Ruth King Division 3

Hello!

We spent part of this week learning about lunar new year, the year of the snake. We learned different ways to say happy new year, and learned about the 12 animals.

In math this week we looked at long division. The steps included divide, multiply, subtract,  and bring down. Most of the class got this, but some seem to feel stuck after a step or two. Keep up the practice to get better.

In language arts we typed up our final copy of our Secret Rules story to display in the hallway and put in our book. I worked with a few students and some of the stories are pretty entertaining.

In social studies we wrote an essay about the benefits and controversies of a natural resource in BC: oil pipelines, clear cutting, fish hatcheries, or mining. We also put all of our projects together into a booklet.

In science we learned how the respiratory system works, where the diaphragm contracts to breath oxygen in through the mouth, down the trachea, through the bronchials of the lungs, to the alveoli, where it trades O2 for CO2, and then the CO2 reverses the process back out the mouth.

We also learned about the circulatory system, where red blood cells pick up the oxygen from the lungs,  travel to the heart, and are pumped throughout the body through arteries. When the O2 red blood cells reach their destination, it trades O2 for CO2 through small blood vessels called capillaries. Now the red blood cells carry the CO2 blood back to the heart through veins. The heart pumps it back to the lungs,  and the CO2 leaves the body. We experimented with different levels of activities to see if our blood beats faster, measuring the rate.

In french we learned about Le Carnival de Quebec. We took notes about the festival and will be making a brochure to show off the event.

We also finished up our art project from last week, mosaic winter.

Have a good weekend, and we will see if I see you Monday, who knows about the upcoming snow.

Hello!

It’s starting to get colder, make sure to bring appropriate winter clothing.

In language arts this week we started a creative writing project, where we will be coming up with crazy and bizarre reasons why we have specific rules. Like brush your teeth or they may come out and bite people, or comb your hair or it will take over your body.

In math we started our division unit, learning three different strategies. We looked at the relationship with multiplication, how to use an array, and repeated subtraction.

In social studies we learned about thenpros and cons of mining. We practiced mining chocolate chip cookies, and made a project about our learning.

In science we worked hard on building Rube Goldberg machines. Most were complete by the end of the week, but about half not filmed, so next week there will be a video.

On Thursday we had guests from John Stubbs give a presentation on late French immersion as an option for grade 6. Talk it over, as there will be an info session next week.

Next week we will look at larger division strategies, write more secret rules stories, learn about forestry and aquaculture, and start our human body unit for science.

Have a good weekend and see you next week.

Hello!

We did it, we made it to the winter break. It was a busy week, but seems like everyone had a great time.

In math we signed on to our Prodigy accounts.  They can login using their Google account to play at home. We finished up our simple machines and regions units with a review and test. Our field trip to the pool on Wednesday went well. Friday’s pancake breakfast and White Elephant goft exchange was a lot of fun.

We got our Ted Harrison art pieces back.

Over the break, it would be good to review two digit multiplication.

Have a good break, and see you in 2 weeks.

Hello!

The Countdown is officially on, as we now only have 2 weeks left before the break.

In math this week we learned how to multiply 2 by 2 digits using the box method. It is a way to organize a broken up equation, making it easier to figure out. If you want 45×62, you separate 45 into 40 and 5, and 62 into 60 and 2. Then you multiply 40×60, 40×2, 5×60, and 5×2. Then add up your answers.  Most students have the concept,  though need to check over their calculations.

In language arts we looked at perspective writing, taking on different roles, and writing to different audiences about random topics. Some examples were writing as Justin Bieber writing Ed Sheeran about going fishing, and a donut rapping a song to Eminem about getting a raise. Random, but pretty funny.

In social studies we started our region brochure project, choosing 1 region to research. Students were given research books and the internet to find information about their regions features. We will be making brochures next week.

In science we learned about the wedge, screw, and pulley. With the wedge we tried cutting apples with a spoon, mixed results. With the screw we learned how difficult it was to try and try and rip out some screws from some wood. With the pulley, we learned that we can use gravity and our full weight to help lift objects.

Next week we will learn about the standard algorithm multiplication strategy, write some more perspective writing RAFTS, learn about the wheel and axle and make some wind cars, finish up our region project, and learn about French colours. We also have the Christmas store on Friday. Should be a good week.

Have a good weekend, and see you Monday.

Hello!

Well that was our first really short week, with the half day on Thursday, and a Pro D on Friday. We still managed to get a lot of work done.

In math we took our final test focusing on place value, rounding, addition, and subtraction. Most students did very well with the unit, and others now know what to focus on. We also started our multiplication unit by looking at two different strategies: drawing and array and skip counting. Both of these are grade 4 strategies to help with multiplication, they just tend to take a while.

In science we finished off our review of energy by building our paper rollercoasters. Here is a video of the completed ones.

In social studies, we reviewed our government work with a trivia jeopardy game, then I had students write a cheat sheet study guide from their notes, and finally we took our final government test. Many students used their cheat sheet well, while others did not.

That was about it for this week, we were supposed to do some French, but the aper rollercoasters took too long.

Next week we will look at the break up strategy with multiplication (7×6, break 7 into 5 and 2, multiply broken up pieces by 6 (5×6=30, 2×6=12) and add pieces back together 30+12=42). We will start some descriptive writing in language arts, start and review the Canadian regions unit in social studies, and start our simple machines unit in science.  Should be a good time.

Have a good weekend, and see you next week.