Our field trip to take photographs of nature was fantastic! We are using our understanding of the elements of photographic composition to improve our photography skills.
Our next step will be to edit our photos to create works of photographic art.
I have a problem!
Neighbours tell me that I should expect about 300 trick-or-treaters on October 31!
We are using our understanding of how to determine the "best deal" to figure out how many boxes of which type of candy I should buy to spend the least amount of money.
We are using our math communication skills to create a Google slide presentation that shows evidence of our calculations and a complete explanation for our recommendations.
For the full problem and the photos of products and prices, check out the assignment in the Google Classroom.
In Geography, we are investigating the different ways population is distributed around the world. We examined satellite images of the Niagara Region to help us identify areas of linear, clustered, peripheral and scattered population distribution.
We also learned how to calculate population density. It was a surprise to many of us that the most densely populated area on Earth is Monaco which has a population density of 26,000 people per square kilometer.
Our next step is to investigate the reasons why people settle where they do.
We are reflecting on what we understand about fractions. We realized that we were missing some understanding of key concepts like what "simplified" means, what a denominator is, and the difference between factor and multiple.
We had a great discussion about the different ways we solved this critical-thinking problem. We know that we need many more opportunities to solve problems like this to build our confidence with fractions.
In Math, we are working on developing our social emotional learning (SEL) skills. These are important skills that will help us solve problems, reflect on what we are learning and make connections between concepts.
Some of the SEL skills we are focussing on are:
maintaining a positive mindset and persevering with challenges
collaborating and communicating effectively
thinking critically and creatively
To practise these skills, we are working on solving challenging problems. One of these problems is called the "Hailstone Sequence" or the Collatz Conjecture. You can try this cool math problem by clicking here .
We are learning about the purpose and criteria for essays. As our first project, we are creating a photo essay with a theme about Port Colborne. We will be using the criteria we've learned for photographic composition.
Some possible photo essay themes might be:
why Port Colborne is a great place to live
how pollution is affecting our water
how homelessness is affecting our community
how architecture in Port Colborne shows our history
For inspiration, you can see some of Time magazine's most amazing photo essays here.
We are learning about the elements of design through photographic composition.
We learned about the importance of the "rule of thirds", how to use repetition to create a sense of unity, how to use leading lines to draw the viewer's eye to our subject, how to fill a frame and how to balance the image to create symmetry.
We are also learning how to edit and filter photos to create works of photographic art.
We will be going on a photography field trip on Thursday October 21 to take pictures! In the coming weeks, look for samples of our photography here on our blog.