Ruth King Division 2

Hello!

The intermediate team has decided to cancel the fair, apparently it was becoming too much for some of our students to handle as a home project. If your child still wants to complete a science fair project, I have told them it will be for extra marks this term.

Instead of a science fair, Ruth King will be having a heritage and diversity fair in March. Each student will research their own family history, discovering their country of origin, and discussing the reasons they immigrated into Canada. There will be a booklet detailing the information needed for this project. To conclude the project, the students will be creating a poster board/trifold on their country of origin, showcasing their country for the school. We will be going over the booklets next week in class.

In math this week we finished our two digit multiplication and three digit dividing with a unit test. Most students did very well at showing their understanding and learning of the steps involved to solving larger problems. We started our measurement unit this week, learning about mm, cm, and m, how to measure and convert our measurements. The students went around the class and measured objects (usually themselves) to find the length in cm.

In Language Arts this week we worked on a couple of writing prompts, building our ability to write on multiple topics. The students also worked on a funny group story, having 30 seconds to start a story, pass their story to someone else, and use another 30 seconds to continue the new story in front of them. By the end we had some weird and unusual stories that were entertaining to read.

In social studies this week we started researching our class timeline of Canada. The students used their chrome books to research important dates in Canada’s history, that they feel are important in showcasing our growth as a country. We also looked at the residential schools timeline for Canada, and started discussing the events and impacts residential schools had.

In science this week we finished our Rube Goldberg machines. The objective was to build a complex machine out of simple machines, with the purpose of popping a balloon. Below is a video of each machine built.

In French this week we started looking at French culture in Canada, and learned a little about Le Carnaval de Quebec, one of the world’s largest winter festivals. Next week we will be gathering information to create a brochure about the festival.

In art this week we created some aboriginal feathers, using traditional symbols and colours. They can be found on our cloak room door for viewing pleasure.

Next week we will be looking into perimeter and area in math, learning to measure and calculate things around the room. In Language Arts we will be starting our poetry unit, discussing poetry and creating a couple of fun poems. In science we will be starting our human body investigation, looking at cells and the building blocks of organs. In social studies we will be learning more about residential schools in Canada, working on our own timeline areas, as well as starting our family history booklets for the fair in March. Should be a lot of fun!

Have a good weekend!

Events coming up: Bottle drive Feb 17, Curling field trip March 1, Heritage fair March 14.

Hello and welcome back!

In math this week we started working on long division. We went over a couple of strategies, and by the end of the week most were able to do it. Next week we will continue long division, with a quiz on Friday.

In Language Arts this week we looked at ways to describe something, using our senses to describe objects and food. It was a small taste of the poetry unit we will be starting in February.

In social studies this week we looked at researching using the internet, and finding credible sources of information. We used the Ipads to research famous explorers, and comparing the information from multiple websites.

This type of activity will help us with our next socials unit, a Canadian Timeline about history, identity, and our culture.

In science this week we reviewed the simple machines by finding examples of them around the school. We also went through stations, using simple machines and observing how they make work easier.

In French this week we looked at the French alphabet, and sang ABC a couple of times. We also studied our numbers and colours, and had a quiz Thursday. Most did very well with their quiz.

This week we also went over the science fair. Most of the contracts have been handed back, and most of the students have picked their partner or chosen to work alone. On Friday I handed out the info booklet that students will have to complete. They were advised to take them home and go over them, researching some experiments to perform. Remember: it all starts with a question or a wonder.

Next week we will continue long division in math, practicing to get those steps down. In Language Arts we will look at different voice styles and structures in writing. In social studies we will look at the criteria of our Canadian timeline, and think about what themes we will need that showcase Canadian identity. In science we will look at complex machines, and work on building a Rube Goldberg in groups, with the mission to pop a balloon.

For the science fair, students will have to research and choose their science fair idea, coming up with the question that will guide their project. By Friday students should have checked with me about their project, and I will sign off on it if it is acceptable.

Have a good weekend.

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.

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.