Minor Details - May 9

May 9 - 13, 2022

Grade 3 Scientist Collaboration

Today grade 7 and 8 students shared their plant experiment scientific reports with grade 3 students! The grade 3's will use our experiment procedures to reproduce the exact same experiments we did to see if they get the same results. This models exactly what happens in the scientific community for any research study.

Grade 3's planted their seeds today and we will look forward to seeing their scientific reports in a few weeks.

Calculating Sinking Depth & Buoyancy Design Challenge

Today we developed the formula to determine the sinking depth of something floating in fresh water.

Using surface area and mass to calculate sinking depth is an important concept for the design challenge students will be working on this Friday.

Solving Word Problems & Multiplying Mixed Numbers

It is exciting to see the confidence students are building with multiplying fractions!

Today we decoded word problems, explained why they were multiplication problems (because they require us to determine a part of a part) and learned how to multiply mixed numbers. Most students expressed that modelling a problem using a visual array is very helpful.

We will be doing more practice on Friday before a test on Monday.

Architectural Art Project

Our architectural art projects look amazing!

All these photos were taken by students, cropped and edited and then arranged to represent their names. The final project represents many hours of in-class work. This is William's work in progress.

Please take time at home to ask how your child is progressing with this project. Final due date is Thursday this week.

Multiplying Fractions Key Ideas

Today we continued representing multiplication of fractions using geometric tiles and arrays. This is such an important means of making context of what multiplying fractions means and how it is different from multiplying whole numbers.

Using arrays to represent a "part of a part" is a helpful strategy to model multiplying fractions. Please take time to talk about this and try a few of the problems posted in the Google classroom.

Understanding Buoyant Force

We are investigating buoyant force so we can complete a design challenge at the end of the week. Our next step is to learn how to calculate the buoyant force acting on an object.

The Big Project - Phase One Funding Approval

Our big news is that funding has been approved for Phase One of the Big Project!

We worked very hard as a team last week to finalize our plans for the buddy bench, greenhouse and outdoor garden. Consequently, we now have funds to purchase the equipment we need for these components!

Students who want to be part of the construction team need to apply in writing by the end of the day on Tuesday to be considered. These students will work with William (our Project Manager) and experts in our community to purchase and build these components over the next month.

Investigating Multiplying Fractions

We are using geometric tiles to help us make sense of mathematical ideas like, "What does 1/6 of 1/2 look like?" These are really new ideas and the most important thing we can do is take time to think and make sure we understand.

Using manipulatives like these tiles can be very helpful.

Take time to talk about what idea challenged you the most and explain your thinking to a caregiver.

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