Thursday January 9, 2020

Tremendous Thursday!

We began the day have music class with Mr Oliver.

Our focus today during math class was understanding and applying our understanding of line graphs and when they would be used. It is important for us to understand that each graph has a purpose and a specific job to play when it comes to displaying the relevant data. 

. . . a Line graph. 

Line graphs are used to track changes over short and long periods of time. When smaller changes exist, line graphs are better to use than bar graphs. Line graphs can also be used to compare changes over the same period of time for more than one group.

. a Bar Graph. 

Bar graphs are used to compare things between different groups or to track changes over time. However, when trying to measure change over time, bar graphs are best when the changes are larger.

. . . a Pie Chart.

Pie charts are best to use when you are trying to compare parts of a whole. They do not show changes over time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9BhzvLooI4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOgKU5KY-ZQ

Then we continued to talk about line graphs and that their job is to track trends. We looked at examples as a class and using the information we determined if the trend was increasing, decreasing or staying the same and then we predicted how the trend would continue. 

We then practice creating our our line graphs and predicting trends. 

During speech time, we  focused on our thesis statement and began generating 5 reasons to support our opinions as well as at least 3 examples for each reason.


During UOI, we explored various perspectives on who discovered America. Today we learned and we will continue to learn that there is evidence that shows that there were earlier people who came to America before Christopher Columbus. We began with Polynesian explorers. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuJk_a4iWj0

We investigated about the Polynesian explorers and the evidence that they may have reached the Americas. We watched videos and used our mapping skills to explore evidence and possible routes the Polynesians would have taken to get to North and South America. The students were very engaged and fascinated that there are so many different ways to look at history. Ms. Jaskolka let us know that when she was little she learned that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492 and now there are so many different perspectives on who discovered America!!!! We enjoyed being open-minded today and finding out the many perspectives exist on who discovered America and it is important to look at the evidence to see which perspectives are more plausible. 
Possible evidence that Polynesians dissevered America:

-       Chickens came from Polynesia to South America

-       Sweet potatoes came from South America to Polynesia

-       Common words (Ecuadorian word for sweet potato used in Polynesia, Polynesian word for canoe used by California native tribe)

-       Common engineering (Similar design of a polynesian boat called Tumuraa'au found in California native tribe canoe called Tomolo'o dated back to 1000 AD)

-       Fish hooks (Tahitian fish hooks in California)

We also discussed evidence that a Buddhist monk named Hwui Shan may sailed to Fu Sang. Some believe this to be Mexico. There are official records in China that exist that state that Hwui Shan did make this journey all the way to America! Finally we read about the legend of St. Brendan reaching Paradise and how this may have been and the possibility that the land was America. Ask your child what they think of this legend. We discussed how historians use timelines to represent events in chronological order. Students have begun working on a timeline project. 

Exploring the past is so much fun!

Homework:

1. Read Daily
2. Math pg. 191 Questions 1 and 2
3. Speech finish graph on examples and reasons
4. Finish chart on the legend of St. Brendan
5. Math test next Friday
6. UOI test Monday January 20