Science Fair Check In

Hey there, Fisher Baker fams!

Just checking in about Marshall Science Fair progress as we are officially one week away from the due date. 

Due to our "snow week" we ended up sending home all of our science fair support materials on Friday, a bit behind schedule. Because life's just like that sometimes, we've urged our students to push the pace and get on it!

We want this to be a challenging, but also enjoyable project (read: low stress for parents), here's how we've been supporting your kiddos at school:

• Science fair lessons
• the difference between a demonstration and an experiment
• independent variable, dependent variable, controlled variables
• differentiating between earth science, life science, and physical science

• We conducted a class experiment with magnets and pipe cleaners
• We filled out a class experiment packet to show our process
• We created mini science fair boards from the class experiment

• No homework this week or last week to make space in your at home schedule to experiment.

• We provided an outlined scientific method packet including blank data tables and graphs

• We have a posted pacing guide in our classroom to help kids manage their time wisely. We've recommended:
• By January 31st: Plan, gather materials for, and conduct experiment
• By February 3rd: Analyze results and draw conclusions
• By February 6th: Put together science fair boards, check for spelling and grammar mistakes.

• Marshall has science fair boards available for $5

If you haven't started this process yet, please don't wait until the last minute. Get on it, kiddos!

Happy experimenting, Fisher Baker families!

Ms. Baker & Mr. Kasch

(ebaker@fusd1.org)

Week in Review: Snow Day Edition 1/17/17-1/19/17

Happy snow day, Marshies!

I'm typing this week's updates from my cozy couch and hoping you are all safe and snuggly today as well. This week in rooms 28/30 we've been discussing ownership and responsibility in our class. While it seems our refreshment from winter break is wearing off, we've been encouraging our kiddos to show up ready to take on the day with a good attitude, focus, determination, and readiness to "embrace the struggle." We hope you'll discuss the importance of these attitudes with your kids at home too!

This Week in Academics: 

• After building up a visual understanding of division with the T-Chart method and area model, we learned long division.
• We continued reading Sophia's War
• We completed a class experiment that asked the question: How do obstructive objects affect magnetism?
• We brainstormed topics, questions, and planned our research for the individual experiments our students will be doing for the 30th annual Marshall Science Fair.
• Not bad for a 3 day week!

Non-Academics from the Week:

• 5th graders were fitted for their ski boots
• 5th graders were visited by MEMS and Sinagua Middle School Counselors to register for 6th grade specials classes.

Looking Ahead: 

• 5th Graders go skiing this Thursday, January 26.
• There will be no homework next week due to students starting at home science experiments.
• Middle School academy (Alpine, Pre-AP, Puente De Hozho, Mit-E) applications are due on Febrary 6th.
• Turn in teacher recommendation forms before this date, so I can send this form to the middle schools before this date.
• Science Fair Projects due: Monday, February 6th.

Week in Review 1/9/17-1/13/17

Our first full week at Marshall of 2017 was a full one. Here's a bit of what went on.

This Week in Academics:

• We began learning about various methods of division this week
• Repeated Subtraction
• T-Chart Division
• Area Model Division
• We identified the difference between an experiment and a demonstration
• We classified three types of science: Earth, Physical, and and Life
• We identified the independent, dependent, and controlled variables within a science experiment.
• We continued reading Sophia's War

Looking Ahead:

• No School Monday! Martin Luther King Day.
• Each night next week we'll be sending home sheets that will break down a plan for the upcoming science fair. This will be their homework for next week instead of spelling or expert's We're still asking kids and parents to hold off one more week on those science experiments, so we can go through a class experiment and consult kids about their ideas.
• Please bring back 5th Grade Ski Trip forms as soon as possible! 

Students of the Week 1/6/17

We had a great week of overall great behavior here in rooms 28 and 30. These three shined!

Angelica was nominated for student of the week because she was especially helpful to a podmate when they didn't understand something.

Tyler was nominated for working with another classmate on their spelling and playing with them at recess.

Indigo was nominated for student of the week because she was caught being kind to other around her.

Awesome start to the year, you three! Thanks for setting a wonderful example for us all.

Week in Review 1/3-1/6

Happy New Year, ya'll! I hope you and your families had a wonderfully restful break. I know I felt rested and refreshed upon returning. We've had a great first week back filled with lots of learning. Here's what we were up to.

This Week in Academics:

• We practiced a short cut used when dividing compatible numbers.
• We learned how to recognize the difference between a multiplication and division within word problems.
• We solved division problems that required critical thinking about remainders.
• We continued reading Sophia's War (ask your kid about this week's shocking event!)
• We learned about the three general areas of science. (Life, Earth, Physical)
• We finished our final copies of our animal and national park reports. 
• We began a brand new quarter this week and sent home report cards today.

Looking Ahead:

• Science Fair is in February, but DON'T PANIC! We are preparing in class for the next two weeks. Certainly discuss potential ideas, but please do not start any experimenting until we are finished planning for it in class. :) 
• Middle school applications are due Monday February 6th, so if you're applying to an academy, get your teacher recommendations in early enough for us to fill out!
• No school in two Mondays (1/16) for Martin Luther King Day.