Summer Fun

Hi Guys!

I hope you all are enjoying your last weeks of freedom before middle school! I am already back, preparing for my new class. Summer went by too fast! I did get to have some fun though. Highlights include 2 whitewater rafting trips, camping, and hiking my first 14er!

What fun things have you been doing this summer? Don't be a stranger and say hello and let me know about all the fun you've had.

Upcoming Events

• Science and Social Studies tests tomorrow
• Staff vs. 5th Grade Kickball Game tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. on the baseball field
• Bring your field day t-shirt and yearbooks to school on Friday for signing
• Monday is our continuation celebration at Southshore YMCA
• Tuesday is Continuation at 9:00 a.m. in the gym

GET EXCITED!!!

Water Planet Test TOMORROW!

1.      Be able to explain why someone’s eyeglasses would fog up in the bathroom after taking a hot shower. This is caused by water vapor condensing, turning from a gas to a liquid, on the glasses because they are cooler than the warm air in the bathroom.

2.      When air masses interact the following can occur: tornado, wind, thunderstorm, and precipitation.

3.      The Pacific Ocean affects the weather along the West Coast of the U.S. by:

a.      Creating mild temperatures along the coast

b.      Providing a source of rain and snow

c.       Creating breezes due to uneven heating

4.      Measurement tools:

a.      a syringe measures volume

b.      a thermometer measures temperature

c.       a clock measures time

5.      Be able to name and label the processes of how water changes from one state to another using the following words: condense, evaporate, freeze, and melt. For example, water evaporates into a gas or water vapor. Then it condenses into liquid water. Liquid water can freeze and turn into solid water or ice. When it melts it returns to a liquid state.

6.      When water on the sidewalk disappears it evaporates. The water is now in the air in the form of a gas called water vapor.

7.      Only 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh water available for human use.

8.      List planets in order from the shortest year to the longest year:

a.       Mercury, Venus, Earth, Jupiter

9.      When you pour iced tea into a glass full of ice the outside of the glass will become wet due to condensation (gas turning into a liquid).

10.  Atmospheric pressure acts on a water bottle by collapsing it. This happens when the pressure inside the bottle is less that the atmospheric pressure.

11.  Know the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable.

12.  Be able to analyze data in a table and create a line graph.

13.  Name source(s) of water used in our school: reservoirs, rivers, lakes, mountain snow

14.  Why does Earth stay in orbit around the sun?

a.      The pulling force due to gravitational attraction between the Earth and the Sun changes Earth’s direction of travel. The result is an almost round orbit.

15.   Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a given time and place.

16.  Weather variables: heat (temperature), moisture (water), & air movement (wind). 

17.  71% of Earth’s surface is covered by water.

18.  The Sun is the center of our solar system.

19.  Know the symbols on a weather map for cold, warm, and stationary fronts.

20.  The moon is an example of a satellite.

21.  Be able to draw a convection current. Know that cool air over the ocean moves towards warm land. The air over the warm land is less dense. This causes winds to blow due to the uneven heating of the Earth. The land will heat up much faster than the ocean. Warm air is less dense than cool air. The cool air will flow onto land and lift the warm air, creating wind.

22.  Be able to explain the water cycle:

a.      It is a global system of water recycling. Water evaporates from the Earth’s surface, goes into the atmosphere, moves to a new location, and returns to Earth as precipitation.

23.  Know how to create a controlled experiment with only one independent variable so you can tell which variable causes the difference or change in the experiment.

Science Study Guide- Test Monday

Water Planet Investigation #3 Study Guide                  
Heating Earth’s Materials: Test Monday May 21, 2012

1.       Wind is caused by the uneven heating of Earth by the Sun.

2.       In the demonstration with the air inside the syringe, air was compressed when pressure was applied to the plunger. The amount of air did not change because there was still the same number of molecules; however, the molecules were pressed closer together.

3.       Air is denser at the base of a mountain because there is more of the atmosphere above pushing down on the atmosphere at the bottom, so the atmosphere is more compressed and denser at the bottom.

4.       Wind moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

5.       Be able to draw and explain the convection current experiment we did in class with the warm water bag and the cold blue water at the bottom of the vial. The water in the vial next to the warm water warmed up and became less dense. When it got to the top, it cooled, became denser, and began to sink.

6.       Be able to analyze and interpret a dual line graph showing Earth materials in the sun and shade over time (just like the experiment we did outside). Know that dry soil heats more quickly and cools off more quickly than water. Water is a heat sink.

Weekly Homework May 14-18

Dear 5^th Graders and Families,

Lots of important and exciting events are coming in the next few weeks, so be sure to mark your calendars!

·         Graduation pictures will be taken on Tuesday, May 15 here at school.

·         Math Day is Thursday, May 17. Please send in your $5 for lunch ASAP.

·         Thursday night is the 5^th grade art/music celebration at PRE from 6-7:30 p.m.

·         Money ($22) for the Museum of Nature and Science is due on Friday, May 18.

·         DARE graduation is Tuesday, May 22.

·         Field Day is Friday, May 25.

Be sure to budget your time accordingly and make time for your priorities. Do not procrastinate! Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great week! J

Vocabulary: We will not have vocabulary words /test this week. The vocabulary practice packet is due on Friday.

Reading:  Please read each night for 20 minutes at home this week. Read the May 4 issue of Weekly Reader News. Complete the questions on the back.  This is due Friday.

Writing: We will explore different types of poetry and practice writing our own poems.

Social Studies: We will have an open notes test on Unit 11 this week on arguments for and against independence. We will also stage our own role play/panel debate to reenact Loyalist and Patriot viewpoints. Then we will begin Unit 12 to understand the main ideas of the Declaration of Independence.

Science: We will continue Investigation 3 in the Water Planet Unit. The experiments will center on exploring heat convection, air pressure, and wind. The Test for Investigation 3 will be this week. A study guide will be sent home and posted on the blog.

Math (Ms. Reese’s class only): This week we will “double-up” on math in order to prepare students for the 6^th grade curriculum. We will focus on algebraic expressions in Unit 10 and will have a test this week. We will have Friday Fun Math Morning from 8:18-9:00 this week. Hope to see you there!

Geography Quiz Wednesday

The following questions come from past geography assignments. Review your notes to be prepared for these exact questions on Wednesday's quiz. Good luck!

1. Savannah, Georgia is located on what coast of the U.S.?
2. What body of water lies between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada?
3. What country controls Greenland?
4. What is the name of Wisconsin's capital city?
5. The Snake River flows through what state?
6. What river flows along the border of Washington & Oregon?
7. What is the largest lake in Utah?
8. What large country borders France to the south?
9. What 2 states hagve cities named Kansas City?
10. Ottawa is the capital of what country?

Vocabulary Words for May 7-11

Science Words:

1. convection current- (noun)-a circular current in a fluid caused by uneven heating
2. atmosphere-(noun)- all of the air that surrounds the Earth
3. compress- (verb)- to squeeze something so it has less volume
4. pressure- (noun)- the force of push caused by mvoing molecules
5. atmospheric pressure- (noun)-the force applied in all directions by the air in Earth's atmosphere

Social Studies Words:

1. traitor-(noun)- a person guilty of betraying or acting against his or her own country
2. tyrant- (noun)-a ruler who uses his power harshly
3. treason- (noun)- the crime of acting to overthrow your ruler or betray your country
4. Patriots -(noun)- colonists who wanted independence and no longer wanted Great Britain to rule
5. Loyalists-(noun)- colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain and did not want independence