Rocks and Soil

This week we are learning about rocks and soil. 

We are starting out very simple. We observed the rocks that were sent in. 

Thanks  to Mrs. Kelly Munoz, one of our fabulous 5th grade teachers,  I began by using a USB microscope to examine a fee of my rocks. I will admit I was probably too excited about using this. 

Then every set of partners received a magnifying glass to examine their rocks. 

Next we wrote in our Rock and Science Journals. 

Today we learned more facts about rocks.  We charted our new information.  Then, we used our Rock and Soil Journal and wrote 2 facts we learned about rocks. 

Today we went on a search around the school to find items that were made out of rocks.  Then we came back and recorded our observations in our Rock and Soil Journal.  

We talked about glass being made out of sand and sand is made from rocks so....glass is made out if rocks.  They were amazed! 

We also went on a rock hunt.  They had so much fun being outside. 

And someone wore the wrong shoes for hiking today...oops 😳

Today we examined our rock we found yesterday on our rock hunt.  We drew our rock and wrote words that described it and then wrote a few informational sentences about our rock. 

Literacy Stations

Station 1- smart board sight words 

I went to ikea this weekend and bought step stools so they could reach.  I was way more excited about them than they were. 😊

Station 2- multiple meaning words 

Station 3- iPads

I bought 2 new apps

Montessori Phonics Kindergarten 

Montessori Phonics 1st grade 

Station 4- Writing books 

I love flipping through these and seeing how much they have grown in their writing. 

Station 5- making words

These contain simple CVC words (ex: cat) and harder words with blends at the beginning or the end (ex: stop/lamp)

Station 6: 

Identifying initial, medial, and final sounds /reading CVC words 

Station 7

Compass 

Station 8 

Antonyms

Measurement

 We started with these questions.  The kids knew a lot about measurement.  They just needed help with the vocabulary.  With a little bit of help they were able to come up with these answers.

What does it mean to measure something?

Tell how big it is, tell how small something is

What qualities of an object can be measured? 

Length, height, weight, capacity 

How can I measure something?   

Use a ruler, compare it to something else

Does how I measure matter? 

Yes! They have to start from the same place

Here is what we did for work time.  

Today we compared 3 of our crayons and ordered them from shortest to tallest.   

Today we measured with linking cubes and recorded our data in our Measurement Journals.  

The kids worlkef with their partners to make predictions and then measure classroom items. 

They had a lot of fun doing this activity! 

This week we are learning about capacity. 

After discussing a PowerPoint I made about capacity, I showed the class my water bottle. Then in our measurement journal, we drew and labeled something that had more capacity and something that had less capacity. 

 

Next we looked at 2 different situations and the students had to not only choose the correct answer but also tell me why they chose their answer. 

We finished up capacity by filling different containers with beans to see which one had the greatest capacity. 

Now it's time for weight.  We began our lesson by starting talking about a seesaw.  Would it be fun to be on a seesaw with an elephant?   Why?   This got our mathematical dialogue going.  We measure several items in our scale and discussed that the heavier object always went down and the lighter object was up.  

I passed around a water bottle and had the students draw something that weighed more than my water bottle and something that weighed less than my water bottle. 

 

Next we sorted objects by if they were heavy or light.   I told them to compare the objects to me.  Was the object pictures heavier thn Mr.Elkin or lighter? 

Next we used our scales to compare the weight  of letter magnets, jewels, dominos, cubes, and counting bears and a glue stick.  Each group had the opportunity to compare each set of items. They had to answer and record "How many of my item does it take to equal the weight of my glue stick?"

(Depending on the glue rock each group used, answers will vary)