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Our new social studies unit has begun. Our focus is on the late 1800s and early 1900s. This week we are learning about supply and demand and how this affected cattle drives after the Civil War. A project has been assigned and is due on January 21st. The kids have been given nine mini-projects to choose from. Each student should select as least four to complete. I have attached a copy of the project list. We expect nice work!!! Download Transforming the Nation
Love to play jeopardy? Here is a game to make you think......
http://mabryonline.org/blogs/beals/archives/2005/09/divisibility_ru.html
Click on "download file" and enjoy!!!
We have created wet mount slides of onion cells from the bulb of a white onion. These were so cool! The kids could see the cell wall. However, our microscopes weren't strong enough to see much else. Using low power, many students described the cells as having a brick or beehive like appearance. Once on high power, the fibers could be seen and looked like hairs!!!!
Want to learn more? Click on this link: www.kathimitchell.com/cells.html
Our classes are
learning divisibility rules. These are important to know because these help us with simplification of fractions, finding the least common multiple (LCM), and finding the greatest common fraction (GCF). And....basically everything!! It is a way to look at a number and see what numbers will divide evenly into it, no matter how large the number is!!!! Way Cool!! However, these are difficult to learn. Right now we are focusing on the hardest rules....3,4,6,9! Most kids have the others memorized (2, 5, 10). Here is a website, with a tutorial, to help you and your child brush up on these rules!! Watch it!!!
http://www.mathplayground.com/howto_divisibility.html - Click & turn up the volume!!!!
Thanks to Erin and Rishabh for finding this super cool website! You can test your geography skills while playing a game!! http://funschool.kaboose.com/arcade/index.html
Both classes will participate in some cool and spooky science experiments next Friday, October 31! It's Halloween and we're taking our learning to a spooktacular level! Several students have been asked to bring in specific items. If you volunteered, please have those items here by Friday morning! Get ready!!!
We have begun studying fractions. Knowing division and multiplcation facts are a must to be successful with this unit. Here are some sites that will reinforce skills we are learning in class. Try them out and post your comments about your favorite game for all to see!!
We have begun our emotional journey through the Civil War. Our overview began Friday as we tested the kids' prior knowledge. Wow! The kids know a lot already. This unit will require an interesting web -based research project. I will introduce it to the kids on Monday. This will take several weeks to complete and time will be given at school. A due date will be set and posted on the blog and in our newsletter. Click the link to get an early sneak peek!
http://schoolweb.missouri.edu/smithville.k12.mo.us/french/civilwarindex.html
I am so excited to let you know about all the fun things our kids are doing! We have measured, weighed, and observed some incredible things. The kids used triple beam balance scales, hand lenses, and compound microscopes to more closely observe things in our environment. They are becoming experts in scientific instruments! Our latest observation involved making a bubbly blob with oil, water, & food coloring in test tubes! Each child should have brought theirs home. Ask them about the changes that occurred. Was it a physical or a chemical change? A mixture or a solution? Or both? Cool stuff!!
We are recording data and reflecting on our findings in our science journals. Wow! We are really scientists! Look for more interesting things next week! Mrs. Jones and I are always putting on our thinking caps!
