Here are some pictures from our popsicle party on Monday. We had a lot of fun enjoying our sweet treats and time together to relax before STAAR testing!

Enjoying our popsicle party!

Having a good time!

Our next unit deals with animals and their adaptations and traits. Your BLOG BONUS is to research your favorite wild animal. You can bring in the information or post the information. You need to find:
1. The ecosystem the animal lives in
2. How big the animal gets.
3. How does it attack prey or hide from predators.
4. One interesting fact.
**Remember you can use the research information on the Caldwell Heights Library page on the CHE homepage to help you find the information!

Good luck on International Night! I will be thinking about you guys!!

The STAARS are.....

Ms. Pair's Class!! We earned a Popsicle party Monday for everyone passing their last independent reading relay!! I am so proud of everyones VERY hard work!!

We have brainstormed a list of activities that we could do to take our minds off of STAAR testing next Tuesday and Wednesday. Some of the ideas that we have to have a nice, relaxing weekend are:
- Go swimming
- Go to a friends house
- Play a video game
- Go ride your bike
- Have a water gun fight
- Spend time with family
- Sleep in!!
- Relax by watching TV
- Go to a place like Main Event to have fun
- Go to the movies or watch a movie
- Go to the park
- Go on a hike or go to the lake
- camp out
- Play spies or pirates outside
- Ride on a boat

Just a reminder that STAAR testing is Tuesday and Wednesday. Please make sure your child gets to school on time!! NO backpacks and NO snacks or water. Snack and water will be provided.

We have earned a Reading Campout Thursday after STAAR testing. Please wear your PJs to school. You can bring sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, flashlights, books, and games. We will be doing science, reading and playing games together to celebrate all of our hard work this year!

BLOG BONUS!!! Do an activity off of the list or another one that you would enjoy. Post a note on the blog explaining what you did and why you enjoyed it!! Rest up!!

Celebrations!



We are so thrilled to celebrate our big win! Our whole class is wearing crowns this week to celebrate everyone passing an independent reading relay passage!!

Reading-
     In reading we have been reviewing all of the reading skills that we have learned this year. We have been focusing on main idea, fact and opinion, summary, sequencing, and others. We have learned that when summarizing expository text that it is best to use a main idea web.
     We will continue to review our reading skills and having our Reading Relay to prepare for the STAAR.

Writing-
     We have been writing persuasive letters. We have learned that in order to persuade someone you must be knowledgeable about the topic. We all picked a topic to research to persuade someone about. Be looking for those letters to come home :).

Math-
     In math we have been learning about and reviewing different types of problem solving questions. We have learned about working backwards, logic, and range. We learned that when solving a range problem it is a good strategy to use a three part t chart.
     We have also been reviewing all of the math concepts that we have learned this year. This week we reviewed fractions, geometry, volume, capacity, linear measurement, weight, and place value. We will finish reviewing skills for the STAAR test next week. We are genius level mathematicians.

Celebrations-
     We were able to eat lunch in the courtyard this week for passing our independent relay. This week if we have the same results we will be having a popsicle party in the courtyard. The courtyard has been revamped recently and decorated. It is a fabulous experience to sit out there and enjoy our time together.
     We are working to earn a reward for the Thursday after STAAR testing. We are uncovering the letters as we earn compliments. We still are unsure of what it exactly is!!!!!!

Blog Bonus!!
In the upcoming weeks we are going to be learning about animals and plants and their traits and adaptations. These activities will help you build your background knowledge for what we are about to learn.

BLOG BONUS:
1. GO to the science website that you have visited for other Blog Bonuses:http://roundrockisd.stemscopes.com/login

2. Log in
User name: pair3
Password: pair3

3. Click on the link to open

4. Complete the Web Surfing Science or the Interactive Simulation Investigation. You can listen to the Science Rock song for fun!

- If you choose to do the Web Surfing Science- turn that in for your bonus.
- If you choose the Interactive Simulation Investigation you will need to turn in or post
3 things you learned, 2 questions you have, 1 connection you had to the information



Launch Week!!!

This week has been a very exciting week in our classroom. We have started on our summative assessment for our unit. We are putting all of our learning about force, motion, work, and energy to use by developing levers to launch 3 different angry birds.

It has not been with out challenges! Many groups are having to rework their levers because they did not expect for their birds to be 3 different weights! They are in the process of developing more accurate levers to launch their birds.

Here are some pictures of what we have accomplished so far!

Planning before the launch!

Developing a plan for a launch lever

What type of lever will be the best?

Launch count down!! 3...2...1

The red bid causes ALL the problems!!

The blue bird in action!

This week we have also been studying graphing. We have made bar and pictographs. We learned that in ALL graphs it is very important to read the key!

BLOG BONUS!

Use the data collected to make a graph (bar or pictograph) and a chart. Make sure your graph and chart have the information included from the problem and have the 4 parts that we have talked about in class (Title, key, horizontal label, vertical label). Make sure you use graph paper or a ruler!

At the beach over spring break I was polling different families about their favorite Popsicle flavors. I asked a total of 50 people their favorite flavor. Out of the 50 people, 11 chose lime as their favorite flavor, 9 chose grape, 13 chose banana, and the rest picked cherry. Make a chart of the results and a graph to match!

Fractions, Force, and Fun!

Math: In math we have learned about EQUIVALENT fractions. We discovered that equivalent means EQUAL. For example if half of a pizza is eaten it can be the same as eating 2/4, 4/8, 6/12, 5/10, or 3/6.


Science: We learned that gravity pulls us down to Earth. We watched a video of a dropping race from the Apollo 15 mission. It helped us learn that objects will fall and hit the ground at the same time. The heavier things are the harder they fall.

Blog Bonus!!!!!:
1. Go to the same science website that we have used before:
 http://roundrockisd.stemscopes.com/login
2. Log In
Username: pair3
Password: pair3

3. Click on the link to open

4. Complete one of the four activities about magnets

5. Post on the blog:
1. 3 things that you have learned about magnetism!

Force, Motion, Work, and Energy!

 Math- In math we have been learning about naming fractions, comparing fractions, and fractions on a number line. We learned that a ruler is a real life example of fractions on a number line. On top of a fraction goes the numerator, the numerator is the part. The bottom number is the denominator. We learned that the denominator is the whole. A way to remember denominator is d for down or d for decrease.

Reading and Writing- We are learning about how to's. We have learned the features of a how to. We are each writing our own how to. Ask me to teach you!

Science- We are focusing on force, motion, and energy. We are going to be making our own LIVE angry birds course where we have to apply what we have learned about force, motion and energy to reach some goals. Here are pictures from our Roller Coaster investigation where we focused on force, motion, gravity, and energy.

Challenge: Can you make the ball go over one hill?



Can you make the ball go through one loop?

Figuring out how to make the ball go through one loop!

WE DID IT!!

BLOG BONUS!!

This weekend record down the four forms of energy (mechanical, light, sound, and thermal). Record down 2 examples of each form that you used or observed this weekend. Also, record down 3 ways you used force this weekend.

Example:

1. Thermal: __________________________   ______________________________

2. Light: ____________________________    ________________________________

3. Sound _________________________      _________________________________

4. Mechanical _________________________    _____________________________

Force:

1. I played soccer. I used the force of pushing by kicking the ball.

2.

3.

How To....?

For your Blog Bonus this week you have 3 options:
1. Write a how to for something that you do this weekend.
2. Find an example of a how to to bring in on Monday
3. Follow my how to and bring in the final product!

Ms. Pair's How To

Want to become a fabulous artist?? Follow these steps to learn how to draw!
Materials:
- plain pencil
- lined or white paper

Procedure:
1. On your paper draw a compass rose at the northeast corner.
2. On your map draw a community. The community must include the following and can follow any theme:
- a place for people to go when they are sick
- a form of transportation
- a place for people to learn
- places for people to live
- a place for people to have fun
- roads
- your house
3. On the back explain how to get from your house to 3 different places. Make sure you use directional words to describe how to get there.

See you on Monday!! :)