Dec 062025
 

Hello!

We are just wrapping up some of our final units before the winter break. Everyone is working hard to get their work done.

In math we learned about the standard algorithm for multiplication.  Most students did very well with it, though a couple forgot about adding the 0.

In language arts we wrote a couple more RAFTS activities.  Some students rewrote ‘let it go’ to include lyrics about breaking up with a boyfriend, some wrote about Godzilla destroying Tokyo, some wrote about Mr. Stephenson talking to Superman. It was entertaining.

In social studies we finished our timeline posts and typed them up. AI has made it pretty easy for students to get information,  though they need to start putting the information in their own words.

In science we learned about the wheel and axle, then spent the week making wind cars. We raced them on Friday, with some students getting over 5m.

There was a lot of problem solving going on.

In French we learned the numbers 1 through 75. We then played some French bingo. At first the students were very confused, but got the hang of it soon.

Next week we review multiplication and have a test, type up one of our RAFTS activities, organize the classroom timeline, and hunt for simple machines then take a final test. Going to be a busy week.

Have a good weekend, and see you next week.

Nov 292025
 

Hello!

As we get closer to winter, make sure to send appropriate clothing, it’s getting colder and wetter.

In language arts this week we worked on some perspective writing using a RAFTS outline. Students take on a Role, and write to an Audience. They are given a Format (letter, song, poem) to organize their writing. They are also given a Topic and Strong Purpose about what to write about. This week we wrote as an oreo rapping to milk about making a good combo, Britney Spears writing a letter to mango Spears about being jealous of Katy Perry, the Grinch writing Santa a letter about the naughty list. They have been random, but very entertaining.

In math we practiced using the box method to multiply larger numbers. With 84×63, you multiply 80×60(4800), 80×3(240), 4×60(240), and 4×3(12), then add them up 4800+240+240+12 to get 5292. We use a box to organize each multiple.

In social studies we started our new unit, looking into Canadian history, to make a large timeline. In groups, students researched 9 events for their category (residential schools, explorers, provinces, etc). Each student chose 3 of those events to research more. On Friday they finished their first timeline post.

In science we learned about the wedge,  screw, and pulley. With the wedge we practiced cutting things. With the screw we learned how secure they can be. With pulleys, we used a couple and made one on our own. Lots of fun experiments to see how each machine works.

In French, we learned about the days of the week, and months of the year. We also took our oral conversation quiz. Most students seems to be able to make their way through a basic conversation.

Next week we will learn about the standard algorithm for multiplication in math, more RAFTS in language arts, finish our timeline post 2 and 3 in social studies, learn about the wheel and axle and make a wind car in science, and learn about French numbers. Going to be a busy week.

Have a good weekend, and see you Monday.

Nov 232025
 

Hello!

It was good connecting with some parents this week. Even though it was a short one, we learned a lot.

We finished up our natural resource booklet in social studies, and took our final test. Most students did well, with only a mistake here or there.

In math we practices estimating large multiplication equations. Where 384 x 719, we round to 400×700, and get 280000. Students did very well with their rounding,  while some still need some practice with their multiplication strategies.

In science we learned about the inclined plane and level and fulcrum. With the inclined plane, we learned that the smaller the slope, the easier it is to move a load. With the lever and fulcrum, we learned that the closer the fulcrum is to the load, the easier it is to lift. We then designed and built catapults!

Next week we have a conversation French quiz on Monday, we learned the box method for multiplication, we worked on perspective writing, learn about the wedge, screw, and pulley, and start our next social unit, Canadian history timeline. Its going to be a busy week, especially with the handball Jamboree.

Have a good weekend, and see you Monday.

Nov 152025
 

Hello!

This was a weird week, with Tuesday being a holiday. We managed to get a lot done though!

In math we reviewed our single digit multiplication strategies. We started with drawing arrays, then worked on skip counting,  and finally the break up method. The break up method allows you to make multiplication easier. If you have a harder multiplication question, like 7 x 8, you can break one of the numbers up (7 into 5 and 2), then multiply both pieces by the other number (5×8=40, 2×8=16), then add your pieces up (40+16=56). It works for larger numbers too: 16 x 8 (16 breaks into 10, 5, and 1. 10×8=80, 5×8=40, 1×8=8. Add 80+40+8=128)

In social students students worked on their fish farming project. They then wrote an essay about one of these topics: oil pipelines, clear cutting, mining, or fish farms. They needed to talk about the benefits and controversy of their topic. Some students needed help flushing out more ideas, but most turned out well.

In science we started our simple machines unit, learning that there are 6 simple machines: inclined plane, lever and fulcrum, screw, wedge, pulley, and wheel and axel. We will see doing experiments on each of these machines in the next few weeks.

I also finish recording our paper roller coasters!

Next week will be another short one, with Thursday being a half day, and Friday no school. We will learn about estimating larger multiplication equations in math, finish off our resource unit by completing our booklet and doing a test, and learn about inclined planes and levers in science. Should be a good week.

Have a good weekend, and see you next week.

Nov 082025
 

Hello!

Wow that felt like a long week, must have been because we were so busy.

In math we reviewed our place value unit and took a test of Friday. Students did very well with the final, with 3 students getting everything correct, and over half the class getting 90%.

We were busy in language arts this week. First students wrote about their Halloween or their weekend.  Then we learned more about Remembrance Day, and wrote a couple of paragraphs about that.

In social studies we learned about the forestry industry,  specifically clear cutting. We learned about the pros and cons of this method of logging. We also started to look at fish farms, and today learned about the benefits and negative impacts they have. Most students have finished their mining project, with half the class finished their forestry one.

In science we worked more on kinetic and potential energy by creating paper roller coasters. Almost all the students finished,  but I will make a video next week for those few students still finishing theirs.

Im art we created some giant poppies for our Remembrance Day display.

Next week we have our assembly on Monday, Tuesday will be a day off, and back on Wednesday.  We will finish off our mini resource projects and write an essay in social studies.  We will review single digit multiplication strategies (array, skip counting, break up) in math. We will also start our simple machines unit in science. Twin day is also on Thursday, I am trying to convince everyone to shave their head, we will see. Going to be an interesting week.

Have a good weekend, and see you Monday.

 

Nov 032025
 

Hello!

A little late with this post, Friday was just a crazy day!

In math we reviewed rounding and learned about subtraction. Some students needed reminders about how to borrow and regrouping, but by the end did well.

We finished off our novel study, and have started writing the synopsis. By Friday about half the class was finished. We also reviewed and took our grammar test. Students did very well with it.

In social studies we learned about the different types of energy resources, as well as the pros and cons of mining. Students have been working hard on completing their mini projects for each.

In science we learned about different types of energies, specifically focusing on kinetic and potential energy. Kinetic is energy in motion, and potential is stored energy, waiting to be released. We performed a fun bouncing ball experiment to demonstrate energy transfer.

In art we learned about symmetry by creating some pumpkins.

We also carved pumpkins on Friday

Next week (tomorrow) we will review our place value unit with math for a final quiz, write about our halloween and upcoming remembrance day, build paper roller coasters in science, and learn about the forestry industry in social studies. Going to be another fun week.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend, and see you Monday.

Oct 232025
 

Hello!

A short one this week, with no school for students tomorrow.

In math we worked on rounding and addition. Students learned how to round numbers to the nearest thousand, hundred, ten, etc, where 5 6 7 8 9 round up to the next number, and 0 1 2 3 4 round down and stays the same. We then worked on addition, and students remember their strategies well from last year.

In language arts we started our own personal Goosebumps novel study. Some students have already finished the book. We are also still practicing our grammar using mad libs.

In science we finished off our solutions unit with a jeopardy review game and a final test. Students did pretty well, where some showed confusion in certain areas. We also checked out our evaporated salt solution.

In social studies we started our new unit on natural resources. We learned the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources,  and learned what imports and exports are. We then went over our project for the unit, a booklet with different types of projects.

Next week we will be learning about subtraction in math, finish off our novel study and have a grammar test in language arts, learn about energy and mining in social studies, and review grade 4 energy in science. Photo day is on Monday, and halloween is Friday. Going to be a busy week.

Have a good weekend, and see you Monday.

 

Oct 182025
 

Hello!

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving weekend. It’s starting to get colder and wetter, so dress appropriately.

In math we went over place value, there where is a ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, and a million onwards place. We learned to separate standard form numbers into expanded form (738,749 = 700,000 + 30,000 + 8,000 + 700 + 40 + 9). We also practiced saying and writing large numbers in word form. We then looked at greater than and less than relationships (56>24).

In language arts we listened to a Goosebumps story, and wrote a synopsis about it. Students were guided through the steps, and given a cheat sheet on how to write their synopsis. Students will learn quickly how to summarize.

In social studies we used a venn diagram to compare different regions. Students worked in pairs to research each region, and compare it with another. We then reviewed and took a quiz on the regions. Most students got perfect.

In science we learned the difference between a solvent (does the dissolving) and a solute (gets disolved). We then experimented with concentration levels,  where an unsaturated solution allows us to continue dissolving solute, and a saturated solutions no longer dissolves solute.

We logged into our computer accounts today. Students have their own email and password. The district is switching programs this year,  so students have their old accounts @sd62learns.org, as well as their new one @sd62.bc.ca. Logging in at home may require both logins, but the password is the same.

Next week we have another short one, with Friday bring a Pro D. We will learn about rounding and addition strategies in math, starting our own novel study and practice more mad libs in language arts, reviewing our mixture and solutions information for a quiz on Wednesday in science, starting our BC resource unit in social studies, and learning some French halloween vocabulary. Going to be a busy week.

Have a good weekend and see you Monday.

Oct 102025
 

Hello!

We had a nice full week, learning lots and working hard.

In math we started our place value unit. We learned how to multiply or divide large numbers, when zeros are involved. With multiplication,  40000 X 2000, we move the 0s over, then multiply the rest, so 0000000, then 4×2=8, so 80000000. With division, you are canceling 0s out on each side, so 5000000 ÷ 10000, you cross out four 0s on each side, leaving you with 500÷1, which is 500. Some students did very well with these strategies,  though others showed some confusion about when to multiply and when to divide.

In language arts we learned about adverbs and synonyms.  We practiced using a thesaurus to find more interesting words. We then used adjectives, nouns, verbs, and adverbs to make some silly sentences using alliteration.  Angry alligators arguing aggressively,  beautiful bears boxing boringly, clever caterpillars cleaning carefully.

In social studies we created our Canadian region brouchures. They turned out great, and very informative.

In science we learned about the densities of liquids by making a rainbow in the bottle.

We also learned about 3 ways to separate solutions: evaporation, crystallization, and distillation.

In art this week we used our acrostic poems from last week and created posters.

Next week we will learn and practice mad libs in language arts, and listen to a novel study on Wednesday.  In math we will learn about place values up to a million, so 374,873 = 300000+70000+4000+800+70+3 = three hundred seventy four thousand eigh hundred seventy three. In science we will learn about concentration levels and the difference between solute vs solvent. In social studies we will finish off our regions unit. Going to be a busy week.

Have a nice long weekend, and see you Tuesday.

Oct 032025
 

Hello!

Another busy week, especially with the Tuesday off. We have almost brought back all the Emergency Release forms, try to get those in.

We finished off our pattern unit this week, with some review and a final test. The students did very well with it, with only a couple of errors here or there.

We started our grammar unit this week, learning about nouns, adjectives, and verbs. We played a couple of word guessing games for each.

In social studies we chose a region in Canada and started researching it, in preparation for creating a brochure of the region. Students worked together to gather information, and organize it into a layout.

We finished off our orange shirt display, showcasing our own identity.

In science we learned the difference between a mixture and a solution,  where a mixture is easily separated, but a solution is much harder. We then practiced separating some random mixtures and solutions using a filter. It got a little messy.

Next week we will learn about adverbs and synonyms in language arts, start our place value unit in math by looking at how zeros work, create our region brochures, and learn about concentration levels and solvent vs solute in science.

Have a good weekend, and see you next week.