What Happened Today? 8/23/12

This morning we were visited by our librarian, Mrs. Owens. She spoke about the MASL award books that students can check out from the library. If students read enough books they get to vote for their favorite. If they read all of the books this year, their name will be placed on a special plaque in the library!

We conducted an experiment to see if the water temperature in the aquarium changed throughout the day. As you can see by the data table, it stayed at a rock solid 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Can you tell me what temperature that is in Celsius?

In the science lab we classified tennis shoes and buttons.  What a great way to introduce plant and animal classification. I can't wait to see what we do next week in Mr. Howerton's class.

We worked on division today. We identified the divisor, dividend and quotient. Then we used the division algorithm to work some practice problems. I love watching them work together using white board markers on their desks. 

Web Sukoku-

Following this weeks theme of working with math. Today and tomorrow you will be doing online sudoku puzzles via websudoku.com. See if you can get a puzzle done in under 50 minutes.

Math Problem Solving: Logic Puzzles

This week we are going to be doing some math work. First we will start with logic puzzles from the Puzzle Baron Presents Logic Puzzles site.

How to Calculate the Slope of a Line

How To Find the Slope Of a Line on Howcast

4th Hour Math is Using Kidblog.org to Reflect on Math

Here is the link to our 4th Hour Math class: 4th Hour Math
To sign in click the link on the top right of the page that says >>Log in. Find your first name and then enter the password I will give you. On the top left of the blog site click on New Post. Write your reflection.

Your assignment today is to reflect on angles. Here are some questions you may want to consider answering:

• What new thing did you learn about angles?
• What kind of job could you do that requires knowing about angles?
• What did you already know about angles?
• What information will you have trouble remembering about angles? Why?

Angle Kung Fu: A Fun Game to Practice Measuring Angles

Angle Kung Fu is a great way to practice measuring angles.

You have to quickly decide what the measurement of the angle is to hit the bad ninja. If you get it right you hit him, if you get it wrong he hits you. I would suggest you watch the opening and read the directions for helpful hints. Can you be a ninja master on all three levels?

Graph the Probability Coin Toss

Read the instructions carefully.

1) Go to Ken White's Coin Flipping Page and flip a penny 100 times. Record the number of heads and number of tails on a paper.

2) Flip the dime 100 times. Record the number of heads and number of tails on a paper.

3) Go to Create a Graph. Create an appropriate graph showing the number of heads and number of tails for both the penny and the dime.

4) Leave a comment on this post explaining how many heads and how many tails for each coin.

5) When the graph is finished email it to me at wmchamberlain@gmail.com

6) Here are more links to explore when finished.
A> National Library of Virtual Manipulatives Data Analysis and Probability.
B> Interactive: Activities on probability.
C> JC Schools Probability Links

4) Leave a comment

Writing Math Word Problems in Fourth Grade

The fourth grade spent a couple class periods working on writing their own word problems. They are using the problem solving method adopted by the school to help them make sure they have all of the information they need. The students are benefiting from creating their own word problems because it forces them to consider the elements of a good word problem. Because they are gaining the experience of creating, they are also becoming more proficient at being able to understand how to solve them as well.

Mrs. Fisher explains what the students are doing.

Here is Saylor explaining the benefit of creating her own word problem.

MathMagic M and M's

Mrs. Keaton, our awesome fifth grade math teacher has a special unit she teaches every year during testing. She gives each student a bag of M and M's and has them identify the number of each color and the number of M and M's in each bag. She uses this to teach ratio, percentage, and graphing. Here are some students giving their reflections on the assignment.

If you would like more information about this unit or even like a copy of it send an email or leave a comment and I will be happy to have Mrs. Keaton contact you.

Here is the link to the rest of the students' reflections about the project.

Create A Graph

Create a Graph is a wonderful tool for creating graphs (especially if your students don't know how to create spreadsheets). You can use the program to create bar, line, pie, and other types of graphs and you can print them or save them as a pdf or jpeg.

I want you to explore the site. Find three neat things you can share with the class. Create a graph using made up data and then save them to the desktop of your computer as a jpeg.

Art and Math

Whenever there is an opportunity to combine two of our disciplines together, the fifth grade teachers jump at the chance. While art is easily combined with both science and social studies, it is often harder to integrate into math. Here is an excellent activity that can be used to tie the two together. Each picture is created by polygons. The student identifies the correct polygon, then they use the polygons to create a piece of art.

I believe that they could be considered part of the Dada movement. What art movement would you consider these pieces to be part of?

Why Do We Need Fractions?

Why do we need fractions?

Adding Fractions with Different Denominators

After watching the video, answer these 4 problems.

1. 1/2 + 1/3
2. 1/4 + 1/3
3. 1/5 + 1/4
4. 2/3 + 1/2

Can I Subtract a Larger Number from a Smaller Number?

Can I Subtract a Larger Number from a Smaller Number?

Did You Know the Earth had 24 Different Time Zones

Where Did Zero Come From?

How Long is a Meter?

How Long is a Meter?

Why Do We Need Fractions?

Why do we need fractions?

Math as Art

Cindy created a very cool piece of art with her math polygon assignment, it is the hotness! What piece of art could you create through social studies or science?