Math Help

Please check out this website.  It has tremendous helps. Fractions can be difficult.  This site has a review of skills and lets you practice as well. 

http://www.math.com/

Friction Experiment

Welcome to Spring Break!  Below is a link to site that has a great activity on friction.  If you are in need of an idea, you can simply print off and do the activity on the site as your experiment.  I would, however, encourage you to use your creativity and interests to design your own experiment.

http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/quick/dirtmeister/friction.html

Have fun experimenting!


The Assignment:

Spring Break Friction

Your assignment is to conduct an experiment related to friction. Scientists start with a question, form a hypothesis, and then share their background knowledge. Next, they tell what they are doing for an experiment that tests their hypothesis. Then the experiment is conducted and observations are noted in the form of words and pictures. Finally, a scientist will determine whether their hypothesis was right based on their observations. This is called analyzing the results. Below is an example of an experiment we did in class with the necessary steps



Example:

1. Question – Will a matchbox car roll better on a smooth surface or a rough surface?

2. Hypothesis – (statement of what you think will happen). A matchbox car will roll best on a smooth surface because there will be less friction.

3. Background Knowledge – My remote control car runs better on the sidewalk than on the grass. Sometimes it gets stuck in the grass. Also, when I roll a basketball on the court it goes far with a little toss. When I roll a soccer ball on the grass it stops quickly unless I toss it really hard.

4. Procedures – (What is the experiment that you are planning to do?)

a. I will place a towel over half a piece of cardboard. One side will be smooth, one side will be rough.

b. I will take two cars and place one on the smooth side and one on the rough (towel) side.

c. I will use a meter stick across the starting line to hold both cars in place. When I lift the meter stick it will release both cars at the same time.

d. I will observe which car makes is faster down the ramp to determine if my hypothesis is correct.

5. Observations and Data – Include labeled pictures, graph, list of what you saw, etc.

a. In math we have been studying fractions, percent and decimals. Can you use fractions, percents and decimals as a way to talk about and share your data?

6. Analyze the Results - My hypothesis was correct. Objects move faster on smooth surfaces. The car on the smooth surface always made it across the finish line first.



Have fun with this. With parent permission, you may look ideas up on the internet. Bring in your project on Monday, March 28th.

OAKS Math Test

We will begin the state test for math tomorrow. Our first session will be at 10:00am. Our second session will be at 12:15 followed by a session Monday at the same time. Please be sure to get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast and pack a healthy snack.

Shuttle Discovery

Today we witnessed the final launch of Shuttle Discovery. This was an amazing opportunity to experience curriculum in the real world. It was also exciting to participate in a historic moment. Below I have posted a live video stream from NASA TV that is monitoring this mission. Enjoy the discovery and fascination of space.

Also, I am posting a link to NASA's official website:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html

This site has amazing pictures and information on all things space and the Shuttle Discovery. I was amazed to find that NASA has sent a robot to space called Robonaut 2. Have fun making your own discoveries!

NASA TV Stream

Live TV : Ustream

Valentine's Letter

We will be having a brief 30 - 40 minute celebration at the end of the day on February 14th. If your child chooses to pass out Valentines to classmates, they need to make sure to include ALL of their classmates. As part of our party, please have your child pick a favorite poem to recite to our class. They may choose any type of poem: humorous, friendship, nature, etc.

Kennedy
Jessica
Zac
Joshua C.
Yuriy
Austin
Cameron
Bailey
Annelise
Jenny
Sammi
Eden
Donna
Cal
Lexie
Mason
Madi
Hannah
Delaney
Rylee
Grant
John
Tucker
Joshua W.

Math: Multiplication facts

The importance of knowing basic multiplication facts is very apparent as we go deeper into 5th grade curriculum. As part of your child's morning routine s/he works on Mountain Math. This daily activity is high level math that challenges students in all strands (geometry, algebra, number operations, etc) Today we solved 6.52 x .34. We have been looking at common factors, multiples, reducing fractions, changing mixed numbers to improper fractions, etc. For students who struggle with basic multiplication facts, these types of problems are very difficult. Please check your child's basic multiplication fact fluency and work on them nightly. Thank you for supporting your child.

More Homework?

Homework is a touchy subject with parents. One parent will say there isn't enough while another parents says, "Too much!" Our class website has many links to wonderful sites that will challenge your child in a fun way. Please check it out.

Here are a couple examples of math links on our website that relate to fractions:



Oredering Fractions

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/maths/number/fractions/play.shtml

Visual Fractions:
http://www.visualfractions.com/

My Favorite - matching fractions, decimals and percents:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/fractiondecimalpercentage/comparing/decimalspercentages/flash0.shtml

Testing...Testing...

Many of you have probably heard from your child that we have started taking our state testing called OAKs. We are focusing on the reading test for now. Please make sure your child:

- eats a healthy breakfast
- gets plenty of sleep
- attends school each day
- understands that a test doesn't define them as a person or student.

As parents you can help lower your child's testing anxiety by talking with them about test taking. Please talk about good test taking habits. Feel free to make your own practice pages (ODE has some samples of old math tests, but nothing for the new standards). Help your child think through what the question is asking. What is the important information? etc.

Thank you for your support and making sure your child is at school every day. I am listing for you the official tests your child will be taking over the next couple months. Some are state required and some are required by the district:

OAKs
- reading
- math
- science
Edusoft
- math
DRA2 (Reading)


Keep in mind that these tests are in addition to unit assessments we do in class. Any questions? Feel free to email me at: sutter_jesse@salkeiz.k12.or.us