Grade 5 News for October

We are learning about volume and surface area in math, and Concept Quest has started with Mrs. Berning. We have started writing personal narratives. We are constructing our trimester one science project which is hydroponic gardens and reading Willowdeen as a class to go along with our science lessons. Band and orchestra schedules are coming out soon. Stay tuned.

Fourth and fifth graders are learning about databases and why we use them when doing school projects or research. We have done a little investigating in a database called PebbleGo Next.

Our Science From Scientists activity looked at nutrients found in soil that are needed for plant growth.

Mr. Bjorlin's class: We were STEM students during our hydroponic garden activity when we developed and created experiments to test plant growth.

Ms. Buechler's class: We were STEM students during our Science Crew activity when we created our own hydroponic garden and discussed our control and independent variable.

Mr. Kludt's class: We were STEM students during our Science From Scientists activity by investigating different nutrients in soil samples.

Ms. Thompson's class: We were STEM students during our QFT (question formulation technique) when we collaborated to write questions for our upcoming STEM project.

• CKLA: early American civilizations
• Writing: paraphrasing
• Math: fractions
• STEM: hydroponics and food chains

• If your child doesn't have headphones to keep at school yet, we recommend picking up a pair to help them fully participate in class activities.
• Please continue to check your child's planner
• Make sure to try to read 20 minutes a night.
• Science From Scientists is coming October 28th

One of the big ideas that fifth graders will be working on in their STEM unit is doing simple experiments to discover that plants need mostly air and water to grow.

Simple Hydroponics Garden

• Create a hydroponics garden from a 2-liter bottle using the directions linked here.

• Watch or read about the Milwaukee fifth graders that grow hundreds of pounds of food a year using hydroponics

• Ask your child to design a plant that could survive in a tricky environment—like a desert, a pond, or a cold mountain.
• Think about: What kind of leaves or roots would it have? How would it get water? How would it use sunlight and air?
• Draw or build the plant using various materials.