MISTAKES=LEARNING!
FRACTION MODELINGLearners are developing an understanding of addition and subtraction of fractions. SPEED PROBLEM SOLVINGSpeed problem solving is a body and brain workout! Learners move between working with a variety of partners on a variety of problems that apply the skills we are working on. Physical exercise such as jumping jacks, planks, sit ups, and crossovers are built in to this fast paced problem solving hour! COOKIE-OLOGYHow does a regular Oreo stand up to a Double Stuf Oreo? Learners worked this week to compare and contrast a sample of each type of cookie. Qualitative observations were made with a naked eye and with a microscope. Students practiced drawing like a scientist. Digital scales, pan balances, rulers, measuring tapes, and graduated cylinders were used to measure the mass, volume, diameter, radius, and circumference of each type of cookie. Questions learners discussed: What relationship do you notice between the diameter and radius of each cookie? What do you notice about the relationship between the diameter and the circumference? Will the mass of the cookie change if you crush it in to little pieces? How do the two cookie types compare? COMING NEXT.... Students will create a testable question about which cookie type will float longer in milk, and will carry out the experiment. STAY TUNED! THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSIONSOur Google Classroom space is full of great thinking and ideas right now! Ask your child to share this space and his/her contributions with you!
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MAKERS!Last Friday, we spent our time together making and creating. Students built circuits, created computer games, constructed with Knex, and crafted pieces of art. We listened to music and enjoyed using our hands, minds, and creative spirit. FRACTIONS ARE SUPER FUN!Learners have been exploring the strategies they can use to compare fractions, order fractions, and problem solve with fractions. Lots of great math talk has been happening! Ask your child to talk to you about what they have learned. Some vocabulary to get the conversation started: factor multiple equivalent fractions simplest form common denominator After Winter Break, we will begin adding and subtracting fractions. LOTS OF EXCITED ENERGY FOR CIRCUITS!Little Bits! Check out these awesome circuit building kits we have been using to uncover our understanding of how energy can cause change! CALLING ALL EXPERTS!Operation Hillside experts were a great help in our research journey this week! Mr. Diaspro answered our questions about playground safety, playground equipment, and shared his recommendations for how to address the hillside on the lower playground. Mrs. Wright fielded questions about local plants and animals. She is our expert naturalist and we are thrilled to have her assistance again! Thank you Mrs. Wright and Mr. Diaspro for giving your time to share with us and teach us! Teams continue to gather information, communicate their learning, and modify plans! Great work is happening!
We had a blast with idioms on Friday! Students displayed the idioms they brought from home and walked around trying to figure out each other's idioms. How well can you do? Did you see... *it's raining cats and dogs? *toss your cookies? *Elvis has left the building? *you're nuts? *broken hearted? *cut to the chase? *make a long story short? OPINIONS, PLEASE... We began discussing opinion writing in class as well. Students are learning a framework for this type of writing called boxes and bullets. In this framework, the opinion (we call it a thesis) is placed in a box at the top of the page, and a bullet pointed list of reasons with evidence is written underneath. We began with a thesis MOST children shared the opinion of...I LOVE ICE CREAM. We worked together to "air write" the entire essay, and then children put the essay down on paper. Here they are "air writing" the essay (saying it aloud to a partner): QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT OUR RECENT SOCIAL STUDIES LESSONS:
*What were 2 positive outcomes of the Articles of Confederation? (treaty with Britain and the Northwest Ordinance) *What states were created out of the Northwest Territory? (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin) *What are the 3 steps for a territory to achieve statehood? (1-a governor, secretary and 3 judges are assigned; 2-once there are 5,000 free men, a legislature can be formed and 3--once there are 60,000 people, a state constitution needs to be written and approved) |
AuthorAnne Kenney Archives
May 2016
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