Fifth grade Ms. McCoy
Course Description
A bus route is 5 miles long. The bus does the route 2 times each day, 4 days per week. How many miles will the bus drive in 7 weeks?
In a new bookstore, each bookcase has 7 shelves, and there are 7 books on each shelf. Each aisle has 6 bookcases. How many books are there in 3 aisles?
A new hospital ordered bandages for all of the doctors' offices. There are 6 bandages in each pack, and each box of bandages contains 5 packs. Each office gets 5 boxes. How many bandages are there in 8 offices?
Students at Portland Village School collected magazines for recycling. Each student collected 6 stacks of magazines. There were 6 students participating, and they put 6 magazines in each stack. How many magazines did the school recycle?
Ivan bought 8 oranges and 6 pears. The cost of each orange is $0.45. A pear costs twice as much as an orange. How much did he pay altogether?
Reading Log: Date, book read, pages read, 3-5 sentence summary of what you read today.
Attached is a sheet of music for a song that students can learn (to the right), called “Welcome to Spring,” written by Irene Thompson. If they have an instrument at home, I encourage them to try learning how to play it. If we were in class, we would have sung this song in a round. Here is a YouTube link if you’d like to hear an example or sing along: https://www.youtube.
Main Lesson - I attached a photo of the "Ode to the Gods" main lesson page. This should be recreated in their orange Ancient Greece main lesson book, right after The Olympic Oath page that was completed in class. If your student does not have their orange book, this can be done on another notebook or piece of paper. They should also read about the border that they're drawing:
The page is outlined with a meander, which is a decorative border constructed from a continuous line that repeats. On the one hand, the name "meander" recalls the twisting and turning path of the Maeander River in Asia Minor, and on the other hand, the meander is the figure of a labyrinth in linear form”. These patterns are sometimes known as Greek Lines. Usually the term is used for motifs with straight lines and right angles.
Meanders are common decorative elements in Greek art. In Ancient Greece they appear in architecture and on pottery. They were among the most important symbols in Ancient Greece and may have symbolized infinity and unity. Many ancient Greek temples incorporated the sign of the meander.
Math - Fraction Word Problems
Roadster’s Paving Company used 4 2/3 tons of cement to pave Jack’s street and 2 3/8 tons of cement to pave Cynthia’s street. How much cement did they use in all?
Ms. McCoy ate 3 4/5 pints of ice cream on Friday night and 2 1/2 pints of ice cream on Saturday night. How much more ice cream did she eat on Friday night than Saturday night?
Tony was very enthusiastic about the 5th grade challenge. He ran 12 9/10 miles yesterday and 9 7/10 miles the day before. How much farther did Tony run yesterday than the day before?
Marissa was excited about the 5th grade challenge too. He ran 2 3/5 miles yesterday and 3 7/10 miles the day before. How much does Marissa need to run to meet his goal of 10 miles?
On Friday, Nick sold 8 3/4 pitchers of lemonade from her lemonade stand. On Saturday, she sold 2/5 as much lemonade as on Friday. How many pitchers of lemonade did she sell on Saturday?
Have a great day!
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April 3, 2020
Class Meeting - We have a voluntary class meeting today at 2:00 on Zoom! I'm aiming to keep it around 30 minutes. Here's the link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/885665290 Hope to see you there!
Ms. McCoy
Good morning,
I’ve attached today’s main lesson audio clip, math practice, and the weekly one-on-one Zoom meeting schedule. Please look at the meeting schedule and make sure that your child's time slot works for you. If they're unable to meet at our scheduled time, please let me know as soon as possible. Here is the Zoom link for all of today's meetings: https://us04web.
Students can learn more and see pictures of the Parthenon, which is talked about in today’s main lesson, here: https://kids.kiddle.co/
Math:
- If oranges cost 74¢ per pound, then how much do you need to pay for 5 pounds of oranges?
- If 4 pounds of oranges cost $5.16, then what is the price per pound?
- If 4 pounds of oranges cost $5.16, how much do 7 pounds of oranges cost?
- If 4.3 pounds of oranges cost $5.16, then what is the price per pound?
- If 4.3 pounds of oranges cost $5.16, then how much do 7 pounds of oranges cost?
Reading Log: Every day this week, I want students to log the date, book they read, pages they read, and find 3 words that they don't know from the passage they read today. I then want students to look up the definitions and write them in their reading log.
Have a great day,
Ms. McCoy
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April 7, 2020
Good morning,
It’s been great to connect one on one with students! Each meeting has been between 15 and 30 minutes. Please make sure students have the main lesson work they’ve done this past week, paper, and a pencil. I’m attaching the meeting schedule to this email again. Here’s the link for today’s Zoom meetings: https://us04web.
Main Lesson - Postcard from Ancient Greece
For today’s Main Lesson page, students will create a postcard describing a trip to Athens. Using a ruler, make a simple border. The title of the page is Greetings from Ancient Greece. Use your ruler to draw two rectangles on the page—mine were 12cm by 19cm. The top rectangle will be the front of the postcard, and it will feature a drawing of the Parthenon. You can use the picture I've attached for a reference, or you can look up pictures of what the Parthenon looked like before it was partially in ruins. The bottom rectangle will be the back of the postcard for the writing:
Imagine you could visit Athens during its prime. Describe what you could see. What are the Athenian citizens doing? What major sites would be a must-see for a tourist? Try to write about Athens using all five senses—what did you see, hear, smell, taste, touch?
Think back to what we learned about Athens in class and what you heard in the stories from this past week. What was it like in the Golden Age? Did you visit the Parthenon, with people worshipping the giant statue of Athena, leaving her gifts, and hoping to speak to an oracle? Did you see a tragedy or comedy play performed at a large outdoor theater? Were citizens gathered around wise leaders and philosophers, listening to them speak? Did you visit the agora and see food and goods being sold? Were there beautiful works of art and music all around you?
Your writing should be in first person. Write as if you’re actually in Athens. Address your postcard to a friend, and don’t forget to draw a stamp!
Math - Least Common Multiple Word Problems
You are having a party and go to the supermarket to buy hamburgers and buns. Unfortunately, hamburgers come in a pack of 6, and buns in a pack of 8. What is the least number of hamburgers and buns you need to buy in order not to have any of either left over?
You and your brother are given chores around the house. You clean the dishes every fourth day, and he takes out the garbage every sixth day. If you've both just done the chores today, how many days before you both do them together again on the same day?
Charlie has a watch that is set to beep every 12 minutes. Brogan's watch is set to beep every 10 minutes. After they have beeped once at the same time, in how many minutes will they beep together again?
In another solar system there is a star named Hazel which has two planets that revolve around it: planet Camille and planet Brady. We are looking from earth and want to send a spaceship to arrive when the two planets are exactly lined up with earth - one in front of the other. Today they are lined up exactly.
It takes 8 earth years for the planet Camille to make one revolution around the sun Hazel. It takes 30 earth years for the planet Brady to make one revolution around the sun Hazel. When will they next be lined up again?
Handwork - Here is our 5th Grade Handwork Lesson for Tuesday April 7th. If you have a pair of knitting needles and some yarn, you can learn how to knit the Seed Stitch with Ms. Amy: 5th Grade Seed Stitch pattern
Music - A song about these times from Ms. Nicole: https://vimeo.com/
Okay, that's it for today! Thanks for all of the patience, encouragement, and warmth you’ve shown me this past week. I think we’re figuring things out and getting into a rhythm that works. As always, please let me know if you have questions or need any extra support. I’m thankful to be working with such great families during this difficult time. I hope you have a great day!
Love,
Ms. McCoy
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Option One: Write a script for a scene from a play about Socrates, Alcibiades, and the end of Socrates’ life. Include dialogue and conversation between characters, as well as directions about actions and movement. For example, “Socrates walks across the room and lays down.”
Option Two: Imagine that you’re a reporter for a newspaper in Athens at the end of The Golden Age. Write a newspaper article telling your readers about the death of Socrates. Reporters make sure to include the 5 W’s—who, what, where, when, and why. Include quotes from people who were close to Socrates.
Option Three: Write an interview with one of the characters in the story. Write both the questions and the answers. If you choose to interview Alcibiades the Traitor, ask him why he did the things he does in the story. When answering the question, you’ll put yourself in Alcibiades’s shoes and try to imagine the reasons and the motivation behind what he did. Answer the questions the way you think he might have answered them.
Good morning and happy Friday!
Main Lesson - This is the final story for our Ancient Greece block! While students listen to the story of Alexander the Great, I want them to illustrate a picture of Alexander and his horse Bucephalus. Any medium is fine—colored pencils, watercolors, oil pastels—and the page should be titled “Alexander the Great.” I’ve attached three pictures that can be used as a reference for their illustrations.
Math - Today's math is brought to you by Mr. Mott. It's attached to this email.
Movement - Mondays and Fridays are Movement class for 5th graders. Here’s the link for Ms. Kennedy’s lessons: https://bkennedy54.wixsite.
Class Meeting - Today at 2pm! Today during our class meeting, we’re going to have show and tell! Everyone can share one item of their choice. Hope everyone can join us. Here’s the Zoom link: https://us04web.zoom.us/
Zoom Meetings Next Week - Instead of one on ones next week, we’re going to do small group chats so that students can see each other and share their work with one another. I'll send out a schedule with Monday's email.
KBOO Dance Party - Cedarwood School and the radio station KBOO are co-sponsoring a stay home and dance party tonight at 8pm. I’ve attached a flyer—tune in to 90.7FM.
Supplies - If you’re missing Main Lesson books or math workbooks, please let me know. We can have school staff deliver the materials you need for the rest of the school year.
Finally, I want to thank you for all the work you’ve been putting in to make sure your students can access their schoolwork. I know that it's a lot of work for parents, too. I want to reiterate that the goal is to keep the children healthy and interested in learning. Use what I send in whatever way works best for your child and your family. Let me know if you need support or are feeling overwhelmed by the work I’m sending.
I hope your weekend is filled with sunshine and relaxation!
Love,
Ms. McCoy
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Hi everyone,
Here is today's instruction. Beside each assignment is the amount of time each activity should take.
Fifth Grade Challenge - (10 minutes)
Main Lesson - Today we’re jumping back into United States Geography. This week we’ll focus on the Southeastern Region of the U.S.
Please watch this video: https://study.com/academy/
Hide the notes and try to answer the following questions from what you just read (20 minutes):
- List the states that make up the Southeast Region of the United States.
- What major river is located in this region?
- Name the famous mountain range from this area.
- Which two large bodies of water are located in the Southeast United States?
- What is the unique ecosystem found in Florida? Which animals/birds live there?
- In which biome do you think this area is classified? Write two sentences that support your answer.
Read over your writing and check for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors (5 minutes)
In your yellow Main Lesson Book, we began a page titled “USA Regions.” Alphabetize the 16 states in the Southern Region, then list them in the bottom left quadrant of the page. I’ve attached a photo of an example page.
Math - Decimals word problem worksheet is attached. Answers are on Page 2 if you want to check your work. (30 minutes)
Reading - Independently or to a family member (30 minutes)
Spanish - “Here's the website for the Spanish classes: https://itj2001.
Movement - https://bkennedy54.wixsite.
Finally, I want to let you know that there has been a death in my family and I won't be available for the rest of this week. Ms. Kendrick or Ms. Day will be sending lessons for upcoming days.
Sending love,
Ms. McCoy
Good morning,
I want to thank everyone for sending your love and well wishes last week. I'm lucky to be a part of such a sweet school community. I also want to thank you for your patience--I'll be responding to emails that I missed in the past week as soon as I can. Here's today's instruction:
Main Lesson - This week we're moving on to learning about the Northeast Region of the United States. I have attached a video for students to watch--they should have a composition book and a pencil with them while they watch it. (25 minutes)
When they're finished, they should alphabetize state names and finish the final section of the USA Regions Main Lesson page in their yellow book. Instructions are given in the video, and I've attached a photo to use as a reference. (20 minutes)
Students will also choose a state to study for their state report! They can choose any state except Oregon. They can use this website as a resource for browsing through states: https://www.ducksters.
Math - We're going to move forward in our math workbook. Today I'd like students to read the line graph and answer the questions on page 87. (20 minutes)
Spelling - During our last Zoom calls, I gave everyone a spelling quiz to determine words they need to practice. Since each student has different words, I'll send them to you individually in a separate email, along with spelling instructions (I apologize for sending multiple emails!). (10 minutes)
Group Zoom Chats - I have attached a schedule for group Zoom calls this week. They will take place this Thursday between noon and 2:00. I put students into groups that I think they would have chosen on their own. If your time slot doesn't work, let me know and I can move things around.
Finally, I want to send this video of Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World" to the fifth graders: https://www.youtube.Hi everyone,
Main Lesson - Today we're turning our state report outlines into rough drafts. I've attached a short audio clip talking about transitions and paragraph structure to listen to before getting started. I've also attached a picture of the outline structure for this paper. (60 minutes)
Math - I created a fun way to measure angles and make chalk art for math today. It doesn’t look like it’s going to rain today, so grab some tape, chalk, and find a sidewalk! Instructions are attached. Send me pictures of your finished chalk art! (40 minutes)
Music - Mandala art lesson 2 from Ms. Nicole: https://vimeo.com/412887023
Have a great day!
Ms. McCoy
Good morning!
Zoom Calls - I can’t wait to see everyone in our group Zoom calls today! Please bring outlines and rough drafts of your state report to the meeting. We'll check in, talk about the state report, and I'll answer any questions you have about the project. Same groups and times as last week--I’ve attached the schedule below. Here’s the link for all of the meetings: https://us02web.
Main Lesson - Spend an hour working on finishing the rough draft of your state report today. Projects are due one week from today, Thursday May 7th, so you still have time if you need it. This is the last day that Main Lesson time is devoted to writing the rough draft.
If your rough draft is finished, ask an adult to edit it for you. You'll write your final copy next week.
Math - I LOVED seeing some math chalk art from yesterday! I'm sharing the pictures that were sent to me so you can see what some of your classmates created.
Please complete pages 98 and 99 in your math workbook. If you don't have a protractor at home, you'll only be able to estimate the angles on the table on page 98. You only need to fill out the Measure row if you have a protractor. Remember that a right angle is 90 degrees, a flat line is 180 degrees, and a circle is 360 degrees.
I'll be in the Zoom call before the class meeting tomorrow starting at 1:30pm to help with math. If you're confused about any of the math I've assigned, join the class meeting early tomorrow and I can help!
Handwork - Ms. Jessi and Ms. Amy are delivering Handwork supplies to homes on Friday. If you do not feel comfortable with them dropping materials on your porch, let me know in the next 24 hours and they’ll mail supplies to you.
That's it for today--remember that tomorrow is May Day! Get ready to make flower crowns!
Talk to you soon,
Ms. McCoy
Happy May Day, 5th grade!!
I'm so sad that we can't celebrate this magical day together. This was the day when I fell in love with Portland Village School during my student teaching a couple years ago. Sitting under a tree, making flower crowns with 1st grade buddies, and playing with someone's pet bunny that they brought to school in a wooden basket before gathering around the maypole--I couldn't imagine a sweeter reality. Though we can't be together to celebrate, I hope you and your families take time to soak up some sun and make flower crowns together.
Start your day with the song, "Good morning lords and ladies, a May Day song" Lyrics are in the video description so you can sing along. You can also practice singing this round with your family.
Make a flower crown today! Here's a Simple ivy and dandelion crown tutorial made by Ms. Trummer. If you don't have access to flowers, you can make this paper bag flower crown.
Our school is collecting photos of students and families wearing the flower crowns you've made to create a May Day collage. Please send pictures if you're okay with sharing your photo with the community (and if you're not comfortable being part of the collage, just let me know and I won't pass your photo along). I've attached a photo of my flower crown--I'd LOVE to see yours!
Main Lesson - Today will be a day for everyone to catch up on state reports. The goal is to finish your rough draft today if you haven't already! If you are finished, your next steps are to have it edited by an adult and to work on your cover page. The cover page should feature the name of your state, the state flag (use a ruler when drawing this!), and "State Report by your name here." You can be creative with your cover page if you'd like! Some of you have asked if you're writing the report in your yellow Main Lesson book or on loose-leaf paper. Both are okay--it's up to you.
Math - Math from Mr. Mott is attached. I heard that a few people have questions about angles, so I’ll be on the class meeting Zoom call early today—starting at 1:30—to provide math support. Pop in whenever you can!
Class Meeting - The class decided that they want to play charades during our class meeting today, so that's what we're going to do! 2:00 on Zoom--wear your flower crowns! Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/
Handwork - Hi 5th Grade families! The Handwork team will be making deliveries to your home on Monday May 4th. If your address has changed recently please let us know as soon as possible. Also, I have some mordanted (ready for dyeing) yarn available. If your family would like to try a natural dye experiment at home please email me and I will deliver those supplies to you as well! Happy Crafting- Ms. Jessi jherbert@
Sending love,
Ms. McCoy
Hi everyone,
Here is today's instruction:
Main Lesson - This week we are finishing state reports and beginning our second Botany block. State report projects are due this Thursday, May 7th! Hopefully your rough draft is finished and has been edited by an adult. Today your assignment is to write your final draft in your best, neatest handwriting. Remember that the artistic piece is also due on Thursday--spend some time working on that today as well. (50 minutes)
As a way to ease into our Botany block, please watch the video I've attached. I share a familiar story and then review and revisit what we learned at the beginning of the year. (10 minutes)
Math - Today you're practicing compass directions on page 100 in your math workbook (north, north-east, east, south-east, south, south-west, west, north-west). Then move on to page 101. Imagine that you are standing facing the direction in the left column. If you turn the number of degrees in the middle column, which direction will you be facing? I think this activity will be easiest if you physically stand up and move your body in the direction it asks. Put down sticky notes in each direction if it helps.
I'll help you with the first row. If you are facing north and then turn your body 45 degrees clockwise, you will be facing north-east.
Movement - Today is a Movement day: https://bkennedy54.
Music - Please read the attached note from Ms. Nicole about the Zoom talent show that's happening this Wednesday.
Have a great day,
Ms. McCoyHi 5th grade,
Here’s your instruction for the day:
Main Lesson - Today is the first day of a week-long plant observation activity! Please read the Plant Observations document that is attached, go outside, find a plant near your home that is budding, and record your observations. It would be best to print the document, but if you don’t have access to a printer, you can draw your plant and record observations in a notebook instead. (60 minutes
Spend some time working on the artistic piece for your state report—remember that you are presenting this Thursday! (25 minutes)
Math - Please watch the math video I’ve attached and complete page 102 in your math workbook (my new adopted cat Sweetface makes an appearance in the video!). (20 minutes)
Spanish - https://itj2001.wixsite.com/
Handwork - Super High Flying Shooting Stars!
Hope you have a great day,
Ms. McCoyGood morning!
Here’s today's instruction:
Main Lesson - Please listen to the audio clip about Lower and Higher Flowering Plants. You will create a Main Lesson page on this topic tomorrow. (10 minutes)
Revisit the budding plant you chose yesterday and collect data! Does it look different than it did yesterday? Fill out Day #2 of your plant observations. (30 minutes)
Put all finishing touches on your state report project! Presentations are tomorrow. Make sure you have your final draft of the report finished, along with your cover page and the artistic representation of your state. I can’t wait to see all of your hard work! (30 minutes)
Math - Use the following statements to identify the shapes and complete the table on page 103 in your math workbook (20 minutes):
Quadrilaterals have four sides.
A trapezoid has at least one pair of parallel lines.
A parallelogram has two pairs of parallel lines.
A rectangle is a parallelogram with four right angles.
A square is a rectangle with four equal sides.
A rhombus is a quadrilateral with four equal sides.
Music - Upper School Zoom Talent Show is today at 2:00! Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/
Frequently asked questions:
- Can I be in the audience and just watch? YES!
- How do I sign up? Simply click on the zoom link above
- How will I create the list?: The old fashion way by pulling your name out of the hat at random.
- Do I have to perform music? NO!
- Any art that you have created, music, trick, dance sibling band, parent duo. Anything creative will do!
- I will go over rules and expectations in the intro
- Will Trooper be there? Yes!
Group Meetings - Tomorrow we’ll have group Zoom calls. The start times are different for most groups than the past few weeks because I want to make sure everyone has a chance to present and we’ll have time to get questions and feedback from peers without feeling rushed. Make sure to check your new time—attached below!
Happy Wednesday,
Ms. McCoy
Good morning,
Zoom Calls - Today is presentation day! Make sure to double check your group Zoom time and come ready to present with your state report to read and art to share! Here's the link for all Zoom calls: https://us02web.zoom.
Parents—please send me pictures or scans of your student's report and artwork. I want to give feedback and praise students for all their hard work!
Main Lesson - Today you are creating a Main Lesson page on Higher Plants. Look at the photo that’s attached to this email, then create a page in your Botany book with these elements:
- Draw an orange border (using a ruler)
- Write the title "Higher Plants"
- Draw a flower like the one on the example page
- Label the roots, stem, leaf, and blossom
- Don’t try to read the writing in the picture! Here’s what you’ll write above the flower: “The higher plant is the one which most of us know best. Higher plants have fully developed organs: root, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit. They have strong roots, complicated leaves with reticulate veins, and the blossom grows from a cup of green leaves called the calyx."
Day #3 of plant observations! How’s your little plant buddy doing? What changes do you notice? Record your observations.
Math - You all have a lot on your plate. I’m assigning no new math page for the day, but use today to catch up on any math that you've missed!
Music - Songwriting series for the Month of May. Lesson 1: Choose your theme and chord progression or backing track. Written instructions below in PDF. https://vimeo.com/414567249
See you all soon,
Ms. McCoy
Hi friends,
I was completely blown away by the state project presentations yesterday! It’s incredible that everyone was able to create such thoughtful, informed, and beautiful projects during this difficult time away from school. I am SO proud of every single one of you!
If you haven’t already, please send me pictures of the report writing and artistic piece. I’m compiling pictures together so that everyone can see the awesome work done by the class. (There’s also a chance your pictures might be in the yearbook!)
Main Lesson - Day #4 of plant observations! If possible, check on your plant each day over the weekend and record days #5 and 6. Next week, you’ll be creating a Main Lesson page about your observations. (20 minutes)
Today we’re going to do some creative writing. I’ve attached an audio clip of an And Then… story starter (like the ones we did in school). Listen to the beginning of the story, then take it wherever you want to! The characters, setting, and plot are totally up to you. When you’re finished, draw an illustration of the story you wrote. If you love your story, you can read it to the class during our class meeting today! (30 minutes)
Math - Page 105 in your math workbook. (25 minutes) Use subtraction and the information each problem gives you to find the measure of each angle. Some things to keep in mind:
- The sum of the angles on a straight line is 180 degrees.
- The sum of the angles at a point is 360 degrees.
- The sum of the angles formed by lines intersecting with a right angle is 90 degrees.
- Vertically opposite angles are equal.
#1a asks you to find the measure of angle A. You know that a straight line is 180 degrees, and you know that the left angle is 135 degrees. Subtract 135 from 180 and that's the measure of angle A.
I’ll be in the class meeting 30 minutes early (starting at 1:30) to provide math support and help anyone with math work from this week. Click the link below if you have math questions!
Class Meeting - Today at 2:00! We’ll be doing a scavenger hunt that will require everyone to find items around their house and then race back to their computer and show me before everyone else. It’s going to be fun! Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/
Spanish - Here’s the link for today’s Spanish activities: https://itj2001.wixsite.com/
Movement - https://bkennedy54.wixsite.
I hope you all have a great weekend! I miss you so much.
Love,
Ms. McCoy
Maay 11, 2020
Good morning,
Main Lesson - If you were able to observe your budding plant over the weekend, then this will be Day #7 of your plant observation. Record measurements, draw a picture, and use your senses to notice changes in your plant over the past week. (20 minutes)
Listen to the audio recording that’s attached. Listen for these words and try to understand which word describes what part of the flower:
- Calyx
- Sepals
- Petals
- Pistil
- Ovary
- Stamens
- Pollen
Then draw a picture of the flower that I’ve attached. Make sure to label all 7 parts. (40 minutes)
Music Project - The end of the school year is quickly approaching (3 and a half weeks!) and I want to start a project that I’ve been looking forward to all year. This is an audio project that will include music and voices. The final product will be like a radio show, an audio collage, or a podcast.
If someone asked you what the greatest song ever recorded was, what would you say? Your assignment for today is to start brainstorming a song that, in your opinion, is the best song in the world. You could choose your favorite song, a song that you think has impacted the world in a big way, or a song that you have special memories associated with. The only rule is that it has to be school/radio appropriate.
Once you choose a song, you’ll do some short persuasive writing about what makes it so great, I’ll record you reading your writing, and then I’ll stitch everyone’s recording and song together to make a radio show. With parent permission, I’ll also play the entire show on my radio show on 90.3 FM Freeform Portland!
This was a project that I did myself when I was in middle school, and it affected me so much that I still think about it. I also did this project with the current PVS 8th graders when they were in 6th grade, and it turned out really special. I’ll send more information soon, but I want to put the bug in your head so you can start choosing a song!
Math - I’ve attached a PDF called “Missing Angles” for today’s math work. (30 minutes)
- For Skill 1, remember that straight lines are 180 degrees. You need to find the measure of the missing angle by subtracting the angles that are given to you from 180. For the first problem, the measure of angle A is 180 minus 120 degrees.
- For Skill 2, remember that all of the angles around a point are like a circle, which is 360 degrees. You need to find the measure of the missing angle by subtracting the angles that are given to you from 360. For the first problem, the measure of angle A is 360 minus 116 minus 64 minus 49 degrees.
Spanish - Here’s the link for today’s Spanish activities: https://itj2001.wixsite.com/
Movement - https://bkennedy54.wixsite.
Warmly,
Ms. McCoy
May 13, 2020
Hi everyone,
Main Lesson - Please watch the attached video to learn about roses and make a paper collage of a rose. For this activity, you’ll need paper, scissors, glue, and magazines, construction paper, and/or patterned paper that you can cut up and use for the collage. Instructions are in the video. I’ve attached a picture of the one I made. I’d love to see pictures of your completed collages!
Math - Page 107 in your math workbook. The sum of the angles of a triangle is always 180 degrees. All three angles in a triangle add up to 180 degrees. On this page of the workbook, you are given the measure of two angles of a triangle. Subtract those two angles from 180 degrees to find the measure of the third angle.
Music - Today's lesson is Mandala lesson 3. Also, let's play some musical hopscotch! ttps://vimeo.com/416521852
Group Zoom Calls - Our group calls are tomorrow. I’ve attached call times below.
Warmly,
Ms. McCoy
Good morning,
Group Zoom Calls - Our group calls are today! I’ve attached call times below. Please bring rose collages, tulip and plant observation Main Lesson pages, and the song you’ve chosen for our music project! Can’t wait to see everyone—Zoom calls are my favorite part of the week! Here’s the link to all calls: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Main Lesson - Today you are creating a Main Lesson page to summarize your week-long plant observations. I’ve attached an example page. The border, title, and layout of your page should be similar to mine, but the drawings, measurements, and observations will be of your own plant.
Choose 3 days to draw—I recommend day 1, day 7, and a day in the middle. Use the notes and sketches you recorded. Write a summary of the changes you noticed about your plant over the course of one week. You can use the sentence starter on the example page if you’d like. (60 minutes)
Math - Page 108 in your math workbook. Today’s math is just like yesterday's—you’re given the measure of two angles in a triangle, and you’re asked to find the measurement of a third angle. All three angles in a triangle should add up to 180 degrees. Once you’ve found the missing angle, put a check mark in the box below triangles that have a right-angle (90 degrees). (20 minutes)
Miss you all so much,
Ms. McCoy
May 15, 2020
Good morning,
Class Meeting - Today at 2:00! I’m going to lead an art project and teach you how to make an 8-page mini zine. Zines are small handmade books that you can make about anything you want! Please bring one sheet of paper and something to write with. Scissors are optional. Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Main Lesson - Please listen to the attached recording about the oak tree and the birch tree. Draw a Venn Diagram in your composition book. One circle will be titled “The Oak Tree” and the other circle will be titled “The Birch Tree.” As you listen to today’s audio clip, take notes in the Venn Diagram. Similarities will go in the middle section and differences will go in either the Oak or the Birch section. (20 minutes)
After listening to the clip and finishing your Venn Diagram, you have two choices. You can either tell an adult what you learned about the oak tree and the birch tree, or you can turn the notes you took in the Venn Diagram into a paragraph about the similarities and differences of the two trees. (10-30 minutes)
Math - I’ve attached two pages of Minute Math—these should be a review that you can complete quickly. (15 minutes)
I’ll be in the class meeting 30 minutes early today to provide math support and answer questions. Hop on between 1:30 and 2:00 if you’d like help with any of the math from this week!
Movement - From Ms. Kennedy: “Hi 5th-grade Students and Families! Ancient Greece held high ideals of grace, beauty, and truth. Young Greeks were encouraged to always do their best, to achieve honor by giving their best effort. Beauty was considered the outer manifestation of one’s internal qualities like courage, sportsmanship, or self-control.
While this year we are unable to gather for our usual Olympiad, students will complete various online challenges to earn their 2020 Olympian status. Please go to the movement website for more information: Movement Website. Or, if you prefer, you can read the attached document.”
Song Project - Finally, if you didn’t tell me which song you’ve chosen for the song project yesterday during our Zoom calls, please let me know by Monday! We’ll begin writing for this project next week.
Happy weekend,
Ms. McCoy
Good morning,
Main Lesson - Make yourself a cup of tea and listen to the attached audio recording about tea, sugar, and coffee. If you use a tea bag, you can make an art project using your damp tea bags! Instructions are attached. (30 minutes)
Song Project - I have attached requirements for the song project! There is no length requirement. The goal is to finish this writing by Friday so that we can record everyone’s audio clips next week. I don’t yet have song choices from Theo, Addy, Louise, Ruby G, Indira, Odin, Khadija, or Jessus. If your name is on that list, please email me your song choice! (30 minutes)
Math - Please complete page 109 in your math workbook, which combines some of the steps you’ve been learning the past two weeks. Keeping in mind that all three angles of a triangle add up to 180 degrees, find the measure of the missing angle in each triangle. Then find the measure of the exterior angle by subtracting your answer from 180 degrees (the measure of all straight lines). (30 minutes)
Movement - Work on completing various online challenges to earn your 2020 Olympian status. Please go to the movement website for more information: Movement Website.
Warmly,
Ms. McCoy
Tuesday May 19
Main Lesson:
Writing the setting:
Today, spend some time writing about the setting of your story. Where and when does it take place? What is the environment like? What kind of landscape and buildings are there? Your assignment is to describe that setting clearly and with detail, using good, rich adjectives. You might want to include your character in the scene and then describe what they see.
Here is an example from Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire”.
The man flung a look back along the way he had come. The Yukon lay a mile wide and hidden under three feet of ice. On top of this ice were as many feet of snow. It was all pure white, rolling in gentle undulations where the ice – jams of the freeze- up had formed.
Here is another example to show how setting can affect the mood of a story.
We got our ice cream cones. We ate them on the beach. We were enjoying our vacation.
How much more we learn and feel in this version! :
As we waited for our ice cream cones we could feel the warm sand on our bare feet. We shaded our eyes with our hands to look out at the waves, gleaming in the bright sun. We ate our ice cream cones. We were enjoying our vacation.
Drawing and Poetry: My version of the image of Ilmatar, the Water Mother, in the sea is attached as a jpg at the bottom. . Draw your own picture of the scene and either copy the verse or write one of your own.
Math:
Today there is another video from Ms. Serra, who is so good at making these. This one is instruction on multiplying mixed numbers by whole numbers. The pdf for the practice work are attached at the bottom.
Storytelling: Here is the next story from the Kalevala.
May 21, 2020
Hello everyone,
Zoom Calls - Group Zoom calls are today! I’ve attached the schedule. Here’s the link to all meetings: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Main Lesson - Your assignment today is to create a Main Lesson page about photosynthesis. Title the page Photosynthesis and use the attached picture as a reference for your drawing. Underneath the drawing, write the 3+ sentences you wrote yesterday describing photosynthesis.
Read Aloud - I’m going to read aloud a short, sweet chapter book about a garden that transforms a neighborhood. The book is Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. I’ll send an audio recording of a couple chapters each day, and we’ll finish it by the end of next week. The first clip is attached below.
Song Project - Your writing should be finished by tomorrow! We’ll move on to recording next week.
Math - Today you’ll have more practice finding the measurement of unknown angles in triangles on page 112 in your math workbook. Remember that all 3 angles of a triangle add up to 180 degrees. Subtract the measurements of the angles you already know from 180.
Music - From Ms. Nicole: “Hello 5th grade, here is the almost final video to the Songwriting Series. Writing lyrics: https://vimeo.com/
See you later today,
Ms. McCoy
Good morning and happy Friday!
Class Meeting - Today at 2:00! Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Main Lesson - Today you are going on a botanical scavenger hunt! Go outside and try to find as many of the things on the list as you can. Attached below. (45 minutes)
Read Aloud - I’ve attached the audio for Seedfolks chapters 3 and 4 below. (10 minutes)
Song Project - Make sure to finish the writing for this project today!
Math - For math today, I want you to count by 3’s up to 30, and then back down to 3 while alternating touching your right elbow to your left knee and your left elbow to your right knee (like we do in class in the mornings). Then do this same movement while counting by 4’s up to 40 and back down to 4, then 6’s up to 60 and back down to 6, and 7’s up to 70 and back down to 7. Keep going if you can! How high can you go?
There are also two math minutes attached. These should be a review that you can complete quickly. (20 minutes)
Movement - Spend some time working on your online Olympiad. Work is due to Ms. Kennedy on May 31st. https://bkennedy54.wixsite.
Happy weekend,
Ms. McCoy
May 26, 2020
Good morning!
Main Lesson - Today we’re learning a bit more about bees! Read the three pages about the beehive, then grab your composition book and a pencil for some creative writing. Pretend that you’re a bee. What would a day look like for you, from a bee’s perspective? Here are some things to include in your writing:
- What do you think a bee might see (shapes of flowers, color)?
- What might a bee feel (dampness, coolness)?
- What might a bee hear, or be listening for?
- What might a bee feel?
- What might a bee smell (food, earth)?
- What might a bee be thinking and/or feeling?
You will be writing in the first person, from the perspective of a bee. You may
write in the present tense or past tense, but do not switch tenses. (60 minutes)
Song Project - We need to schedule one-on-one Zoom calls when each student can read their Song Project writing to me! Please click on this Google Doc and sign up for a time slot: https://docs.google.com/
These will be 15 minute individual calls that happen either today or tomorrow, and I’m going to record the audio through Zoom. When it’s your turn for the call, please make sure you’re in a quiet room with no background noise so that the audio quality is as clear as possible. If you don’t see a time slot that works for you, let me know and we’ll find a time!
Here’s a Zoom link for today’s calls. Just click it at your chosen time: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Read Aloud - Listen to the audio of Seedfolks chapters 5 and 6 attached below. (12 minutes)
Math - Today you’re going to solve some multi-step word problems (20 minutes):
- Calvin paints pictures and sells them at art shows. He charges $56.25 for a large painting. He charges $25.80 for a small painting. Last month he sold six large paintings and three small paintings. How much did he make in all?
- Jennie makes quilts. She can make 7 quilts with 21 yards of material. How many yards of material would be required to make 12 quilts?
- Brayden and Gavin were playing touch football against Cole and Freddy. Touchdowns were worth 7 points. Brayden and Gavin scored 7 touchdowns. Cole and Freddy's team scored 9 touchdowns. How many more points did Cole and Freddy have than Brayden and Gavin?
- On Thursday the Meat King Market sold 210 pounds of ground beef. On Friday they sold twice that amount. On Saturday they only sold 130 pounds. How much more meat did they sell on Friday than Saturday?
Movement - Online Olympiad work is due to Ms. Kennedy on May 31st: https://bkennedy54.wixsite.
Have a great day,
Ms. McCoy
May 27, 2020
Good morning!
Main Lesson - Today you have an opportunity to reflect on what you love about PVS and welcome new students for next year. Our school is putting together a welcome package for new middle school students and are looking for hand-drawn comic pages to welcome new students. Your task for today is to create a page welcoming new students. You could feature your favorite things about PVS, describe your favorite parts of the day, or just create a beautiful welcome. You can use words, pictures, collage, or any way you want to be creative. All pages submitted by students will be put together and printed out, like a zine or comic book.
When you’re finished with your page, please scan the page or send me a clear picture of it! (This is an optional assignment, but I’m not assigning other Main Lesson work for today in the hopes that you’ll participate and make a page for this project.)
Song Project - Today we’re finishing recording audio for the greatest song project. Here’s the Google Doc to sign up or double check your time slot: https://docs.google.com/
These are 15 minute individual calls and I’m going to record the audio through Zoom. When it’s your turn for the call, please make sure you’re in a quiet room with no background noise so that the audio quality is as clear as possible. If you don’t see a time slot that works for you, let me know and we’ll find a time!
Here’s a Zoom link for today’s calls. Just click it at your chosen time: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Read Aloud - Listen to the audio of Seedfolks chapters 7 and 8 attached below.
Math - Today’s word problems are a review of different concepts that we learned throughout the year:
- A company donates 935 pencils to a school. The pencils are divided evenly among 9 classrooms. The rest of the pencils are given to the library. How many pencils were donated to each classroom and to the library?
- Manny owns 83 sets of basketball cards. Each set has exactly 504 cards. What is the total number of basketball cards Manny owns?
- The city park is 9 2/5 miles from Roland Elementary School. The city library is 3 3/10 miles from the same school. How much farther from the school is the park than the library?
- Ginny paid $4.16 for a sandwich. She paid $0.95 for a piece of fruit. What is the total amount Ginny paid for the sandwich and fruit?
- Randa ate 3/8 of a pizza, and Marvin ate 1/4 of the same pizza. What fraction of the pizza did Randa and Marvin eat?
Music - Good morning 5th grade! Here is a really fun chalk/movement game. For an extra challenge you could make a circle with sixteenth notes or tika tika tika tika tika tika tika tika. Have fun. Miss you tons and always and am hoping to see some of you at the songwriter showcase today @ 2:00 link to Zoom call below.. I shouldn't sound like a robot this time... lol!!
Sing every day,
Ms. Nicole
Join Zoom Meeting - Songwriter Showcase: https://us02web.
Meeting ID: 875 4578 0010
Password: 586129
Handwork - This week’s Handwork project is attached below.
Have a great day,
Ms. McCoy
May 28, 2020
Hello,
We will not be having group Zoom calls today since we did individual calls this week.
I’ve only received two pages for the PVS new student zine. If you made a page, please send it to me today!
Main Lesson - PVS would like all students to sign in to Google Classroom and gain some familiarity with it before the year ends, just in case we need to continue distance learning in the fall. I believe that everyone should have received an email from the school with instructions for how to access your Google Classrooms account. Here is our class code that will add you to our classroom:
Class code: ujbfl4s
Click around and become familiar with the platform! There are some multiple choice and short answer questions to answer and interact with today. I will still be sending out daily emails for the rest of the school year.
Tomorrow we will complete our very last Main Lesson page of the year!
Read Aloud - Listen to the audio of Seedfolks chapters 9 and 10 attached below.
Math - I attached a fun math crossword puzzle for you to complete today! Fill in the blanks to make each equation true. Start with the equations that you have enough information to solve.
Have a great day,
Ms. McCoy
May 29, 2020
Good morning,
I’m sorry for sending this out a bit later than usual—my computer is slowing down and feeling overloaded from months of making distance learning videos! Here’s today’s instruction:
Main Lesson - Today we are completing our very last Main Lesson page of the year! Grab your Botany Main Lesson book, a pencil, ruler, and colored pencils, and follow along with the video I’ve sent. A photo of the final product is attached as well.
Read Aloud - Listen to chapters 11 and 12 of the book Seedfolks, attached below.
Math - Solve these multi-step word problems:
- Roxanne and Ashley had breakfast at a cafe. Muffins cost $2 each, and fruit cups cost $4 each. Roxanne had 2 muffins and 2 fruit cups. Ashley had 1 muffin and 2 fruit cups. How much did their breakfast cost?
- Pedro's mother gave him $57 to go to the store. Pedro bought 5 loaves of bread and 5 cartons of orange juice. Each loaf of bread cost $4 and each carton of orange juice cost $3. How much money does Pedro have left?
- Wendy bought 5 packages of cat food and 2 packages of dog food. Each package of cat food contained 5 cans, and each package of dog food contained 4 cans. How many more cans of cat food than dog food did Wendy buy?
- Brian’s uncle gave him $114 to spend on basketball equipment. He bought 3 jerseys that cost $7 each, a basketball that cost $13, and a pair of shorts that cost $24. How much money does Brian have left?
- Mia wants to buy a dictionary that costs $8, a dinosaur book that costs $14, and a children's cookbook that costs $6. She has saved $19 from her allowance. How much more money does Mia need to buy all three books?
Class Meeting - Today at 2:00! Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Google Classroom Troubleshooting - I know that some families had trouble accessing Google Classroom yesterday. Make sure you are using your new @studentsofpvs.org email to log in. You might need to log out of all other Google accounts first. A number of families have said that they had success when trying a different device, and it might not work on PPS-issued Chromebooks. If you’ve tried these fixes and are still unable to sign in with our class code, send me your @studentsofpvs.org email address and I’ll send an invitation.
Movement - Finish up your online Olympiad work and send it to Ms. Kennedy! https://bkennedy54.wixsite.
Have a great weekend,
Ms. McCoy
June 1, 2020
Good morning class,
Only three more days of 5th grade! Can you believe it?
Main Lesson - Spend your time and energy today expressing gratitude for the positive people in your life who help you learn and grow into strong, courageous, smart, and kind citizens. Today we’re making Thank You cards for our teachers and school staff who have helped us this year. Be genuine. Be specific. Write from your heart. You have the power to really make their day!
Here are the names and spellings of our specials teachers:
- Ms. Nicole - Music
- Ms. Jessi - Handwork
- Ms. Amy - Handwork
- Ms. Kennedy - Movement
- Ms. Maria Jose - Spanish
- Mr. Mott - Math
And here are the names and spellings of other teachers and school staff that some of you may have worked with more than others:
- Ms. Dischner - Learning Center
- Mr. O - Counselor
- Ms. Day
- Dr. J
- Ms. Sharon, Ms. Barbara, Ms. Llasmine - Front Office Staff
- Ms. Sherry & Ms. Darlene - Lunch Fairies
Make cards for everyone who taught you or helped you this year. Hang on to them over the summer (you might want to put them in your backpack so you don’t lose them!) and give them to the teachers and staff members when we go back to school.
If you want to have a Thank You card making party on Zoom, I’ll be making cards today from 12:00 to 1:00pm and would love to hang out and do arts and crafts with you! We’ll talk about memories from the year and give each other ideas for our cards. This is not mandatory, but it’s an opportunity to spend more time together before summer. If interested, here’s a link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Read Aloud - Listen to the final chapter of the book Seedfolks, attached below. Then I want you to either answer these questions in your composition book or have a conversation with an adult guided by these questions:
- A major theme in this book is race and racism. How did you see this theme play out throughout the book? What did the characters learn as they got to know their neighbors better?
- Every day there are issues in the news that involve race and racism. Where do you notice racial unfairness in our world? How can people work to change it? How can you be a part of the solution?
- Have you ever had an experience dealing with race and/or racism?
- How did you feel while this was happening or watching?
- What was your response and what was the response of others around you?
- What impact did it have on you? What did you learn from the experience?
- Did the encounter change you in some way, and if so, how?
Math - Today’s math challenge is to find as many $100 words as you can! I’ve attached a file to accompany this activity. Choose a word, figure out how much each letter “costs,” then add up the value of all letters. It has to add up to exactly $100. For example, the word “turkey” is a $100 word. T is the 20th letter of the alphabet, U is the 21st, R is the 18th, K is the 11th, E is the 5th, and Y is the 25th. Add up 20+21+18+11+5+25, and you get 100! Find as many $100 words as you can.
Parent Meeting - I am going to host an end-of-year Zoom parent meeting tomorrow, Tuesday 6/2, at 4:00pm. I want to thank you “in-person” for being so flexible, supportive, and amazing over the past 2 and a half months. I also want to briefly talk about successes of distance learning, summer work suggestions, report cards, and supplies still at school. You can email me if there’s something else you’d like me to cover, or you can bring questions to the meeting. Hope to see you there!
Student Contact List - There has been interest in a contact list for students over the summer, so I’ve attached a Google Doc for you to add your info to if you’re interested. This is designed for students to be able to get in touch with each other over the summer. It will only be shared within our class: https://docs.google.
Thanks,
Ms. McCoy
June 2, 2020
Hello friends!
Song Project - May I present to you…the greatest songs in the world, according to 5th graders! I’ve attached the final song project. Listen and enjoy it—it turned out really sweet. I love how each song and description represents each student. I hope that you download the file and keep it forever as a memory of your 5th grade class! It’s my gift to you.
I’m working to find a time when I can air it on the radio. The Freeform Portland studios are currently closed due to the pandemic, but we’re still playing pre-recorded shows. I’ll send out a date and time as soon as I know when it will air. In the meantime, I’ll need permission to play each student’s clip on the radio. Can I have parents send me a quick email giving permission to air your child’s clip on Freeform Portland? Thank you!
Main Lesson - Today you’ll reflect on yourself as a student and set some goals for yourself for next school year. In your composition notebook, write at least one goal for each category:
- Reading (this goal could be to read independently every night, look up words you don’t know, or practice re-reading for better understanding of difficult texts)
- Spelling (are there certain letters/words you consistently spell wrong?)
- Writing (this goal might be to use expressive language, to approach writing more calmly, to finish all writings, etc.)
- Mathematics (this goal might be to review multiplication tables each week, or to ask a classmate for help when needed, or to learn algebraic equations)
- Artistic (how do you want your main lesson pages to look different next year, what skills or techniques can you work on in order to get a result you like better?)
- Social (this goal might be to talk to classmates you usually don’t talk with, or to look around and include someone who seems lonely, or to give your turn at basketball to someone else, etc.)
- Behavioral (this goal might be to refrain from interrupting teachers when they are talking, to notice when to speak and when not to, to be tidier with your desk things, or to speak up even if your voice shakes, etc.)
Parent Meeting Today! I am hosting an end-of-year Zoom parent meeting today at 4:00pm. Bring any questions you have to the meeting. See you there! Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Class Party Tomorrow - Tomorrow is the last day of school! We’re going to have a class party on Zoom starting at 11am. Bring snacks, drinks, and memories from the school year to share! I’ll have some games, activities, and an art project planned. Try to make it at the beginning—that’s when I want to take a “class picture” since we didn’t get to this year! It will be a Zoom screenshot that I’ll send out. I hope everyone can make it!
Student Contact List - If you want to add your contact info to the contact list for students to keep in touch over the summer, do that today! Here’s the Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/
One more day!
Ms. McCoy
June 3, 2020
Happy last day of school!
I've loved teaching your class this year. This has been a year that we’ll never forget…for a lot of different reasons. Let’s celebrate with a class party!
Class Party - Click here to join at 11:00 today - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Bring snacks, drinks, pets, confetti, silly string…whatever you want to bring to celebrate! We'll do a check-in, class photo, art project, and maybe finish with some karaoke! See you there!
Song Project - Parents--if you haven’t already written or talked to me, please send me a quick email giving permission to air your child’s clip from this project on Freeform Portland’s radio station. It’s looking like it will play early next week.
Music - Hello Upper School, this song is dedicated to you. May music help carry through these days and always be something you can turn to for solace and joy. I hope you continue to turn music as an outlet to express yourself and deal with all the big feels. Wishing you safely, love and peace.
Harmoniously,
Ms. Nicole and Trooper
Student Contact List - Keep in touch with your friends over the summer! If you want to add your contact info to the contact list, this is your last chance. Here’s the Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/
I’m so grateful for the time we’ve gotten to spend together this year! Keep in touch, and have a great summer!
