Extra Practice with Multiplication Tables

Hello Grade 5's and parents!

This is a reminder that students need to start setting aside time each evening for reviewing their multiplication tables over the next few weeks. Our new "mental math" unit is quite challenging and students really need to have a good handle on their multiplication tables up to 12! Here are some excellent links to help you at home.

This is a great website with flash cards for students to use: http://www.aplusmath.com/Flashcards/multiplication.html

Try out the "multiplication mystery" game:

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/mult/mult.html

Practice multiplication using arrays and the Distributive Property:

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/elab2004/gr5/20.html

This website is teriffic for practicing multiplying two-digit numbers:

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/rubber_whats_missing/

*Here are the specific Number Sense and Numeration expectations addressed by these activities:
-solve problems involving the addition,
subtraction, and multiplication of whole
numbers, using a variety of mental strategies
(e.g., use the commutative property:
5 x 18 x 2 = 5 x 2 x 18, which gives
10 x 18 = 180);
- multiply two-digit whole numbers by
two-digit whole numbers, using estimation,
student-generated algorithms, and
standard algorithms;

-Graphic taken from: www.pde.state.pa.us/math/site/default.asp

Ancient Time Capsule

Hey Grade 5's!

To end our Early Civilizations unit, you will each be creating your own time capsule. In it you may place two artifacts - including anything from an ancient map that you have made, to journal entries of someone from an early civilization, or an ancient myth you have composed, or even an ancient artifact that you have constructed!

You will choose your two favourite civilizations that we have studied in class and provide a brief description of the government, social needs, values and beliefs, technological advances, etc for both. You must also explain the items you have chosen for your capsule, and state why they best represent each civilization.

Here are some terrific websites for researching early civilizations that will help you summarize the key features of your chosen civilizations, and to give you ideas for artifacts to place in your capsule:

Ancient Egypt http://www.horus.ics.org.eg/en/History/History.aspx

Ancient Greece http://members.aol.com/donnclass/Greeklife.html

Ancient Rome http://members.aol.com/donnclass/Romelife.html

Ancient Civilizations http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/

The specific Social Studies expectations that this activity focuses on are:

-Describe the physical features and climate of two or more regions where early civilizations developed

-Explain how two or more early civilizations shaped and used the environment to meet their physical needs for food, homes, clothing, and health

-Compare how two or more early civilizations were governed

-Outline how social needs were met in two or more early civilizations

-Identify important values and beliefs in two or more early civilizations and describe how they affected daily life

-Identify some scientific and technological advances made by two or more early civilizations

-Graphic taken from http://www.earthcapsule.com/content/images/history_pyr.jpg

Favourite Poems

This is just a reminder for my class that you need to choose a poem that you enjoy for Monday's class. You must read the poem aloud to the class and discuss its meaning. You may want to look at elements, such as the poem's mood, theme, and the use of similies, personification, or point of view (as we talked about in class) - which all contribute to the poem's meaning.
Remember to consult the dictionary to check the meaning of any words in the poem that you may be unfamiliar with.
This is a great Kid's Dictionary:
http://wordcentral.com/
Here's another dictionary that will be very helpful when we begin to compose our own poems in a few days. It is a rhyming dictionary:
http://www.rhymezone.com/
If you are having trouble finding a good poem, these two links:
http://www.poetryarchive.org/childrensarchive/home.do
http://www.poetry4kids.com/index.php

This poetry activity will cover several Grade 5 Language Arts expectations, including:
-Students will make inferences about oral texts using stated and implied ideas in the texts as evicence (e.g., I wonder what was meant by...?)
-Students will read a variety of texts from diverse cultures, including literary texts (e.g., short stories, poetry, myths, etc)
-Students will identify a variety of purposes for reading and choose reading materials appropriate for those purposes (e.g., dictionaries to clarify word meanings)
-Students will use stated and implied ideas in texts to make inferences and construct meaning
-Students will analyse texts and explain how various elements in them contribute to meaning
-Students will identify various elements of style and explain how they help communicate meaning

-Graphic taken from http://www.dianakimpton.co.uk/i/MOUSE%20-%20CARTOON%2015.gif

Life Systems: Human Organ Systems

Hello Again Grade 5's!
As we discussed in Science class today, for the next few weeks we will be studying the various functions of the human body. We will be learning all about the 5 major organ systems, which include the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory, and nervous system. Your homework assignment for the week is to explore each of the web sites below that explore the human body. You must find at least 1 interesting fact for all 5 major organ systems, focusing on exactly what the major organs do. Good luck, and have fun!

"Mr. Bones" will tell you all about how your muscles and skeleton function:
http://fossweb.com/modules3-6/HumanBody/index.html

Learn more about the digestive, circulatory, and respiratory systems:
http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/mybody_SW.html

Take a virtual tour of the human body:
http://www.medtropolis.com/Vbody.asp

This site allows you to explore the nervous system:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html

You will love this site, you can learn gross and cool facts about the human body:
http://yucky.discovery.com/flash/

The specific Grade 5 Science expectations that will be covered in this student activity are:
-Students will describe the basic structure and function of the major organs in the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory, and nervous systems

-Students will describe, using models and simulations, ways in which the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems work together to produce movement

-Students will use appropriate vocabulary, including correct science and technology terminology, in describing their investigations, explorations, and observations (e.g., use of terms such as teeth, esophagus, stomach, and gastric juices in describing the digestive system)

-Graphic taken from http://www.smm.org/heart/Images/heart.jpg

Early Civilizations

Hey Grade 5's!
Here is a really cool educational game called "Math Hunt":
http://teacher.scholastic.com/mathhunt/StartGame.asp?QuizID=5

I thought that it would be a great way to introduce one of the exciting topics that we will be learning about this year...Early Civilizations!!! In this game, you will search through tons of interesting information about civilizations like Ancient Greece or Egypt, to answer math problems.

You also may want to visit these fun PBS links:
"Secrets of Lost Empires" at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires
"Explore the Pyramids" at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/explore/

-Graphic taken from http://www.aeraweb.org/Images/pyramids_img.jpg

Some Excellent Links

Hey Grade 5's!
I have just found a really interesting website full of educational games that I think you will all enjoy. There are some terrific math games available for you to play, cool trivia questions to answer, and even Mad Libs for you to have fun with during your free time!
Here is the link to "Fun Brain":
http://www.funbrain.com

Another fantastic website is "Just for Kids who Love Books." You can read about a ton of excellent "favourite" books that you maybe haven't heard of, and even post messages about books that you really enjoyed reading!
Here is the link to "Just for Kids who Love Books":
http://www.alanbrown.com

You also might want to check out the World Almanac for Kids On-line. Explore this fabulous site for information on countless topics - from amazing animals, to facts about countries around the world! This will also be a useful tool to help you complete homework assignments throughout this year, and in years to come.

The "World Almanac for Kids On-line" may be found at:
http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com

Welcome to Miss. Clarke's On-line Classroom!

Welcome to my webpage!

Hello Grade 5's! This year we will be learning about many exciting new topics. I have created this page so that you and your parents can check out important announcements, tips for assignments and homework, and I will also provide you with some excellent educational links.
ENJOY!
Miss. Clarke

Graphic taken from: www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~ashgurl/