Should Children Be Paid for Doing Chores?? Read on to see what some fifth graders think...

Yes!!! I am so energized after reading student work submitted through @Schoology on day 1 (or 2 for some). Such a joy to finally read student work! THIS is why I teach. All these voices. Our future. #cpsbest

Should kids get paid to do chores?? Yes/No? pic.twitter.com/S0ZASFFAsb

— Ms.Thelen (@thelensthinkers) September 9, 2020

Take it from this student, parents work very hard and are sacrificing... chores prepare us for the future! She is right, parents are working SO HARD and are SACRIFICING so much right now. Please know that teachers are so thankful for your help right now! #cpsbest pic.twitter.com/YFUy2OA8OQ

— Ms.Thelen (@thelensthinkers) September 9, 2020

2019 Invention March Madness Event

Each year, the fifth-grade team does an Invention March Madness Event where each class submits their two top invention videos. The idea is to persuade the viewer to think that their invention is the most important invention since Colonial times. Here are a few of the selections from this year's competition!

March Madness with Inventions!

Paring writing with our social studies, students are looking at the most important inventions since the American Revolutionary war. What was the one invention that has improved our lives and would be unimaginable to live without? This was the question to start our unit on persuasive writing.

Students sifted through a variety of resources to determine what they believed to be the most important invention. After listing their top three choices, students that voted alike were put into a "research group".  We ended up with seven groups. Students worked collaboratively to research their invention.

It has been a joy watching students read information, take notes, develop a claim, and provide support for their claim to persuade others.
Students then used this information to create a one minute video. We voted on our seven videos to identify our top two groups. Morse Code and Refrigeration are going on to the top 10.  Students will then compete with other videos from the other fifth grade classes. The top ten will go to the top five and then to the winner. We are excited to get the voting under way!