Week 10

Hello!

In Language Arts this week we continued our group friendship stories, working on turning them into scripts for a readers theatre. So far I’m seeing some real problem solving skills embedded into their skits, figuring out different ways to mend friendships when a conflict occurs.

In math this week we have started looking at the comparison of multiplication and division, and how to use math facts we know to help solve math facts we don’t know. A perfect example of this is using 5×7 to solve 4×7 or 7×7, or taking 8×7, and breaking the 8 into 5×7 and 3×7, and adding the products together. Started slow, but the student’s ability to break up numbers into easier multiples is progressing well. We have also started our multiples and dividing drills this week, focusing on 2.

We finished up our Natural Resource booklets this week, each containing a small project on energy, forestry, mining, and the fish industry, and an essay detailing the controversies of one of these natural resources. Some of the projects are quite impressive; you can tell a lot of learning occured.

We also started looking at how to research, in preparation for our projects after the winter break. We looked at facts vs opinions, what each of them are, and how to differentiate between them. We also briefly looked at how the combination of facts and opinions can lead to biased views.

In science this week we learned two things: an inclined plane helps support the load being carried, and Mr. Stephenson can’t hard boil eggs.

We started off looking at what an inclined plane is, what it looks like, how it works, and some real world examples. We then performed a couple class experiments. First lifting a weight straight up using a bungy cord, and measuring the stretch, then measuring the stretch of lifting the weight using an inclined plane. There was a slight difference, but we took the experiment further.

We tested how many marbles it would take to lift 50 marbles straight up. At first we were adding over 200 marbles with no results. One of the students discussed how the table may be taking on too much of the weight, and how the surface area needs to be less. We tried again using a broom stick, this time only needing 98 marbles.

So it took about double the weight to lift the object straight up, raising it 2cm above the ground.

Next week used an inclined plane to help support our weight.

This time it only took 66 marbles, only 1/5 more weight, to move the weight, raising it 22cm. Using what we observed, the students were clearly able to conclude the benefits of using an inclined plane.

Next we looked at how an inclined plane helps reduce the impact of the distance traveled. Our experiment involved dropping hard boiled eggs from desk height, examining the effects, and then rolling another egg down an inclined plane, and comparing the damage. Well apparently I did not boil my eggs long enough, because when each group dropped their egg from desk height, they went splat.

After about 5 minutes of giggling, we continued the experiment, recording the damage inflicted from a free fall drop.

We next rolled our eggs down an incline plane, and recorded that damage.

There was a lot less damage with the eggs using the inclined plane, so the experiment was a success, just very messy…

In French we are continuing to work on our Tout sur moi posters, detailing ourselves and expressing our preferences in French. Hopefully they will be completed next week.

Speaking of next week, parent teacher forms went home today, check your times and hopefully see you all Thursday.

Next week is a short one, with parent teacher meetings occurring Thursday afternoon and evening, and no school Friday. In language arts we will be using the writing process to edit, revise, and proofread our past work, getting it ready for publishing. In math we will look at using more strategies to help solve larger multiples and dividing questions, as well as work on our drill 3. In social studies we will continue looking at facts vs opinions, and how to recognize them in the media.And finally in science we will investigate the lever, how it works, and how the position of the fulcrum affects the outcome of effort needed.

Have a good weekend.