April 9th, 2018

Welcome back! Today the Grade 4 students continued to practice estimating multiplication questions involving larger numbers by using multiples of 10, 100, and 100. Tomorrow, students will be moving on to learning to model and multiply 2-digit numbers. 

The Grade 5 students focused on the following vocabulary words: equation, variable, and expression. We learned that a variable is a letter/symbol that is used to represent an unknown value. We reviewed that an equation is a math sentence that utilizes an equals sign to indicate that one value or set of operations is the same value as another value or set of operations. Finally, we learned that we can write an expression (using a variable and an operation) to express a pattern rule. We will be continue to practice writing expressions using variables instead of writing pattern rules tomorrow, before moving forward to using variables to represent the unknown value in an equation. 

In Science today, we discussed the differences between series circuits and parallel circuits. Students built both, observing the effect that adding extra batteries or light bulbs in series had on the circuit and constructing a parallel circuit. Today we also used light bulb holders for the first time in our circuits, observing the use of a Simple Machine (the screw) in order to connect the lightbulb to the light bulb holder. 

In Language Arts, we discussed the use of rhyme in poetry. We learned to identify a rhyme scheme using, "The Walrus and the Carpenter" by Lewis Carroll. Students were also observing the impact that punctuation (periods, commas, exclamation marks, etc.) and line breaks have on the fluency of a poem. We will continue to work on these concepts in upcoming classes. 

We also discussed a new assignment for April. Instead of a Book Talk this month, students will be giving a Current Events Talk. Similar to our previous Book Talks, students will need to read an article from a newspaper, magazine, etc. on a current event. Students will share this event as well as information from the article with the class on April 30th. Students will need to identify: the title, author, 3 things they learned from the article, a question they still have after reading the article, and will read a short selection from the article. The assignment page and rubric will be going home tomorrow in student agendas. You will also be able to find the information on the Reading pages under each grade for Language Arts. I will get this assignment as well as update our poetry resources this week so that students have access to all of the above.  

Agenda
Language Arts:
- Read 20 minutes
- Spelling Test: None this Week (We will have a Benchmarking Quiz)
- Current Event Talk: April 30th

Math:
- Multiplication Fact Practice (11x)
- Grade 4: pgs. 124-125
- Grade 5: pg. 15 #1, 2

Health:
- PEAK (Wednesday)

Other:
- Tech & Trades: Grades 4-6, Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
- Choir: Grades 3/4, Tuesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
- Guitar Club: Grades 5/6, Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
- Grade 5/6 Badminton, Thursdays, 3:15-4:0 pm
- CG Recyclers: Grades 4-6, Day 2, Lunch/Recess
- Chess Club: Grades 4-6, Day 3, Lunch Recess
- Hot Lunches, order at christinagordon.hotlunches.net 
- Volunteer Tea & Breakfast, April 14th @ 9:00 am
- Family Science/Numeracy Night, April 18th @ 5:30 pm
- Wood Buffalo Regional Science Fair, April 21st
- 7 Habits Musical, April 25th @ 6:00 pm 
- Waste-Free Lunch Challenge, April 23rd-April 26th