Gratitude Padlet

Heat Transfers in 3 Ways

Conduction, Convection, and Radiation
Essential Question:  What are the different ways in which heat can be transferred in thermal energy??
We are learning about Thermal Energy in science.  We conducted three demonstrations to show how heat is transferred through thermal energy.

One demonstration showed how heat transfers through conduction.  We had two different materials, a plastic block and a metal block.  We placed an ice cube on each block to see which would allow the ice to melt more quickly.  When making predictions, some of us thought the metal block would allow the ice to stay in the cube form longer because it felt cold to the touch, so therefore the ice would melt faster on the plastic block.  However, the opposite happened.   Though the metal block felt colder, it was actually the same temperature as the plastic block.  Because it is a good conductor of heat, the heat left our hands more quickly, so therefore it felt colder.  When we placed the ice on the blocks, it was amazing to see how fast the ice melted on the metal block!

Yesterday and today we demonstrated convection.   We put red food coloring in a large bin of cold water.  Then in a small jar, we put in hot water with blue food coloring.  The small jar had holes in it to allow water to leave.  When the jar was placed in the bin the hot water rose to the top of the cold water, because heat rises.  The water was trying to create a balance between the hot and cold.  The blue water was now at the top, while the red stayed at the bottom.  Colder water is more dense than hot water.  In the middle there was a balance of the two where the color started to turn purple. The movement of heat through currents in water is convection.  

We also attempted to demonstrate radiation.   A lit candle was placed below a spiral of aluminum foil.  The infrared heat waves from the fire was supposed to move the spiral, however, due to the movement of air in the room, it was hard to show.

You then drew and described what happened in each demonstration







Click the link below for the song :
Conduction, Convection, and Radiation Song       

Mrs. Wiles-Stasko's class REALLY enjoyed the song and wanted to sing nice and loud :)

Super Moon

Look out at the moon tonight and tomorrow night. It will be closest to earth than it has been in almost 70 years! There won't be another one like it until 2034!
Click here to read a NASA article

The Ladder Method

How Do Ladders    Help With Math???
I can't tell you enough how much I love the Ladder Method!  To be honest, I didn't like it until last year.  Believe it or not, a few years ago was the first time I learned it! Like many of you, I was hesitant to use it because it was a new concept to me and it wasn't how I was taught. Learning new ways to do something can be hard for people to accept and use. Even though I wasn't a big fan of it, I taught it to my students and showed them how to use it.  We used it as a strategy, but primarily used listing factors as our go-to solution.   Towards the end of the year, I was determined to like it, because other teachers really liked using it.   How did I get over my frustrations with it?  I practiced, practiced, and practiced some more!  Now when I use the Ladder Method, it makes so much more sense.  I love that you can use this one tool to figure out 3 different concepts!   Once you get the hang of it, it is a real game changer and saves some time.      Here is a video that explores this concept step by step!  

Something you really need to know is your PRIME NUMBERS.  It helps you get a good start when using the Ladder.  You really need to use the smaller ones.  It is good to have the first 5 or 6 memorized. 
  You also need to know your MATH FACTS!  If you struggle with knowing your basic math facts fluently, then practice, practice, practice!  You want it to be automatic.  

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NF.A.1
Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators. 

For example, 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12. (In general, a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd.)

Let me know what you think!!  

Are you starting to enjoy the Ladder Method???  

Comment below and share your thoughts :)

Halloween

Here are a few pictures from Monday's Halloween activities.

I hope you all enjoyed your day :)

 

 

And I know many of you asked to see a picture of Logan .... so here it is :)