Math with Mr. Lobovits

In class on Tuesday, students tackled complex mathematical word problems by role-playing them and using hands-on materials.  Then after physically experiencing the problems, students attempted to use two visual strategies to find data about their experiences and identify underlying patterns.   The patterns in turn allowed them to solve similar problems that dealt with larger numbers.  The most useful visual representation seemed to be a chart, but modelling came a close second.  It was a challenge for many of the students to turn the experience into recordable data, but we will continue to take on the challenge and develop our chart and model making skills.

First Day Back

It was wonderful to see everyone today!  Students shared highlights of their "most moments" from vacation- from most awesome to most boring, it was fun to hear what fifth graders did over the break.
Today learners wore their detective hats again as they did code deciphering in Chasing Vermeer.  In Math they played a geometry review game ala Jeopardy.
We certainly had to to remind students today not to call out.

Upcoming Due Dates

2/14- IRPPP Oral Presentations
2/15- IRPPP Open Note Quiz
2/16- DOL Quiz
3/1- Reader's Letter

T"U B'Shvat

On Wednesday, in General Studies, fifth graders listened to a Native American storyteller, wrote a "Honi-style" story with a big idea about being guardians of the earth, and sowed lavender, echinacea, cilantro, and parsley seeds.

What makes a good leader?

In Humash, we are reading about Moshe as an adult, and the three situations that prove his mettle as the future leader of Bnei Yisrael. We began talking about the incident when he kills the Egyptian. Students were torn: on the one hand, he is a strong leader because he acts to save another person. On the other hand, he uses violence to accomplish his goals.
After we finish reading this section, students will have a creative assignment to recommend Moshe as the leader of Bnei Yisrael. Due dates to follow.

11th Commandment

This week's Torah portion is parashat Yitro which details the 10 commandments. We read the book called The 11th Commandment, which is a collection of thoughts from Jewish and Christian children, ages 3-12, about what they would add to the list. Our students thought about this question and composed their own 11th commandment. Here are a few examples:
Yoni: Don't lie.
Josh Philips: Dont be mean to people with disabilities
Alec: Take care of the world

Tu Bshvat with Noa

To celebrate Tu Bshvat, Noa Prawer, our fabulous Shlicha, joined our class to make "date balls." Students read the recipe in Hebrew and mixed together graham crackers, date spread, cranberries and coconut to make a sweet treat.
In Leah's words: "It tasted like heaven!"

Lashon

Which is your favorite food- מתוק, מלוח, מר,או חמוץ?
In lashon, we have been learning about the different types of tastes: sweet, salty, bitter and sour.

Chasing Vermeer

Students are practicing being detectives with our current novel, Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett.  Please let Mrs. Woods know if you would like to have a copy.  It's a great read, for all ages!

IRPPP

Important Revolutionary-Period Person Project Update:
Students completed their research packets, and they made bibliographies (following MLA format).
On Tuesday, February 14th, each student will give an oral presentation, explaining why and how his/her person was important.

Division of decimals

Fifth grades demonstrated mastery of division of a decimal by a whole number on their quiz on Monday.

Shabbat Shirah

This week, we read Parashat B'shalakh, and this week is also known as Shabbat Shirah. In tefillot, we made sure to sing a lot to honor this special Shabbat!
In Torah Project, we learned about the famous midrash when the angels try to sing God's praise for drowning the Egyptians, and God reprimands them for being insensitive- "my creations are drowning, and you are singing songs?!"
Emma raised an important issue: are we allowed to rejoice even when Osama bin Laden was killed? What about ultimate evil? Can we celebrate the demise of evil?

Lashon

Do you know how to say all 4 of the tastes in Hebrew (sweet, salty, bitter and sour)?
Ask your child!
I don't know if Hebrew has a word for "umami" yet...

The MIdwive's Dilemma

In Humash this week, we have been learning about the midwives, Shifrah and Puah, who were tasked with killing the baby boys. They had a difficult choice to make: defy authority and risk your personal safety or follow a disastrous command that is immoral. The students had to think about when and why they would risk their lives for others and whether it is worth having babies if they will be born into slavery.
What would you do?

Energy Transfer Maps

Students mapped out all the different energy transfers that took place for a single activity he or she did.  Alec began with the sun (radiant energy) because it helped the wheat grow, then the energy was transferred into chemical energy (he drew and explained that bagel he ate for breakfast was made from wheat), and his map ended with the throwing of a football.  All along the way he mapped out the various energy transfers.

Math

Students have been working on dividing decimals by whole numbers this work.  From creating their own problems to solving each other's, the emphasis has been on real-world application, estimation, and precise computation.on Friday.
Graded math quizzes will be returned on Friday.

Writing

Each student completed his/her writing assignment on what he or she thinks and feels about God.  This assignment is ungraded.  Every fifth grader will bring home a packet of their classmates' writing on Friday.
Our current writing project is a creative story.