Math – This week, students continued their studies in the division area of the curriculum. Students focused on various mental division concepts, which had them transferring their knowledge and skills from our multiplication unit to solve basic division facts in class (tables 1-9). 4A and 4B's were challenged with missing dividend and divisor equations, as well as a hands-on collaborative group task. The group task involved manipulatives which represented apples, and prompted students to complete a division table and several word problems involving remainders. Students will learn to divide larger numbers after the break (with and without remainders), and are encouraged to practice and review basic division facts over the break. Want to test your division skills at home, Kodiaks? Check out these links: Prodigy – Students would definitely benefit from logging into Prodigy over Spring Break. I have set up a task for students to work through which includes 50 division problems. This task will take students awhile to get through, but I promise... the problems will be entertaining, interesting and meaningful! Good luck! Problem of the Week – Last week's solution and this week's Problem of the Week are posted below. How do you choose what activity to engage in at recess, Kodiaks? This week’s problem proposes two different possibilities. Enjoy! Science - In science, students explored different types and classes of levers. They enjoyed playing "Lever Charades," which had 4A and 4B's miming and classifying various types of levers (i.e. a seesaw is a 1st class lever, a wheelbarrow is a 2nd class lever, and a broom is a 3rd class lever). During this dramatic activity, students reflected and discussed ways to use levers that apply both small and large forces to create larger forces and movements. Afterwards, students spent time drawing and labelling levers in their sketchbooks, and explained the changing positions of the fulcrum, effort and load for each of the classes. Want to learn even more about levers, Kodiaks? Have fun clicking on the links below! Clocks and Calendars - During homeroom time, 4A and 4B students have been learning all about clocks and calendars with each of the grade four teachers for the past three weeks. To date, 4A/4B students have focused on analog clocks and how to read and write the time, as well as elapsed time concepts using both clocks/calendars, and reading and recording dates in a variety of ways (i.e. metric notation). Students will have three more rotations (3 lessons per rotation) after Spring Break to solidify their learning in this area of the math curriculum. At home, students should be practicing how to read, write and say the time in a variety of ways (i.e. using analog and digital clocks - including 24-hour clock, telling time to the minute, deciphering am/pm, converting between minutes and hours etc). Here is a wonderful website with a bunch of worksheets relating to the concepts we are studying in our homerooms: I hope you have a wonderful Spring Break, Kodiaks. Enjoy your time with family and friends. Be safe. Be kind, always. See you back in class on April 1st... no joke!
~ Mrs. Ross
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Math – In math, students wrote their multiplication unit test on Monday. Tests have been evaluated and returned to students for parental review/signatures. We have since moved onto learning about division concepts in class. Students studied, practiced and identified basic division terminology in various equations (see below), and have also learned to transfer their understanding of multiplication concepts when working through division problems. Great job, Kodiaks! We will continue our studies in the division area of the curriculum next week. Prodigy – Students are always encouraged to log into Prodigy at home in their spare time to brush up on their math skills and understanding of concepts. Currently, 4A and 4B's are working through an assigned math task involving various concepts across the curriculum. Good luck! Problem of the Week – The Problem of the Week is posted below. This week, students will be challenged to solve problems involving swim lessons. Did you know that our grade four Kodiaks will be attending swim lessons at Vivo soon too? Stay tuned for more information!
Estimation Station – This week, there were 150 LEGO pieces in our jar. E.A. in 4A estimated that number right on the nose. IMPRESSIVE! Science – In science this week, students presented their Empathy Design Tasks. For this task, students were asked to design playground equipment that would be inclusive for people of all ages and abilities. Students were encouraged to incorporate simple machines in their projects and to also work collaboratively in groups. I really enjoyed the students' presentations and felt that most students used their time wisely to design and construct notable playground structures. Photos from this project are posted below. We also began to learn about levers this week in science. Today, the students welcomed Matt Boulanger to our school as our guest artist in science. Matt taught us all about the trebuchet he built and even demonstrated how to use it outside on the field. During Matt's presentation, students learned about potential energy, angles/rpm, ratios, mechanical advantage and also that trebuchets are a type of lever. We experimented with changing weights and loads, as well as sling distances and support. Some experiments didn't work at all, and others sent projectiles flying into the sky! All in all, the students really enjoyed the trebuchet workshop with Matt and learned a ton about levers! Many thanks to Matt for coming into our school today to share his knowledge and amazing trebuchet. Photos and videos from today's workshop are also posted below. Empathy Design Task: Building a PlaygroundTrebuchet Presentation and DemonstrationHave a wonderful weekend, Kodiaks! Looking forward to lots more learning and fun next week.
~ Mrs. Ross Math – In math, 4A and 4B students learned and practiced the "break apart" and "lattice" methods for multi-digit multiplication problems. Students also worked through various multiplication-based word problems, and we continued to focus on organizing our math thinking and work. On Monday, 4A and 4B students will write a test for the multiplication unit. Yesterday, I distributed practice tasks for all students to complete over the weekend, which will help them study and prepare for Monday's test. Please see these practice tasks below! Please note: 4A and 4B students will be moving onto learning about division concepts beginning on Tuesday. Prodigy – Students are always encouraged to log into Prodigy at home in their spare time to brush up on their math skills and understanding of concepts. Currently, 4A and 4B students are finishing up their work in the multiplication portion of the program. Problem of the Week – Many 4A and 4B students continue to submit wonderful solutions for the assigned Problem of the Week tasks. I appreciate your enthusiasm and passion for math, Kodiaks. Keep it up! In this week’s problem, we walk a dog for a whole week. How much time we take is up to us to find out. Enjoy! Science – In science, students learned all about pulley systems this week. They enjoyed experimenting and building both fixed and moveable pulley systems in small groups. Some groups even constructed compound systems, which incorporated both fixed and moveable pulleys! Next week, students will focus on learning about levers in class. We are looking forward to having a presentation and demonstration about trebuchets on Friday! Miscellaneous – Grade 4 students participated in an Empathy Design Challenge this week. They worked in small groups to design and build inclusive and accessible playgrounds where kids of all abilities could potentially play. I was impressed with the grade fours' ideas and enthusiasm for this challenge, and felt it was a huge success. 4A and 4B students will share their group's playground equipment structures in science class on Monday; I am eager to see and hear their ideas. Here are some photos from 4A's challenge: 4A Homeroom - For the next five weeks, all grade 4s will be participating in focused math lessons with each of the grade four teachers. These focused math lessons will be based on the measurement area of the curriculum (time/calendars), and will take place during our homeroom periods on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays each week. This week, I worked with the 4A class. In my lessons, students learned to read and record calendar dates in a variety of formats, including metric notation. 4A's enjoyed playing "Class Crown" for our culminating task yesterday and congratulations to S.B. who won our class crown (see photo below). Next week, I am looking forward to working with 4B students during our homeroom periods on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday. Have a wonderful weekend, Kodiaks. Keep up the awesome work in grade four! ~ Mrs. Ross The short film below is an animated story about a real boy named Ian. Ian was born with cerebral palsy and was bullied on the playground. Angry at her son’s playground bullies, Ian’s mother, made it her mission to change how the world looks at and treats people with disabilities. Need help with the Lattice Method for Multiplication? Check out the websites and videos posted below!
Math – Students continued their studies in the multiplication unit this week. They explored multi-digit multiplication using the standard algorithm. Next week, students will learn and practice the break apart and lattice methods for solving multi-digit multiplication problems. No homework was assigned this weekend, however, students should be reviewing their multiplication assessment rubrics with parents over the weekend, and completing any outstanding tasks in their math duotangs. Prodigy – Students are always encouraged to log into Prodigy at home in their spare time to brush up on their math skills and understanding of concepts. Here is the link: play.prodigygame.com Problem of the Week –The Problem of the Week posted below is a wonderful challenge for students to tackle at home, in addition to Prodigy. Thank you and a job well done to all my 4A and 4B students who submitted solutions for last week's problem. Keep up the great work! In this week’s problem we look at dimensions and area. Enjoy! Science – In science, students have continued their learning in the simple machines area of the curriculum. We had discussions and activities centred around various machines and how they make our lives easier (i.e. a clothesline, tow truck, crane, bicycle). Students reflected on the fact that machines let us do tasks with much less effort. For example, think of an elevator. To use an elevator, we just have to step in and push a button. Then, we step off when we reach our floor destination Now, think of using the stairs. Climbing stairs takes much more effort, and takes more time too! Students will explore fixed, movable and compound pulley systems next week. They will participate in two hands-on experiments, which will have them investigating and finding out if pulley systems really do make it easier to lift loads. Miscellaneous – Grade 4 students will participate in an Empathy Design Building Task on Friday this week. They will work together to design and construct a model playground! We are continuing to collect construction materials for this task, so please send in any light-weight cardboard (i.e. cereal boxes, paper wrapping tubes), plastic containers/lids (i.e. yogurt/margarine containers), and soft padding (i.e. cotton balls, bubble wrap, tissue) from your recycling bins if you have them. Calgary Hitmen's Be Brave Hockey Game Field Trip - On Wednesday, 850 of Nose Creek School's staff and students sported their "Be Brave" pink shirts in support of anti-bullying at the Calgary Hitmen's Be Brave hockey game. At the game, students learned that it takes integrity to stand up for others and to speak up when we see injustice. We all enjoyed the hockey game (photos posted below), especially seeing the Hitmen win 9-3 against Medicine Hat! Want to read more? Click on this link: edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/hitmen-host-telus-be-brave-anti-bullying-game/wcm/23353943-eec0-42e9-a357-69b63e8889a0 I loved seeing all the school spirit this past week at NCS! Lets keep that positivity going in term two! Enjoy your long weekend, Kodiaks, and I'll see you back in class on Monday.
~ Mrs. Ross |
Archives
June 2019
Categories School Links: Kodiak Cave: www.nckodiaks.ca Nose Creek School: school.cbe.ab.ca/school/NoseCreek/Pages/default.aspx Other Useful Links: Prodigy: www.prodigygame.com/Play/ Need extra practice? Below are math printable e-books for extra practice at home: Patterns and Algebra Reading and Representing Whole Numbers Addition and Subtraction Multiplication and Division Time Length, Perimeter & Area Fractions “Math Makes Sense” Practice and Homework Book: Can be found at the Virtual Learning Commons under “Student Links”: http://nckodiaks.ca/lc/ Username: kodiakstudent Password: M@th15fun! Practice Problem Solving Questions Math Dictionary Math Websites: Demolition Division Multiplication Games Multiplication Interactive Games Subtraction Games Abcya.com Math Facts Games Math Fact Fluency Activities & Games Plant Growth & Changes: Plant Growth and Changes Glossary of Important Terms Seed Survivor Plants for Kids Easy Science for Kids Plants Elementary Science https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/composting-and-landscaping-at-home/ Wheels & Levers Resources: Wheel and Levers Glossary of Important Terms Simple Machine Facts Simple Machines Interactive Sites Light & Shadows Resources: Light and Shadows Glossary of Important Terms BBC Light & Shadows How We See Things Light & Shadows Activities Interactive Tutorials Waste & our World Resources: Waste and our World Glossary of Important Terms Recycle City Game www.2learn.ca/kids/listSciG4.aspx?Type=46 |