We are getting ready to start fundraising for next year’s Outdoor School which will be for the current group of 5^th grade students. Each spring we sell candy bars and beef sticks in order to get a jump start on fundraising. We encourage all of the 5^th grade students to participate as it directly benefits them next year. We also allow each student to earn money off of their $100 ODS fee by participating in this fundraising opportunity. For every item they sell, they will get $.20 off their ODS fee. (if they raise $25, they will get $5 deducted from their cost). Last year we had multiple students raise enough money to pay their entire fee, and many others earn $20 or more off their fee.

A parent information letter will be coming home with your child soon.

Here is what we are going to do:

• Everyone is going to participate; everyone now has a project.
• Projects are simple and quick to complete.
• Students may work with a partner.
• I will give class time to those that need it (others will work on independent math, podcasts, Revolutionary War newspapers, and other projects).
• I’m almost always in the classroom during both recess to give extra help.
• I have display boards, construction paper, and other materials, if needed.

Yesterday, as I watched my students planning what they wanted to do, I could see that motivation was strong and they were enjoying the process. Many just needed a gentle nudge in the right direction, and giving some class time to work out what they wanted to do created an excitement that was contagious. It is my goal that the students have some fun while they learn science principles and concepts with this project. We are off to a good start.

Here are the remaining deadlines for this project:

April 24 – Rough Draft complete

May 1 – Final Copy complete

May 7 – Map & Advertisement complete

Student’s received a project sheet which explains, in detail, what is to be done.

The science fair will take place place on May 3, 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Remember the projects can be researching a problem or demonstrating a science idea. If your student is short on ideas, remind him or her that I have resources they can use. While this project is optional, I’m offering extra-creadit points in science (something I rarely do).

CO₂  - Chemical symbol for carbon dioxide.

H₂O – Chemical symbol for water.

cell – The basic unit structure of all living things.

cell wall - The outermost layer of material that surrounds a plant cell, giving it its shape. It is ridged and found only in plant cells.

cell membrane - A thin layer of material that surrounds all cells.

nucleus - Tells the cell when and how to function; it is usually the largest object in a cell.

cytoplasm - Jelly-like fluid in a cell.

xylem - Tubes that carry water & minerals from the roots of a plant to its leaves.

phloem - Tubes that carry water & food (sugar) from the leaves to the rest of the plant.

stomata - Holes in a leaf that allow gases to enter and exit.

chlorophyll - Green colored substance that absorbs sunlight.

photosynthesis - The process in which a plant makes sugar from CO₂, H₂O, and sunlight.

chloroplast - A cell part where photosynthesis takes place.

For a couple of pictures: 

Playground gets quite a dusting of snow.

The snow fell all day Wednesday without letting up.

Friday, March 23 – Animation project due; although students may complete this during break, in order to do so they must have a connection drawing assigned by me.

Friday, March 23 – all notes should be completed for Revolutionary War project.

The students will be creating a newspaper about the Revolutionary War. The students will be given this linked instruction sheet and walked through each step as we progress with the project. I will post deadlines for each step in the process as we work on the project.

On Tuesday I will walk the students through the note taking process and how to structure their notes.