Grade 5/6

Links: (Click on Blue Font Items to Download)

For the weekend of October 9-13, 2009

Students are to complete the Show What You Know section of Unit 1. If a student is unsure of a question, they should read the section of the text that relates to that concept.

Word Work Sort for next week: Sort 33

The class has been helping to produce a new Winlaw School promotional video. We will be completing it is sections. Click here to view one of our installments.

I didn't mentioned it in the mailout but if you are interested, the Grade 5's made a public service announcement for the school that was presented at an assembly a while back that is worth seeing. Click here.

October 19-23 2009

The class begins Unit 2 Whole Numbers.  The Learning Outcome checklist for each grade can be downloaded here:

Grade 5

Grade 6

The Word Sort list of words (spelling list) is here.

click for Reports for the Week  

 October 26-29 2009

Monday:  Math:  The class will continue exploring FACTORS.  They will use divisibility rules to find factors of numbers.  I will introduce multiples to the Grade 5's and the Grade 6's will learn about Lowest Common Multiples. There are two worksheets - 1 and 2. (click to download if needed).

Tuesday: Math  The class reviewed Factors, Multiples, Prime Number vs Composite Numbers and Least Common Multiples. Greatest Common Factors were introduced. Students took the following notes:  Report of the Evaluation

Afterwards a review assessment was completed. The questions were the same as the homework from the day before.  The results will be posted on the Reporting Page.

Wednesday: Math    Review and New - Prime Factorization

Prime Factorization is the process of reducing the factors of a product to prime numbers

"Introducing Prime Factorization" Worksheet

See the Review page

Monday November 2 Math: Advanced Addition

As mentioned in my last enote home, the class began strategies for advanced addition.  The first strategy was Expanded Form Addition.  The majority grasped the concept and many completed their worksheets which would have been for homework if they had not been completed.  I noticed that a couple students did not complete and forgot to take their work home.  Here are copies if required: Advanced Addition Expanded Form Method

Word Sort 36 Study Sheet

Wednesday November 4 Math: Advanced Subtraction

The students have a good grasp on the concept of using the expanded for of a number for addition and we take the next step to apply the same concept to subtraction.

Expanded Form Subtraction Worksheet

Project Socrates

Socrates was a Greek philosopher and teacher who guided his pupils learning through questions rather than with answers.

The project has begun quite simply. The student and I agree on a topic of the student's choice and interest. Subsequently, the student agrees to attempt to answer questions that I ask them about their topic.

To answer, the student can call upon any form of reference: Google; Wikipedia or other encyclopedia; books; or local authorities including mom and dad or the next door neighbour.

The method through which the exercise is conducted is a little unorthodox. Each student has a Gmail account that we have setup together. They use email to communicate directly to me answers to my questions. I'll develop the rules as we go along, but as it stands now, they are as follows:

1. Answers must be in complete and proper sentences.
2. Pictures may be copied into their emails.
3. They may not cut and paste text, their replies must be in their own words.
4. "I don't know" answers are not permitted
5. I will guide them to answers if need be, but I won't give them the answers directly (most of the time I will not know the answer to the questions I pose to them).
6. After I have taught them how to reference, they will be required to provide a reference for their answers i.e. where they found the information.

So far, most of the kids have given me a topic and I have asked them to send me something of interest. I'm learning a lot! Did you know that you can create a recording sound studio in your garage by lining the walls with egg cartons? I didn't know that.

If you are able, please allow your child to check their email periodically at home after school and on weekends. The goal is to foster independent curiosity and a desire to learn on their own. I think any effort, to this end, is a worthy one.

 

Remembrance Day Special:  Winlaw Remembers, Lest We Forget

I'm very proud of our class. Together we have created a video tableau to recognize Remembrance Day. It will debut at our Remembrance Day Assembly on Tuesday. I hope you can attend. I have created a webpage to display our video: Winlaw Remembers, and will activate the link on Tuesday.

November 17th : There are 14 students absent today, not all with the flu, but most.  Ron Mulvey was here today and will return tomorrow to work on an art project.  Due to the extensive numbers absent, he has kindly agreed to return at a later date to complete the project with those who missed him due to illness. Thanks Ron!

We are beginning an electricity unit.  Here is some resource material to read in preparation for the "Big Bang Project".  Electricity

Please take extra care.

Jocko's First Webpage:  Ah . . . Great Jocko! 

November 18th : Ron Mulvey returns to our school today and the painted panels are going well.  In science today we made wet cell batteries, as part of The Big Bang Project, from common materials.  We were all surprised by the voltages we generated.  I've included the protocol for making the batteries.  Feel free to make one at home.  If you have a multimeter (ask a parent) you can measure your voltage.  Note: we used 10 pennies instead of 20 and stil got an average of 2 volts. How to Make a Battery out of Coins

November 19th: We began the laboratory report process by learning new skills.  Students were introduced to OpenOffice, an open-source application suite, that is available at OpenOffice.org - The Free and Open Productivity Suite.  We used the Drawing component to make diagram of our apparatus.

Nov 23 2009 :  Two new topics on the horizon this week.  In writing we will be exploring poetry and begin with Haiku.  Haiku is a Japanese form or poetry consisting of 3 lines, with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern.  Poetry challenges the thinking by confining it to little rules like this.  Generally, Haiku has a nature theme, hints at a season, and evokes emotion.  I'll post some examples from the class when available.

 Also, fractions makes a scary debut this year.  Today we just focused on the idea that a fraction is an equal part of a whole . . . that's it.

Nov 25 2009 :  This morning we are going to work on improving our haiku by developing our
understanding of metaphors.  Along the way we are going to learn some
computer skills.  In your inbox you will find an email containing an attachment.  Follow these instructions:

* Google search "What is a metaphor?" an find a site that gives examples.

* Download the attachment on Metaphors and "complete the form"

* Print out the completed metaphor activity and give to me.

* Write me a Haiku.  The theme is – sadness.  Use metaphors in your poem.

* Type the poem into an email message to me.  Use “Haiku” in the subject
line of the email.

* Finally, write something kind (say something nice) to your chosen
classmate.  When you receive your compliment "Forward" the message to me.
I'll be showing you how to forward messages in class.

Tomorrow  . . . Cinquins!

Nov 30 : 

Everyone (mostly) has recovered from the H1N1 pandemic and we are proceeding with the Big Bang Project. Let's go over to the Science Page.  Click here

Math:  Fractions

           Worksheets

Dec 7 :  The class have been writing Haiku poetry (described Nov 23 above).  The completed poems are posted here

Dec 14  Decimals as Place Values

          Worksheets

Dec 15: Comparing Fractions:  Notes and Review

January 13, 2010   The Five Kingdom Project


Winlaw Elementary School