Research Report

The students have been working on their research reports for the last month. The final copies will be due on Friday. They have received a model of a research report as well as sheets on each part of the report they will have to include:

-Topic Sentence

-main idea sentences

-using quoting and paraphrasing

-introduction paragraph

-concluding paragraph

-bibliography

These sheets should be in their red non-fiction writing folders and can be reviewed to help organize their work.

We have also discussed how to write each paragraph using a main idea sentence, writing the information they want to share in proper sentences, and then writing a concluding sentence. We learned that each paragraph should only include information that relates to the main idea and should include all of the information about the main idea.

The outline the students wrote last month should be in an order which will help the report have a flow. Students should be referring to this and their paragraphs they already have written, to produce their good copy, with a cover and a bibliography.

Picture day tomorrow

Picture day will be tomorrow. If you would like to pick the specifics of the pictures, the students will need to have their forms filled in by tomorrow morning.

Numerators and denominators

Tonight's homework is identifying fractions from a set. Students can choose a group of objects and then remove a number of them, identifying the fraction that was removed or the fraction that is left (or both). The important part of this task will be their skill in identifying what the numerator and the denominator stand for in the fraction. A lot of students might say it is the bigger or smaller number, or may name it as the numerator is the number on top and the denominator is at the bottom, but they need to be able to identify that the denominator represents the number of pieces that make up one whole set or object, and the denominator stands for the number of pieces being discussed. For instance, if we were using a group of 8 tooth picks and I remove 3, I can say I removed 3/8 of the toothpicks. The students should be able to identify the denominator as the 8 toothpicks which made up my whole set, and my numerator as the 3 toothpicks I removed. If it was the fraction left, students should be able to say that the denominator would still be 8, because there were still 8 toothpicks in my whole set, but now the numerator is 5, because the toothpicks we are now discussing are the 5 left behind, so our fraction is now 5/8 left behind. This is something we have been discussing in class, but as we move along in our unit, it will need to be practised to help them.

Grade 5 towers

The grade 5 students were given the challenge to build a tower as tall as they could that would also be able to withstand wind and a mass. They were given 50 straws, about 1m of masking tape, and pieces of pipe cleaner.

Homework for Tuesday, April 19

Students have been working on fractions in math. Today we were learning about creating equivalent fractions. Grade 5 students were learning how to create groups to find equivalent fractions. Grade 6 students were also learning how to multiply or divide the numerator and denominator by the same number to find an equivalent fraction. Students were given 50 minutes to work on the following, and have to finish for homework.

Grade 5 students need to finish #1, 2, 3, 5 on page 259 of the textbook.

Grade 6 students need to finish # 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10 on page 289 of their textbook.

Introductions and conclusions

Today we were learning about how to write a good introduction and conclusion to a research paper. Students examined a sample of each and talked about the important parts of each paragraph. They then had to identify paragraphs as being the introduction or conclusion to a paper, and then identify the important parts. Students were then given time to work on writing their own introduction and conclusion for their paper. We used the following to help guide the writing:

Math tests returned

The math tests have been returned today. There will be a retest given on this same material next Friday. This gives the students one more week to review the material and improve their mark. Please have students go over the parts of the test they had trouble with and practise how to do it. If there is any troubles they are still having, please have them come see me for extra help outside class. This extra help often allows students quiet time to ask questions and solidify concepts.

Real life problem solving

The students were given the following problem to solve:

Math quiz

Students were given back their math quizzes today. Please go through these with the students tonight in order to practise for the test on Wednesday. If students are struggling with certain concepts, please have them come and see me tomorrow for help.

Homework for the weekend April 8

Students should prepare for their math test on Wednesday (see previous blog entry)

Students need to finish writing their paragraphs for the body of their research paper (we will be working on the introduction and conclusion next week). We have been working on these paragraphs this week and so the students should have most of their paragraphs completed. We have been using the following success criteria to help in our writing:

Math test

We have a math test coming up on Wednesday of next week. We have been working on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and decimals. Grade 5 students will need to be able to add whole numbers (1256 + 8593) and decimals (4.56 + 11.6) as well as subtract whole numbers (5700 - 2912) and decimals (13.5 - 7.82). Students will also need to know how to multiply two-digit numbers by two-digit numbers (35 x 74) and how to divide a three digit number by a single digit (348 divided by 6). When working with the multiplication of decimals students will need to know how to multiply them by 10, 100, or 1000, (3.76 x 100), shifting the digits to the right to make the number larger. When working with dividing decimals, students will need to know how to divide them by 10 or 100 (7.64 divided by 100), shifting the digits to the left to make the number smaller.

Grade 6 students will need to be able to do the same as the grade 5 student, but they will have some extra to work on as well. The grade 6 students will be multiplying and dividing decimals by 10, 100, 1000, and 10 000 (3.459 x 1000 and 56.714 divided by 100). They will also be multiplying and dividing decimals in the tenths by whole numbers (3.5 x 6 and 5.6 divided by 4). Grade 6 students will also need to know how to multiply whole numbers by 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001.

Most of this is covered in the math text books, which students may take home for practise at any time, as long as they return with it the next day. I gave the students a sample quiz today to help students realize what parts of the above they are strongest in, and which parts they need further review and practise.

Structure challenge

The grade 5 students were given a challenge today to build a structure that could hold a marble 20 cm off a tabletop using only 2 sheets of paper and tape.

Homework April 5

We have been working on dividing decimals by 10, 100, 1000...

We started the work from the textbook today in class.

Grade 5  page 145, #1-6

Grade 6, page 141 #1-7 and 9

Research projects

Students began working on creating their paragraphs for their papers today. They were using their outlines and their research notes to create a rough copy of their first paragraphs. They are using a topic sentence to introduce each paragraph. Then they are including the information they have on that topic, and finally writing a concluding sentence to remind their readers about the topic they had just wrote about. 

Homework for the weekend April 1

Math homework

Students should be working on multiplying decimals by 10, 100, 1000...

Grade 5 p.142 #2,3,4,6,7

Grade 6 p.139 #2-7

Keep calm and make posters

Today we learned about the origin of the "Keep Calm" posters and began creating our own versions. 

Grade 6 Flight

The grade 6 students have begun a new unit on flight. Today they copied down the following note on the properties of air, which we discussed yesterday.

Grade 5 Forces

In grade 5 science we have begun learning about forces. The students took the following note on forces, which we then discussed giving everyday examples of each.

Research Reports

By now the students should have their research completed and have their outline created for their research project. We are currently working on how to create paragraphs from their gathered information, quoting the information directly or paraphrasing the information. Students can practise this at home in preparation for using their own gathered information. Students have information on these topics in their writing folders which they can bring home as long as they return them to school each day.

Wednesday, March 30 Homework

The Science test was passed back today. Please sign and return it. If you are unable to sign it for reason, please just write me a note in the agenda to let me know that you have seen the results.

Easter Weekend Homework (March 24)

Students have a division worksheet to finish for Monday.

We have continued working on our research reports. We have worked on taking notes and grouping like pieces of information together to form an outline. Students have had time to begin using the information they gathered in order to start creating their own outlines. I have asked that they work on this over the long weekend and complete it for Wednesday. Students have sheets in their red folder which show a sample outline and another which shows how to group the notes together in an outline, and they should use these to help them in their writing.

March 23 Homework

Please have students practice their division using a one digit number divided into a four digit number (ie: 2504 divided by 5).

March break homework

Students should be reviewing any notes or worksheets in their science folders over the break in preparation for their test after the break. Students will need to finish their research on their topic for their research project. Students should have brought home their library book and may also use internet sources to collect notes. All sources should be recorded, for instance students should copy down the name of the book and page number from which they collected information, or the name and address of the website from which they collected information. Students have also been working on division in math and need practise. Even though it was not assigned as homework, it would be beneficial for students to practice division. The more they practise these, the easier they will find it. Here are some they could do for practise:

Pictures of Researching

Here are some of the students doing their research.