Monday, January 18, 2015

Marvelous Monday!

Oral competition

Preparation for St. Jude’s annual oral competition is under way. Younger students (K-Grade 3) recite a poem they have been given by their teacher to memorize. Older students (Grades 4 -8) write and recite a speech that they have prepared. On Friday, February 19^th, students will recite their poems in class. Three students from each grade will be selected to move forward to the final round. Final presentations take place in front of the whole school with attending parents adding to the audience.

Poems went home today. Please read over the poem your child received and the letter attached; return the letter signed by tomorrow.

Today we were split up into two groups for the Scientist in the School workshop.

Half the class was in scientist in the school and the other half had French with Mdm. Stella.

After, students had Math. We played a game of probability today using spinners. We used spinners to build a picture of a snowperson. One snowperson was labeled A and the other was labeled B; on our spinner we chose which part would be A and B. We then used the spinner to see which snowperson would be the tallest. We learned that the area that covers more of the spinner is more likely to win.

For spelling, students worked on lesson 15 words.

After first recess and recess, the second group was off to the Scientist in the School and the other half went to gym.

We began by discussing various structures and if there were human or natural made. Some examples were: a water slide, a bird’s nest, and a bridge. We were then broken off into different groups and we took turns at the various stations to learn more about structures. We conducted a bridge experiment where we came to the conclusion that a corrugated beam is able to hold the most amount of weight; we used pennies to conduct this experience. We also built two different structures out of straws and connecters. We made one long and short structure and a structure that was thin and tall. Then we preformed a wind test to see which structure would fall down. We quickly found out that the tall and thin structure was not stable enough to withstand the wind test. This experiment showed us how important it is to have a strong foundation, especially when a structure is tall. We learned more about stability using our bodies. We stood in different positions to see when we are most stable. We figured out that we are the most stable when we are lying down. We discussed what we know about habitats and then learned how they are effected by hydro dams, a man made structure. We came to the conclusion that hydro dams can have serious effects on all wildlife and therefore we should try figure out various ways that we can use electricity less. Some student suggestions were: playing outside instead of watching television, turning off the lights when we are not using them.  We also inquired into compression and tension.

Afterwards, we worked in groups to make bridges using only tape and newspaper. We were told that our bridges needed to hold three textbooks!!

Then students had Math. We played a game of probability today using spinners. We used spinners to build a picture of a snowperson. One snowperson was labeled A and the other was labeled B; on our spinner we chose which part would be A and B. We then used the spinner to see which snowperson would be the tallest. We learned that the area that covers more of the spinner is more likely to win.

For spelling, students worked on lesson 15 words.

Following second recess and lunch, students worked on their bridges.

Homework:

1.     Read for 20 minutes

2.     Spelling pg. 62-64

3.     Registration package due Feb. 11

4.     Scholastic due Jan. 21

5.     Cursive pg. 59-60

6.     Lunch forms due Jan. 22

7.     Sign poetry letter