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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Classwork: January 25th

This week we are:

Presenting our Explorer Projects
Finishing up our Explorer Maps
Working on an OPTIONAL Boat Project (poster or recycled material model)
Finishing Chapter 5 Notes about (you guessed it) EXPLORERS!
Reading "Island of the Blue Dolphin" excerpt and taking a comprehension test on Friday
Taking the MAP test for reading and Math
Reading aloud Around the World in a Hundrd Years  and taking notes about famous EXPLORERS!

In math we are working on double number lines to help us solve fraction problems.
Example:  what is 5/7 of 4900?  What is 5/8 of $56?



A few changes

After a class meeting last week, many of the students complained of too much work during this explorer project.  We have made a few adjustments worth mentioning to you.

1st:  There will not be "Math Groups" any more.  We are still working in groups during math, but we are all doing similar problems.  It was just too loud and too many groups were having trouble working together.  I am picking the best lessons and especially the best problems from each grade level to give to the entire class. 

2nd:  We are getting rid of due dates.  Students are still expected to work on and finish assignments, but are expected to finish them outside of class if they aren't getting things done in them done during the time provided.

3rd:  I will be providing time in the mornings (from 9-9:45 on Tues; from 9:30-10:30, W-F) for CAFE.  This will be limited to reading and writing assignments.  Project time will be separate.  Many kids complained that there were too many things to do during CAFE time.


If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thanks,
Matt

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Classwork for January 19th

Happy MLK Day!

Sorry about no post last weeks.  It was just one of those weeks where the Universe works to kick you in the can.


This week:

EXPLORER PROJECT:
  • notes and outline should have been wrapped up last week
  • Rough Draft due this Friday
  • Two Pre-Voyage Checklists (evaluation rubrics filled out by peers)
  • Presentations next week.
 MAP:
We have all traced maps depicting where our explorers traveled.   This week we are working on coloring them in.

BOAT:
(Homework project):
Creatre a model of a boat out of re-used or recycled materials.
OR
Draw a diagram of a sailing ship with 10 labels of parts.


MATH POW:
How many handshakes will there be if all 29 of us shake everyone else's hand?
 due Friday

GROUPWORK 3.7
Due Friday


Monday, January 4, 2016

Classwork: January 4th

Happy New Year!

EXPLORER UNIT BEGINS:

EXPLORER PRESENTATION
Pick an Explorer and Find 3 Sources (due Jan 8th)
Collect Notes and Write an Outline (due Jan 15th)
Create a Rough Draft of presentation (format optional; due Jan 22nd)
Create the Final Draft and Present (due Jan 29th)

EXPLORER MAP (due Jan 15th)
Trace a map using the overhead projector.  Map should show the routes taken by your explorer.

READ
Ch. 3 (due the 8th) and Ch. 4 (due the 15th)
Take Notes

EXPLORER SIMULATION LOG (in class)
We are pretending to be explorers, sailing their ships to the "New World" to stake a claim and strike it rich.  Students will write in a log detailing the adventures of their team as they sail away.

MATH:
We have started our third unit on fractions.

GROUPWORK 3.3 + 3.4 (due Wed. and Fri)
Students work in small groups to choose assignments, work together to complete, then correct their work as a team.  

POW: Granola
If granola costs $6 for 5 pounds, how much money will it cost for:
11 pounds? 8 pounds? 13 pounds? 50 pounds? 3/4 pounds?
For each, create an illustration showing each step of the process (example: ration table).