Ruth King Division 3

Hello!

We are one week away from the winter break. The students are getting a little antsy, especially with the rainy indoor days.

In math we finished off our multiplication unit with our final test.  Students did pretty well, where there has definitely been improvement among each. We also created our prodigy account, which students can access at home.

In social studies we decorated our tomeline posts and then went through the Canadian timeline, post by post. There were even some Canadian heritage minute videos to accompany some posts. Students then read a package on the Fur Trade, as well as Canada becomming a nation. They had to think of the causes and affects of these historical events.

We finished off our simple machines unit in science with a scavenger hunts around the school, as well as our final test. Most students did well, though some needed to add more details.

In language arts we typed up our favourite RAFTS project. Students needed to expand on their ideas a little more.

On Friday it was our turn for the Giving Store. It seems a lot of students made some good choices with their gifts.

Next week is our last week before the break. We will finish off social studies by learning about the railroad and residential schools system,  play some more French bingo,  make 3D snowflakes in art, and play more prodigy and math games. Friday will be the pancake breakfast and pajama day, and Thursday is the White Elephant gift exchange. Its going to be a busy week.

Have a good weekend, and see you next week.

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.

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.

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.

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.