What is the power of the sun?

Students are studying the power of the sun and its relationship to the Earth and our solar system. They are enthusiastic to learn about solar energy. Constellations are fascinating clusters of stars that we have researched and written about. Many students are also interested in astronomy and astrology! Here is some of their best work!

Cygnus

By Evelyn D 

There are many constellations in our galaxy, 88 of them to be exact. However, an overwhelming majority of them happen to be from Greek mythology. In my opinion, the most interesting of these is the constellation called Cygnus, so here are some fun facts about it. 

Cygnus is Latin for the word Swan and in Greek mythology this group of stars represents the Olympian Zeus. The story goes that the god took the form of a swan to seduce either the nymph Nemesis or the Spartan queen Leda. The alpha (or brightest) star in the constellation is named Deneb, the 19th vividest star in our night sky. It is also part of the Summer Triangle, which can be viewed at mostly any time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. 

One of the main things that attracted me to this particular cluster of stars was all of the fascinating solar objects within. First, there is the North American nebula, named after the continent because its shape looks like the mass of land here on Earth. Then you can view the Cygnus loop, a remnant of a massive supernova. 61 Cygni was also the first star to ever have its distance from our planet measured, at 11.4 million light years and the 15th farthest star away. Lastly, this cluster of stars contains the first black hole ever to be discovered, called Cygnus x-1. 

These are some of my favorite and most amazing facts about the constellation named Cygnus. 

Aquarius

By Derek v

If you ask me, the Aquarius star constellation is the best (I am a bit biased though). I also think that if you look at the constellation upside down it looks like a wolf with a long jaw but that is my opinion so take it with a grain of salt. Now onto the facts: The word Aquarius comes from the language of Latin. In Latin Aquarius translates to “water-bearer, because of this translation some people connect it to Ea, a mythological Babyloian god  who was often depicted carrying a vase with water flowing out, in mesopotamien mythology, Altho in greek mythology, Aquarius is aligned with multiple figures, such as Ganymede who worked as a cup carrier for the gods, and Cecrops I. There are a lot of ties to mythology for this star constellation.  There is a lot more information on this topic and if you want to learn more about The Aquarius star constellation Click on the highlighted blue to learn more.

Save Earth's Water

A belated post for Earth Day. Fifth graders recognize the importance of water . . . something simple that we often take for granted in our part of the world!

Water: Something Small Does Something Big

By Athena S.

Did you know, the water you just washed your hands in could have been
dinosaur spit? Well it's true! If you don’t know a lot about water, allow me to
inform you about the importance of water.

Every living thing needs water to survive. People can go about a week without
food. But without water, they'll only last a couple days! For humans, water will
keep your energy up and your body intact. For plants and animals water helps
them grow big and strong.

People think a little pollution won’t hurt anybody, but it will! You may not care
if gunk gets into the ocean, but the creatures who live there, really do! You may
not know this, but if plastic is not picked up, it will always end up in the ocean.
So take care of your trash, the world will thank you for it. In some places of the
world it hardly rains. In Africa, the average person uses only 3-13 gallons of
water day! While in the US we use about 80-100 a day! That is a big difference.
If you really care, you will stop wasting water.

Now that you know all about water and how everybody on earth needs it, you
need to know how to conserve it. Here are 3 ways how to save water. Number
one, if you shorten your shower by just 3-4 minutes you could save a least 16
gallons of water! Also you can save water by not using your toilet as a trash can
That will clog the pipes, and you will waste a lot of water because you'll be using
more water to get the pipes unclogged. Last, but not least, car washing. Believe
it or not if you actually GO to a car wash you’ll be saving more water there than
if you wash your car yourself.

Now you know that water, a small thing, can make a huge difference.

______________________________________________________

OUR WATER PROBLEM

By Teddy M.            

        Water is very important but we are running out of it. Hi my name is Teddy
and in this article I will be talking about why water is important and how to
conserve it. More than 70% of earth’s surface is covered  in water. So at first I
asked myself “how are we running out water?” It turns out that 97.4% of the
earth’s water is not drinkable. The reason is that the 97.4 % of earth’s water is
salty. This means that only 2.6% of earth’s water is freshwater! Of that 2.6%
freshwater 99% is not available because it is either trapped in glaciers, too far
underground, or in the atmosphere.

       

            Would you believe that 20% of earth’s population doesn’t have enough
water? For example the average African uses only 3-13 gallons of water. On the
other hand, the average american uses 80-100 gallons of water! Seventy percent
of that is used for farming, 22% is used for industrial purposes, and only 8% is
used for home.

             Every living thing needs water whether it be a plant or a whale.
Pollution from factories can cause acid rain. Acid rain has the power to destroy
whole forests! The great pacific garbage dump is a place in the eastern pacific
where thousands of plastic items are polluting the water. If we pollute water,
whole ecosystems would disappear like the Pantanal. The Pantanal is the largest
tropical wetland in the world. Over 1,100 species live there!  If the Pantanal is
destroyed almost all of those animals would disappear.

          There are many ways to save water. You can use a low flow shower head
or even a low flow toilet! You can also take shorter showers, use a water free car
wash spray, or fix any plumbing leaks.

    

     Water is a wonderful thing that you should protect. Please use one of these
suggestions about saving water, and thank you for reading!

                                                                                                                                 

Jackie Robinson: Breaking Baseball's Barriers

http://united-five.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jackieRobinson.jpg

Fifth graders are very interested in social justice and the difference between right and wrong. Earlier this year, as part of our Reach for Reading curriculum, we learned about the significant contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, Cesar Chavez and others. We have had discussions about how one individual can make a difference. Today, students were thrilled to participate in a Reader's Theater play about baseball legend Jackie Robinson. Students learned that Robinson had a positive impact on much more than just sports. Here are some of their responses to the question:

What do you think was Jackie Robinson's greatest strength?

I think Jackie Robinson's greatest strength was his confidence. One reason is because he was so brave to play in the major leagues even though he was a black person. Also, he had to live with all of the protests and anger that people were giving to him. Another reason is at the end of the play Jackie says he might retire soon so he can open doors for people in all areas of life. This shows confidence too. Those were a few reasons why Jackie Robinson was confident.

by Ava L.

I think Jackie Robinson's greatest strength was his courage. I think that was his greatest strength because he knew that if joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, people might do horrible things to him, Even though he knew that would happen to him, he didn't give up. Over time people got used to him and other black baseball players playing baseball. That is why I think that Jackie Robinson's greatest strength was his courage.

by Philipe R.

I think Jackie Robinson's greatest strength was making a difference in the world. I think this because when I read a play him, I learned that if he didn't join the Brooklyn Dodgers, African Americans wouldn't be able to play Major League Baseball. Jackie Robinson believed that all people are equal and he made a difference. I think that is his greatest strength.
by Leanna K.

I think that Jackie Robinson's greatest strength was his perseverance. I believe this because when things got hard, he would still keep on trying to accomplish his goal. Players even said they would strike if Robinson was allowed to play, Major League Baseball, but that didn't stop him. That's why he is remembered today for his courage and perseverance.
by Coralle F.

Water Conservation

WATER’S FUTURE?

   

By Maris B. and Abby P.

  

       Hi! Have you heard that Earth's water could be in TROUBLE?

This could be bad since all plants and animals depend on water to survive

Even though water can be renewed through the water cycle, it must be clean for it to be worthwhile.We need to keep what isn't already polluted maintained and unharmed.  After all, only 1 percent of Earth's water remains safe to consume. What few know is that our most often used substance is water. Think of how many ways you use water each day! And, think of how many animals live in watery habitats!

       How can kids like you and me help save our water? For one thing, we can take shorter showers. Another thing we can do is turn off the faucet when we are not using it. You should ask your parents about getting a flow stopping shower attachment piece. This will go to the temperature you want your shower to be, and then stop the flow of the shower until you hop in and pull the string. Water conservation is all about using water wisely. What ways can you think of to conserve water?

Now for some fun facts!

1. In Africa, some areas have merry-go-rounds that pump water for everyday use.
2. In some areas, adults send their kids to get that day's supply of water.

Thank you for reading this blog post, and remember EVERY DROP COUNTS!

Hooray for Recess!

   Two Recesses Are Better Than One!

 By Libby and Lowri    

We strongly believe that elementary school students should have not only one recess but two. We have based our opinion on several reasons. Just dive into our article to find out why kids need so much time to play on the playground, run around on the field, and chat with their friends!

Our first reason is that throughout the day a lot of children like us get very anxious and begin to lose focus. Many students wonder how to get out of class, such as fake a bathroom break. If we had more time outside we would have more time to release our crazy energy!

Although there may be a  risk of injuries out at recess, if  you have Terrific  and Focused monitors, that risk is thrown out the window! We believe this because according to scholastic.com  “61% of school injuries are caused on playgrounds without undivided supervision”.

Not only do many websites we have read think that children our age should have two recesses, but many experts agree that playing helps children learn. Many teachers, students, and parents also think that it is very important for kids just like us to have two recess breaks instead of one.

As you can clearly see there are many reasons that children deserve at least 45 minutes out of a 6 hour school day to play, get exercise, and socialize with their besties. What do you think?

    

More Vikings Are Coming!

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The wind was restless. There was a bolt of lightning that struck a house and it burst into flames. The Vikings were here...WHOOSH!!!! An arrow flew through the air and hit a man in the chest. That man was my father.  started to sob. I wanted to go to him and hold him in my arms. My mom held me back. “It is over,” my mom said to me and we ran as fast as we could away from the terror. I hope that I will return to my village one day and seek revenge on the treacherous Vikings, especially the one who killed my father.

By Johnathan R.M.

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I saw a large red-sailed ship, and it was the Vikings. They were screaming and getting closer . . .  and closer. They looked mean, ruthless, and hairy. They were here to take over. I was so scared I was shaking out of my pants. What would happen to me and my family? I was having flashbacks. My mom, dad, and my little brother were at home. I started to think why was I just standing there I need to go warn the others. I was running as fast as I could. I looked behind me and I saw the Viking ship. I remembered that the town had a big boat that everyone could escape on. They were right behind me with bows, swords, flails, and shields. I saw them trading with people and taking them to the boat. My heart dropped as I saw my dad getting taken by one of the Vikings. I was sobbing. How could this happen my dad. My dad would get killed if he fought them. I rushed back home I saw my mom and my little brother crying. I told my mom that I was going to get dad. My mom grabbed my hand and said, “No, I can't lose you too!”

Mom was right I would get captured too. I ran to see if they were still there. I saw the boat leaving with my dad screaming, “HELP!” There was nothing I could do. I will never forgive the cruel Vikings.

By Jack S.

Beautiful Music

Winter Concert Grade 5: Tuesday, December 20

Winter Concert Grade 4: Monday, December 19

Playing an instrument at Barnstable United is very exciting, especially if you play the violin. The violin belongs to the string family of instruments. It makes beautiful sounds as the bow stick glides across the strings.

This year I have classes every Tuesday, and we perform concerts twice a year, one in December and one near summer. We perform at BUES and at the Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center. Playing the violin is very fun in 5th grade because we learn complex songs, and songs that we probably knew when we were little such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Jingle Bells. If you didn't play in 4th grade but start in 5th grade, you're a beginner. Ms.Nickerson encourages us to practice the songs at home so we can catch up to the second year students.

As you can see, it's fascinating to have the opportunity to play the violin in 4th and 5th grade!!

By Kellen D.S.S.