January 8th, 2018

Welcome Back! It has been wonderful to have everyone back at school today. I hope you had a relaxing break with your family and friends, but that you are as excited as I am to be back together again for 2018!

Today in Math, the Grade 5 completed their study of Whole Numbers. Today students reviewed using estimation to check answers. We will be reviewing this following concepts in class tomorrow and Wednesday: estimation strategies (front-end estimation, compatible numbers, compensation), using benchmarks to estimate, addition of large numbers (to millions), subtraction of large numbers (to millions), estimating sums, estimating differences, and using estimation to check answers (addition/subtraction). Students will have a Unit Test on Thursday. Please review at home each night this week. Remember, you can review using: your textbook, the classroom website, Mathletics, etc.

The Grade 4 students reviewed estimating differences. Today we also started using mental math strategies to solve subtraction questions. We will begin with 3-digit numbers and work our way up to 4-digit numbers. Remember, mental math is finding a way to calculate or estimate quickly, using math facts and strategies. Some of the examples we did today are:

352 - 198 = ?

198 + 2 = 200
352 - 200 = 152
152 + 2 = 154

352 - 198 = 154

In the above example, students use a friendlier or more compatible number. The number 200 is easier to work with than 198. So we add 2 to 198 so that we can subtract the friendlier number. However, we need to remember to add 2 back in at the end. This is to keep the difference between the numbers the same. 

352 - 198 = ?

198 + 2 = 200
200 + 100 = 300
300 + 52 = 352

2 + 100 + 52 = 154

352 - 198 = 154

In the above example, students calculate the difference between the two numbers using addition instead of subtraction. Since the answer to a subtraction question is finding the difference, we can find the difference between 198 and 352. The number 198 is only 2 away from 200, which is 100 away from 300, which is only 52 away from 352. Altogether, 2 + 100 + 52 is equal to 154, which is the difference between 198 and 352. 

352 - 198 = ?

352 - 100 = 252
252 - 90 = 162
162 - 8 = 154

352 - 198 = 154

In the above example, students can break the number 198 into expanded form: 100 + 90 + 8. Instead of subtracting the whole number, students can subtract each part. These numbers are friendlier numbers (easier to use, ie. have zeros) and are easier to subtract one at a time than it is to subtract the whole number at once. 

In Science today, students continued to look at how air moves. We completed an experiment that we had begun to explore before the break - measuring the temperature of our classroom. Students observed that the air near the ceilings is warmer than the air near the floor. The air near the windows and doors is cooler. The air in enclosed spaces (eg. the closet) is warmest. Then we considered what we had previously learned about air density. Given that warm air is less dense (rises) and that cool air is more dense (falls), our observations about how air moves in our own classroom makes sense. We also observed the following: 
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In Language Arts today, we looked more closely at the specific components of paragraph writing: the topic sentence, body sentences, and  concluding sentence. We are going to writing paragraphs, focusing on proper organization, for the next few weeks. Each day we will complete a paragraphing task. Today we worked on brainstorming ideas about our weekly topic. Today's topic was:

Imagine you found a golden lamp. When you rub the lamp, a magic genie appears. He says you can make one wish. What do you wish for? Write a paragraph about what happens when you make your wish.

We also started looking at a new Folk Tale today, The Three Little Pigs. We are having some debate as to whether this is a Fairy Tale or a Fable. Take a look at the characteristics of each type of Folk Tale and let us know what you think! 

Agenda
Language Arts:
- Read 20 minutes
- Book Talk (due January 31st)

Math:
- Grade 4: pgs. 26-27
- Grade 5: pg. 63 #9-14
- Grade 5: UNIT TEST (Thursday)

Other:
- Tech & Trades: Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
- Choir: Done until January 16th
- Guitar Club: Done until January
- Art Club: Done until January
- CG Recyclers: Day 2, Lunch/Recess
- Chess Club: Day 3, Lunch Recess
- Hot Lunches, order at christinagordon.hotlunches.net