Multiplication Quiz Wednesday

This is a reminder that students have a quiz on Wednesday, March 18.

They will be expected to:
- Represent Multiplication equations using arrays, pictures of groups, and Base Ten blocks
- Solve equations up to 9 x 9
- Solve 2 or 3-digit by 1-digit equations showing their thinking (ex: 231 x 6) see picture example of the Algorithm
- (Grade 5's Only): Solve 2-digit by 2-digit equations showing their thinking (ex: 24 x 63)

For a review of the different strategies we've used, click here.

To practice, students are encouraged to complete activities on Mathletics under the "Multiplying" heading.

HOMEWORK: Virtue Story Book Sharing

Moral Intelligence Reading Project

We have been learning about the 7 Virtues of Moral Intelligence in class. They are:

Kindness, Respect, Empathy, Conscience, Self-Control, Tolerance, Fairness

Students have been asked to choose a picture story book to read to the class.

They then need to explain which virtue it fits with and explain why they think that.

Please hand in a written copy of the virtue explanation to be used on a display that includes the book title and author.

Students will be assessed on:

-       Reading fluently

-       Speaking loudly and clearly; looking up at the audience; confidence when reading

-       Health connections between the story and one of the seven virtues

Students took home a slip of paper today with their presentation date on it. Presentations begin March 2. 

Reminder: Cross-Country Skiing

Reminder: We are Cross-Country skiing Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week (Jan 20-22). Please ensure your child comes prepared in appropriate outdoor clothing (snowpants, hat, mitts, scarf). We will be outside for 50 minutes for our lesson. Skis will be provided.

Reminder: We will also have our last Book Talk work time on Monday. Please help your child be successful during this time by ensuring they have materials and a plan of what they will use this time for.

Book Talk Project: Evaluation

This is another reminder about the Book Talk project due on Monday, January 27.

Students had 1.5 hr in class today to work on their projects. They will have their LAST class work time on Monday, January 20 for 1.5 hours.

Here is a look at the assessment (teacher/self/peer). Looking through this together at home would be a great way to make sure projects have everything that needs to be included.

If you have any questions, or to get an electronic copy of the expectation sheet, please email Ms Elder.

Book Talk Work Period

This is a friendly reminder that students will be given 1 hour to work on their Book Talk projects on Monday, January 6. Students may wish to bring items from home to build their projects in class.

Remember, students need to:

- Present for 5 minutes about their book (refer to the info sheet that went home in December or email Ms Elder if you'd like an electronic copy) to make sure everything is included in the presentation

- Show a project that represents the book (ex: mobile, diorama, identity bag, book trailer, etc)

Book Talks are due Monday, January 27.

Public Art Piece Creation Update

We have had four class work times to create our public art piece models. If students need more time on this project, they have been asked to finish at home this weekend and bring their completed pieces in on Monday.

In class, we also completed a written "artist's note" that explains the art piece. They should all convey a message of community. Students also named their pieces and described the material they would make them out of if they built a full-scale piece.

Next week, we will have a gallery walk. Students will display their models with their artist notes. We will complete self and peer assessments.

Here is a look at the student self-assessment that we created together:

Reminder: Homework this week

There are 3 things students should be doing at home this week:

1) Simple Machines homework is due tomorrow (click here to see earlier post).

2) Brainstorm ideas and bring in materials for the Public Art Piece creation (click here to see earlier post).

3) Bring in materials for the Simile Poem of a family member (click here to see earlier post).

Thanks for your help at home with these great learning opportunities!

Simple Machines

Today we started exploring Simple Machines. We watched this video which describes the six different simple machines. We started experimenting with inclined planes.

Homework: Students have been asked to find 5 examples of simple machines at home and write which machine they are (ex: a knife is a wedge). Please bring your lists in by Friday.

Public Art Creation

The students did a fabulous job on their Public Art Piece Presentations last week. We had great discussions as a class about the way different art pieces make people feel welcome (or not), and how public art can create a gathering place, beautify a space, attract tourists, and express creativity. Feedback from the presentations (teacher, student, and peer) went home today in backpacks.

Students are now ready to take everything they've learned and create their own models of public art pieces. As we have been discussing different forms of art in class, students can choose whether they'd like to create a mural, mosaic, collage, photograph, sculpture, etc.

Students will build/draw a model of their piece, and compose an artist's note that explains:
- what it would be made out of
- what message their piece portrays
- how it expresses that message

The goal of the piece is to build a sense of community/belonging through their art.

Students will be assessed on:
- LA Writing: Is the message of the piece clearly explained? Is the material of the piece included? Does the writing include proper punctuation and spelling (after a one-on-one teacher conference with assistance editing)?
- LA Represents ideas through a variety of media: Is the message of the piece clear from looking at the artwork?
- Social Studies Communication: Is a message of community-building evident through the art and writing?
- Art Technical Proficiency: Is the art piece well-executed? Is it drawn/built neatly?


The pieces will be created in class but students may wish to brainstorm at home and/or bring in materials from home.

You can support your child by continuing discussions of what the different forms of art are and how ideas can be represented creatively through different forms of media. You may wish to complete the Optional Homework sent home on September 30.

Similes and Metaphors

We've been enjoying reading poetry books in class the last couple of weeks. One of our favourite authors is Shel Silverstein. We've shared some of our favourite poems for the class.

Yesterday, Ms Elder explained the differences between similes and metaphors. They are both comparisons. Similes use the words "like" or "as."

We played with words and brainstormed similes and metaphors for puppies, cats, shoes, and even school!

Next, Ms Elder read us a book, My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks by Piven. (click here to listen to it online). We noticed the similes used to describe the character's family members, and the way she used objects to represent adjectives that describe them. 

We are going to do the same activity. We have already chosen our family member and brainstormed some similes. Now, we need to collect items at home that represent that person/pet based on the similes we used. Bring them to school next week to create the artwork (they will all be returned).

Math Quizzes Sent Home Today

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This note is to inform you that the marked Geometry Quizzes were sent home today. As a grade group, we took up the questions together and students had the opportunity to correct their work in pen. The goal is for every student to understand mistakes they made. Please sit down with your child and go through the quiz. Celebrate successes and have them explain the questions they got wrong. They should know the correct answer now that we've discussed it together.

If they still need extra practice, I encourage them to revisit the assigned activities on Mathletics.

Note: The report card indicators for Math have changed this year across Alberta. Here are the new report card stems:

The Geometry Quiz reflects the new indicators. It has one mark at the top (Level 1-2-3-4), which will fall under the "Shape and Space" section in Math.

If you have any questions or concerns about the quizzes, please let me know.
Thanks, Ms Elder

OPTIONAL HOMEWORK

Ms Elder discovered that there is a Public Art Scavenger Hunt online.
This fits well with our work in class and would be great to try at home.

If you complete it, let her know! :)

This is NOT mandatory! It's just for fun!

Best Part of Me

Best Part of Me assessments went home today. Please take a look at them with your child/parent. There is teacher, self, and peer feedback.

When you have a minute, pop on upstairs and check out the published copies on the wall outside our room. :)

Geometry Quiz Details

Here are the details for the Geometry Quiz, which will be on Monday, October 30.
Students are encouraged to complete the assigned activities on Mathletics as a way to practice.

(Students took home their Mathletics log in information today. Please keep this in a safe place at home!)

Grade 4's need to:
- explain the difference between similar and congruent shapes
- identify and draw lines of symmetry in 2D shapes
- create symmetrical 2D shapes (complete a symmetrical 2D shape given half the shape and its line of symmetry)


Grade 5's need to:
- describe the characteristics of 2D shapes and 3D objects (ex: point out parallel/intersecting/perpendicular lines)
- identify and sort quadrilaterals (rectangles/squares/trapezoids/parallelograms/rhombuses)

- perform single transformations (translation/rotation/reflection) of 2D shapes

- explain the difference and give examples of intersecting lines, parallel lines, and perpendicular lines

Here is the link for the video we watched about Transformations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z1aUhGCZs0 Happy singing! :)