8/31/15
I will not be posting any pictures in this section of the website. I realized that I didn't have time to update it on a regular basis. So please enjoy the pictures I have taken the previous years.
Week 1 - 8/18 - 8/21
The first week of school was spent building a cohesive learning environment amongst the students . It's very important for them to know that their words and actions matter in the classroom.
Below are pictures taken of the students collecting data about their "smarties" candy. After recording the data they were then asked to analyze their data by creating statements and questions about their data. This allowed the students to actively think and create some sort of reasoning with their findings.
Below are pictures taken of the students collecting data about their "smarties" candy. After recording the data they were then asked to analyze their data by creating statements and questions about their data. This allowed the students to actively think and create some sort of reasoning with their findings.
Thursday August 13, 2015
I have been neglecting the Pictures Section of my class website for the past two years. I was busy being super mom that I totally dropped the ball with updating it with pictures of our learning in Room 22. Now that our 2 year old is in pre-school and 80% potty trained, I will be more diligent in showcasing all that's going on in our classroom.
Our First Three Weeks 8/12/14 - 8/28/14
We've been doing so many wonderful activities in verclass and I don't have a single picture posted this school year! During the first week of school, the students made self-portraits. On the self portraits, the students had to list three goals for the school year. Some of the portraits turned out amazing! Take a look!
The Toothpick Challenge required the students look at three toothpick figures. Based on their observations, they were to decide the number of toothpicks to make the 100th figure. This required them to think really hard to determine how many toothpicks would be used. This is when an expression comes in handy! From this expressions and being able to analyze datat after its been charted, the students automatically noticed the pattern or rule!
The Engineering Design Process is very useful in allowing kids to use a series of steps to help solve a problem. It's a great process to use when designing, building, or testing something.
The students used the EDP to create towers. Groups competed with one another to see who could build the tallest tower. There were a few constraints during the building process though. Each group was given a set of materials. If they needed extra materials their group was charged a certain amount depending on the materials chosen. The materials offered were marshmallows, tape, popsicle sticks, and soba noodles.
The students used the EDP to create towers. Groups competed with one another to see who could build the tallest tower. There were a few constraints during the building process though. Each group was given a set of materials. If they needed extra materials their group was charged a certain amount depending on the materials chosen. The materials offered were marshmallows, tape, popsicle sticks, and soba noodles.
First Week of School 8/19/14
I can't believe the first week of school flew by just like that! Before I know it, it will be time for the 5th Grade Culmination! The students spent all week learning the routines and procedures in the classroom and building a sense of "community" in the classroom. Aside from gaining more knowledge, I hope that my class this year will gain a positive perspective about themselves and their classmates. Currently, they're hard at work trying to put together some items to showcase during our school's Back to School Night (8/28/14).
Mathematical Ocean 4/19/13
This math game involving coordinate points resembles the game of Battleship in which opposing teams must sink each other's battleships. In this game, 4 battleships needed to be destroyed in order to win the game. Students attacked each other by giving coordinate points. These points were either met with a "hit" or a "miss."
Field Trip to the USC Fisher Art Gallery 4/17/13
After a morning of CSTs we walked on over to USC for another tour and art project at their gallery. At the gallery, students looked at artwork consisting of landscapes. We even saw a 3-D art piece made of paper mache. Afterwards, we ventured outside to create landscape art using David Moreno's style of using circles.
The heart that keeps on giving...4/10/13
The human heart is a vital organ that roughly beats 100,000 times a day. The beats help pump blood throughout our bodies. Blood needing oxygen flows into the right side of the heart where it is then transferred to the lungs to drop off the waste gases and then gets oxygenated. It then enters the left side of the heart and then throughout the body. The students created a model that resembled the actions of the heart. Take a look.
Field Trip to the Skirball Center 3/15/13
We ended the week by going on a field trip to the Skirball Center. Minus the horrible traffic on the 405, it was a wonderful and educational trip. The tour guides touched upon immigration and the lives of various ethnic families that came to the United States. There was one common thread that tied all the families together. They all wanted to come to the United States to experience a better life.
Pi Day 3/14/13
Pi is represented with 3.14 even though the number continues to go on and on without any repetition. People commonly use 3.14 when dealing with circles. After a brief lesson on finding the circumference of a circle, the kids made Pi Chains. Each fruit loop represented a number. The kids were asked to create a necklace in the number order of Pi. Also, we had a Pi Memorization contest in which each student tried to remember the most numbers in Pi. There were various strategies being used, some memorized the numbers one by one while others chunked the numbers.
Field Trip to the Los Angeles Zoo 02/01/13
Opposites Attract 01/26/13
Ever wonder why some items stick to balloons? Or why some just repel? Static electricity is what causes this to occur. When there are positive and negative charged particles, there is an "attraction." Whereas, if there were particles of the same charge, they would repel. The kids tied a piece of cereal on a string and rubbed a balloon on their heads. Afterwards, they could see the cereal move toward the balloon. The positive and negative particles were "attracted" to one another.
Perimeter vs. Area 01/29/13
Perimeter is the distance around a figure. Whereas, area is the measure of the space within a figure. One can differentiate between perimeter and area by the way the answer is written. Perimeter will only have the unit of measurement and area will always have "square units." The kids measured the area and perimeter of their tables. There was an obvious difference between the area and perimeter!
Field Trip to the Natural History Museum 01/18/13
Our Visitor from South Korea! 01/16/13
We were all very excited to get a visit from one of the South Korea pen pal teachers. We welcomed Ms. Soohyun into our classroom and asked her many questions about Korea. The kids had a chance to ask her questions about their pen pals. All in all, it was great to have an international visitor
Dairy Council Visits 32nd Street! 01/14/13
The Dairy Council made a visit to our school and they brought along a real life cow and calf! We learned about the process of milking a cow, its anatomy, and importance of drinking milk. What better way to end the assembly than with cookies and MILK!
Math Board Games 01/07/13
The students spent their Winter Break designing a Math Game that incorporated questions from concepts that they have learned since starting the 5th grade. It was awesome to see the hard work they put into their game boards. Many students were entertained and engaged with the various games they played. Most of all, they were reviewing Math concepts while having fun!
Annual Winter Performance 12/13/12
The kids did a great job with the play and dance portion during our school's annual Winter Performance at the USC Bovard Auditorium. Thanks to the parents who helped make this one memorable show for the kids! Below are pictures of the kids in front of the play's backdrop that Ricky's mom designed.
Field Trip to the Japanese American National Museum 11/30/12
The students learned so much at the Japanese American National Museum. They saw artifacts, pictures, and heard stories about what life was like for various generations of Japanese Americans. They realized that even through the struggles and hardships faced during the Internment Camps, there was some good that came out of it. After the tour of the museum, the kids make origami kori baskets and t-shirts to take home, and roamed around the Little Tokyo area to do some shopping and eating.
J.E.P Chinese Culture 11/28/12
The kids' last day of their Chinese Culture class was spent reviewing common Chinese phrases, making paper lanterns, discussing what they learned about the Chinese culture, and eating snacks commonly found in a Chinese household.
Native American Tribe Project Models 11/26/12
Styrofoam + Acetone = Messy Molding 11/9/12
What happens when you put a styrofoam cup in a container full of acetone? The styrofoam ends up dissolving and becomes something that resembles gooey molding. It was a bit too gooey to make any type pf spectacular sculpture, so we just stuck to making spheres!
Ribbit-Ribbet...11/6/12
Groups of students were each given a frog to examine. They probed through the frog to find out that a frog's body makeup is somewhat similar to ours!
Happy Halloween! 10/31/12
Pumpkin Carving 10/26/12
We are grateful for the Annual Pumpkin Carving Activity sponsered by a USC service group. Some of the kids carved creepy faces, some just collected pumpkin seeds, and others just drew faces on their pumpkins.
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream! 10/26
Another exciting chemistry lab to end the week! The kids used common household ingredients to make ice cream. Based on their feedback, it was pretty delicious!
Creating Molecules 10/12/12
USC's J.E.P Chemistry students taught the kids about molecules. They spent time using gumdrops, marshmallows, and toothpicks creating common molecules such as water, methane, and carbon dioxide.
USC's Zeta Beta Tau Carnival 10/12/12
It definitely was a fun filled Friday because we were invited to USC's ZBT Carnival held on the USC campus. At the carnival, the kids tested out their game skills at one of the many booths and enjoyed the rides and attractions that were being offered. We are so incredibly thankful for ZBT's generosity towards this yearly event!
The Atom 10/09/12
Everything is made up of atoms. Atoms are extremely tiny. Here's a perfect example, there are 78 quintillion atoms in 1 particle of sugar! Atoms consist of a nucleus. The nucleus is made up of protons and neutrons. Surrounding the nucleus are the electrons.
Order of Operations 10/09/12
Using the Order of Operations correctly is valuable when trying to evaluate an expression. One little misstep will lead to disaster. :0) A common phrase many remember is "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (from Leaving the Room). The kids took it upon themselves to create their very own phrase.
Hispanic Heritage Presentations 10/8/12
We're going into the second week of the the Hispanic Heritage presentations. The students were asked to select a notable person of Hispanic origin who has made/is making positive contributions to their community. Each presentation requires the student to be in character and have some sort of visual/performing arts element to it. The photo above is a student who did an excellent job portraying Frida Khalo. She showcased everything from her artwork to Frida's struggles and even her limp from a bus accident!
Layers and layers of substance 10/5/12
All materials are made up of molecules. They are either tightly packed together or loosely bound. The density of a substance depends on how tightly the molecules are packed. We discovered that liquid dish soap and honey are dense substances when compared to colored water.
Field Trip to the Korean Culture Center 9/28/12
It was another awesome visit to the Korean Culture Center. The students watched a video that showcased the culture and history of Korea. After the video, we made a visit to their art gallery and museum. There was a neat software that would translate their names into Korean names. To end our visit, the students had a chance to experience the latest games and music associated with Korea.
My Safe L.A Visits 32nd Street 9/27/12
Presenters from the My Safe L.A program and firefighters from Station 15 paid a visit to our school. They shared the importance of having a family evacuation plan in case of a home fire and practiced proper procedures in case of a fire. The kids were very excited to learn about some aspects of a fire engine and fire truck. All in all, it was a great learning experience for the kids and adults as well!
Foreshortening Project: Accomplished! 9/27/12
Words of Advice from a 5th Grader 9/14/12
Picture Wordies 9/14/12
The students learned that "picture wordies" are like puzzles in that you use words, pictures, numbers, or letters to represent a commonly used phrase or even an idiom! It's a great way to open up a discussion about the literal and figurative meaning of words used in the English language. Many of the students hear phrases on a daily basis, but they just never what it actually meant until now.
Foreshortening Art 8/29/12
Foreshortening is an art technique where an image looks like it's coming toward you because of its size change. The students are in the process of creating a picture of themselves using this method. Below are pictures of the beginning stages of this art project. I will be adding more pictures as students gradually complete each stage. I can't wait for the final product!
Dragonfly Art 8/27/12
Dragonflies can't walk well, but they can sure fly at top speeds! Perhaps it's their two sets of wings that help them fly so quickly. Students drew their own dragonflies and used crayon and watercolor to enhance their pictures.
"THHHHH"is is fun! 8/21/12
Learning about decimal place value and their equivalents can be quite confusing at times. Is it the tenths? The thousandths? What's the difference between 0.2 and 0.02? Why are 0.2 and 0.20 equivalent? However, when you bring candy into the lesson, the hesitation towards decimals isn't so frightening after all. A Jollyrancher represented one tenth, an M&M represented one hundredth, and a nerd represented one thousandth. It was exciting to see the students understand that 1 Jollyrancher was equivalent to 10 M&M's and that 10 M & M's were equivalent to 100 nerds! The best part about the lesson was when Jorge realized that 1.119 didn't necessarily require 119 nerds. Instead, he used an extra M&M and just added 9 nerds!
Student Data Graphs 8/20/12
We spent several days collecting and organizing student data in order to create bar graphs. Some examples of data we collected were Birthday Months, Favorite Recess Game, 4th Grade Teacher, etc. Each bar graph was required to have a title, x and y axis labels, intervals, color, and some relevant pictures.
Guess My Number 8/17
A number card was taped on the back of several students. The students were required to ask "yes" or no" questions to the rest of the class in order to find out what their "secret number" was. This activity encouraged students to use math vocabulary and reasoning skills to help zero in on their number.
People Hunt 8/15/12
People Hunt was an ice breaker that consisted of having the students find out more information about each other. They had to sign each others sheets if they saw a characteristic that applied to them. Some characteristics listed were "speaks another language, has been to another country, is an only child, etc"
5th Grade Picnic/IMAX/Science Center Trip 6/08/12
The kids definitely enjoyed the last field trip of the year, the 5th Grade Picnic. We watched a movie at the IMAX Science Center first, then headed into the Science Center, and finally landed in Exposition Park where we ate and played in a nice friendly water balloon toss/fight.
Korean Culture Center Field Trip 6/7/12
The students have enjoyed corresponding with their pen pals from Korea. Today we visited a place where we learned more about the history, culture, and language of Korea.
Skirball Cultural Center Field Trip 5/18/12
After 2 weeks of state testing, the kids were relieved to go on a field trip to the Skirball Center. At the Skirball, the students read about different immigrant stories who came from various countries. They were able to touch some of the artifacts that the immigrants took with them during their journey to the United States. We learned that immigrants come to the United States for various reasons ranging from escaping religious/political persecution, to having a better life, or simply to open a business they wouldn't otherwise be able to do in their native land.
USC Writers Celebration 4/30/12
USC students spent weeks teaching the kids about creative writing. The lessons helped the kids pour their imagination on paper. No topic was frowned upon and it was up to the kids on how they wanted to approach a given writing assignment. The kids certainly enjoyed their time writing without a rigid checklist and/or rubric. To wrap up the spring program, there was a celebration held in Mudd Hall at USC. The kids read snippets from one of their many stories. All of their stories were published in an anthology. It was great to know that every student that participated received an anthology that contained their published work.
Field Trip to the Los Angeles Zoo 4/15/12
International Day 3/29/12
International Day was a huge success. Students, staff members, and parents were able to sample various foods from different cultures. If you were lucky enough, you might have been able to catch a performance as well!
Blue Ribbon Children's Festival 3/28/12
We enjoyed an entertaining performance of BLAST at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. After the show, the kids performed a dance with hundreds of other 5th graders on the plaza. It was an amazing sight to see so many kids performing the same dance all at once.
Kidneys 3/26/12
People are normally born with two kidneys, but surprisingly, people can still live a normal and healthy life with just one kidney! A typical kidney is five inches long and three inches wide. One of the main functions of the kidneys is to filter the waste out the blood. The students used clay to make a model of both kidneys. Take a look.
A Green Enterprise 3/23/12
Students from USC made a visit to our class to discuss how going green and running a business go hand in hand. The kids were exposed to business vocabulary such as investors, outsourcing, revenue, expenses, and the all important word, PROFIT. They practiced the meaning of these words by creating a piggy bank using a used water bottle.
Chivas Fighters Reading Program Kick-Off 3/13/12
We were excited to get a special visit from the Chivas Fighters! They encouraged students from our school to reach their reading goals by early April. Every student who accomplishes his/her reading goal will be rewarded with a ticket to a Chivas home game that will take place Saturday April 21, 2012.
Family Quilts 3/9/12
The kids put the finishing touch on their family quilts. Quilts are created for various purposes. Some contain patterns, family history, or symbols.
The Food Pyramid 3/7/12
Everybody needs a healthy and balanced diet. The kids formed their own version of the food pyramid. We noticed that many of the kids were concentrated in the fruits and veggies area whereas only 1-2 kids were left with the sugars section of the food pyramid.
Edges, Vertices, and Faces 2/27/12
We reviewed some common 3-D solids and discovered new ones as well! Students were asked to examine various 3-D solids and noted the edges, faces, and vertices. Take a look!
32nd Street Celebrates Black History Month! 2/ 24/12
Students in Room 26 are also doing their own celebration of Black History Month. During the last week in February, the kids will be "in character" representing a positive role model who has made positive contributions to the African American community.
We Heart You! 2/22/12
What better way to celebrate the month of February than to review the components of the human heart. The kids made a heart model using a cup, balloon, straws, water, and red food coloring. The hardest part in creating the model was getting the balloon to stretch across the cup opening and being able to insert two straws (the valves) through the balloon without ripping it apart. As the kids pressed down on the covering they observed the red water (blood) being pumped up and down the straws.
What's your neighborhood like? 2/17/12
The students examine a piece of artwork by George Bellows titled Cliff Dwellers (1913) in which is displays what life was like in New York City in the first decade of the 20th century. The kids then drew a picture of their own neighborhood.
Field Trip to the Japanese American National Museum 2/9/12
The kids had a great time at the JANM. Our day was jam packed with history, touching stories from camp survivors, and interactive activities. We got a tour of the museum, did some origami, did a little taiko drumming, and finished the day exploring the Little Tokyo area. The pictures will speak for themselves.
What's your lung capacity? 2/8/12
Tidal capacity is the amount of air you breathe in and out normally. Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air you can breathe at one time. Are you curious to find out what your capacity is? Find a balloon, take one breath, and blow into it once (no cheating!). Then use a string to measure the circumference of the balloon size.
Field Trip to the Natural History Museum 1/27/12
Take a look at some of the kids as they explored the exhibitions at the Natural History Museum.
They're Back! Harper for Kids & The USC Tennis Team Visits! 1/19/12
The kids were super excited to get another visit from Harper for Kids and the USC Tennis Team. They were amped to see some of the players demonstrate their tennis skills. Even some of our very own classmates got to play some doubles with the USC players! They learned some of the fundamentals of the game and used paddles to practice their swing and control of the ball.
Keep em' separated... 1/18/12
Mixtures are everywhere! Take for for instance, that handful of sand you play with while at the beach. It's a mixture of black, white, tan, and gray rocks with little pieces of shell. A bag of mixed nuts is also considered a mixture. Even the exhaust coming out of a car is a mixture.
The kids had a chance to separate common mixtures such as pebbles & water, salt and water, oil and water, etc. They were only give two tools to use: a spoon and coffee filters. Let's see how they kept them separated...
How would you separate a mixture of marbles, corks, and nails?
The kids had a chance to separate common mixtures such as pebbles & water, salt and water, oil and water, etc. They were only give two tools to use: a spoon and coffee filters. Let's see how they kept them separated...
How would you separate a mixture of marbles, corks, and nails?
Math Board Games
The Desert Dome Visits 1/17/12
Presenters from the Science Center came to visit our school. They brought along an inflatable dome where the students were able to step inside and learn about the Mojave Desert. Students tracked a kangaroo rat named Uuhuuly and learned about her environment as well.
What Would You Photograph? 1/13/12
The kids used various media to create pictures of images they would take with their cameras. Take a look!
Congratulations to the Art in the Village Winners! 12/14/11
Congratulations to Jay, Daniel, and Donovan for having their artwork selected for the Art in the Village exhibition "A Healthy Imagination." There were a total of 880 entries and only 50 works of art were chosen. Their artwork can be viewed at the Village Food Court from 12/14-02/17.
Student Henna Artists 12/1/11
In preparation for our Bollywood-Theme Winter Dance Performance, some of our very own students have taken their artistic skills and used it to create henna art on their classmates' hands. Some of the designs are absolutely amazing...and to think, they're only 10 years old!
Animal Cells 11/29/11
The basic unit of life is the cell. A cell needs water, food, gases, and waste disposal to stay alive. All living cells are made up of a membrane and are filled with a jelly-like liquid called cytoplasm. Animal cells have specialized structures to transport nutrients. There is one system of vessels.
Dividing a Decimal by a Decimal (using models) 11/28/11
The kids worked with their table groups to model the process of dividing a decimal by a decimal. Many of them definitely preferred this process as opposed to the algorithmic process.
USC Smile Campaign Visits! (11/18/11)
Students from the USC Dentistry Program made a visit to our classroom to discuss the importance of brushing and flossing on a daily basis. They also stressed the importance of healthy eating!
Edible Atoms 11/8/11
The kids used marshmallows to create atoms representing some of the common elements found on earth. They reviewed the make up of an atom.
The Bureau of Sanitation Visits Our Class 11/3/11
Amy, a representative from the Bureau of Sanitation, spoke to the kids about how to properly dispose their trash in the correct trash bins. It was great to see some of my kids jotting down some notes. I hope this visit encourages my kids to go home and spread this information to their families and community members.
For more information:www.lacitysan.org |
How much fresh water is there? 11/1/11
97% of the world's water is salt water, while the other 3% is fresh water. The red water represented the salt water while the blue water represented the fresh water. The students took turns filling a bowl up with the red and blue water. It took 97 spoonfuls of red water and 3 spoonfuls of blue water to represent the makeup of the water that exists on earth.
Special delivery all the way from Korea! 10/28/11
The package with 30 letters from our pen pals living in Gangwon-do, Korea arrived! I have never ever seen my kids this genuinely excited. I truly hope that all the kids will develop a long lasting friendship, share about their cultures and lives, and hopefully one day, meet each other in person.
Pumpkin Carving 10/28/11
All the kids were amped to start the pumpkin carving activity in the afternoon. I think the best part for my kids was when they scooped out all the pumpkin seeds from the inside. It was extremely messy and slimy! My classroom smells like a pumpkin now. (Every kid made sure the pumpkin seeds and gooey pulp were picked up before they left or else they'd see a grumpy teacher on Monday) However, it was totally worth it to see their excitement as they meticulously carved out their very own pumpkin faces.
Halloween Parade 10/28/11
Gooey Guys Give us Goosebumps! 10/27/11
Wow, we're already finishing up October...time flies by when you're around 30 students who are just so genuinely happy to be in school. I really couldn't have asked for a better class. They have a whole lot of spunk and wit. During this week we've been learning about how figurative language can make an essay "stand out." Since then, the kids have been using them nonstop (they also recognize it too!). Ask your child to give you an example of a: metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, and hyperbole.
Below are pictures from today's" make your own goo" activity. Unfortunately, I only had red food coloring, so the kids were stuck with red goo or pink goo. :0(
Below are pictures from today's" make your own goo" activity. Unfortunately, I only had red food coloring, so the kids were stuck with red goo or pink goo. :0(
The Digestive System 10/17/11
When compared to the Circulatory System, the Digestive System is the favorite in Room 26. I wonder why? :0)
Tab-what?!? TABLEAU! 10/20/11
Tableau is french for "living picture." We all enjoyed creating tableaus for some well-known stories such as the Three Little Pigs, Snow White, Cinderella, etc. All the kids (even my shy ones!) did an excellent job using their actors' tools (except voice) to showcase their tableaus.
It's CLOUDY with a chance of...10/18/11
Clouds are formed when water droplets come together. The kids spent some time using shaving cream to create various types of clouds. Living in Southern California allows us to enjoy the beautiful weather, which also means more chances of starring up at the sky and looking at the "images" these clouds form. The most common type of cloud we see is either the cirrus or cumulus cloud. Each day, the kids will use their nifty cloud finders to classify the clouds.
Draw to Scale Cereal Boxes 10/21/11
The kids are really excited to begin a project that involves math, art, and a whole lot of patience. This will challenge them as they create a 3-D model that is drawn to scale with their chosen cereal box. The finished product should be twice as big and be proportional to the original model.
Preparing for the CA Physical Fitness Test
We visit the USC Track every Monday from 8:15-9:30. If any parent would like to join us, please meet at the front of the school at 8:15.
My kids are hard at work trying to stay fit and healthy. In late April/early May, they will be participating in the CA Physical Fitness Test. I have set some class goals and hopefully each and every one of my students can reach them! Each child received a sheet with information about our class goals as well.
Complete:
1-Mile Run: < 11 minutes
Trunk Lift: between 9-12 inches
Sit-ups: > 15
Shoulder Stretch: able to touch fingertips on the left and right sides.
Push-ups (90 degrees): boys > 8, girls > 7
Hispanic Heritage Assembly 10/14/11
Take a look at the pictures!
USC Campus Tour 10/7/11
Thank you Lauren for the informative and engaging tour of the USC campus. Based on the feedback, I think I have a dozen or so kids who have USC as their top choice of colleges that they want to attend.
Zeta Beta Tau "4 the Kids Carnival" 10/7/11
We can all agree that every school week should end with a carnival filled with rides, games, and cotton candy! The kids, along with the teachers, were thrilled to be invited to the carnival on the USC campus. Many thanks to Zeta Beta Tau for organizing and providing a fun filled day where kids can leave their problems at home/school and enjoy a day where they can just be a care-free kid!
What's an atom? 10/6/11
An atom is the smallest particle that all matter on Earth is made of. About 90 different atoms occur naturally on our planet Earth! There are three main particles that make up the structure of an atom: protons (positive charge), neutrons (no charge), and electrons (negative charge). Protons and neutrons are in the center of the atom (nucleus) and the electrons are orbiting around it.
USC students from JEP facilitated an activity where the kids were each given a colored balloon (either representing a proton, neutron, or electron) and were asked to form different atoms. Take a look!
USC students from JEP facilitated an activity where the kids were each given a colored balloon (either representing a proton, neutron, or electron) and were asked to form different atoms. Take a look!
Harper for Kids visits our school! 10/4/11
Harper for Kids uses Coach Wooden's story "Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success" to help kids reach their personal best. We even got a special visit from the Head Coach of USC's Tennis Team, Peter Smith, and one of his outstanding players, Ben.
A couple of days later we went to Heritage Hall during our guided campus tour of USC and guess what the kids were excited to see...(not the Heisman trophies) A picture of Coach Peter and Ben along with the other members of the USC Tennis Team and their NCAA championship trophies!
A couple of days later we went to Heritage Hall during our guided campus tour of USC and guess what the kids were excited to see...(not the Heisman trophies) A picture of Coach Peter and Ben along with the other members of the USC Tennis Team and their NCAA championship trophies!
Korean Pen Pals 9/30/11
The last letter was finally turned in on Friday. Now our pack of letters are currently being delivered 6,000 miles away to Gangwon-do, South Korea. Room 26 is eagerly waiting for a response from our Korean friends. All 30 students wrote a letter, some included photos while others drew pictures.
Famous Hispanics/Latinos Museum Kicks Off! 9/27/11
It's Hispanic Heritage Month and what better way than to see my students showcase Hispanics who have made positive contributions to society. It was quite an experience watching my students get "into character" and retell the life of their selected individual. Some students went above and beyond and even played the guitar (Ruben Blades), sang a song (Selena), read a poem (Sandra Cisneros), and told some jokes (George Lopez). Other famous Hispanics featured were Cesar Chavez, Jorge Ramos, Leo Messi, Pitbull, Penelope Cruz, and Carlos Santana (featured in the picture). I'm looking forward to the next 2 days of skits!
Celery - A Vascular Plant 9/23/11
In vascular plants, water and minerals are transported to cells in xylem tubes. Sugar is transported to cells in phloem tubes. During the course of the experiment, some kids noticed that water levels decreased, especially for those with the leaves still attached to the celery stalks. We also noticed that the celery with the food coloring water turned slightly red.
Magic Numbers Trick 9/22/11
Who would have thought that Room 26 would have 30 magicians by the end of the day? The kids all had their very own number strips and used them to practice how to compute sums mentally. They were eager to show off their awesome magician (and Math, I hope) skills to everybody!
Lub-Dub-Lub-Dub (The Circulatory System) 9/21/11
The kids made a heart cut out and described each step that the blood must go through as it enters and leaves the heart.
The circulatory system provides water, food, and gases to the cells and carries wastes away from the cells. Our heart works nonstop and never has a day off! The kids learned about the four chambers and what occurs in each of those four chambers. We also discussed how blood flowed through the 3 different kind of blood vessels: veins (takes blood to the heart), arteries (takes blood away from the heart), and capillaries (connects the veins and arteries). Next week we will be comparing our pulse during our resting phase and active phase.
The circulatory system provides water, food, and gases to the cells and carries wastes away from the cells. Our heart works nonstop and never has a day off! The kids learned about the four chambers and what occurs in each of those four chambers. We also discussed how blood flowed through the 3 different kind of blood vessels: veins (takes blood to the heart), arteries (takes blood away from the heart), and capillaries (connects the veins and arteries). Next week we will be comparing our pulse during our resting phase and active phase.
Food Waste (everybody is guilty of it) 9/20/11
For the past weeks, we have been learning how to say and write large & small numbers in standard, expanded, and word form. We've been rounding and locating the place value of various digits as well.
We examined the population for third world countries and noticed that their number was so much greater than the population for industrialized countries. With such an alarming difference, why is it that those countries with a lower population eat so much food AND produce the most food waste?
In order for the kids to get a feel of this alarming statistic, they read an article about food waste across the world, more specifically, in industrialized countries. 30% of the class represented the industrialized part of the world, while the other 70% made up the third world countries. A pack of oreos were distributed. The 30% (industrialized) of the class received 70% of the oreos, while the 70% (third world) of the class only received 30% of the oreos. Of course, this led to some bickering, but by the end of this lesson, everybody truly understood the underlying message of this lesson.
We examined the population for third world countries and noticed that their number was so much greater than the population for industrialized countries. With such an alarming difference, why is it that those countries with a lower population eat so much food AND produce the most food waste?
In order for the kids to get a feel of this alarming statistic, they read an article about food waste across the world, more specifically, in industrialized countries. 30% of the class represented the industrialized part of the world, while the other 70% made up the third world countries. A pack of oreos were distributed. The 30% (industrialized) of the class received 70% of the oreos, while the 70% (third world) of the class only received 30% of the oreos. Of course, this led to some bickering, but by the end of this lesson, everybody truly understood the underlying message of this lesson.
Place Value Abacus 9/16/11
The kids were finally finished assembling and coloring their abacus. Now it was time to finally teach them how to use it to represent whole numbers. It was a great way for them to recognize the different periods, we even practiced numbers up to the quadrillions period. I was impressed with their effort and eagerness to be challenged.
Take a look at our artwork! 9/14/11
Foreshortening is when something looks like it is coming towards you because of a change in size. Can you notice the body parts that seem close and others that seem far away?
Dancing Raisins Experiment 9/9/11
Our first science experiment of the school year was a blast. Raisins were dropped into 3 different liquids (water, club soda, & Mountain Dew). We predicted, observed, and made conclusions as to why certain events happened. We learned that different variables (liquids) can alter the results. Raisins are dense, which is why they sank so quickly when dropped in water. However, it didn't make sense when the raisins started to "dance" after being dropped in club soda and Mountain Dew. We figured out that the carbon dioxide gas was what was making the raisins go up and down the cup.
Word Building 9/9/11
Prefixes (a group of letters added before a base/root word) & suffixes (a group of letters added after the base/root word) can alter the meaning and part of speech of a word. Many of the the kids were familiar with common prefixes and suffixes such as un-, re-, dis-, -ing, -er, etc. The kids were given various prefixes, base/root words, & suffixes and asked to create as many words as they could in 5 minutes. The only rule was that the words could not be "nonsense words." One student came out victorious by creating 17 words!
Bar Graphs Galore 9/8/11
Bar graphs are useful for organizing and showing information. They help people answer questions and make predictions. The kids collected data from their classmates to create bar graphs. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other and review what a bar graph should consist of. A bar graph should consist of a title, an x & y axis, and labels for each axis. Each group will discuss their findings tomorrow.
Aquarium of the Pacific 6/20/11
It was a fun-filled day of exploring the ocean ecosystems without entering the ocean. All I can say is...what a stunning venue. My kids loved it here because they were able to see live creatures and were encouraged to TOUCH them as well. Take a look!
The Natural History Museum + 5th Grade Picnic 6/15/11
The pictures explain it all! I'm sure it was quite memorable for those who attended!
Reader's Theater - Rumpelstiltskin v.2 6/14/11
Each group had loads of fun acting out the story of Rumpelstiltskin. Our class version of the story had a modern and L.A infused flavor to it compared to the original version.
Flamenco Workshop 6/9/11
Good times!
Staff + Parents vs. 5th Graders Softball Game 6/8/11
Last year, the 5th graders were defeated by the staff in a game of kickball. This year, we decided to switch it up and played some good ol' softball. Once again, staff + parents came out victorious with a score of 10 to 5. Way to go staff + parents! Thanks to all the staff members, parents, and kids who showed up to play and root us on!
MOCA Grand & Downtown L.A 6/3/11
What better way to end the school week than to visit the MOCA GRAND? Prior to our guided tour, we walked around and admired the various pieces of art scattered across Downtown L.A. A few of the kids even questioned whether some of the pieces should have been considered art.
Heal the Bay Speaker 6/1/11
A speaker from Heal the Bay shared important information about keeping the ocean clean for people and animals.
Field trip to the Skirball Center 5/27/11
It was a first for many of the kids. At the Skirball, we learned what life was like for newly arrived immigrants coming from all parts of the world. The kids had a chance to experience what it was like to pass through Ellis Island. At the end of the tour, the kids were divided into groups and asked to act out a skit depicting an immigrant's story. Take a look! (By the way, each student was given a pass to visit the Skirball for free!)
The Los Angeles Zoo visits Room 26 5/23/11
Carol, a docent from the Los Angeles Zoo, made a visit to our classroom to discuss Prey and Predator relationships. We were able to touch real animals (dead of course) and learned about certain characteristics that distinguish prey from predators. A saying that many of us will remember is, "Eyes on the side like to hide, eyes in front like to hunt."
Learning the fundamentals of softball 5/20/11
It was great seeing my students with prior softball skills assisting those who have never played. We intend on practicing more in preparation for the Adults vs. 5th Graders Softball Game on June 8, 2011.
Science Fair Projects
Take a look at some Science Fair Projects that were submitted this year! Students conducted their projects at home and were given a choice to either showcase their work on a board or on a website. During class, the students gave a presentation about their project. It was quite interesting to hear 10-11 year olds having a discussion about scientific topics. :0)
Somkene's Science Fair Project Web Blog (click here)
Hazel's Science Fair Project Web Blog (click here)
Somkene's Science Fair Project Web Blog (click here)
Hazel's Science Fair Project Web Blog (click here)
USC Writers in the Community Ceremony 4/28/11
For the past 8 weeks, USC students would visit our class and allow the kids to dive into the creative writing process. Their creativity and imagination ran wild as they wrote story after story. At the end of the program, each student had one story published in an anthology. We celebrated by attending a ceremony in which every student was able to read an excerpt from their story.
THANK YOU to all the parents and students who attended! I felt honored to watch my brave kids read a part of their story in front of an audience. :0)
THANK YOU to all the parents and students who attended! I felt honored to watch my brave kids read a part of their story in front of an audience. :0)
Matisse Inspired Name Collages 4/27/11
The students created name collages today. They were asked to cut out letters to spell out their first name. Then they had to camouflage it with various items on their collage. It was great to see the vibrant colors being used to create these. Another plus, all the construction paper used were from a scrap bin!
Room 26 visits the USC Robotics Lab 4/15/11
Celery Experiment 4/12/11
Vascular plants are common in our diet. Tomatoes, lettuce, wheat are all examples. They have two kinds of transport tissues, xylem (tube-like cells that carry water and minerals from the ground up) and phloem (tube-like cells that carry resources such as sugar downward). We placed celery sticks in 4 vials (2 containing water and 2 containing water + food coloring) Observations were made each day and we noticed that the water level for each vial declined. Also, the food coloring could be seen in the xylem veins of the celery leaves.
Honors Assembly 4/8/11 - Room 26 is awesome. :0)
Blue Ribbon Children's Festival 4/6/11
All the fifth graders at 32nd Street were invited to watch a performance of Diavolo and then take part in a dance at the Dorothy Chandler. The kids were amazed with the flexibility, strength, and creativity of each performer. We are all appreciative and thankful for the generous opportunity to watch a world class performance at such a lovely venue!
Art in the Village - A Beautiful Machine
Congratulations to Jazmin for being selected to showcase her artwork at the University Village. Her artwork is currently on display from March 21, 2011 until April 20, 2011.
Survival of the Fittest 4/4/2011
The students were given various tools to use so that they could collect as many macaroni pieces in 1 minute. As the experiment carried on, many realized that some tools were not as effective as others. Others tried using a tool one way and then noticed that if they used it another way, it was able to collect more pieces.
Adding & Subtracting Integers 3/14/11
We used counters to help learn how to add and subtract integers. A red counter represents a negative number and a yellow counter represents a positive integer. When we are unable to add or subtract an integer, we can add zero pairs to help us complete our problem.
Field Trip to the Korean Culture Center 3/11/11
Ms. Kim and Ms. Wong's class were fortunate enough to visit the Korean Culture Center. At the center, students viewed a video called Images of Korea, practiced some common greetings using the Korean language, viewed Korean artifacts, and learned about traditional Korean customs. The highlight of the trip was when students stepped into the gallery that showcased Pearls of Wisdom. This was an exhibit that had pearls decorated by children who were victims of abuse. Students from 32nd Street were encouraged to write notes of support for these kids.
Faces, Edges, & Vertices 3/8/11
We reviewed some common 3-D solids and discovered new ones as well! Students were asked to examine various 3-D solids and noted the edges, faces, and vertices. Take a look!
Rock On...3/7/11
For some students, it was a review of 4th grade Science standards, for others, it was a brand new concept. Nevertheless, students learned about and observed various types of rocks: Igneous (molten rock cools and hardens), Sedimentary (tiny pieces of eroded rock that is "cemented"), and Metamorphic (when high pressure and temperature is applied to existing rock). Students were asked to observe the color, weight, texture, and intricate patterns/characteristics each rock contained. Many students quickly recognized a type of Igneous rock called granite. Many said it was found on their kitchen counter tops. A surprise for many was in the Igneous group. Pumice looked like the biggest and heaviest. However, after picking it up, it actually felt very light.
Aztec Culture 3/4/11
A speaker came in to talk to students about the Aztec culture. She showed us various dances, discussed what various symbols represented, and clarified any misconceptions that students had about the Aztec culture.
100th Day Celebration 3/2/11
On March 2, 32nd Street celebrated the 100th day of school. During our special extended lunch time, students participated in various 100th Day themed activities. Prizes were awarded to students who received tickets.
Field Trip to the MOCA Contemporary 1/24
It was an exciting day for students as we visited the MOCA Contemporary. This exhibition was one of many favorites! Based on the students' comments, it felt like they were walking through a car wash.
Math Board Games 1/20/11
Take a look at these student-created board games! It was awesome to see the creativity and effort that my students put into their games. They also enjoyed playing them too!
The Dairy Council of CA Visits! 1/14/11
The Dairy Council of California visited our school and brought along a cow and a calf. Students were introduced to the anatomy of a cow, what a cow eats and drinks, and most importantly, the process of getting the milk from the cow to the containers we see at our local grocery store.
The Solar System 01/11/11
We looked at the general make-up of the solar system. More specifically, looked at the 8 different planets using information cards provided by the FOSS Kits and examined the composition, orbit, distance from the sun, temperature of the planets. Before looking at the information, I asked the students to categorize the images (planets, satellites, comets). It was interesting to see and hear how each group categorized the images.
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Falling Factors 01/10/11
Falling Factors is a game in which two players battle against each other as they select numbers to gain points. The factors of that same chosen number corresponds to the number of points the opponent receives. How is this related to Math? It allows the students to differentiate between composite and prime numbers. It also provides an opportunity for the student to recognize the factors for various numbers.
The students played a practice game of Falling Factors against Ms. Wong using numbers 1-30. Afterward, they battled against their peers using numbers 1-100. |
Acids and Bases 11/17/10
Density Experiment 11/10/10
Students learned about the density of materials. The more dense something is, the more compact the matter is. We examined 4 different materials: cork, syrup, water, and oil. Before mixing them together, we guessed to see which material would be the most dense to the least dense. After mixing all 4 together, the syrup ended up being the most dense, then it was water, oil, and then the cork being the least dense. It was pretty nifty seeing all 4 materials separated in the cup.
Heritage Landscapes 11/08/10
Students created Heritage Landscapes that showcased their own heritage. Take a look at what the students created using various media (color pencils, oil pastels, watercolor)
Examining Art 11/01/10
Century Vase - Students examine he intricate design of this porcelain vase. The vase contains narrative images that allow the students to discuss the meaning and stories of the progression of the United States.
Art in the Village Reception 10/26/10 Congratulations Victoria!
10/27/10 Chemical Changes vs. Physical Changes
MindPoint Quiz Show 10/13/10
Before taking a Topic Test, our class plays a Math game called MindPoint Quiz Show using the SmartBoard. This allows the students to review the concepts taught in a certain topic. If students show difficulty with a certain concept, it allows for me to provide some Math intervention.
Mixing and Separating Mixtures Experiment 9/29/10
The "thSSSSSSSS"... 9/22/10
Decimals play an important part in our everyday lives. It is vital that students differentiate between the tenths, hundredths, and thousandths place. A trick I taught my students is to place the number 1 underneath the decimal point and add zeros underneath the #s to the right of the decimal point until no numbers are left. This will help students visualize and pronounce the correct decimal value. Still confused, have your child demonstrate it, it's a lot easier to show than to tell. The pictures show the students using candy to represent various decimal values. The licorice = tenths, reese's pieces = hundredths, and the nerds = thousandths...notice how the candy pieces become smaller and smaller...
Art in the Village Reception 2/16/10
Congratulations to Cynthia C. for her artwork that is being featured in the University Village Food Court. The contest theme was "Going Green."
Friday Fun! 2/19/10
Below are pictures of the kids playing football with Blake and Coach Williams. For some, the passing, throwing, and catching came natural. For others, it took some time to learn the rules and skills needed to play the game. All in all, it was a rather fun afternoon!
Learning how to use an abacus!
The kids made their very own abacus using colored beads, skewer sticks, and popsicle sticks. They learned how to add and subtract small numbers using the abacus. They also used various representations to show the value of a number.
Winter Performance Village People's Y.M.C.A
Date of Performance: December 15
Eugene's mom provided 2 videos. I tried uploading them onto the web page, however the file was too big. If you would like a copy of the video (MPEG file) please send a flash drive to school with your child. Thank you.
Eugene's mom provided 2 videos. I tried uploading them onto the web page, however the file was too big. If you would like a copy of the video (MPEG file) please send a flash drive to school with your child. Thank you.
Heritage Quilts 01/29/10
All the paper quilts were suppose to be posted together, however they all did not fit onto one bulletin board. As a result, they had to be separated. It would have been nice to have all 30 quilts posted together.