We Pledge To Be Drug Free

Red Ribbon Week is celebrated the last week of October. Our class was honored to have Ms. Nikki share with us the history of Red Ribbon Week. In 1985, Drug Enforcement Agent (DEA) Enriquie "Kiki" Camarena was working undercover in Mexico trying to stop a multimillion dollar narcotics operation. His efforts were successful, but enraged the leaders of the drug cartel. They kidnapped Agent Camarena and his body was found a month later. In his hometown of Calexico, CA, the citizens wore red ribbons to honor their friend and bring awareness for drug prevention. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan and the First Lady, Nancy Reagan, recognized Red Ribbon Week nationally. Every year since people all over the nation have worn red ribbons to promote "No Use of Illegal Drugs, No Illegal Use of Legal Drugs." You can visit the Red Ribbon Coalition's website for more information about Red Ribbon Week. 

The students pledged to be drug free and proudly wear the red ribbon. They also created posters that will be displayed for the rest of our school community to see.

A Visit From Entergy

Our unit on electricity ended with a visit from Mr. Anthony DiFulco, who works for Entergy. He discussed with the students how electricity is supplied to homes and businesses and electrical safety. Some students expressed an interest in his field of work and he advised them that the most important skills to have in this field are reading comprehension and math, science and computer knowledge.

Let There Be Light!

This week we have been learning about electricity. On Monday, the students were given a battery, 2 wires, and a light bulb and instructed to make the light bulb shine. They explored with various connections until they were successful. I think their eyes were shining brighter than the bulb when their circuits were complete!  

We then identified and discussed each material used in the investigation. The battery is an electric cell because it supplies the energy. The metal in the wire is a conductor because it allows the current to flow and the plastic covering the wire is an insulator since it does not allow the flow of electric currents. Finally, the students discovered that they created a circuit, which is a path for an electric current.

On Tuesday, the students expanded their knowledge of circuits by testing various materials.

These materials were classified as either conductors or insulators. Each pair of students was given a bag that contained a metal spoon, a plastic spoon, a paper clip, a popsicle stick, a metal washer, and a straw. Each item was placed between the wire and light bulb to see if the bulb would glow. If the bulb did not glow, the item was an insulator. If the bulb did glow, the material was classified as a conductor.

Math Help

Here are resources to use at home. One website (#4) even allows you to enter the math problem you are trying to solve and explains how to do it. That is so cool!
25 Great Websites For Learning Maths

I wish...

By the end of this week, students will know if they are getting the correct amount of change when they go shopping. Students were given a Scholastic book order form and $30 to spend. They created a "Wish List" of books they would like to buy, but had to stay within their budget. Their totals were then subtracted from $30 to determine the amount of change they would receive. Finally, the students used play money to show the fewest amount of bills and coins they would receive as change.

Some students practiced making change in the virtual world. They visited websites like Just Kids Games to make purchases and determine the correct amount of change. 

Sound Travels

Sound traveling through water

Today we learned about how sound waves travel through matter. During the investigation, we discovered that sound waves travel fastest through solids. The particles in a solid are compact, allowing sound to travel faster.

Investigating sound traveling through a solid

Visitors Near and Far

Everyday at work is amazing, but these past two days have been SPECTACULAR!

Christina Leveanworth, traffic reporter for WWL TV, shared the ins-and-outs of traffic reporting. She explained how she gathers information from cell phone towers, traffic cameras, and viewer call-ins to keep us aware of delays and construction. The students were engaged in her discussions and asked great questions. Some questions included, "How did you become a reporter?" and "Would you rather report on something else besides traffic?" After Ms. Leveanworth's visit, I believe WWL will have new viewers. The students interest in local happenings has been peaked and there is no turning back. :)

My homeroom had our first Mystery Skype! Through a webcam over the Internet, we talked with Ms. LaCrosse's 5th grade class in Ohio. The students did not know what state the other class was from. We took turns giving clues about our state and, using maps, determined the locations. I was SO EXCITED to see the kids properly using political and climate maps!

Logan reading a clue about Louisiana

After the Skype, double bubble maps were created to compare and contrast Louisiana and Ohio.