Question of the Week!

new password: graduation

Happy New Year Graduates!!

Well, we're winding down the road called, "Graduation." I just wanna say from the bottom of my heart that you guys hold a special place there! The year you were in Kindergarten, I was teaching music! You all put up with my passion (aka craziness) to get you to play songs with the "right fingers." Hahhaa! But I loved your small, sweet faces and will always see them in my dreams when I remember teaching and remember special students I met along the way....

So, let's take this road together, and continue our learning (yes, yours and mine!)

The Holidays for Me!

Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas or Hanukah, you can do this!
What does it mean to have the “holiday spirit”? What are you and your family most grateful for this holiday season? 
Describe in detail about your traditions. Use your five senses to describe the celebration’s tastes, looks, smells, and textures. Tell about how each member of your family contributes to your Christmas traditions. If Christmas is one of your favorite holidays, describe why you enjoy it so much. Are there any parts of the holiday that you don’t like? If you don’t enjoy Christmas, how do you think it could be made better? What is your favorite Christmas book? Describe the plot and your reactions to it. What are your wishes for the world this holiday season? Do you wish Christmas were every day of the year? Why or why not? Pick three New Year’s Resolutions. Describe why you picked them and how you will accomplish them. Pick your three best friends and what you want to give them for Christmas
**Find a picture or clipart, which describes each of your answers.

Anika said… (14 Dec 10, looking at version 3)
Holiday spirit is when you are very positive an excited about the holidays. This holiday season my family and I are grateful for affording food and having each other. Even though I don’t celebrate Christmas or Hanukah I celebrate elided is like Christmas. In Eid I can taste the food cooking I can see the decoration I can smell the food and I can feel excitement of seeing all of my family. My fad. Christmas book is called the Grinch who stole Christmas. The plot of the book is that a bitter creature in a place called whom Ville hates Christmas time and wants to ruin everthing. My reaction about this book was that I was surprised. I was surprised because I thought why wouldn’t anyone like a holiday of giving’s don’t want Christmas every day because I don’t celebrate but I would love if aid was everyday. My first New Year resolution is to be very hardworking. I picked this because I want to be able to get in a good middle school and I will accomplish this by working very hard on my work in school. My second resolution is to be healthier. I chose this because I want to grow up to be very strong and healthy. I will accomplish this by working harder in gym. My last resolution is to be more helpful for the needy. I picked this because I feel bad for the less fortunate people and I want to help them out. I plan to do this by donating more money to charities

Erick said… (15 Dec 10, looking at version 3)
Holiday spirit is when you are very excited and really happy this holiday were going to care about each others and gather around and have a really fun holiday. The best holiday of all is Christmas and the best thing about it is that we ask our parents what we want then our parents actually buys it they keep it a secret. In Christmas is my favorite holiday every year we eat different things we always get to choose what ever we want my first resolution is to be stronger in order to do that I should start to do more stuff in gym. My next resolution is to work harder and finish my work. My last resolution is to run faster and by doing that not talking.

Tangila C. said… (17 Dec 10, looking at version 1)
Holiday spirit is when you are happy about what is going to happen. Also you are happy to see your family members. This holiday season my family and I are grateful of having a roof over our head. Also we are grateful for the food we are eating. I don’t celebrate Christmas or Hanukah but I do celebrate a holiday. The holiday I celebrate is Eid. In Eid I can taste the tasty and different food. The houses that we go to in Eid all look nice with all the decorations. The houses smell nice and smell like the food. Some of the decorations feel rough because it is made out of something special. If I celebrated Christmas I wouldn’t want to change anything I think that Christmas is the best just the way it is. I don’t read much Christmas books so I don’t have any favorites. My wishes to the New Year are for everyone to have a Merry Christmas and happy holidays. As I said I don’t celebrate Christmas but I would like for my holiday to be celebrated everyday. The reason I would want my holiday to be everyday is because I have fun. Also I get to see my family if this happens I can see them more often. My first New Year’s Resolution is to be a better athlete. The way I will accomplish this is by trying to do sports. I will practice it everyday so I will get better. My second Resolution is to be better at math. The way I will do this is by working harder and taking time on every question. My last and most important Resolution is to type faster. I will lastly accomplish this by trying to type everyday. Also I am already working on this Resolution I have seen progress on my typing.

Jaylene said… (Yesterday, looking at version 4)
Holiday spirit is when you feel cheery for everyone around you. My family and me are really grateful for the fact that we’re alive and healthy. I celebrate Christmas and in my Christmas tradition we all meet at one place and exchange gifts. In Christmas you can see the topping for the Christmas tree glistened in the dark. In Christmas you can hear the sound of laughter and thru ripping sound of wrapping paper being torn off the gift. You can taste the warm fudge cookie melt away in your mouth as you wash it down your throat with Cold milk. You can smell the scent of pine as it filled the air. Then lastly you can feel the prickly pine falling from the Christmas tree. I like Christmas and it’s my favorite not only that I get presents but to get to spend that exciting day with my family. My favorite book is The Grinch That stole Christmas. This book is about a cold-hearted creature that hates Christmas and wants to destroy it. But in the end you realize, everyone has to be happy on Christmas. My reaction is kind of surprised to this book because who wouldn’t be happy on the happiest time of the year? My wishes for the world this holiday season are peace and happiness. I don’t want Christmas everyday of the year because gifts cost money and to spend money everyday is a waste. Also, there’s not enough time in the world to get the WHOLE family together everyday. Resolution one is to be positive especially since positivity is great. I will accomplish it by trying to be peppy. Resolution 2 is to be less talkative. I would accomplish this resolution by emending myself not to talk. My last resolution is to work on my computer skills. By accomplishing this resolution I will work harder in technology. One Best friend is Kristen M. Fernandez. Another one is Anika Islam, then Tangible Chowdury and Kayla Vdokokes. All their gifts are a surprise!!!! SHUSH!

Penny
Holiday spirit is when you are very excited and joyful that the holidays are coming!! This year I am very happy to have my family and live in a house because many poor unfortunate people that can afford nothing have to deal with it L.I celebrate Christmas I would love to celebrate Hanukkah , kwanza and eid but I only celebrate Christmas. Every Christmas I help my mom with my Christmas tree we put the Christmas tree a few days after thanksgiving. I always put the star on top of the tree! My mom makes these special delicious Greek cookies they are called sugar cookies with almonds in side yummm that the most favorite part of Christmas but shopping and giving present to others is the best part! Then me and my dad go outside and decorate it with beautiful lights. My first resolution is to keep my grades higher then it is now. My second resolution is too work harder. My third resolution is to not to socialize too much. My forth resolution is to help the needy and the orphans to have a better home and food. I will help the needy by giving them thing s I don’t need that the child will be the happiest person alive !!!!!!!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS HOPE YOU HAVE A FOOD ONE

January Project

Usually, people start thinking about their lives at the beginning of a New Year! I thought a great activity for you as you leave PS85Q would be for you to research yourself.

"On The Day I Was Born!" (And What a Beautiful Day It Was!)

Part 1 - DUE Week of Jan 10th
Your Name and its meaning
Your name in 3 different languages
Time you were born
Hospital name
How old were your parents?
Did you have older sibling?
How did they feel about you being born?
What other relatives came to visit you at your birth?
Moon phase on that date
Five famous people you share a birthday with


Part 2 - DUE Week of Jan 17th
The Caldecott Award Book for Children that year
Top 10 Billboard Song of the Year
Favorite male and female singer that year
Important event that day: city, state and national
Top TV Show that year
Three popular Saturday morning shows
Favorite actor and actress of that year (Oscars)
Best Movie of the Year (Oscars)

Part 3 - DUE Week of Jan 24
Cost of a postage stamp
2 new inventions of that year
President and Vice President then
Three famous toys that sold that year
Superbowl Champs that year
Basketball Playoffs

Part 4 - DUE Week of Jan 31
How has your family changed since you were born?
If you could change one thing in your life so far, what would it be?
Name your favorite: actor, musician, song, movie
What makes you so special?
Identify 3 things you've learned about people.
How did you feel about working on this project?
What was the most interesting thing you learned?
How would you improve this project?
Extra comments

Collection of pictures
As you research, collect pictures on your computer that you can use. With a word document open be sure to collect your web addresses where you found each picture.
You will NOT be able to use the picture without it's source. Be sure to scan pictures of your family, friends,etc.

Email each Part during the week indicated.
Thank you!

OK Tekkies!

Be ready next week to record your "12 Days..." Songs. I'm looking forward to it.

5th Grade and Computer Class

Your job is to visit the blog as much as you can to see any changes (updates) so you can be prepared for class. There may be an extra credit assignment, or change of Due Date. You never know! So please check often.

Video Response by iPadio or Vocaroo will be accepted up until this Friday!
The Burning Question of the Week will be due by this Friday!

Kontactr

OK folks! Wonder about the button on my pages where you can click and send me instant emails without going to your own email address to write me? Well, it's "KONTACTR!" A free source for forms. You get an embed code, place it on your blog, and you're ready to go! Your friends can't say they don't know your email! They can access you right from the blog.

Go to Kontactr.com. Create a free, new account. You will need access to your email in order to receive the confirmation from Kontactr. Once you get that email, you will be able to create a button/link for your blog.

Have Trouble Getting Everything Done?

Tips for Your Time

Technology Assignments

All technology projects given are based on 5th grade national standards. These projects are to "stretch" student creativity, aptitude, increased grade level skills, so therefore, students should be able to complete them in the ample time - two week increments. Instructions are posted on the blog. Although instructions should have been easy to understand, I will ensure that procedures are going to be made "easier" for ALL to understand.

All projects are ongoing! They are broken down by due dates, description of what is due, and I think two weeks to do these 5th grade national standard projects is more than enough time. There should be no excuses for work not being completed. If work is incomplete, it will be returned for revision. When items need to be emailed to me, I will indicate that!javascript:void(0)

Results of Video Responses on Plimouth Plantation Webinar

Brianna, 5/304


Airi 5/304


Paulina, 5-310


Shani


Penny


Omayma


Diego


Asha


Helen

Twelve Days of Christmas Song...

Do you know the Twelve Days of Christmas Song? Well, you know how fun it is, and that ell the lines rhyme. Your job is to create another song in the same spirit and form as this song. Here are the lyrics for you to review and change.

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a cumulative song, meaning that each verse is built on top of the previous verses. There are twelve verses, each describing a gift given by "my true love" on one of the twelve days of Christmas.

The first verse runs:

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
A Partridge in a Pear Tree.

The second verse:

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
2 Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

The third verse begins to show some metrical variance, as explained below:

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

...and so forth, until the last verse:

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords-a-Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids-a-Milking
7 Swans-a-Swimming
6 Geese-a-Laying
5 Gold Rings
4 Colly Birds
3 French Hens[8]
2 Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

Winter Writing Prompts

Prompt 1

Write about each of the five senses (related to your winter experience):

The smells of winter
The sights of winter
The sounds of winter
The touch of winter
The tastes of winter

Video Respoonse to Plimouth Plantation Webinar (Scholastic.com)

Greetings.
Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving Holiday.

1. Describe your feelings when looking at the Plimouth Plantation Webinar. Remember to involve your five senses when responding.
2. What is the main objective of this video?
3. List 3-5 specific objectives of this video:
4. What new concepts or new knowledge did you gain from this video?
5. What was the most surprising piece of information you gathered from the video?
6. How do you plan to implement what you have learned from this video in your classroom or work environment? (Be Specific)
7. List three vocabulary terms you learned from this video and describe how each were used in the video?

Pease go to iPadio.com, and register. iPadio = phlog (phone + log)
You need to register with your email. Give them a phone number where you will be calling from. (GET PARENT PERMISSION).
You'll get a link to confirm your registration. Your password when you call in will be the channel number they give you. You need that when you call.

Go to iPadio to phlog your response to the questions in a narrative form. (Answer the questions, using part of my question in your answer.

DON"T repeat my questions.
Get the embed code and email it to me, please. Thank you!

Burning Question of the Week!

Hi Tekkids,

Kids like us have many questions about ourselves, friends, family, school and everyday decisions. While reading the question, think about how you would answer it, and respond by clicking the link below. Ask your friends/family to answer it too and see if their response is different from yours. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. Your response is determined by what you believe!

Every week, there will be a "Burning Question." Please click on the following link to respond. You will not be graded on your answer, but that you did responded to BQOW


Ho! Ho! Ho!

Teacher Comments on the November Webquest

Click here

Webquest for November, 2010

VISITING THE MAYFLOWER

Begin this journey in the Tekkids Lab
CLICK HERE to Begin

Read the Introduction. Click on all the chapters (01-07) to learn about the Pilgrim's journey on the Mayflower. There is an audio button at each stop, where you can hear the text read aloud. Take notes, please!

Heading for the New World Webquest!
STEP 1 - Brainstorm
First, brainstorm all of the things you know about early American settlers and New England.
•What do you know about Pilgrims?
•What do you know about Native Americans?
•What do you know about the Mayflower?
•What do you know about Thanksgiving?
•How would you explain your family's celebration of Thanksgiving to someone from another planet?
•
Explore websites to find your answers. Be sure to keep a list (copy and paste URL) in your document.

PLEASE email assignment STEP 1 by: DUE: November 23, 2010

STEP 2 - The Journey

Sailing on wooden ships, like the Mayflower, all the way across the Atlantic ocean, took many months. In modern time, taking a non-stop flight from Los Angeles, California to London, England takes about 15 hours. The journey in the Mayflower from Southampton to Plymouth took 165 days.
•Approximately how many weeks in 165 days?
•How many Months?
•How many hours?
•How many meals would the passengers consume assuming they eat three meals a day?
•How many more hours did the Pilgrims spend sailing than it takes for a modern traveler to fly from Los Angeles, California to London, England?
•How did the travelers navigate across the ocean with out the aid of modern technology? What prevented them from getting lost?

Explore websites to find your answers. Be sure to keep a list (copy and paste URL) in your document.

PLEASE email assignment STEP 2 by: November 30, 2010

STEP 3 - The Travelers
In order to keep all of the passengers alive while on the long journey, many provisions had to be stored on board the ship. The Pilgrims also had to think about what things they would need in the New World to survive.
Write a list of all of the provisions you think the 102 Pilgrims needed to take with them on the long voyage across the ocean. Remember, they had to eat and survive in what could possibly be an unfriendly environment.
Explore websites to find your answers. Be sure to keep a list (copy and paste URL) in your document.

PLEASE email assignment STEP 3 by: December 6, 2010

STEP 4 - Plymouth Map

Look at Plymouth on this historic map of the original colonies just before the Revolutionary War in 1776. This map was created 156 years after the Plymouth Plantation was established but the map has a very good detail of the bay and the cape. Click here
◦ Why do you think the Pilgrims chose to settle in Plymouth?
◦ What geographical features make Plymouth a good location for the settlement?
◦ Explain what a bay is.
◦ What type of climate does Massachusetts have throughout the year? Click on (http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/cgi-bin/data/usclimate/state.pl?lane=fast&state=MA)

PLEASE email assignment STEP 4 by: December 13, 2010

Exploration of Web 2.0 Tools - E-books

E-books (electronic books) are regular printed books (fiction, nonfiction) in a digital format. They can be read on computers, e-readers or some mobile phones. A portable e-reader can hold hundres or more books in a device the size of a paperback book (Kindle). e-Books can be purchased online (Amazon, etc.) or many books that are in the public domain are available free online (Gutenberg, Librivox.org)

Task: 1. Compare and contrast a conventional book with an e-book. Determine the advantages or disadvantages of using an e-book. 2. Find 3 short e-books for children.

Homework Task -
Read a selected passage of one of the short e-books you have found.
Create a T-chart and respond in the two columns:

1. You are in a dark room. What would you have to do to read the book?
2. Your battery has gone dead. How can you read an e-book?
3. How will you mark where you stopped reading?
4. An older family member with poor eyesight (like Ms. Silverberg) would like to look at your book. What can you do to make the text more readable?
5. Pick one of your short ebooks, and create a blog response to the Tekkids Topic of the Week. Your response should be no less than a paragraph, and complete sentences. ;-)

NOTE: you may go to Vocaroo.com and record your response using your microphone headset. If so, do this in a quiet space. Then post the Homework task, and vocaroo embed code on your blog.

Class 5-310 Blogs

Oumaima

Tangila

Matthew

Jaylene

Blog Assignments

The following students have started their blog:

Alex, Jaylene, Diego, Matthew

The DigiClub Members from Last year: Send me your blog address so you can get credit!

Thanks, and I can't wait to see what you do to make your blogs great!!!

Week of October 25th

Activity 1
Writing Exercise
"How would you be certain a good friend is a 'good' friend? Write about a good friend and answer that question with your writing."
(complete sentences, no less than a full paragraph.) Please!

Activity
Today's Activity 2

Greetings 5th Graders

Well, I have enjoyed reading your organizers and story maps. Now you know that Part 3 is here. I have given you a NEW blank story map in which you will map out (brainstorm) your own tale that you will write. You may work alone or in parts, and of course a group if you like.

Technology Quiz

People who handed their Part I and 2 of September project!

Class 5-304
15 Xtra points for meeting Due Date! Yeah, baby!!!

Story Map (setting, characters, problem, events (leading to solution), solution and lesson(s) to be learned))

Billy - The Kings Palace (organizer)
John - The Man Who Minded the House (Norway) (organizer)

Compare and Contrast Chart
John, Hagar, Penny Billy R., Camila, Louisa, Jonathan, Asha, Shani

PART 3 - A Story map for your original story to be written DUE: November 1st. (I gave you the story map to use.)


Class 5-310

Past Due Projects!

If you did not Meet the October 18th deadline for the project, today will be a quiet working period for your to complete your work. Any papers handed in after the 18th will get 15 points off automatically!

This assignment is a big part of your 1st Marking Period grade. There were other weekly assignments too. If you choose to hand them in, your grade can improve!!
I won't be repeating this message, so it's up to you!!

For those of you who are completed

The Lost Letter by Hagaar

The Lost Letter

One sunny day a girl named Sarrah liked a boy.She sent a letter to the boy she liked.When the boy she liked was about to read the letter his grandpa came over and said,''you want to go fishing''?The boy replied back and said,''o.k''.The boy took the letter and went fishing.
The sun wasn't shining.It was breezy and cloudy the boy and the grandpa took their fishing tools,got a fishing boat and went fishing.
The boy and the grandpa sailed towards the middle of the sea and started fishing.There was alot of fresh fish so they kept on fishing.
When the grandpa was fishing he saw something silver falling from the sky.Guess what it was,there was stars falling from the sky.
When the boy came to look at the falling stars the letter flew into the water accidently.The boy and the grandpa were looking for the letter but they couldn't find it.When they were looking for the letter they felt another person on the boat.Guess what it was,it was a yellow fairy.
When the fairy asked them what happened they told her that they were fishing and they saw the stars falling into the sea and the boy came to look and the letter that was in his hand flew out.
The grandpa the boy and the fairy spent the whole night looking for the letter.The fairy found a letter floating in front of the boat.She reached her hand and got the letter.''Is this the letter you'r looking for asked the fairy.''Yes it is''said the boy.He took the letterr and said,''Thank you.
After a tiring day looking for the letter the boy and the grandpa sailed back home.The boy read the wet letter it said,
meet you tommoro
from,
Sarah
The boy slept and in the morning and then he met Sarah.

Halloween Scccc--ccc---aaaaa-aaaaaaaa-rrrrr-y!!

Early "Tales to be Told," Project Handed In!

Fifth graders have surprised and made Ms. Silverberg very happy today. Projects that were due on Monday the 18th, have been turned in today! These students are certainly going to have good habits in middle school and beyond. 25 Extra credits will be given for the early submissions. (Wihout organizer -5 pts)

Organizers Handed In early: (10 pts extra)
Billy, John G., Hagaar, Sharif, Kayla V., Paulina, Alexandra, Kristen, Jaylene, Omayma M., Melissa, Angelina, Inteshar, Richard, Matthew, Heidy, Kayla E., Tangila, Samira,
(inc: Ay, Die)

Groups' Compare and Contract Organizer handed in early: (10 pts extra)

Sharif, Javier, Erick, Edward & Ignacio
Matthew, Diego, Inteshar, Richard & Simi
Jaylene, Omayma, Melissa, Angelina & Brianna
Kristen, Ayah, Tangila, Samira & Khulood
Paulina, Kayla E., Alex, Kayla V., Heidy
Penny
Hagaar


Camila,

October 5, 2010

Please work in your groups on your projects which are DUE: October 18th

YOUR HOMEWORK for this week:
You and your group will pick one of the Scary Starters below to begin an oral tale. After groups practice their story, they can present them as a podcast.


It was a cold Halloween night when I saw the...

The mad scientist was creating a new monster that could...

The large cauldron of purple liquid started to boil when...

I got an eerie feeling when I heard...

The mysterious object started floating in the air and...

The Halloween pumpkin turned into a...

The black cat started to crouch and hiss when...

Something in the closet was making a strange noise, so I opened the door and...

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw...

As I carefully entered the haunted house, the door shut behind me and...

Working on Project

Team Captain

CLASS 5-304
Team 1: Anika
Airi, Evangelia, Ayyan, Hagaar,
Team 2: Penny
Shani, Brianna, John, Minas
Team 3: Karen
Helen, Frankie, Mohammed
Team 4: Camilla
Louisa, Asha, Jonathan, Ahmed
Team 5: Nico
Billy, Admir, John Paul

CLASS 5-310
Team 1:
Team 2:
Team 3:
Team 4:
Team 5:

Team 5:

September 2010 Project

Hey Seniors!

The first project of the year will be the complete, "A Tale to Be Told!"
This project will need to be completed by the beginning of the third week of October, 2010. You will be placed in groups (random.) Please use the Kontactr button to send me any messages. Make me aware of any issues you may be having in your groups! (But we're gonna hope things go smoothly! OK?
Thanks
Ms. S.

This is a poem form. The original poem
written by Robert Frost. Please fill in
the blank lines. But! the poem must rhyme!
1. Go to http://www.rhymezone.com for help!
2. Paste the form into Kontactr (my email link.)
3. When complete, your name should be at end of poem.
4. Send to Ms. Silverbg.

As I went out, a _____________
In a low voice said, "Oh,
I was ______________________.
How do you do?
I just came to ________________
To tell _____________. Will you?
That her little _________________
Wanted me to bring you word
That the north wind___________
That made the ________ bright
And made ice on the trough
Almost made me______________
His _______ feathers off.
He just had to ________!
But he sent her ____________,
and said to be __________,
and wear her red _____________,
And look for skunk ___________
In the snow with an _________ -
and do everything!
And perhaps in the _____________
He would come back and _____________."

Patterned after "The Last Word of a Bluebird,"
by Robert Frost.

Poetry....

You will create a book of poems. Copy the site for Step 1.
In Firefox choose FILE + New Tab. In the New Tab that opens, paste the site from Step 1. Follow steps for this first assignment.

1. Open 2 tabs in Firefox - Open www.tinyurl.com/poetry12 and
ps85qtekkids.blogspot.com
2. Select "Bio Poem," and "Color my World," poem
3. Complete + Click "Create..."
4. Hilight poem, and
5. on ps85qtekkids tab, Click "Kontact Me"
6. Type = Your name, Your email (or use my email: lsilver3@schools.nyc.org)
(If you use your OWN email, you get 25 extra points)
7. Subject = poem
8. Paste both poems in the message box
9. Type security code
10. On bottom of page + Click "Send."

Poetry....

You will create a book of poems. Follow steps for this first assignment.

1. Open www.tinyurl.com/poetry12
2. Open Apple or Word doc
3. Select "All About Me," poem
4. Complete + Click "Create..."
5. Hilight poem + paste to Word Proc Doc (WP)
6. Save = First Name + Space + Date
7. Create "All I Want," poem (on same WP doc)
8. Repeat Steps 4-6.

9. Go to our new blog: ps85qtekkids.blogspot.com
10. Click "Kontact Me"
11. Type = Your name, Your email (or use my email: lsilver3@schools.nyc.org)
(If you use your OWN email, you get 25 extra points)
12. Subject = poem
13. Paste both poems in the message box
14. Type code
15. On bottom of page + Click "Send."