In reading this week, we read an expository text about the first flight. Through the reading and rereading of this text, as well with others, students worked on using context clues to figure out word meanings and we also practiced how we can use the surrounding sentences to help us to figure out word meanings and to prove our point when answering questions. Text features such as captions, headings, sidebars, etc.. are also important things to pay attention to when reading expository texts because they can give additional information or to help highlight certain ideas.
In math we continue with our work on fractions. Students have learned that fractions are equal parts of a whole. The denominator represents how many equal parts the whole is divided into and the numerator tells how many equal parts are indicated. If your child is able to practice fractions at home when eating, cooking, shopping, that would be wonderful and helpful. It’s easier for them to see the relationships when using figures such as circles to represent equal parts of a whole, but when we transfer the idea of equal parts of a whole to a number line, it becomes tricky for some. Please continue to work on knowing math facts at home. Thank you so much!
In science this week we looked at 2 more simple machines: incline planes and wedges. Students and I discussed the similarities and differences between these simple machines. For the incline plane, we talked about how hard it must have been for the Egyptians when they were building the pyramids. The stones they used weighed about 20 tons or so and the tallest ones built were approximately 428 ft. high. Students stacked books to a certain height and were asked to use a push pull meter/spring scale to figure out how much force it took to lift those books. Then they were given a short and a long board to use as incline planes and discussed which took more/less effort. We talked about the tradeoffs involved when using a short board, long board, and no board at all. Students also were given books and wedges and we used our push pull meters to measure how much force it took to pry apart the books by hand and how much force required when using a wedge.
Please be note that conference sign ups will begin on Monday2/23, at 9:30am
Stay warm and enjoy your weekend!
In math we continue with our work on fractions. Students have learned that fractions are equal parts of a whole. The denominator represents how many equal parts the whole is divided into and the numerator tells how many equal parts are indicated. If your child is able to practice fractions at home when eating, cooking, shopping, that would be wonderful and helpful. It’s easier for them to see the relationships when using figures such as circles to represent equal parts of a whole, but when we transfer the idea of equal parts of a whole to a number line, it becomes tricky for some. Please continue to work on knowing math facts at home. Thank you so much!
In science this week we looked at 2 more simple machines: incline planes and wedges. Students and I discussed the similarities and differences between these simple machines. For the incline plane, we talked about how hard it must have been for the Egyptians when they were building the pyramids. The stones they used weighed about 20 tons or so and the tallest ones built were approximately 428 ft. high. Students stacked books to a certain height and were asked to use a push pull meter/spring scale to figure out how much force it took to lift those books. Then they were given a short and a long board to use as incline planes and discussed which took more/less effort. We talked about the tradeoffs involved when using a short board, long board, and no board at all. Students also were given books and wedges and we used our push pull meters to measure how much force it took to pry apart the books by hand and how much force required when using a wedge.
Please be note that conference sign ups will begin on Monday2/23, at 9:30am
Stay warm and enjoy your weekend!