February 13th, 2017

We started the Canada Games 150 Activity Challenge today! In celebration of Canada's 150th and the Canada Games' 50th anniversaries, they are challenging classes and students across Canada to get active. Today we completed our first team challenge (see the videos above). It was a lot of fun and some different DPA for us for a change. We tend to go outside or use GoNoodle to get moving during the day. It is going to be wonderful having something different to do each day! I emailed tech support asking for help setting up students individual accounts, so hopefully I'll get the problem solved soon so that students who are interested in participating at home (and earning more points) are able to do so. 

In Math today we continued to practice using our estimation strategies (front-end estimation, compatible numbers, and compensation) to help us to estimate the answers to multiplication problems. See the example below:

When we try and solve 6 x 240, we could use the fact 6 x 24 to help us but... that isn't really an easy (or compatible) fact to use. Instead, we can round 240 down to 200 (or use front-end estimation to change it to 200). Now we can solve 6 x 200. We can use the fact 6 x 12 to help us. Since we know 6 x 2 = 12, we know that 6 x 200 = 1200 (just add two zeroes, or move 2 place value places). Today was our last day reviewing this concept, though we will continue to use these skills throughout this unit. 

In Language Arts today, we continued to look at Poetry. Today we discussed imagery. Imagery is a literary technique that writers use to help the reader to get a clear picture/image in their head of what they are describing. Using your 5 senses (something we practice often) in writing is a good way to create imagery. Similes and metaphors are also examples of imagery. Remember, similes and metaphors are both comparisons to something that is NOT present, however, similes use the words like or as.

Eg. She was as fast as a cheetah.
      He was a tornado of pent up energy. 

These comparisons help you to get a clearer picture in your mind of how fast she is or how energetic he is. We will be using imagery to help us write some Simile Poems this week. The poetry notes that we will be drawing from in our upcoming classes can be found below or on the "Writing" page for students/parents who want to look/work ahead. 

​In Art today the students continued to work on their hidden Math tessellations that we began last week. Did you know that this project was inspired by Paul Klee? You can find out more in the slideshow below or by looking on our "Art" page. 

Agenda
Progress Reports - Sign/Return tomorrow

Language Arts:
- Read 20 minutes

Math:
- Practice 8x, 9x, 3x, 6x, 12x, 5x, 10x, 7x, or 11x tables
- Math Tests Signed and Returned - ASAP (Seth) 
- pg. 87 # 5, 6, 8, 10 

Health:
- PEAK Basketball (Wednesday)
- FRIENDS Home Activity #8A (Wednesday) 
 
Music:
- Recorders (Wednesday)

Science:
- Classroom Science Fair (March 9th)
- School Science Fair (March 15th) 

Hot Lunches - due February 20th (https://timberlea.hotlunches.net)
Tech & Trades Academy - Mondays (3:00-4:00 pm)
Grade 5/6 Guitar Club - Cancelled this week due to PTIs
CG Recyclers - Day 1 (lunch recess) and Day 4 (lunch)
Girls Basketball - Cancelled this week due to PTIs
Boys Basketball - Tuesdays (2:45-3:45 pm), Cancelled Thursday due to PTIs
Valentine's Family Dance - February 9th (6:00-9:00 pm)
Valentine's Classroom Celebration - February 14th
Parent Teacher Interviews (PTIs) - February 15th, 16th (Register Here)