Apples, Apples, and More Apples! We continued our exploration of apples this week. We read several nonfiction books about apples to gather more apple facts, created an apple life cycle, and did a science experiment with an apple. We also taste tested different kinds of apples and then graphed our favorite ones. On Thursday, we turned some apples into applesauce. We each got a chance to peel the apple we brought. Then we ate it for a snack. Our applesauce cooked all day. It sure made the whole school smell good all day and boy was it delicious! We ended the week with learning about Johnny Appleseed (He was a real person who planted many, many apple seeds across the USA).
Monday:
We started our morning out with prayer and pledge out at the flag pole. Mondays is our day to raise the flag outside.
Then we headed to the computer room. Today we started our fall NWEA (standardized) testing. We took the Reading test. It measured things like Foundational Skills, Language & Writing, Literature & Informational, and Vocabulary Use and Functions.
In reading, were were introduced to fiction (make-believe) stories and nonfiction (information) stories. After Ms. Torborg read us the story, From Blossom to Fruit, we had to determine what kind of story it was. Since it was full of information or facts, we determined it was a nonfiction story. Then Ms. Torborg read us the story, Let’s Go Apple Picking. Again, we had to determine what kind of story it was. We determined that it was a fictional story because animals can’t really talk to each other. Plus some of the scenes were silly and really couldn’t happen.
Apples, Apples, and More Apples! We continued our study of apples by learning about how apples grow. After listening to our apple songs from last week, we reviewed some of the different facts that we know about apples including the apple life cycle.
In math, we explored the number 0. We started by talking about how the number 0 represents none or nothing. We had to get 0 objects off the shelf. We walked away with nothing in our hands. Then we practiced air writing our numbers. Together we sang our number song as we air wrote the numbers. Finally we completed our first page in our Numbers Galore Book. First we traced the number 0 and then we practiced writing it. We also had to color in 0 boxes.
In religion, we talked about the Mass. On the first page of our paper, we identified different things that were happening in the picture. We talked about several of the items in the picture that we also see in our church. Then on the second page, we read a story about a family that goes to Mass together. Finally, we turned the last two pages into a little book about the Mass.
Tuesday:
After prayer and pledge, we headed to the computer room to finish our NWEA (standardized) testing. Today we took the Mathematics test. It measures things like Numbers & Operations, Algebra, Geometry & Measurement, and Data Analysis.
In Religion, we listened to a bible story, the story of Creation. We listened to how God created everything around us from the land and water to the animals. Then we practiced acting like different animals. Ms. Torborg would call out an animal and we had to move and sound just like that animal.
In math, we explored the numbers 1. We started by singing our number song and practicing air writing our numbers. Then we completed the number 1 page in our Numbers Galore book. We traced the number one several times before we practiced writing the number. We also colored in 1 box on the tens frame.
We started our apple exploration today by listening two different books with the same name, Picking Apples. Before we listened to the stories, we predicted that each book would have a different story inside since they had different pictures and were written by different authors. As we listened to each story, we had to determine if the story was real/nonfiction or make-believe/fiction. Next we reviewed some facts about apples. We learned that apples grow on trees and a group of trees is called an orchard. Apples start out as flower and when you turn an apple over you can see part of the flower parts. We also explored the life cycle of an apple from a little seed planted in the ground to the seeds you find in an apple. Then we created an apple life cycle using pictures. After cutting out the pictures, we had to put them in order and glue them down. If we had time, we could color the pictures.
Wednesday:
Today we combined our part of our math lesson with snack. We started out learning about graphs. After talking about them, we created one together. We had to decided if we liked apple pie or carmel apples better. Then we had to put an X in the correct column on the graph on the SMARTboard. It was super exciting to write on the SMARTboard for the first time. After we analyzed the data, we tried making a new one, but first we had to have a little snack. Ms. Torborg brought in 4 different kinds (a Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Gala.) We had a chance to try each one. After the first two kinds (Red Delicious and Granny Smith), we created a graph of our favorite kind. Then we tried golden delicious and created another graph. Finally, we tried Gala and created our class graph. Gala won as the overall favorite kind of apple. After each graph, we analyzed the data. We ended our math lesson with snack. We got to eat apples slices for snack. We could choose which kind of apple we wanted to eat.
During snack, we noticed that after Ms. Torborg cut an apple up, it started to turn brown. We decided to see if we could find something to help slow down the process. After making a few predictions, we put apples slices in a bowl full of water, full of milk, full of lemon juice, and full of soda. Throughout the day, we took turns checking to see what was happening. Our apple slices turned really brown in the soda, had brown spots in water, and really white and mushy in the milk. Our apple slice in the lemon juice had no brown spots on it. We determined putting lemon juice on our apples would help keep them from turning brown.
We started our reading time by singing the Better Alphabet Song. We have been singing it 2 times a day since the first day of school. It sure helps us remember the letters and letter sounds. Then we worked on combining the /a/ with the /m/. We noticed they created a word, am. This is our new sight word. After each person talking a turn using our new word in a sentence, we read through our new emergent reader, I am Colorful. As we read the story, we used the picture clues to help us figure out the color words.
In math, we explored the numbers 2. We started by singing our number song and practicing air writing our numbers. Then we completed the number 2 page in our Numbers Galore book. We traced the number 2 several times before we practiced writing the number. We also colored in 2 boxes on the tens frame.
In religion, we continued our exploration of emotions. Today we worked on identifying different emotions. First, we listened to the story, The Way I Feel. The main character explained all of the different emotions she has and how it feels. Many times we could relate and had a story to share. Next we worked on identifying different emotions on a person’s face. Ms. Torborg held up a picture and we had to try to identify how they are feeling. We found out that a person can have more than one emotion at a time. Finally, we made an emotions flip book. After cutting out the big squares, we had to color the pictures of the different faces. Then Ms. Torborg helped us assemble our books by cutting the faces in half and stapling them to the back. Now we can create some silly faces.
Thursday:
Mmm . . . Something smells good! We started out our day with a cooking project. Last week, we each brought an apple to school. We measured, weighed, and wrote about our apples. Today it was time to cut them up. We each got a turn to peel, core, and slice our apple with an apple peeler. Then we ate our apple for snack. With the extra apples we brought in we made applesauce. Ms. Torborg peeled and sliced up a bunch of apples. Our job was to cut up them up into little pieces and put them in a crockpot. Before we turned it on to cook, we added some water, brown sugar, and cinnamon. The apples cooked all day. Our room smelled wonderful.
In reading, we were introduced to reading stations. Ms. Torborg walked us through where each station is kept and what to do at each station. There are 7 different stations, but she only told us about 6 of them. We are not quite ready for the green station ball words. Once we knew what to do, we each picked a station to complete. When time was over and our station was cleaned up, we had to mark it off of our chart. Once we complete every station once, we can erase our chart and start over again.
In math, we completed our calendar binder and then worked in our number book. Today, we explored the numbers 2. We started by singing our number song and practicing air writing our numbers. Then we completed the number 2 page in our Numbers Galore book. We traced the number 2 several times before we practiced writing the number. We also colored in 2 boxes on the tens frame.
The feast of St. Matthew is September 21st. He was one of the 12 Apostles and he wrote the first gospel in the bible. He didn’t always do the right thing when he was collecting taxes, but he changed his ways and started following Jesus. We watched a short movie about him and colored a picture of him in our Saint Books.
At the end of the day, we finally got to try our applesauce. We each got a small taste. It wasn't like the applesauce you get from the store. It was chunkier and we had to be careful because it was still warm. Some of us really enjoyed it and got second and third helpings!
Friday:
We had another crazy Friday. Since there was a special Mass at church, we had a special prayer service in our classroom. Then we reviewed the different kinds of books, “real” or non-fiction or “make-believe” or fiction. We listened to three different stories about Johnny Appleseed. We determined the first story was a “real” or non-fiction story. We learned about things Johnny Appleseed really did and how he got his name. We determined the other books had parts that were real and parts that were make-believe. Since parts or make-believe, there were fiction stories. As we read each book, we tried to figure out if it was real or make-believe. We compared it to the book we know was real. We found out that Johnny Appleseed was a real man named Johnny Chapman. He lived a long time ago and went around to different states planting apple seeds. Then we watched a movie about Johnny Appleseed.
Our Friday schedule was all mixed up too. Our afternoon was filled with Specials. We had Spanish after library class. Then we had recess before our Marathon Rally.
We started our rally with all of the prayer intentions. Then we moved into our activity. After gathering in our small groups, we each hod to take off a shoe. On the word go, we each had to grab a shoe that was not our own and put it on (the best we can). Then we had to match up the pairs by standing next to the person who is wearing the other one. We really had to work together to get everyone matched up. After everyone was paired up, we gathered together again as a whole school. The 5th graders put on a few simple skits for us showing the right and wrong way to ask for Marathon donations. Some of the things were pretty silly. Finally we found out how much money we have raised, $16,629. We didn’t quite make our goal, so we are going to work hard and hope to make it on Monday.
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