Here's an Idea for February Vacation

Although it seems impossible after all of these recent snow days, we will be having February vacation next week. Being house-bound, I started to search the internet for activities, and this one seemed particularly appropriate for what we have been studying in science. The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA currently has a lunar art exhibit. In addition, beginning on Monday 2/20, the museum is hosting lunar-themed activities during the school vacation week. Along with building lunar modules, designing a lunar colony, and making lunar collages, each day also has a special moon activity such as movies and meeting NASA astronauts. Follow this link to find out more:

http://www.pem.org/calendar/event/1687-lunar_landing_2_0

And don't forget, the North Shore Amateur Astronomers Club will be presenting a Star Party to view stars, planets, and more right at Proctor School on Tuesday, 2/28 after the break. Hope to see you there!

What did we use that toilet paper for anyway?

Thank you, parents, for letting your students raid your closet to get a roll of toilet paper. So what did we use it for anyway? We built a scale model of our solar system, of course! Using a 1 centimeter cube to represent the sun, we calculated, to scale, each planet's orbit of the sun, then measured and labeled them on the roll of toilet paper. It was fascinating to think that the earth would not even be the size of a pin prick on this model. Truly mind-boggling. For another thought-provoking view of making a scale model of the solar system, check out this video from NPR:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/09/18/441400933/planets-transit-the-desert-in-7-mile-scale-model-of-the-solar-system

On a more local scale, check out our own scale models.

 

Happy Holidays!

Just something to spread a little cheer.

And another

Wishing you and your family a happy and safe holiday break.

Whole Lot of Cardboard!

Hello to all!

Inspired by the viral video "Caine's Arcade", the 5th grade class created an entire cardboard arcade! We learned about the engineering design process (constraints, the need to redesign, teamwork and consensus building, testing, etc.) while we constructed with cardboard.  The fun games and activities designed by the 5th graders were realized in the CLIC room with Mrs. Condon. Watching the imagination and creativity of 10 year olds take flight was truly inspirational. Take a look.

Trying out a game

Making an air hockey table

And trying out the air hockey table--it even has score cards!

                                                                                                 

Working in CLIC on a race course

             Mini golf anyone?                                                                                                       

 Skee Ball!

 And at the end of the day, everyone had a good time, learned the value of working together and making compromises, and understood that engineering is not a "once and you're done" proposition.

Erosion Models Are Awesome!

Now that spring is here, we can work on science labs outside!  Today was perfect for that.

If your student comes home with muddy knees, please forgive them.  We were working diligently on creating erosion models and had to get down on the ground in order to make them work.  Scientists use models to study processes that happen too slowly or on too large of a scale to observe directly.  And so, working in small trays with mud, water, rocks, toothpicks, and spray bottles works well for us to "see" erosion first hand.  We created deltas, carved caves, and smoothed out mountain tops all within a 30' by 15' space and in only 45 minutes!  Ask your student how they eroded today.

Coordinate Grid Games

We've been studying coordinate grids and line plots in math.  While it's difficult to find games on the Internet involving line plots, there are many games to practice plotting points on a coordinate grid. Below are links to just a few.  Note that some games include working in all quadrants of a coordinate grid, positive and negative; we have only worked in the positive quadrant in class.  Have fun!

http://mrnussbaum.com/stockshelves/  uses negatives

http://www.mathplayground.com/locate_aliens.html  uses negatives

http://hotmath.com/hotmath_help/games/ctf/ctf_hotmath.swf  uses negatives

https://www.ixl.com/math/grade-5/graph-points-on-a-coordinate-plane  a little less exciting but good practice

Boston Massacre Reenactment

We are fortunate to live in an area so rich with early American history.  We walk where colonists walked.  We see the actual houses in which they lived.  And this weekend, we can experience what it might have been like to be a colonist during the events which lead to the Revolution.

Our class has been reading a short book about the causes of the American Revolution.  In coming weeks, we will continue to learn more about the Revolution in Social Studies class as well.  But this weekend presents an opportunity which only occurs once a year--the reenactment of the Boston Massacre which Paul Revere used so effectively to stir Patriot sentiments.  The Bostonian Society will be presenting a reenactment of the massacre at 7pm this Saturday, March 5.  Please visit their website to learn more (http://www.bostonhistory.org/?s=osh&p=calendar#upcoming).  With Boston so close, I wanted to share this information with you and your family to take advantage of living history.