December 1, 2014
Dear Parents,
We hope everyone had a wonderful break and time well spent with your families. We have three weeks until winter break and we will be using this time to finish up units, topics and recitations.
Topic:
Today we will be sending home the recitation which is due Monday, December 15th. We will be creating a Rube Goldberg machine which requires the kids to use their knowledge of simple machines and procedural writing. ( copy is below) Additionally we will be creating an amusement park in class using a variety of materials that incorporate what we have learned about simple machines, force and energy. This project will emphasize group cooperation and the students will be given an opportunity to take on specific roles and reflect upon their effort.
Reading and Writing:
We will continue reading independent novels and working on book responses. In writing we will learn how to write a persuasive essay/paragraph which they will need in order to complete their Rube Goldberg recitation.
Spelling:
We are working on lesson 4 and there will be a spelling test on Friday.
Poetry Slam:
Some of our students will be reading their own poetry at the Barnes and Noble Book Fair on December 12th at 6:00. We need parents to please email us and let us know if they are planning on attending this event. We want to make sure they are on the schedule to read their work. Thank you!
Homework:
Monday:
- Spelling list goes home to study for test
- Recitation assigned
- Read
Tuesday:
Study spelling
- Spanish or German Homework
- Work on recitation
Wednesday:
- Purple math
- Read
Thursday:
- Spelling test tomorrow
- Work on Recitation
- Read
Have a wonderful week!
OK Team
Simple Machines:
Rube Goldberg Machine Recitation
Due: Monday, December 15th
Invent something wild and wonderfully useless, like Rube Goldberg, or something that may be useful, the choice is yours. Your idea must illustrate a functioning Rube Goldberg machine and be represented as one of the following:
- a diorama with a small version of your machine
- a “blue print” scale drawing of your machine
- a collage of pictures to represent your machine.
Key Elements to include:
- Your project must include at least 4 or more of the 6 types of simple machines.
- Write at least one paragraph describing your machine and what is does.. Explain each step of the procedure in sequence. (See example below.)
- Include a paragraph that would convince someone that your machine would be a good invention to have in the world. How will your machine make life easier?