Contest! As part of the contest, students had to draw and design an original monster, include a name, and a short description of what makes it so spooky! 1 Grand Prize Winner will receive a "Spooky Classroom Party" and a Skype visit from Goosebumps author R.L. Stine! 10 Runners- Up will receive a monster-size Goosebumps library! Winners will be selected by October 22, 2015. Good luck to all the participants!
"No Taxation without representation!"
The colonies vs. great britain
September 29, 2015: We are learning about the American Revolution and the events that led up to the war. To understand the popular phrase, "No Taxation Without Representation!," the students acted out a skit that took place in a court room. There was a bailiff, a judge, 3 colonists, and 3 British. The rest of the students were the jury. The jury voted in favor of the colonists and found Britain to be guilty. Great acting 5th grade!
exploring place value through math centers and games!
September 25, 2015
Learning about biomes!
September 18, 2015: The students have been learning about Earth's different spheres (hydropshere, atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere). Through the study of the biosphere, the students worked in small groups to research the 7 different biomes of the world, created either a poster, diorama, or video about their biome, and presented it to the class. They did a wonderful job!
The TundraJulia, Cienna, and Kristion created a fantastic Animoto video and diorama!
The DesertLilly, Isabella, Ian, and Maverick created a wonderful diorama and poster of the Desert!
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The tropical rainforestAlli, Declan, and Colin created an awesome Animoto video and diorama!
Temperate deciduous forestLogan, Gavin, and Brooke created a beautiful poster to show the different characteristics of the Temperate Deciduous Forest!
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The shrublandsMorgan, Kevin, and Reese created a great Google presentation and a diorama!
The grasslandAlly, Kayla, and Carter acted out a play of a tour on a tour bus!
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September 17, 2015: This morning, I received a phone call to tell me that the chief of police, Lou Rossi, from the Gilberts Police Department wanted to stop by with his sergeant, Jack Rood, and a police officer in training, to thank our class for the letters we wrote them on September 11, 2015. It was a surprise to us all! They thanked us and told us how much our letters truly meant to them. Mr. Rossi also informed the students that their letters are posted on the bulletin board at the police station and are even being sent to elected officials! The students were able to ask them questions and even received a police Frisbee to take home! They even presented me with a unique "Village of Gilberts" police pin! It was very special to have them come in and it is a memory we will never forget!
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Coming soon to a theater near you!
Remembering september 11, 2001
September 11, 2015: Today we spent time remembering the terrible tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001. We first watched a video that summarized the events of that horrible day, had a great discussion, and then talked about what a hero is. The students then wrote letters to the police officers of the Gilberts Police Department thanking them for their service and heroism.
In memory of the lives that were lost on that tragic day. |
water purification through the water cycle!
September 9, 2015: Today, the students participated in a demonstration to learn how water is purified through the water cycle.
During our discussion of the water cycle, the students wondered how dirty and contaminated water turns back into freshwater when it rains, snows, etc. Through this demonstration, they were able to see that through the process of evaporation and condensation, water is purified. |
The water Cycle REader's Theater!
September 8, 2015: The students performed a reader's theater on the water cycle today. They took on different roles such as the sun, ocean water drops, and a sewage processing plant. The students were able to further explore and understand the continuous cycle water takes on our planet.
Can you spare a drop?
September 2015: In science, we are learning about the four different spheres that make up the Earth: biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. This week we have been exploring the hydrosphere. Today, we did a demonstration to show how much of Earth's water is freshwater that we can use for our daily activities and to stay alive!
The students had a great discussion about what we use water for, what we could do to conserve water, and much more! |
Name Wordles!
August 2015: The students created "Wordles" that expressed the positive qualities about themselves!
We are having a great first week back to school!
August 2015: The students participated in many team building activities this week. One activity (as seen in the pictures below) was a "Cup Challenge." The students had to work together to maneuver a rubber band around plastic cups in order to stack a pyramid of cups. The students did such an amazing job at working as a team and not becoming discouraged! The whole class even gathered around the last group to finish and encouraged them not to give up!
Students also worked on writing goals for the year and reflecting on what they will need from their classmates, their teacher, and themselves in order to be successful this year. We are off to a great start!
Students also worked on writing goals for the year and reflecting on what they will need from their classmates, their teacher, and themselves in order to be successful this year. We are off to a great start!