Our Hour of Code

Our weekly evolving Christmas Tree

Here's the first installment of our weekly evolving Christmas Tree. This week's focus is on synonyms. We are looking at other ways to say common words found in our writing so that we can make our writing sound more interesting!

Tune in next week to see what the theme will be :)

Spelling homework

Please add any -URE words to this site:

www.todaysmeet.com/UREwords

Remember the words we were reviewing in class:

• sure
• torture
• pleasure
• measure
• treasure
• structure
• puncture
• picture

All in a Name... our first twitter & blogging activity of 2014-2015

School Supplies for Grade 4/5 2014-2015

Rainy Day Haikus long post version

Friday, Rainy Day Haiku Lesson SlideShow version

Working with Numbers :: Statistics & Data Management

As part of our exploration of statistics, graphing, data and probability we've been working with the E Labs found on the Harcourt site.  These labs help us to:

1. follow directions
2.  get used to lab formats
3. work with numbers and various types of graphs and data.

These pictures show how we began our exploration using computers for data.

Can you name the different types of graphs you see in these pictures?

Math links for today

Here are the math links for today's lesson:

Grade 5
Postage Stamp activity:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/teachers/ks2_activities/maths/measures.shtml

Grade 6 Must Do:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/maths/measures/use_of_measure/activity/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/game/ma22leng-game-build-a-shed

Reading Group Follow - Up

We've spent a number of classes working in reading groups discovering the various components of a novel.
I would like each of you to fill out this form based on your contributions and overall work with your group. Please answer carefully & honestly. I will use your input along with my anecdotal notes to help form your mark! Please complete by the end of the day, Saturday, April 12.

Snowpocalypse Follow up!

As promised, the students were out in full force this morning getting new snow measurements in the playground following the blizzard that occurred the past couple of days.

In our previous blog post students found an average depth of 7.5cm in a certain area in the playground.
Today, they took 4 additional readings in approximately the same places and found a new average of 14cm. 

They also re-measured the snow bank near the playground and the measurements all increased as well.

and... we all enjoyed our "snow days"! 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Snowpocalypse?!?!

We're tracking storms again! In anticipation of tomorrow's blizzard, we've done some tracking and measuring. We couldn't believe the length of the weather forecast on Environment Canada's site! Some of us had some turns reading the forecast in our best meteorologist voices from TV. All I can say is

 "Look out Cindy Day & Kalin Mitchell!" 

Some grade 5 students taking on the role as TV weather people!

Currently, Max & Kristina are measuring the amount of snow outside in the school yard / playground area. The average depth of the snow there is 7.5cm (the 4 readings they took were 7cm, 7cm, 6cm, 10cm). Innis & Jamey measured the height of the snowbank near the playground area. Currently, as of today March 25th, 2PM, the height is approximately 110cm in one area & 60cm in another area.

Making sure their snow bank measurements are precise.

Tune in in the coming days to see how our data has changed!!!!!!!!!
(special thanks to Mairi for being the photographer!)

Just an Average Word Problem for Gr. 5/6 #MathWordProbOfDay

March 19th Math Word Problem of the Day

Hi, folks! Even though I'm at a workshop today, I can still check in on your learning! ;) Here's today's math word problem of the day. Remember to copy it in your math binders, and also record your answer below.

Math Word Problem of the Day

To help increase our confidence in every day math situations, we take part in a "Math Word Problem of the Day". This is something I've done with my grade 5/6 class for many years. Some years we begin this at the beginning of the school year, while other years have us using this as a way to further consolidate our math learning as the year goes on. Here's this year's first installment:


  Note: Sometimes the word problems are borrowed from sites online, some are from books, and some are simply from our everyday lives.

Puzzling Pizza Percentages

The day the lesson plan went out the window...

A writing workshop about a baboon?!?!?

What happens when we do a writing workshop on a baboon?!?!

As part of grade 6 language arts, students are required to research and report on a specific topic. So, as part of our science unit on flight, the students have all been assigned a famous person pertaining to flight to research and write their biography (biographies are a grade 5 outcome).

Our writing workshops the next couple of weeks concentrate on various skills needed to research, compiling a bibliography, and writing a well-written and interesting biography.

We've looked at the book Barack  as an example text.

Now students are looking at researching information about one of our bookshelf friends, Cheeks.

"Cheeks."  Baboon.
Isn't he cute?

The writing process was furious. There were so many questions to answer and they had to be based in fact with some creativity thrown in.

to read the final copy, come check it out on the wall at the front of our classroom, or email for the pics!

More fraction action!

Fractions, Fractions, Fractions!

We've been working hard at exploring concepts associated with grade 5 and 6 math and fractions.

We've been talking about benchmark fractions such as 1/2, 3/4, 1/4, etc.

We've also been exploring where fractions fit on a number line:

We've looked at how to make equivalent fractions and have also started exploring adding and subtracting fractions.

Here are some equivalent fractions links for practice:
http://www.mathplayground.com/visual_fractions.html
http://www.aaamath.com/fra42ax2.htm
http://www.mathsisfun.com/equivalent_fractions.html
http://www.learningplanet.com/sam/ff/index.asp

There is also this website which helps with all kinds of fraction concepts.

To review how to add fractions, you can explore these websites:
http://www.mathplayground.com/fractions_add.html
http://www.math.com/school/subject1/lessons/S1U4L3GL.html
http://www.mathsisfun.com/fractions_addition.html
http://www.aaamath.com/fra66kx2.htm