Pardeeville Middle School

In 5th grade, we started the year learning about place value, from exponents and powers of 10, to writing numbers in word form, standard form, and expanded form, to decimals to the thousandths, to rounding and comparing decimals. We recently learned how to use models and strategies to add and subtract decimals, using mental math, estimating, and partial sums and differences.

To make all this learning extra fun, my 5th graders were able to choose a project to do that would tie in these concepts. Their choices were a Manatee project, a Base-10 Block project, a Solar System project, a Crocodile and Alligator project, a Theme Park project, a Plan Your Meal project, and a Travel Diary project.

The Manatee Poster project practiced writing all the fact numbers in word form, standard form and expanded form. The Base-10 Block project was designing a game that focused on whole numbers or decimal numbers. The Solar System project was researching and rounding distances. The Crocodile and Alligator project was measuring to the hundredths place, comparing numbers, and finding differences. The Theme Park project was comparing decimals in the form of money. The Plan Your Meal project gave you cost and calorie requirements for your meal to fit into, while choosing 3 or more items. The Travel Diary project was measuring distances from one city to another and making comparisons with the estimates and actual mileage.

We spent about 3-4 days working on these projects in class and then presented them to our class. During this time my students were engaged, smiling, giggling and enjoying what they were learning, which made me quite happy! I was able to capture some pictures of projects in progress and the finished projects as well. My students are already looking forward to the next time we get to work on projects.