About Me

My photo
Welcome to my math blog! The purpose of this blog is to help you stay informed about our learning and experiences that have taken place during our math class. I have also included links your child (and you) may want to use in order to supplement math learning in 5th grade.

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Adding Mixed Numbers (final day)

Bell Ringer:  Halloween Riddle

I found a set of Halloween Riddles for my classes to solve.  They were not mathematical, but they were fun!

Lesson Frame:



Lesson/Assignment:

This was our final day to complete our mystery picture for adding mixed fractions with unlike denominators.  I asked my students to work on this independently.  They had one hour for 6 questions.  When they completed the questions, they were to get onto Think Through Math.

Close:



Monday, October 30, 2017

Adding Mixed Numbers (day 3)

Bell Ringer:  SET Game

https://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle

Lesson Frame:



Lesson:

Actually, we did today's classwork "upside down".  Typically we would finish up with our Fifth Grade Builder, however, the contents today were mostly new, so I needed to take time to explain elements.

Once we had worked through the Fifth Grade Builder, they answered the next 6 problems on their mystery picture by adding mixed fractions.  Again, this was completed on a Google Form.  I did allow table groups to work together to make sure everyone was understanding the process.

Close:

Tell me 3 things you have learned about adding mixed fractions.





Friday, October 27, 2017

Character Dress Up + Treats + STEAM Math = Fun Friday!

Character Dress Up.... come to school based on your favorite book character..... feels like a free day!

Add to that treats in the afternoon and a cold front .... what, school?!?!?

So, to help keep the "fun" from overwhelming us, I decided to begin our STEAM rotations, AKA Fun Friday!

Bell Ringer:  Would You Rather


Lesson Frame:



Lesson:

I had six different STEAM challenges with each group having 3 students.  I carefully arranged the students myself, but then each table group the a number that represented one of the activities.  This allowed students to see that I didn't play favorites.




Bloxels - http://home.bloxelsbuilder.com/index.html is a build your own video game activity.  I had three Bloxels kits and three iPads for students to use.  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Lego Marble Run - https://frugalfun4boys.com/2016/01/13/lego-duplo-marble-run-stem-challenge/ is a STEAM challenge I found on the blog:  Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls.  We used the regular Lego sets I have with no difficulty.  This was the only true group activity where students worked together to complete a single outcome.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://littlebits.cc/

littleBits - http://littlebits.cc/ are easy to use electronic building blocks.  I was gifted a class set through Friends of Hamilton.  Again, there were enough pieces for all three students to have their own to explore with.

------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hour of Code - https://hourofcode.com/us/learn gave students a chance to learn how to code.  To be honest, this was the least favorite, as everything else was more of a hands-on challenge.  I may try to find another hands-on activity next time.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

https://frugalfun4boys.com/2015/06/11/4-engineering-challenges-kids/

STEAM with Craft Sticks, Cups and Cubes  -  https://frugalfun4boys.com/2015/06/11/4-engineering-challenges-kids/ challenged students to build structures within some limitations.  Found this one on Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls as well (excellent blog for STEAM ideas).

------------------------------------------------------------------------


CrazyAction Contraptions - students worked to create one of the contraptions and, while no one was successful in fully completing the challenge, everyone loved it!

Close:

I actually used a random closure generating  website to reflect on the activities.  The website is:  Learning In Hand with Tony Vincent.  The reflection generator web address:


The question that came up was perfect for today:  What did you find frustrating?  I also added:  How did you persevere?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a day that was full of changes, my students had a great time as shown below:





























Thursday, October 26, 2017

Adding Mixed Fractions with Unlike Denominators (Day 2/4)

Bell Ringer:  Guess My Number

Guess My Number

Lesson Frame:
  • We will add mixed fractions with unlike denominators using Crisscross Applesauce, simplify using the Ladder Method, and convert  improper fractions to mixed fractions.
  • I will contrast adding proper fractions and adding mixed fractions.

Lesson:

We continued working with adding mixed fractions with unlike denominators.  We used our math journal pages to help with solving:

  • p. 13 - Steps to Adding Mixed Fractions
  • p. 12 - Crisscross Applesauce
  • p. 5 - Prime Numbers
  • p. 11 - Ladder Method
  • p. 9 - Convert Improper to Mixed
My students are doing very well with this!  I am very pleased.  They do still sometimes get stumped due to simplifying or converting, but they are taking the frustration very well!

Close:

Contrast adding proper fractions to adding mixed fractions.  How are they different?

Assignment:

Fifth Grade Builder #24

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Adding Mixed Fractions with Unlike Denominators

Bell Ringer:  101 Questions

Screenshot 2016-10-25 at 7.18.34 PM.png

Lesson Frame:
  • We will take notes on adding mixed fractions with unlike denominators.
  • I will compare adding proper fractions and adding mixed fractions.
Lesson:

I created this graphic to use as notes for my students.  We placed this in our math journals, and then used the steps to solve problems.  I explained that there was only one new idea:  we needed to add the whole numbers and then somehow manage not to forget to add them at the end!

  • Step 1:  add the whole numbers together and "store" the answer to use later.
  • Step 2:  use Crisscross Applesauce to add the fractions.



  • Step 5:  don't forget to add the "stored" whole number.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

5th Grade Math Centers: 5th Grade Fraction Activities (Color by Number)

We used these steps to solve six problems.  Once again, I used a mystery picture as our assignment.  I have broken the 24 problems into 4 groups of 6, created a Google Form, and included my "close" as the seventh question.  Students will work their problems on notebook paper so that I can help as needed.

Close: 

Compare adding proper fractions to adding mixed fractions.  
How are they alike?

Assignment:

Fifth Grade Builder #23


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Catching Up!

Three days off takes a toll!  So, I decided that today would be a day to "catch up" on the assignments given while I was out.

Bell Ringer: Which One Doesn't Belong

Screenshot 2016-10-24 at 5.43.02 PM.png

Lesson Frame:
  • We will catch up on the assignments from the days Mrs. D was out.
  • I will complete my assignments given while Mrs. D was absent.
Lesson:

Yesterday, I went though each of the assignments looking for incomplete work or work that needs to be corrected.  We caught up on the following activities:

  • Fifth Grade Builder #22
  • Khan:  Add fractions with unlike denominators
  • Khan:  Subtract fractions with unlike denominators
  • Think Through Math:  some students had not passed lessons in WEEKS.
There was no closure or Fifth Grade Builder assignment today.