2023-2024 School Year
8/29- Welcome to 5th grade!
Hi All! Welcome to 5th grade at BFMS! We are so excited that you are joining us at the Middle School this year. We can't wait to get to know you all and make awesome memories together! See you soon!
9/1-Introduction
Hello families!
My name is Samantha Redding and I will be teaching math and science
this year. This is my 6th year teaching and 3rd year at Bellows Falls
Middle School. I am thrilled to be welcoming a new group of 5th graders
into the BFMS family!
This year we will be focusing on a wide variety of concepts ranging from
multiplication and division to robots and space! I am very excited to
also introduce that we have created a makerspace in our classroom this
year and will be exploring concepts within 2D/3D design and
circuits/robots/coding. We are currently looking for donations of old
wires, paper towels/toilet paper rolls, and craft supplies.
I'm looking forward to a great year ahead!
Mrs. Redding
My name is Samantha Redding and I will be teaching math and science
this year. This is my 6th year teaching and 3rd year at Bellows Falls
Middle School. I am thrilled to be welcoming a new group of 5th graders
into the BFMS family!
This year we will be focusing on a wide variety of concepts ranging from
multiplication and division to robots and space! I am very excited to
also introduce that we have created a makerspace in our classroom this
year and will be exploring concepts within 2D/3D design and
circuits/robots/coding. We are currently looking for donations of old
wires, paper towels/toilet paper rolls, and craft supplies.
I'm looking forward to a great year ahead!
Mrs. Redding
9/7- What Does a Scientist/Mathematician Look Like?
Today students explored stereotypes they may have had regarding what a scientist or mathematician looks like. First, students took time to draw what they thought a scientist or mathematician looked like. Many were older males with big crazy hair, lab coats, goggles and many experiments gone wrong! Then, we read the children's book Ada Twist, Scientist and began to rethink what makes a mathematician or scientist. Together, we reimagined our idea of mathematicians/scientists and realized that we are both!
I can't wait to see all the amazing things these mathematicians and scientists will do this year!
I can't wait to see all the amazing things these mathematicians and scientists will do this year!
9/13- Lab Safety
Students completed an around the room activity to review basic lab safety expectations. After we played a game of Trashsketball, a student favorite! These scientists will be ready for our first lab in no time!
9/15- Scrambled Eyes Lab
Today students continued to explore the importance of lab safety with a lab safety demonstration called Scrambled Eyes. Students learned that the proteins found in egg whites are similar to those found in our eyes. When we exposed the egg whites to a common household chemical, rubbing alcohol, we were able to see what would happen if we got it in our eyes. Students realized how important it is to follow lab safety expectations and wear goggles! No scrambled eyes for us!
9/18- The Engineering Process
This year, students will be diving into Makerspace and learning all about the engineering process. As part of an introduction, I presented students with a problem that they have to problem solve as a whole group. The problem was that the floor was lava and they only had 5 materials they could use to get the whole class across the room! Students were able to use a bucket, duct tape, two pieces of cardboard, and a jump rope. Students learned how to brainstorm, choose an idea, trial the idea, revise, and re-trial. I was so impressed with student creativity and teamwork!
9/22- 2D Design
As part our our makerspace time, students began to learn how to use a program called cuttle.xyz to create a 2D design that represented them. Once designs were created, students had to take measurements of a keychain and learn how to resize their designs to fit the keychain. Then, students used a cricut and vinyl to print and create their final keychains. I can't wait to see how else students use cuttle to design 2D projects this year!
10/4- Multiplication
Students have been working hard to prepare for their first test this year! Students have been using the box method to solve multi-digit multiplication problems. Students have been given a study guide and will have their first test on October 12th on multiplication. From there, we will be moving onto division. Great job everyone!
10/5- Cardboard Designing
As part of makerspace this year, we have been exploring 2D and 3D design. This week, we learned how to use cardboard cutting tools and cardboard to make 3D objects. The twist was that students were not able ot use tape or glue! To tackle this students learned all about cardboard attachments. Students then created an animal of their choice using cardboard attachments. For a challenge, students could make one part move!
10/18- Properties of Matter
We have been studying properties of matter in science class. To further understand and explore density, we completed a lab called "The Soda-quarium." Students observed several cans of soda and drinks and made observations about the contents of each. We also found the mass and volume of each can. After learning about the density of water, students made hypothesis about which would sink and which would float based on density. Some of the cans really surprised us!
10/19- Division
Today in math, we started our division unit! Students did a wonderful job of using their knowledge of multiplication to figure out division problems. I can't wait to see all the progress students make over the next few weeks!
10/25 & 10/31- Halloween Circuits
Students have been learning all about making circuits. On Halloween, students used their knowledge of circuits to make their own circuit jack-o-lanterns!
11/13- Measuring the World Kits
This week, students explored different types of measurement through amazing kits from the American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont. Students learned how to use different measurement tools. made optical comparators, learned about how artists and scientists detect art forgeries, explored measurement through a scale activity, and created their own pan flutes and measured the sounds they made. Thank you the American Precision Museum for helping our students explore measurement in a fun and engaging way!
Museum Info:
americanprecision.org/
Museum Info:
americanprecision.org/
11/28/23- Exploring Volume
Students partnered up and worked on creating rectangular prisms and cubes out of snap cubes. Once one partner built their 3D shape, they had to use math vocabulary such as "length, width, and height" to describe their prism or cube to their partner. Then, without looking, the partner had to recreate the prism or cube based on the description.
11/30/23- Advisory Fun!
Students in the Redding advisory group have been working hard to prepare for our holiday door decoration competition. So much fun!
12/6/23- Hour of Code
Today students participated in the Hour of Code! Students participated in coding challenges to learn some coding basics/the importance of code. Check out the Hour of Code website to learn more and find fun activities to try at home.
hourofcode.com/us
hourofcode.com/us
12/8/23- Solutions
In science class, students have been learning about different types of mixtures. Today, we focused on solutions. Students learned that in order to make a solution, you need a solute and a solvent. To help us better understand this concept, we made some lemonade! Our lemonade powder was our solute, or the dissolving material. Our solvent was water. When students mixed the two together, we got one delicious solution! Students also learned about concentration, diluting and saturation.
12/12/23- More Solutions!
To further study solutions, students participated in a lab about creating the perfect bubble solution. Students worked in teams to make three different solutions that had 3 different solutes. Students were able to go outside and test which solution they felt was the best overall. Super fun for all!
12/18/23- Coding Snowflakes
Students had a great time today learning basic code! They used their knowledge of coding to create their own snowflake image. Later, we were able to print our coded snowflakes onto cardboard using our laser cutter, the Glowforge.
American Precision Museum- Field Trip
Students traveled to the American Precision Museum in Windsor Vermont to engage in hands-on learning about manufacturing and learn about manufacturing history. Students loved the hands-on experiences and being able to connect what they have learned in class to what they saw at the museum. Students were thrilled to see the optical comparator that we based an in-class project on. Another hit was typing letters on a typewriter!
12/21/23- Nature-Based Exploration
1/12/24- Physical and Chemical Changes Lab
Students have been studying the difference between physical and chemical changes in science class. Together, we participated in a variety of activities, all which were either examples of physical or chemical changes. Students loved blowing up a balloon by using gas produced by a chemical reaction, making elephant toothpaste, ripping paper, breaking cookies, and watching Mrs. Redding light a match. Students observed all of these changes and took note of clues they used in order to determine which type of change it was.
1/22/24- Chemical Reaction Cars
To further explore chemical reactions, students made their own cars using recycled materials and used a chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar to power their cars. Students had so much fun testing out their cars and learning about how gas is sometimes produced as a product of a chemical reaction. Chemical reactions are fun! Check out the drive to see videos and photos from our experiment.
2/6/24- Earth's Spheres & Fractions |
In math, students just completed their introduction to the relationship between fractions, multiplication and division. To help get back into the swing of things at school, we took this week to review basic operations and strategies we could use to solve problems. We will soon be moving onto fraction multiplication and division.
In science, students have been working on understanding how the Earth's Spheres interact with one another. Students have been focused on making observations around our community and connecting them to each system. Students are beginning to realize that many of their observations show how intertwined Earth's systems really are!
In science, students have been working on understanding how the Earth's Spheres interact with one another. Students have been focused on making observations around our community and connecting them to each system. Students are beginning to realize that many of their observations show how intertwined Earth's systems really are!
2/13/24- Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center
Last week 5th graders went on an exciting field trip to the Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center. Students explored amazing exhibits, spanning across different media. Students were able to connect their makerspace learning to several pieces of art on display at the museum. Students will be taking their inspiration from the museum and will participate in a cross-curricular project on reducing, reusing, and recycling materials in order to relay a message on the human impact on the environment. We are so proud of our students for wonderfully representing BFMS at the museum!
2/14/24- Solar Eclipse Viewers & Eclipse Exploration
As a team we are preparing students for the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8th. Students have been building up background knowledge about eclipses and eclipse safety across content areas. In ELA, students are exploring myths around the eclipse, writing poetry and reading informational texts and stories to deepen knowledge. In math and science, students have been learning about eclipse safety and have created their own eclipse viewers. Additionally, students used makerspace materials to model the difference between solar and lunar eclipses.
2022-2023 School Year
11/30- 1st day Back!
Hi all! I am so excited to be joining you all this week! I hope you are all ready for some math and science!
12/1- Circuit Name Tag- STEAM Challenge
Students worked hard to use their knowledge of circuits to create a name tag that they could use to get my attention or to answer a question. When their lights were on they were telling me that they needed my attention. Great work everyone!
12/9- Scrambled Eyes Lab
Today students continued to explore the importance of lab safety with a lab safety demonstration called Scrambled Eyes. Students learned that the proteins found in egg whites are similar to those found in our eyes. When we exposed the egg whites to a common household chemical, rubbing alcohol, we were able to see what would happen if we got it in our eyes. Students realized how important it is to follow lab safety expectations and wear goggles! No scrambled eyes for us!
Students have been working hard to learn all about ecosystems! Most recently, students have learned about the parts of the plant and how they work together. Through a lab, students learned about capillary action and how nutrients travel through the xylem and make their way to the leaves. Once in the leaves, photosynthesis can occur. Nice work everyone!
In math, students have been working through our geometry unit! Students are learning all about classifying shapes based on their sides and angles. Students have also used their skills to plot points on coordinate grids. Keep up the awesome work!
February 2023
Students were super interested in learning about germs and how they spread. So, we did a little experiment with glo-germ!
March 2023
March has been an action packed month for our 5th graders! Ms. Henley brought in some Hickory Horned Devil caterpillars from the Caterpillar Lab in Marlborough, NH. Students loved getting to hold these amazing insects. We cant wait to see them turn into Regal Moths!
www.thecaterpillarlab.org/
www.thecaterpillarlab.org/
2021-2022 School Year
9/7- All ready for students to arrive! |
9/8- STEM Tower Challenge
Today students worked in groups to design the tallest structure they could out of 5 index cards. 5th grade is full of creative, quick-thinking, collaborative, and enthusiastic mathematicians and scientists!
9/10-9/14- Science Lab Safety
Students have been working hard over the past few days to learn about how to be safe and prepared in the science lab. We were able to end our unit on lab safety with a fun game of Jeopardy!
9/20-9/24- Properties of Matter Investigation
This week, students have been learning all about matter and the properties of matter. In this investigation, students learned how to find the volume, mass, and density of objects. Students used water displacement to find the volume of the objects. Awesome work 5th graders!
10/8- STEM Challenge
Students were given an assortment of materials and asked to create a structure that would be able to hold as much weight as possible. It was wonderful to see how well students worked together and how creative they were!
9/25- Solutions Bubble Lab
This week, students worked in groups to further investigate and study solutions. Groups created three different solutions and then tested them all outside. As a whole, we thought solution #3 worked the best because of its durability, flexibility, and longevity.
9/26- Snowball Math
Room 234 had its first snow fall this season! Students practiced writing their own word problems on a piece of paper and then had a snowball fight with the crumpled papers. When the timer went off, they collected a snowball around the room and solved their problems!
11/3- Our Class Friend, Sunflower!
Our class is lucky enough to be right next to some beautiful sunflowers, previously planted by students and staff. One day we noticed a little friend joining in on our math/science class and enjoying the flowers as much as we did. Meet our class friend, Sunflower the Squirrel!
11/8-11/12- Chemical Reaction Cars
This past week students welcomed our special guest, Mrs. Smith, into our classroom to have some STEAM fun! As an introduction to chemical reactions, students built their own car chassis using pipe cleaners, straws, skewers, bottle caps, and cardboard. Then, they attached their chassis to their own coca-cola bottle, serving as the body of the car. Students showed such determination and great collaboration skills! At the end of the week, we used a mystery chemical reaction to help propel our cars!
Click the button below to view the videos from our test day!
1/11/22- Classroom Update
In science, students have started to study ecosystems and biomes. Students have been working hard to dive deeper into a biome of their choice and learn more about the biome as a whole. It has been a very exciting and enjoyable unit for students so far!
In math, students have started to finish up our unit on decimals. Students have been working hard to compare, order and round decimals. Most recently, students have started to tackle decimal addition and subtraction problems. Shortly, we will be starting our multiplication unit. Students are excited to get started on multi-digit multiplication!
In math, students have started to finish up our unit on decimals. Students have been working hard to compare, order and round decimals. Most recently, students have started to tackle decimal addition and subtraction problems. Shortly, we will be starting our multiplication unit. Students are excited to get started on multi-digit multiplication!
1/14/22- Exploring With Edison Robots
Students earned some free choice time and decided it would be fun to work on our coding skills with the Edison robots! Students coded the robots to be able to detect boundaries. They also thought it would be fun to try and host a competition to see whose robot would last in the boundaries the longest.
1/23/22- Classroom Update
Students in 5th grade math have recently closed out their unit on decimals and are thrilled to be moving onto multiplication. In the upcoming weeks we will be reviewing how to visually show a multiplication problem, strategies for solidifying multiplication facts, and beginning to learn about the standard algorithm and box method for multiplying.
Students in 5th grade science have continued to enjoy learning about ecosystems over the past two weeks. We have recently taken a closer look at plant structures, what plants need to survive and how plants make their own food. Students have been having a blast working with an online program, Gizmos, in order to see what conditions create the most healthy plant. Students have been participating in a competition to see what conditions create the tallest plant. So far our top height has been 65.1cm!
Students in 5th grade science have continued to enjoy learning about ecosystems over the past two weeks. We have recently taken a closer look at plant structures, what plants need to survive and how plants make their own food. Students have been having a blast working with an online program, Gizmos, in order to see what conditions create the most healthy plant. Students have been participating in a competition to see what conditions create the tallest plant. So far our top height has been 65.1cm!
3/9/2022- Classroom Update |
In math, students have been working on solidifying their multiplication and division facts. We have also started to explore multi-digit multiplication, exponents and multiplying by multiples of ten.
In science, students have continued to study ecosystems. Students have had a great time learning about food chains, food webs, and healthy versus unhealthy ecosystems. Additionally, students participated in a Valentines Day STEM challenge which required students to work together in groups to make a boat. The boat was created out of minimal materials and had to carry as many candy hearts as possible. Students had a great time working through the scientific method to create the best boat possible!
In science, students have continued to study ecosystems. Students have had a great time learning about food chains, food webs, and healthy versus unhealthy ecosystems. Additionally, students participated in a Valentines Day STEM challenge which required students to work together in groups to make a boat. The boat was created out of minimal materials and had to carry as many candy hearts as possible. Students had a great time working through the scientific method to create the best boat possible!
Students worked in groups to research biomes around the world. Then, students recorded with Mrs. Smith and used their recordings to present information on an interactive bulletin board. Amazing work everyone!
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5/13/2022- Weathering, Erosion and Deposition
Students have been learning about how water, wind and ice effect a landform such as a mountain or hill. Students had a lot of fun with this lab!
6/2022- Visit from Cecropia Caterpillars!
8/6/2022- Emilia has arrived!
Exciting news! Emilia arrived on August 6th. As promised, here is a picture of baby Emilia! I look forward to spending some time home to snuggle with her! I will see you all in November!