Pi Day

Pi Day, 3.14.15 

(Celebrated on 3.13)
Students discussed the formula for finding the circumference of a circle. Then students measured circular things around the room. Then we compiled a list of the ratios of the circumference to the diameter of each circle. The mean of our list was 3.18, a little less than 3.14. To culminate the entire activity, students feasted on pie on PI Day 2015. Here at the pics from the world's most popular ratio, PI.

Pie on Pi Day

I think I can measure my head.

Finding the circumference first.

Many students chose to find the circumference first. Then found the diameter. 

                 

Student measures the circumference.

More circumferences

Our class was eager to understand how the Greeks found the ratio of pi as 3.14. How do you think the Greeks were able to find the ratio without modern technology?

Elementary Engineering Exploration Day

Elementary Engineering Exploration Day

Elementary Engineering Exploration Day is a day for elementary students to come to campus to learn more about engineering for themselves and participate in fun, engaging activities. This semester, SWE is partnering with BLUElab at the University of Michigan to put on this event. Throughout the day, the students will visit stations put on by different project teams at the University of Michigan, and they will participate in a bigger design challenge towards the end of the day. In addition, we will be having a student panel for the parents to ask current UofM students any questions they may have.

This year, EEE Day will be on Sunday, March 22nd from 10:30am - 1:30pm. The cost is $12 per child and $5 per parent. The cost includes a t-shirt for your child and lunch for everyone attending. In order to attend, you can fill out this link to register. 

Register http://www.swe.engin.umich.edu/#!eeeday/c1pta.

Contact/ Questions: Emily Smith emmsmith@umich.edu

Please register as soon as possible, as space is limited. The registration deadline is Sunday, March 15th. If you register after this day, we cannot guarantee that your child will get the correct t-shirt size.

Intern Instruction

Greetings from our University of Michigan Intern,
Mrs. Michelle Zmich

Upcoming Dates

Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2015: Unit Test 7
Thursday, Mar. 12, 2015: Chapter 12 Quiz
Friday, Mar. 13, 2015: Pie Day Celebration, 12:30 PM- 1:10 PM
Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2015: Ann Arbor Symphony's Youth Concert @ Hill Auditorium, 9:30 AM-       11:45 AM
Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2015: Volunteer Appreciation, 6:30 PM- 8:00 PM, The Heart of a Volunteer
All parent volunteers are welcome!
Thursday, Apr. 2, 2015: Unit 8, Fractions and Ratios Test
Friday, Apr. 3, 2015: Spring Break begins.
Monday, Apr. 13, 2015: School Resumes

Greetings from the Desk of Mrs. Zmich

March 10, 2015

Dear Families,

    Good afternoon! My name is Michele Zmich, and I am Ms. Hubbard’s teaching intern this year. I am in a one-year master’s program at the University of Michigan called the Elementary Master of Arts and Certification program (ELMAC). I have been working with your student since September, and I’ve had the opportunity to teach lessons alongside Ms. Hubbard the past half year.

    I will begin lead teaching in Ms. Hubbard’s class starting March 16th. In preparation for this I have slowly been taking over lessons day by day. Ms. Hubbard will still be present and working with students during this time. To name a few of the concepts, I will be teaching the following subject matters:

• EDM, Unit 8, Fractions and Ratios
• Science unit, Human Body in Motion 
• Integrated Writing and Science Research Report, Human Body in Motion
• American Revolution 
• Articles of Confederation
• United States of America Constitution and branches of government
• Bill of Rights
• Core Values of American Constitutional Democracy (CDV's)

    I’m excited to work with your child and grow as a teacher in the weeks to come. Thank you for all of your support, and feel free to email me at zmichm@umich.edu if you have any questions! Please carbon copy Ms. Hubbard with all correspondences at hubbarda@aaps.k12.mi.us .

Sincerely,

Michele Zmich

Pi/Pie Day

Ms. Zmich has planned an exciting Pie Day for our class one day before pie day. We will be studying the popular ratio, Pi. We will end the activity with a feast on pie.

March 2015

Important Dates

Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2015: Unit 7 test, Line Graphs, Exponents and Negative Numbers
Thursday, Mar. 12, 2015: Chapter 12, Declaration of Independence Test

Forget Me not Dates

Friday, Feb. 27, 2015- Mar. 10, 2015: Read-a-thon, Set Goals
Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2015: Parent Orientation, Tappan Middle School, 6-7 PM
Monday, Mar. 9, 2015: No School, Teacher Report Writing Day, READ, READ
Monday, Mar. 16, 2015: Read-a-thon money is due.
Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2015: Vocal Music Field trip to Hill Auditorium, 9:30- 11:45
Friday, Apr. 3, 2015: Spring break begins, No school
Monday, Apr. 13, 2015, Spring break ends, School resumes
Wednesday, May 13, 2015: Tappan Visit for sixth graders, 9-11 PM

Subjects at a Glance

Math: 

Math: Unit 7 is Exponents and Negative Numbers. This unit encompasses reviewing how numbers are written in 5 ways as well as adding and subtracting positive and negative numbers. Below this section are the report letter outcomes. 

After observing data from third, fourth and fifth grade report letter outcomes, our building will be working on increasing students' ability to comprehend and solve fraction word problems. Students will be given a pre and post test. Then separated into instructional groups. Most of our class is going to a different teacher during this block. The block occurs during the reading time on Fridays in March.

Reading: The fifth grade team is doing a unit on historical fiction with a focus on imagery, point of view, mood, and how the past influences the future. 
Writing: During writing workshop, we are reviewing how to use cognitive skills to analyze standardized test. Our goal is to think about how to answer the question as opposed to avoiding solving for the answer. 
Poetry: We will be studying poetry written during the American Revolutionary War era as poetry discussing Core Democratic Values.
Social Studies: We are embarking our studies of Chapter 12, Declaring Independence and Chapter 13 The Revolutionary War. By the end of his month, we will be studying Chapter 14, the Constitution and chapter 15, The Bill of Rights.
Science: We are studying Human Body and Motion. Mrs. Michelle Zmich, a University of Michigan intern,  is teaching this unit. There will be a research report completed by students in class and some portions at home. 

Unit 7

EDM Unit 7: Exponent and Negative Numbers

o Orders and compares positive numbers.

o Understands the relative magnitude of ones, tenths, hundredths, and the relationship of

each place value to the place to its right

o Adds positive and negative numbers

o Subtracts positive and negative numbers

o Uses parenthesis in number sentences to specify the order of operations.

o Multiplies a whole number by powers of 10: 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000

Base scientific notation standard notation

Expanded notation negative number nested parenthesis

Expression parenthesis power of 10

Factor power of a number order of operation

In the black number and word notation opposite

In the red

Line graph

Unit 8

EDM Unit 8 Fractions and Ratios

• Adds and subtracts mixed numbers with common denominators
• Adds simple mixed numbers with unlike denominators, 1 1/4 + 2 3/8.
• Multiplies unit fractions (fractions with a numerator of one.) using tools such as area models.
• Solves applied problems involving fractions and decimals. 

Science Fair

This year, every student submitted a project. I was impressed with the quality and types of projects. These projects were graded using a simplistic rubric. The scoring information along with a comment will be placed in the comment section of the report letter. 

MSTep

In class, we have begun analyzing Michigan's newly designed standardized test, MSTEP. The MSTEp replaced the 40 year old MEAP test, a paper-pencil exam. For the next couple of weeks, I would like focus on the type of questions and how to think about the test. This is called cognitive thinking: thinking about problem solving.
Also, I am suggesting students analyze the Smarter Balanced Assessment. Please note that this test is a little difficult.

The testing schedule will be shared with parents in due time prior to Spring Break.
Below is a link to sample items released by the State of Michigan.
MSTEp practice Test
Smarter balanced practice
Grade level classroom activity and performance samples. LOOK for your grade.

Technology

Casey the runner adding and subtracting positive numbers