A big thank you to all the parents for providing food for our party on Friday and for coming to our classroom to celebrate literacy with the children.
No homework this week. There are only 4 more more days of school left...
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
News for June 22
News for June 22
News for June 22
This week the students in Room 5 worked very hard to get ready for our 100+ Books Party on Friday. It was a great success, almost every student in our school from grades 1 to 6 came through our classroom and saw the work of each student, our video and some snacks!
In math, we used the 100 books to apply some of the math concepts we learned this year. We measured how long the books were laid down end-to-end (24 m 60 cm), how tall when piled up (76 cm) and how heavy (28 kg). The students used their survey skills to figure out how many books were fiction (50), non-fiction (32) and near-fiction (18). 41 of the authors were female and 51 were male. 52 books were written before 2002 and 48 were written after 2002. Finally, they calculated how many pages were in the 100 books altogether...there were 4,166 pages. Please see the video at the end of this posting to see the students presenting this information.
The class worked very hard to complete the sock creatures. Every student made an original sock creature by using the sewing machine and hand sewing the pieces together. Then each child wrote a short biography of his/her sock creature as a character and put this information into a little book.
The students also calculated how many days of school each grade 3 child has had (935 days of school) and grade 4 child has had (1,122 days of school). The class also calculated how many days of summer vacation we will have this year (70 days).
To get ready for our 100+ books celebration, the students also organized the books, in order, did the math activities as described at the beginning of this posting, brought snacks and set up his/her work on each desk (book report, comic strip, sock creature and biography). They also made over 150 bookmarks to give to our guests as a thank you gift for coming to our party.
The class saw a presentation about bike safety this week presented by Metro Toronto Police.
The grade 3 students made a display of the pioneer village that they researched and created. This was in the hallway outside our classroom during our party.
As a link to our visit last week to the Cadbury chocolate factory, the class began watching the movie, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" based on the book by Road Dahl.
Finally, the students reviewed the work they did over the year that was collected in their portfolios. It was wonderful to see how much their writing has improved! These portfolios were sent home with the children on Friday.
Here is the video the students made to celebrate reading 100 books together...
News for June 22
This week the students in Room 5 worked very hard to get ready for our 100+ Books Party on Friday. It was a great success, almost every student in our school from grades 1 to 6 came through our classroom and saw the work of each student, our video and some snacks!
In math, we used the 100 books to apply some of the math concepts we learned this year. We measured how long the books were laid down end-to-end (24 m 60 cm), how tall when piled up (76 cm) and how heavy (28 kg). The students used their survey skills to figure out how many books were fiction (50), non-fiction (32) and near-fiction (18). 41 of the authors were female and 51 were male. 52 books were written before 2002 and 48 were written after 2002. Finally, they calculated how many pages were in the 100 books altogether...there were 4,166 pages. Please see the video at the end of this posting to see the students presenting this information.
The class worked very hard to complete the sock creatures. Every student made an original sock creature by using the sewing machine and hand sewing the pieces together. Then each child wrote a short biography of his/her sock creature as a character and put this information into a little book.
The students also calculated how many days of school each grade 3 child has had (935 days of school) and grade 4 child has had (1,122 days of school). The class also calculated how many days of summer vacation we will have this year (70 days).
To get ready for our 100+ books celebration, the students also organized the books, in order, did the math activities as described at the beginning of this posting, brought snacks and set up his/her work on each desk (book report, comic strip, sock creature and biography). They also made over 150 bookmarks to give to our guests as a thank you gift for coming to our party.
The class saw a presentation about bike safety this week presented by Metro Toronto Police.
The grade 3 students made a display of the pioneer village that they researched and created. This was in the hallway outside our classroom during our party.
As a link to our visit last week to the Cadbury chocolate factory, the class began watching the movie, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" based on the book by Road Dahl.
Finally, the students reviewed the work they did over the year that was collected in their portfolios. It was wonderful to see how much their writing has improved! These portfolios were sent home with the children on Friday.
Here is the video the students made to celebrate reading 100 books together...
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Update from Ms. R
The homework for this week is...there is no homework!
Please remember the 100+ Books Party at 9:00 on Friday, June 22. Everybody is welcome!
Also at lunch on that day is the 2012 Speed Stacking Contest in the gym with special guest Mr. Lee.
Everybody is welcome to join in the fun!
Please remember the 100+ Books Party at 9:00 on Friday, June 22. Everybody is welcome!
Also at lunch on that day is the 2012 Speed Stacking Contest in the gym with special guest Mr. Lee.
Everybody is welcome to join in the fun!
News for June 15
This week we had two special events. First we had a visit from Scientist Natasha and second, we had our trip to the Cadbury chocolate Factory.
On Tuesday, the Scientist in the School classroom presentation was about Habitats and Communities. Natasha brought models, games and preserved animals to help the students learn about how animals and plants live together and how animals adapt to different environments. Thanks to our two volunteers, Rodica and Gabi for helping out!
On Wednesday, all the grade 3 and grade 4 students went downtown to visit the 100 year old Cadbury chocolate factory. The children learned about the history of the company and all the products it has made over the years. They also learned about how chocolate is made from cacao beans and they got to taste chocolate of course! The students finally had a chance to go into the factory and see how chocolate mini eggs are made. Lucky for us, they gave us lots of chocolate bars as treats to take home. Thanks to Karen and Joe for volunteering for our class on this trip.
In math, the students learned the history of binary code and how it's used in all sorts of computer applications. Each child figured out his/her name in binary code and made a new name tag for each desk. We also began to write our first computer program to figure out the names of students in our class.
In writing, the students talked about the special feature of comics and how comics tell stories using a combination of drawings and limited words. They each planned out a story that could be told in 8 panels of a comic and most began their "good copy" using special comic book paper.
In computers, the students investigated all the games and stories found on the Toronto Public Library's Summer Reading Program site:
http://tdsummerreadingclub.ca/
On Friday, the students opened up the sealed "time capsule" that we made back in September 2011! In the box were little books that each student made with information like height and outlines of hands and feet. There was also a photo and a letter to themselves ...in the future...
Well, they waited all year and finally it was time this week. Time to start creating sock creatures!
This week, each student used the sewing machine to create the body from one sock, stuff the head, body and legs and handsew the opening shut.
The students created pop-up cards to go with their nature "heart" photos, for Father's Day gifts.
The class also had a chance to watch a performance of the musical play, The Music Man, performed by the grade 7 and 8 students of Spectrum Alternative School.
Books read aloud this week:
G is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book by David M. Schwartz
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (chapter book)
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Update from Ms. R
The homework for this week is for each student to write a letter to me in the homework writing journal. In the letter, I have asked that they review the class blog and look at all the activities we did so far this year and then write about the activities they liked and those they didn't (of course, they also have to tell me why....). This homework is due on Friday, June 15.
Please remember that on Friday, June 22 (9:00 - 10:00), our class is celebrating our 100+ Books Party!
Families are invited to join us celebrating literacy in Room 5.
Please remember that on Friday, June 22 (9:00 - 10:00), our class is celebrating our 100+ Books Party!
Families are invited to join us celebrating literacy in Room 5.
News for June 8
This week, the students finished their book reports in preparation for our 100+ Books Party on Friday, June 22. We also had a chance to use the Promethean board in Sharon's room to review our class blog and remember all the activities that we did in Room 5 this year.
The grade 3 students began to build a model of a pioneer village using wooden building blocks. In the village are a general store, a blacksmith, a home/farm, a mill and a school.
In math, after reading the story of Anno's Multiplying Jar, the students worked in pairs to solve the mathematical mystery of figuring out how many jars there are at the end of the story. It was a surprise to find that there were over 3 million! The class also learned the higher grade concept of factorials to help write the sentence 1x2x3x4x5x6x7x8x9x10 as 10!. The children began to learn about different math words, based on the ABC book G is for Googol, abacus, binary code, cubit...
In science, many more butterflies came out of their chrysalids and we released those outside at recess on Thursday. There are 3 chrysalids left. We talked about if the caterpillars/butterflies have lived their lives always inside, how do they know how to fly? The bean plants are growing very fast! The class discussed how the stems know to grow up (toward the light or photropism) and the roots know to grow down (due to gravity or geotropism) and how water pressure keeps the stems upright. The class also watched a DVD about different kinds of soil.
The students learned how to wind wool into balls of yarn from the skeins of yarn we dyed with Kool-Aid. The class learned about the different processes that bring sheep fleece (wool) to finished woven fabric made into clothing (fleece, carding, spinning, dying, weaving, sewing). They also continued weaving on their looms. The students had a chance to try the spinning wheel as well!
To get a feel for handwriting more than 100 years ago, the children learned how to use quills (actually we used turkey feathers) to write with ink. The students practiced writing all the letters of the alphabet, their full names (or signatures) and a famous pangram sentence:
"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." (A pangram is a sentence that uses all 26 letters of the alphabet.)
On Tuesday, the class went to the gym to watch the dress rehearsal for the spring concert.
Books read aloud this week:
G is for Googol by David M. Schwartz
Pelle's New Suit by Elsa Beskow
A Pioneer's Life from A - Z byBobbie Kalman
My Family Vacation by Dayal Kaur Khalsa
Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar by Mitsumasa Anno
Friday, June 1, 2012
Update from Ms. R
Well, the provincial EQAO standardized test is over for another year! The grade three students worked very hard for three days to "show what they know" in math, reading and writing. Families will receive the student results in September.
The homework for this week is that there is no homework! Everybody deserves a break sometimes...
Important Dates:
June 6 - Spring Concert - Our class is not performing (recall we performed at the WInter Concert). However choir members will be performing.
June 6 - Last day for Scholastic book orders
June 12 - PM - Scientists in the School - Thank you to Gabi (Julia's mom) and Karen (Haleigh's mom) for volunteering
June 13 - PM - Trip to Cadbury chocolate factory
June 22 - 100+ Books Party (9:00 - 10:00) - Everyone is welcome!
June 22 (lunchtime) - Speed Stacking Competition (in the gym)
June 27 - Report cards go home
June 28 - Last day of classes for the school year
The homework for this week is that there is no homework! Everybody deserves a break sometimes...
Important Dates:
June 6 - Spring Concert - Our class is not performing (recall we performed at the WInter Concert). However choir members will be performing.
June 6 - Last day for Scholastic book orders
June 12 - PM - Scientists in the School - Thank you to Gabi (Julia's mom) and Karen (Haleigh's mom) for volunteering
June 13 - PM - Trip to Cadbury chocolate factory
June 22 - 100+ Books Party (9:00 - 10:00) - Everyone is welcome!
June 22 (lunchtime) - Speed Stacking Competition (in the gym)
June 27 - Report cards go home
June 28 - Last day of classes for the school year
News for May 31
News for May 31
News for May 31
This week the grade three students worked for three days to complete the provincial EQAO standardized test. During the testing periods, the grade four students worked on stories and learned more about medieval times with Ms. Kam's grade 4 students in room J4.
Almost all of the caterpillars transformed into chrysalids (singular=chrysalis) over the course of the week. To mimic their natural habitat these were pinned to the top of a mesh butterfly house. About 9 painted lady butterflies emerged and they were fed orange gatorade (which is chemically close to the nectar found in flowers). The butterflies use their tongues to drink the liquid (their tongues are long, spiral tubes). Later in the week, we also put slices of orange in the butterfly house. Students also got a chance to pretend they were butterflies and tasted orange gatorade. The class learned that inside the chrysalis is a liquid like a "caterpillar soup" that breaks down the cells of the caterpillar and rebuilds them into the butterfly. When the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis there is some insect blood, called miconium, that comes out too. This is a waste product that is used to pump out the folded wings and then is pushed out because it is no longer needed. The children also learned about the study of animal poop "scatology" and the science name for caterpillar scat is "frass". On Thursday, we went outside to release the butterflies that had come out. There are about 7 chrysalids left in the butterfly house. One student had the experience of being in a chyrsalis by being wrapped in toilet paper! The class discussed how it difficult it must be for the caterpillar to transform itself in such a small, confined space. Such an amazing process!
After learning last week about what seeds need to grow into plants, the class this week planted bean seeds in soil, with water, at room temperature, lots of air and room to grow.
As part of our pioneer unit the students learning a bit about weaving. The class learned that there are basically two ways that humans make fabric, weaving and knitting. Each student created his/her own loom using cardboard and the wool we dyed with Kool-aid. The students also gathered materials for sewing sock creatures.
In math, the students finished up the unit on probability by reviewing how to calculate the probability of an event or outcome happening and how these predictions really only match up when one does hundreds or thousands of repeated experiments. That's why it's called calculating probability and not calculating certainty!
Books read aloud this week:
Butterflies - A First Discovery Book by Heliadore Galimarde
The Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth by Rochelle Strauss
Everything's Coming Up Sock Monkeys!- The Art, History and Business of the American Sock Monkey by Bonnie Kraus Connelly
This week the grade three students worked for three days to complete the provincial EQAO standardized test. During the testing periods, the grade four students worked on stories and learned more about medieval times with Ms. Kam's grade 4 students in room J4.
Almost all of the caterpillars transformed into chrysalids (singular=chrysalis) over the course of the week. To mimic their natural habitat these were pinned to the top of a mesh butterfly house. About 9 painted lady butterflies emerged and they were fed orange gatorade (which is chemically close to the nectar found in flowers). The butterflies use their tongues to drink the liquid (their tongues are long, spiral tubes). Later in the week, we also put slices of orange in the butterfly house. Students also got a chance to pretend they were butterflies and tasted orange gatorade. The class learned that inside the chrysalis is a liquid like a "caterpillar soup" that breaks down the cells of the caterpillar and rebuilds them into the butterfly. When the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis there is some insect blood, called miconium, that comes out too. This is a waste product that is used to pump out the folded wings and then is pushed out because it is no longer needed. The children also learned about the study of animal poop "scatology" and the science name for caterpillar scat is "frass". On Thursday, we went outside to release the butterflies that had come out. There are about 7 chrysalids left in the butterfly house. One student had the experience of being in a chyrsalis by being wrapped in toilet paper! The class discussed how it difficult it must be for the caterpillar to transform itself in such a small, confined space. Such an amazing process!
After learning last week about what seeds need to grow into plants, the class this week planted bean seeds in soil, with water, at room temperature, lots of air and room to grow.
As part of our pioneer unit the students learning a bit about weaving. The class learned that there are basically two ways that humans make fabric, weaving and knitting. Each student created his/her own loom using cardboard and the wool we dyed with Kool-aid. The students also gathered materials for sewing sock creatures.
In math, the students finished up the unit on probability by reviewing how to calculate the probability of an event or outcome happening and how these predictions really only match up when one does hundreds or thousands of repeated experiments. That's why it's called calculating probability and not calculating certainty!
Books read aloud this week:
Butterflies - A First Discovery Book by Heliadore Galimarde
The Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth by Rochelle Strauss
Everything's Coming Up Sock Monkeys!- The Art, History and Business of the American Sock Monkey by Bonnie Kraus Connelly
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)