Ruth King Division 2

Hello!

Out class performed beautifully during the Winter Showcase, singing and playing ‘Christmas for Cowboys’ on the guitar. Hope you all were able to see the show.

We finished our work on two digit multiples this week, using the box method to help break up and organise our factors, and adding up the factors to solve the equation. We will be reviewing two digit multiples again in January. We also worked on fact families of 6.

In Language Arts we finished up our Secret Grown-Up Rules writing project, they are quite entertaining and exhibit a lot of original, creative ideas.

We also worked on purposeful writing as a means to communicate a message or opinion on a topic. We used a RAFTS technique, portraying different roles and writing to different audiences using multiple formats. Using the Rafts technique allowed us to experience perspective writing. And finally we working on descritive writing, adding detail and specific information to our writing, trying to paint a picture using words.

Most of the students also finished up their book review synopsis, getting them ready for next week. Some students still need these completed for Monday, and we’re sent home as homework this weekend. Try to get those complete, because on Monday we will be working on improving our writing using them.

In science we investigated the wedge and screw as simple machines. We experimented using paper airplanes and cutting utensils, learning that a pointed wedge will cut and separate an object easier and with less force when the incline planes are thinner.

We looked at how an incline plane can be turned into a screw, and how a screw is used to secure objects together, resulting in a more secure seal than a wedge.

In social studies we looked into Canada’s 150th birthday celebration, reading and discussing the events that occurred during the 100th birthday. Our info packet also gave us a brief history of how Canada became a country, giving the students some intro information into our Canadian heritage and identity unit starting after the winter break. Some students weren’t able to complete their socials work this week, and the package was sent home as homework, so be on the lookout for it.

In French we continued working with our numbers, playing French bingo! The loved it so much we will continue playing next week. We also worked on French colour names, using a colour by number activity.

And finally we finished up our Ted Harrison landscapes, showcasing Natural Resources of BC. Their bright and warm colours tend to give out a warm feeling, so if you are feeling chilly this week, come by and bask in the radiating suns of our artwork.

Next week is our last week before the winter break. We have our swim day on Wednesday, our agendas will have some relevant information on Tuesday, so stay tuned. Friday will be a pajama day, possible with wacky hair/hats, and a Santa pancake breakfast in the morning.

In math we will be playing more bingo, using our multiplication facts. In Language Arts we will be improving our writing by sharing it with others, and using their questions to add to our writing. In social studies we will be looking into timelines, and what information we need to include. In science we will be reviewing simple machines with an infomation packet. And in French we will continue working with numbers and colours. Going home next week will also be an outline for the science fair in February, so keep an eye out for it, and have a good weekend.

Hello!

A full week of school after our long weekend, and now that it is over only 3 more weeks until the break.

In math this week we looked at rounding double digit numbers, making it easier to multiply and estimate the product. It was a good introduction into two digit multiplication. We also worked on multiplying and dividing facts of 4.

In Language Arts we finished up writing our friendship scripts, in preparation for our readers theatre next Friday. I also introduced the students to their writing booklet, where they can write on any topic that they want. This week we gathered up ideas to write about and made a list.

In social studies this week we took our facts and opinions research further by looking into what is propaganda, and the different types of propaganda that are out there. With all of our fact and opinion knowledge we became detectives, in the hunt for facts and opinions. The students looked through the newspaper, highlighting what was fact and what was opinion.

After we shared out some of the facts and opinions we found.

In science this week we looked at pulleys, the different types, and how they help us. We started off lifting a weight with no support, lifting with a fixed pulley, and lifting with a moving pulley, trying to figure out which method required the least amount of force. Most students came to the conclusion that using a moving pulley made lifting the load easier because it had extra support. Later in the week we made our own pulleys, and experiment lifting different types of loads.

The students were pretty excited to use their pulleys.

In French this week we looked at numbers, and how to read, write, and speak different French numbers up to 60. We also finished off our Tout sur moi all about me posters, detailing our likes and dislikes.

They all look lovely and showcase what we have been looking into so for this year in French.

Next week hopefully report cards will be coming home, as well as information on the winter music showcase, and a swimming form for the 20th of December. We will be diving into two digit multiplication and looking at fact families of 5 in math. In language arts we will perform our readers theatre, and start our 6 trailts of writing unit by looking into ideas, and how important they are to writing. In social studies we will discover how using only one source of information can be problematic, and use what we know to find credible sources of information on the internet. In science we will investigate the wheel and axle simple machine by designing and building wind cars. And finally in French we will continue our exploration of French numbers by playing a few games.

Be on the lookout for those notices coming home next week, and have a good weekend.