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SuperKids - September
This month was a long month with a lot of days at school. We really had to work hard to earn the SuperKids goal for the month. We had to have 12 punches on our card as well as not have any Minor Offense Reports or less than two Think Sheets. For all of us who did make this goal, we got to have a Rock Band party. Mr. Boyer brought his Wii and was able to hook it up to the Promethean Board and we took turns playing guitar, rockin' the drums, and belting out some tunes.
Making bread
This week in reading we read about how different types of ovens bake and cook the food that we eat. We read a piece of technical reading about how to make bread. The text gave us steps on making two different types of bread, golden discs and white bread. After dividing into four groups, two of us made the dough for the golden discs and the other two made dough for the white bread. Mrs. Marshall and Mr. Boyer then took our dough creations home that night and baked it. The next day, we got to sample our bread and make some comparisons between the two kinds.
We made many observations that included the shape, size, texture, smell, and most importantly, the taste. Almost all of us liked the fluffy white bread the best as it was sweet and soft. Only Zane liked the Golden Discs, they were small and very hard on the outside. And some of us thought that they smelled like chicken! Really?We learned that we have to read directions very carefully so that we don't make the dough too runny and impossible to use.
SuperKids - August
Fifth grade is now officially going into it's fourth week and we are all getting used to the daily routine and the expectations of our classroom. One of the perks of being a 5th grader are the many incentives that go on throughout the classrooms. One of the best are the daily SuperKids cards that we have to get punched if we DIDN'T move our card throughout the day. At the end of the month, if we earn enough punches we get to participate in a SuperKids celebration. This past week, we had our first celebration, a 5th grade kickball game and ice cream sundaes. Even though the ice cream sundaes were awesome, our kickball game had to be cut short and continued the next day during recess because we had a whole school tornado drill. Nevertheless, it was a great time. And the best part of it was, a lot of our class made the SuperKids celebration!We can't wait until next month's celebration, I have a feeling that it's going to ROCK!!!!
Good Luck at the Middle School
On May 21, we will say good-bye to another wonderful group of 5th grade students as next year they will move on to the middle school. We at Heusner thank those students for all of their contributions to our building and our classrooms. We all want to wish you the very best of luck in the middle school as well as the rest of your future years. Feel free to come back and visit us anytime.
Starbase Day #1
Yesterday, we finished our first day of our fifth grade field trip, a trip to the Starbase program. The program itself lasts for four days and we will be going once a week until the school year is over. While at Starbase, we learned about Newton's Laws of Motion and did several experiments and investigations with them. Our favorite had to be by far getting to ride on the homemade hovercraft. It was so much fun.
We were also able to take a tour of the Kansas State Aviation School where we were introduced to many different types of planes and helicopters as well as got to see the new full window flight simulator. They didn't have it turned on for us to see but it was big and we got a good idea as to what it might look like.
We were also able to take a tour of the Kansas State Aviation School where we were introduced to many different types of planes and helicopters as well as got to see the new full window flight simulator. They didn't have it turned on for us to see but it was big and we got a good idea as to what it might look like.
Upon returning from our tour, our flight teams had the task of rescuing a stranded astronaut named Lt. Eggbert from space and create a craft that was safe for him to land in. We were given a small bag full of supplies and told that we could only use one hand. Our Eggberts didn't fair too well with the landing from the spacecraft that we had made. All four of them cracked and oozed while one of the eggs exploded in the bag.
All in all our first day at Starbase was a lot of fun and we can't wait to get to go back next week!
SuperKids Celebration - February
February brings us another month of 5th grade SuperKids. This month those who earned the SuperKids party participated in a cookie decorating party. SuperKids got to decorate their own cookies in varies colors and designs.Look at the photos below and vote for who you would award the following honors:
Most Messy
Most Creative
Most Color
Most Disgusting
Most Yummy
December SuperKids Celebration
This past Wednesday, we celebrated our SuperKids winners before heading home for Christmas break. Our winners were treated to a big screen movie showing of "Horton Hears a Who" and having a snack. Our winners for the month of December were: Courtney, Easton, JZ, Ashley, Mikeala, Andrew, Justin, Taryn, and Xan. Congratulations everyone! Keep up the fantastic work. You and your other classmates regardless of the award or not are truely SUPERKIDS!
October's SuperKids
Our 5th graders celebrated their third SuperKids reward party of the year last week. Those who earned the title of "SuperKids" for October, had the opportunity to spend the morning playing board, cards, and trivia games. Some students brought their favorite board game from home to share. Everyone had a good time! Congratulations to the October SuperKids from Mr. Boyer's class: Justin, Cortney, Isaac, Mikaela, Taryn, Ashley, JZ, and Tiffany.
Monsters Invade!
Our classroom has been invaded and taken over momentarily by monsters! Monsters! Can you believe it. We are in the middle of a creative writing project about monsters. We took our pictures and created an inspiration for our stories.
Check out the creatures that our stories are about.
Check out the creatures that our stories are about.
Prickly Pickles
Our classroom has been visited by some new guests this week, a small group of "Prickly Pickles." These creatures have come looking for the cleanest tables in the classroom. When students leave for the day, they Pickles perch themselves high above those tables that they feel are the cleanest at the end of the day. If they are undecided as to which table to choose, they then look at each students' mailboxes and cubbies to make their decisions. Upon their return the next day, students recieve a classroom ticket if their team was
one that was chosen.Periodically throughout the day, Mr. Boyer and Mr. Walters draw tickets out of the container for a classroom reward. With the help of the Prickly Pickles, the students are keeping the room stay clean before leaving for the end of the day. Thank goodness for the Pickles. Our Heroes!!!
2008-2009 Class Photo
Here is this year's class photo. I told them to give me a "tough, cool" look. This is what I got.
And for a more candid version:
Color in Science
We've been into science for two weeks now and have already seen some amazing things and made some great discoveries through demonstrations and investigations. Our science experiment for the week was to see how carefully we could follow directions while doing a lab activity. This activity took team work on everyone's part to complete the task. We experimented with different colors 
of water and learned how to use and read measurements on pippettes. It was a great activity and both classes (Boyer and Rorabaugh) did a fantastic job of working together, encouraging each other, and being very careful with their materials. We hope that we can do a lot of these neat experiments and investigations as the year goes along.Below is a video of what the water looked like when we mixed it. It was really cool to watch.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=390ba92fcf89374efead
Be Someone's Hero
Our 5th grade theme this year is Superheroes. Our classroom motto is "Be Someone's Hero". Heroes are looked up to and admired by many people. They always try to do what's right, even though there are some challenges or some tough decisions that might be put in front of them. Little kids especially like superheroes. We are now the oldest and biggest students in the school and so we have to show and model for the younger students good behavior and decision making at Heusner. Being a hero doesn't always mean saving the day, sometimes it means that you just do what's right and what's good not only for yourself, but for others as well.Can you be someone's hero?
Welcome to 5th Grade!
A new year always brings me a new group of minds to shape and expand and I love seeing all the bright faces as they come in for the first day of school. We will be having a student teacher with us for the first part of the year. His name is Mr. Walters and he is from Arizona. Being a fifth grader, brings new responsibilities. You are now the role models of the school, those who we can call upon to help make our younger students see our expectations of being a student at Heusner Elementary. I know you will be up for the task!
This year, we will be having Science in my room. Mr. Rorabaugh will be teaching us Social Studies. Mrs. Reedy and Miss Swiercinsky will be a teaching team and will switch for the same subjects.
Here's to a great fifth grade year with a wonderful new set of students!
WHAT GRADE? 5TH GRADE!
Gregor movie still in production
I know that some of you are anxiously awaiting the release of our animated movie for Gregor the Overlander. It is still being worked on and will be up shortly. My computer decided to die on me and I am in the process of getting a new one. I haven't forgot about it. Please be patient!
5th Grade Honor Night Video
We'll see how many people actually look at the blog.
Here is a preview of one of the 5th grade videos for tomorrow night's graduation.
Here is a preview of one of the 5th grade videos for tomorrow night's graduation.
Ballroom Dancing
Today, the whole 5th grade went to perform their ballroom dancing routine for the State Conference of Principals at the Holidome. The students looked very professional in their dress clothes and looked great. They all danced through and around the tables while the guests at the conference at their lunch. Students performed the meranquie and the swing jitterbug in front of about 200 principals from all over the state of Kansas. The performance was followed up with a rousing roar of applause from all the guests.
After the performance, we all went to the park to eat our lunches. It was a beautiful day out with the sun shining and the wind held off long enough for us to enjoy the great outdoors for a day. This Friday, a select group of 5th graders will show off their ballroom dancing skills at the Steifel Theatre for a Salina Concert in front of the whole community. All students worked very hard and did a wonderful job during their performance today. They made Heusner Elementary and all of it's teachers and parents very proud. What a great group of 5th graders!
You can see more pictures by going to http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/359714.4d6f2e1e41a
The Great Egg Roll
Last week, Mr. Boyer's math class took part in a nationwide internet project called the Great Egg Roll. Our task was to roll a 2" plastic egg and then measure to see how far it went in feet and inches. After getting everyone's calculations, we then converted our results to only inches and we had to remember that 1 foot is equal to 12 inches. Our final task was to find the mean number of inches of the whole class.Our class then wanted to see if the egg would roll farther with something in it. So we decided to wad up one whole sheet of paper and stuff it inside and record our results again. You can go to the following website to see our results.
5th Grade Checklist
Today we will be sending home with your student, a checklist of things that will be coming up these last few weeks of school. For 5th graders, there are a lot of events and items that your student will be looking forward to or need of importance. Look in your child's bookbag or trapper for this yellow note or you can download it by clicking the link below.
