Mrs. Shedd's Fabulous Fifth Grade Classroom: November 23, 2015

Today Mrs. Christy joined our class to teach the class a new sharing protocol called Chalk Talk. This was an activity that allows for quiet reflection. We practiced this protocol with the book Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting. It is a story about a homeless young boy and his father that are living in an airport. After hearing the book, we went into the hallway to view several questions posted along the walls in the hall. Students silently reflected on each question, writing their thoughts on these posters. After, we shared the responses in a group. Most students commented that they liked this new protocol because it allowed quiet thinking time for reflection.

In math this week we are finishing our unit on geometry. Some of the topics we have covered include:

Angle types

Lines, segments, rays

Measuring and drawing angles

Locating missing angle measurements

Lines of symmetry

Students were given the end of unit assessment today.

In technology class, we began a new assignment connected with our new read aloud, The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye. This is a story of Aref Al-Amri, who must leave his hometown of Muscat, Oman to travel to Michigan with his family. They will be living in Michigan for several years. Aref does not want to leave his friends, school, or his grandfather. Students have been asked to imagine that they have to leave their home in VT for 3 years. They will be creating either a Google Slideshow or a WeVideo sharing the places that are special to them, that they would hope to visit before leaving. We will be working on this project in technology for the next couple of weeks.

Today the 4th and 5th grade classes are starting a new fundraiser. Students were given an envelope of raffle tickets to sell to raise money for our early June trip to the Boston Tea Party Museum and sleepover at the Boston Science Museum. Enclosed in the envelope is a letter that gives details of this fundraiser.

Last week we joined our buddies for a math activity comparing 3 digit numbers through a game called, “Trash Can.” Below are a few pictures of our time together. This was our second visit with our buddy classroom. The students have been excited to spend time with Mrs. Giammusso’s students.