SmithScience

Brain Gush I teach fifth grade math in Texas. I am very intent on my students’ success in life. I want them to have a great understanding of math concepts with amazing problem solving skills. Success on their end of the year tests is also important to me. ;) Critical thinking is essential for their success. I created Brain Gush and my students LOVE it! They love the choice, the challenges, and the uniqueness of the work (not the typical worksheets!). HOW I USE IT Brian Gush includes fou

Thirty Assignments that cover EVERY concept that should be covered in fifth grade. Your students will love the graphics and open ended questions that lead to dynamic discussions. As a warm up, this will keep your students focused and on-task as you get your class ready for the day. Because the options are open-ended, the warm-up leads to great partner or small group discussions. Home and parent connections are included if this is a homework assignment or a valuable tool when the assignme

I love giving my students opportunities to build logical thinking, but I wanted to link the topics we study. I created these logic puzzles that use our science concepts. This is a great activity to leave with a sub or as a review at the end of the year. I have included an answer key. I hope your kids enjoy!! Topics: matter landforms- forces that change the earth space renewable/non-renewable resources physical properties Energy

I wanted a way for my students to practice classifying matter using physical properties. I also wanted practice reading charts and creating charts. This activity uses vocabulary: soluble, density, electrical conductor, electrical insulator, magnetic, state of matter. I created charts for students to read and be able to classify matter. I also created blank charts for students to fill out. You could take this a step further and have the actual items (I used very accessible items) for st

I have taught fifth grade science for 12 years in Texas and love seeing what my students need and creating materials. I created this for our fourth grade teachers who are juggling so much. The fourth grade TEKS are spiraled throughout the 10 assignments. They could be used for warm-ups, homework, centers, or review. I call it Brainwork because it should require students to THINK. Most answers are open-ended and require a good understanding of the concept. Students love mixing up the c

What to do the day before the fifth grade STAAR test? Here is TWO DAYS of REVIEW for your kiddos. Use these ready made activities with partner work, small group, centers, or whole class. ABCs of Science This is a bit of an oldie, but my students love it. Give them a topic (Earth, Life, Physical) and have them brainstorm vocabulary for each letter. If time permits: As a class have kids share their terms. Circuit Challenge: Students cut out the components for a circuit. They create a

This is a set of 10 math problems. Each one is one page (room for some working). About half are open ended, great for GT learners. They will take some thinking and planning. I did not number them so you could use them in any order you want. I would make a book out of them and only give them to students who needed more of a challenge. I wrote them with fifth grade in mind, but I know there are some advanced fourth graders out there who could do it! These are modern, real-life problems Ki

I love SORTS. It allows the teacher to quickly assess and re-teach. Students love manipulating the pieces. Partners love to discuss and organize. I have put together the most crucial concepts for fifth grade into SORTS. YOu will need to copy a copy or two (hopefully in color), cut, and place in envelops. I included TOPIC TITLES for the envelopes so you could use these year after year. Topics Weather/Erosion/Deposition Reflection / Refraction Sun / Moon / Earth Producer/Consumer/ Dec

I love sorts. I love the conversation my students have as they move the graphics around. I love the graphics that my students are exposed to. I love the debates! I have put together 26 circuits (13 open and 13 closed) graphics. Students will have to look at the details of the circuits, notice the paths, and pay attention to the switches! This sort could be used as a partner activity, a group discussion, or an individual assessment. Thank you! Meshelle

I created this activity so my students could have practice reading food web charts. This comes up in testing situations often, and my students struggle! I wanted them to become more adept at reading carefully and being able to analyze a chart, web, or table. -Easy lesson for substitute or last minute! -Use as a station or center. -Print the two pages of the food web charts. I place them in plastic pages and allow kids to use them as resources. Saves paper! -Print the three practice pag

I have always loved Project Wild's Oh Deer game - so do my students. I have created a pre-reading for building background knowledge. While studying the deer's role in the ecosystem, so many of our concepts can be addressed! Students will be able to reflect on the reading, honing their life science.concepts AND vocabulary. The Oh Deer game is included with options to extend. The game does not need any supplies and kids love it. After playing it in class, my students started playing it at

I love doodling and my kids love coloring. I created this booklet last year and pulled them out as my homework for their STAAR review. I LOVE IT! I made the 11 page copy and stapled it as a book. Their homework assignment is to color a page (in any order). When they come back to class, they give their book to a partner (must be a different partner every day). The partner writes a page on the facing page. It is a wonderful, quiet 10 minutes. I ask them to put the coloring page into words.

Brain Work is a great homework assignment or review for your class. I used them as a nightly assignment as we approached the test. It is a MIXED review and touches on all of the TEKS with an emphasis on READINESS TEKS. The answers are open ended and lead to great discussions. When students bring in the assignment, I would often let them compare their answer choices with a partner. I use the COLOR version from the PDF file on my projector when we would discuss as a class. Because the

This is my version of the BIRD BEAK LAB. I wanted to design a lab where students travel from 'habitat' to 'habitat'. Each habitat has its own food. Each student has its own 'beak', so they will find that ONE station will yield a good amount of food because it is adapted for THAT habitat. The lab page, where students collect and analyze data, is a front/back page. I included a table of actual birds with uses for their beaks. My students like to see how our labs relate to the real world.

Kids love a challenge! Brain Gushes develop mathematical reasoning, problem solving skills, and logic. I used Brain Gush as part of my Menu Based Classroom. I am sure you have those bright kids who are waiting for more challenge. If you print two pages front to back, it makes a great folded booklet. One sheet of paper and TONS of thinking! FIVE BOOKLETS -each booklet has FOUR math challenges. -twenty challenges in all

Engage your students with key concepts that will definitely show up on end of the year tests. Eight pages that could be used as daily warm ups, homework, or classwork. One page reviews with readiness standards in mind. Use the work for great class discussions or partner talks. One set with days of the week labeled for daily warm-ups or homework. The other set without the days of the week that would suit tutoring, small groups, or daily reviews. -warm ups -tutoring -homework -small groups -ce

You know the game TABOO where you have to get your friends to say the KEY word but you cannot use a list of 'taboo' words. I put this together using the fifth grade science vocabulary. Play it whole class or use it as a 'centers' game. Rules are easy to follow! 45 vocabulary terms

This is my SECOND set of BrainGush challenges. Students who LOVE a challenge will love Brain Gush. Use these in centers or for quick finishers. Your GT students will love these. My students love when I unveil the new, weekly booklet of Brain Gushes. I also use Brain Gush in my SPED class. The higher level math kiddos enjoy a challenge! Make a booklet by printing front to back (4 challenges/booklet) or print off single pages and cut in half (20 separate challenges). I use booklets and all

A roll of the dice will let the water molecule know where it will travel next. This activity includes 10 stations and a lab sheet where students will record information, make vocabulary notes (or pictures), and summarize their journey. A student will take a bead at each station so they will end up with a bracelet or necklace marking their incredible journey. This activity expands a child’s idea of the water cycle and teaches essential vocabulary. The journey CAN be done without beads!! This

If you love this.... look for my set of 10 weeks of BRAIN GUSHES. https://tinyurl.com/braingushBrain Gush I teach fifth grade math in Texas. I am very intent on my students’ success in life. I want them to have a great understanding of math concepts with amazing problem solving skills. Success on their end of the year tests is also important to me. ;) Critical thinking is essential for their success. I created Brain Gush and my students LOVE it! They love the choice, the challenges, and t