Baking Bread

 Friday, we concluded our experiment on "What determines if an organism is living?"  Since we had used yeast and honey in our experiment, we transferred those ingredients into baking bread.  We 'proofed' the yeast first ... and watched the 'sponge' form...

 After that, students took turns stirring in 1/2 cup of flour at a time... after adding the salt, the kneading began... everyone did some kneading...

 We had the smoothest, most well kneaded bread...probably on the planet!

 Once the kneading was over, the dough was covered with a tea towel to rise.

 I make bread all the time, and I was surprised at how incredibly fast it rose!

 I'm sure it had something to do with all the kneading that took place.

 Just in case you're wondering if Room 5ers know how to dress...it was also backwards/inside out day at school!

 After it rose, then we formed it into 3 loaves..baguettes actually...

 and then they rose...

 Debbie, in the kitchen, turned the ovens on to 450...

 the bread went in...

 and the smells began to permeate the hall...

 they cooked while Room 5 was at lunch...

 When the whistle blew..

 we all met at the kitchen and watched...

 as 3 beautiful loaves of french bread...

 came out of the oven...

 Most of us slathered our slices with fresh butter..

and enjoyed the bread while we discussed the rising of the bread...

because of the carbon dioxide...from the yeast...feeding off the honey...

What a great experiment!

Buddies!

 We met our first grade buddies for the first time today!

 We will meet every Thursday...

 at 10:45 a.m.

 Sometimes we help the first graders with reading...

 and sometimes we help them with math...

 and sometimes we do projects just for fun!

 Today, for our first time together, each student colored in their name...

 adding some things to the picture that you liked...

 We talked...

 to learn more about each other...

 

before we left, we exchanged names tags..

 So Blaine took Jason's...and Jason took Blaine's...

 Room 5 will be great buddies for these little people...

 and hopefully we'll have a great time together...

 

Often times the buddies become close...

 and never forget who their buddies were that year...

 I guess I don't need to tell you who everyone is...

 since you can see their names...

 

Ms. W had previously outlined their names...

 so all we had to do was color them in...and add some extra pictures...

 How fun it is to be the 'big buddy'...

 to help teach these little first graders!

Unfortunately for Rose and Karli, Karli was absent today... so Mrs. J sat with Rose and colored Karli's name...

Here's to a great year with our buddies!

Learning the western states

 Zoe and Sawyer

Today the fifth graders, after a review of the western states, were quizzing each other...

 Cole and Jade

 One of them would point to a state...the other would tell them the name...

 Jason and Mikayla

 Then they would ask the capital of that state...

 Ashlynn and Caleb

Pairs took turns quizzing each other...

 Elaine and Trenton

 just on the western states...

 Aaron

Hannah and David...they were here, too...but by the time I got around to taking some photos, they were finished....and were working on their homework.  I meant to go back and take a pic of them....but oops...I forgot! 

Learning all the states ... and their capitals... is one of our goals!