Math: Unit 3 measuring angles

For the past week and a bit students have been learning how to use a protractor to measure angles. There are many students who need support at home from their parents or older siblings to review this concept. I have included many worksheets for your child to review. They are extra practice and whatever is not finished in class is due for homework on Monday, December 1st. I have asked the class to take home their math duotang to review concepts with their parents so that parents will have no surprises. On Monday we will be moving on to the next section of Unit 3.

Here are some websites that your child can use for extra practices:
http://www.mathplayground.com/measuringangles.html
http://www.ixl.com/math/geometry/angle-measures
http://www.mathsisfun.com/angles.html
http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/degrees.html
http://www.ezschool.com/Games/Math/Angles/Angles.html

I have asked that the protractor quiz be signed by parents. This mark will not be very significant in the overall unit, rather it will be used as a benchmark for students, parents, and myself to be aware of students who need further support with this concept so they can practice more to improve their grade before the unit test. There will be a unit test late in the week of December 8th. 

Christmas Concert

The Christmas Concert will take place on Thursday, December 11th at 1:00pm and 7:00pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church across from the school. The students will be singing "Rock Around the Clock" en Francais (in French). Mme Fazarri is also teaching the class music and drama this year. We hope to see many families at the concert! 

Social Studies

We are starting our new unit in Social Studies: Land Regions. Students will be learning about the different provinces and territories, their capitals, and the great lakes. The Social Studies title page is due Monday, December 1st.

Media- What's the Message?

The class has been reading about what "Good Writers" do to communicate messages. In class students are to bring in a message from any media- newspaper, magazine, Internet, etc. and share it with the class. This will be used as part of their media and oral mark. Students will also be assessed on their listening skills by recalling important information from their classmates oral presentation of their media.
Students are also busy creating comics that have a message. In class they have created comics using paper and on the website: http://www.bitstripsforschools.com/login/
The code is: rocks4
The password is your child's password when they log on the computers at school. Students are more than welcome to create comics at home and bring them in to share with the class. 

Tools for Life

Tools for Life

The Tools for Life program has been running in our classroom for the past 7 weeks. This is an 8 week program that the Child and Youth Worker, Mr. Lane, has been doing in our classroom. Our class was chosen for the program due to the need of the students. The purpose of the program is to teach students how to communicate and develop healthy relationships with peers and adults. Students have been discussing how to speak to one another in respectful ways, how to deal with their feelings, how to identify facial features in themselves and their peers to determine how they might be feeling, and how to read body language. These tools can be used to resolve issues and to work cooperatively with others.

Once Mr. Lane has finished the in-class lessons, I will continue to support the program in various ways. In class we have weekly discussions to express how individuals are feeling. I ask students to be respectful of others and not to use names as this can cause hurt feelings. I will also have students create a journal to express their feelings and to focus on 4 positive things. This will be supported with our "Fill My Bucket" program that we started in September (see previous posts). I will also have students take home various handouts and activities to be discussed and used at home on a regular basis. Research has shown that the more consistent the message give to children at home and at school is, the more successful and confident they will be.

Below are some posters that coincide with lessons being taught in the Tools for Life program.  

 
 

 

 

 

Health- Nutrition

The trip to Zehrs was very informative. Students had a great time looking at the different food groups throughout the store. They also played games on how to read food labels; focusing especially on sodium. They learned that 5% or less of sodium in a food was very healthy, 5-15% was a medium-level of healthiness, and greater than 15% was not the best choice. In class we have been reading food labels found in lunch bags. Students have completed food label questions/charts. Ask your child to show you their Health duotang.
There will be a health quiz on reading food labels, the Canadian Food Guide, and healthy eating on Monday, November 17th. On Tuesday, November 18th we are going to have a healthy smoothie party. A note will be going home with students this week to explain the Smoothie Day in further detail.

Volleyball

The class is working on learning how to bump, volley, and serve. Students have been playing mini games and are very excited to serve and return the ball. We might have a strong volleyball team when these kids reach grade 7 and 8!

Spelling Word Sort Test Friday, November 14th

The first Spelling word sort test will be this Friday, November 14th. Students have been playing the word sort games in class. The words are located in the Ziploc bag staples in the front of the agenda. Please ensure this Ziploc bag and words remain attached to the agenda and return to class each day as students will need them to practice in class.
Thank you for your continues support at home playing the word sort games.

The 2nd spelling sort test will be Friday, November 28th

Rocks and Minerals- Unit Test Wednesday, November 19th

The Rocks and Minerals Unit will be ending in the next few weeks. The second half of this unit will focus on:
a) identify different types of minerals- which is the strongest, weakest/softest
b) what minerals can be used for everyday life such as: make-up, building houses, jewelry, etc.
c) What impact people have on the environment when mining for rocks and minerals
d) how humans can help protect the environment/create less impact when mining/looking for rocks
e) identify and example their favourite mineral

Students will have a review sheet in their green Science duotang for them to study from. There will be a test/quiz on rocks and minerals Wednesday, November 19th.

Science and Technology- AKA computers

The class has the opportunity to go to the computer lab two times a week. Students are now proficient at logging into their computer, opening a Word document, and accessing the Internet independently. Each week students go onto the class blog to check our any new information and pictures. After the play different teacher selected games (usually on math). You will also see these games when you click on the website tabs. Your child should be able to take you to them as well since they have already done so at school.
Our next technology goal is focusing on importing graphics (images/pictures) from the Internet on a specific topic to create a media project. So far this has included title pages for Halloween stories and invitations to parents for the Bible celebrations.
Students are required to independently:
1) log onto the computer
2) open a Word document
3) open the Internet
4) search and locate a graphic related to the topic
5) copy and paste the graphic to the word document
6) use font to create a message (the size and type of font should reflect the assignment)
7) spell check/proofread the document/assignment
8) save the document
9) print the document

I am very pleased with the enthusiasm and progress that I have seen from September until now. Computers are a regular aspect of our everyday life and developing these skills to enhance learning is crucial to student success. If you have a special event coming up like a Christmas or birthday party, perhaps you could ask/let/work with your child to create invitations and/or posters on the computer.

Bible Celebration

Congratulations boys and girls on receiving your very own Bible. This was a very special celebration in your faith journey. I am so proud of all your hard work preparing for the Bible celebration. The singing was beautiful and all of the readers, petition people, and speakers did a fabulous job!
Thank you also to all of the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings that were able to join us on Friday. Your support meant a great deal.
In class we will be learning how to navigate through the Bible to find passages, identify chapters and verses, and of course to read Bible stories. At home I would encourage students to read their Bibles each night for 10 minutes. 

Unit 3 Geometry- Getting Started

Let's get started with our next math unit, Geometry! Students will be learning about concepts of 2-D and 3-D shapes, symmetry, angles, and how to use a protractor. If you have a protractor at home, you could send that in with your child to use in class.

Students will need to know how to identify and measure angles. Focusing on the 3 different types of angles at home would be appreciated.
Check out this YouTube video to understand the 3 different types of angles (it's a song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB9Fax-9nAs

These angles are:
a) acute angle= less than 90 degrees e.g. pliers, scissors, flip cellphone, stapler remover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Dbrxme-y8

b) right angle= 90 degrees e.g. a square, a rectangle, tiles on the ground, tiles on a backsplash, a cover of a book, a remote control

c) obtuse angle= greater than 90 degrees e.g. scissors, hands on a clock, legs on a spider, tree branches

Ask your child to be an "angle detective". See how many different types of angles they can find at home and have him/her explain to you why it is an acute, right, or obtuse angle. They can write or draw these examples and then bring them to class to be displayed on our math bulletin board and to share with the class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGKwdHMiqCg
What is an angle?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n3KZR1DSEo
How are angles measured?

Math Unit 2 Whole Numbers- test should be home by now

The class has finished Unit 2 in Math- Whole Numbers. The unit test, pre-test and post-test have been sent home for parents to review with their child, sign and return to class. Most students displayed huge growth from their pre-test to post-test. In class we spent a great deal of time on this unit doing math centres, worksheets, playing games on the computer, playing games with flashcards, playing games on the whiteboard, and working in small groups or one on one with myself or the EAs. If you are looking for further review for your child I recommend:
1) playing the math games listed on the blog at home for 15-20 minutes each night
2) completing the worksheets in your child's math duotang that may not be finished
3) have your child redo incorrect answers from their math worksheets again on a new sheet of paper
4) have your child bring home their math textbook and do questions from Unit 2