Homework

This morning we started learning about US customary units.  We need to know them for US college entrance tests, living in the US and they are also helpful for shopping online.  Similar units are still used informally in other countries.

This is what we need to know:

Length

12 inches (in) = 1 foot (ft)

3 ft = 1 yard (yd)

1760 yd = 1 mile (mi)

Weight

16 ounces (oz) = 1 pound (lb)

2000 lb = 1 ton (t)

Volume

8 fluid ounces (floz) = 1 cup (cp)

2 cp = 1 pint (pt)

2 pt = 1 quart (qt)

4 qt = 1 gallon (gal)

Good luck!

 

We have been doing research for our Thirteen Colonies essay in the Satellite Lab.  Feel free to do additional research at home.

In the afternoon we learned about the Triangular Trade Route.  This was the trade that took place in colonial times between America, Europe and Africa.

 

Homework

1.  Read for at least 30 minutes every day and record in your log.
2.  Write 10 new words in sentences.  These words will be chosen from the ones we learned in class.  Also, write 5 new words from your own reading and their definitions.  Due Friday.
3.  Practice the spelling words.  The words are below.  Test on Friday.
4.  Use Khan Academy for a total of an hour over the week.
5.  Challenge: Complete the Science Fair experiment at home and begin making your poster.  I will ask for an update on how your project is going on Friday.  Feel free to ask Mr. Sharp and I more questions during the week.  We have now given feedback to almost everyone with suggestions for your experiment.

 

Spelling List 1

scald                  field                 blindfold          build          world

background     befriend          almond            demand     secondhand

accent               agent                 ascent             ballpoint    competent

inch                   yard                   ounce               pound         ton

 

Spelling List 2

quintet     quintuplets

pentagon     pentathlon

hexagon     hexahedron

September     septuagenarian

nonagon     nonagenarian

ounce        pound        fluid ounce        gallon

enforcement     representation     taxation

interference     quart     revolution

 

Vocabulary

American customary units:  inch, foot, yard, mile; ounce, pound, ton; fluid ounce, cup, pint, quart, gallon.

 

 

 

 

Explorer Projects and Upcoming Essay

We put the explorer projects up in the stairwell:

Here are the electronic ones:

Nolan – leif-eriksson

Joseph – joseph2017213

Zach – https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18IU8NJ8YL-jg7Ax8Ac3RccbLRftXyYWyuTON27A0UXE/edit?ts=589ee29f#slide=id.p

Eddie – https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vHIekrJaJfPTEBt4T1qgwm3LWR8F1ooJ1th9O5ZIkMI/edit?ts=58aabbf4#slide=id.p

 

Our next major piece of writing will be an essay on one aspect of the Thirteen Colonies.  Over the weekend, start thinking about what you might like to do.  Here are the options:

– Indentured servants        – Missionaries        – Roanoke        – Slavery

– The Powhatan Wars        – Pocahontas        – New York        – Georgia

– Massachusetts                  – New Hampshire           – Pennsylvania        – Rhode Island

– Connecticut                        – New Jersey         – Delaware        – Maryland

– Triangular Trade Route    – North Carolina    – South Carolina    -Virginia

– Another topic as negotiated with Mr. Connelly.

 

We will officially decide upon topics on Monday.  We can have more than one person study the same topic but the work is to be completed individually.  This will mostly be done in class but you are welcome to do extra research at home.

How to Plan an Experiment

This morning we reviewed converting metric units of measure and we made quiz questions.  Tomorrow we will have the quiz and the test.  Here are some practice questions:

1.  3.4 L  =  _______ ml

2.  266 g  =  _______ kg

3.  34.2 km  =  _______ m

 

We conducted a scientific experiment about the best way to study for spelling.  We split into three groups.  One group studied five tricky words using the look, say, cover method for five minutes.  A second group copied the words over and over for five minutes.  The third group didn’t study at all.  We found that the groups using the look, say, cover method got the highest average score, followed by the copying group and then the no-study group.  We discussed the merits and limitations of our study, and how it might be improved in future.

The point of the exercise was to demonstrate how an experiment should look.  The hypothesis and procedure should be precise.  The data should contain numbers if possible.  Please keep these things in mind as you complete this week’s homework challenge (your Science Fair proposal).

 

In the afternoon we finished the presentations about the Thirteen Colonies.  What can you remember about the New England, Middle and Southern Colonies?  How were they similar and how were they different?

 

Vocabulary

The girl on the desolate island salvaged some food from the crashed plane.

13 Colonies

We are learning about the 13 Colonies that the British (mostly) set up in North America.  We divide them into three groups: the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies.

Each table team is studying one colony or area and is preparing a short presentation and quiz for the class tomorrow.  The bonus homework is to do some extra research independently tonight.

I recently uploaded the results of the explorers test.  I will give some students an opportunity to retake the test if I think they could improve their score with further study.  The test papers will be returned tomorrow.

 

Vocabulary

Many Europeans moved to the New England, Middle and Southern Colonies seeking abundance and improved prospects.

Homework, Science Fair and Upcoming Events

Today we continued practicing strategies for getting back meaning after we have lost reading comprehension.  Have you tried some of these strategies at home?

In the afternoon we officially launched the ES Science Fair and brainstormed ideas.  Each student is to conduct an experiment outside school and produce a poster.  A notice went home about it today.  The experiment should have a question, a hypothesis, materials, procedure, data, results and conclusion.  It is due on Tuesday, March 7th.

 

Upcoming Events:

Monday 27 Feb. – Tuesday 28th Feb.: 228 National Holiday (no school)

Saturday 4th March – AST Carnival.  ES students are encouraged to attend but must be accompanied by an adult.  You can bring siblings and friends from outside AST.

Monday, 6th March – Day off in lieu of the Carnival.

Tuesday, 7th March – Science Fair board due.

Friday, 10th March – Science Fair 2:30pm – 3:30pm.  Presentation and awards ceremony in LAC.  Parents invited.

Friday, 24th March – Parent Teacher Conferences.  Last day of school before Spring Break.

Monday, 10th April – First day back.

There will be more information about some of these events coming soon.

 

Homework

1.  Read for at least 30 minutes every day and record in your log.
2.  Write 10 new words in sentences.  These words will be chosen from the ones we learned in class.  Also, write 5 new words from your own reading and their definitions.  Due Friday.
3.  Practice the spelling words.  The words are below.  Test on Friday.
4.  Use Khan Academy for a total of an hour over the week.
5.  Challenge: Decide what you will do for the Science Fair.  Complete a draft of the Question, Hypothesis, Procedure, and how you will collect data.  Due Friday.  Mr. Sharp and I will check over your proposal to make sure you’re heading in the right direction and give you hints and advice as required.

 

Spelling List 1

chance          fence

large              range

glove              curve          shove          above          drove          evolve

cheese           please         tease           choose        loose

sublime         gorge          scoundrel  postpone   hazard

 

Spelling List 2

biannual          bicentenary          bicameral          binoculars

tricycle             triceratops            triathlon           trident

quarter             quadruplets          quadrillion       quadrilateral

withdrawal     deposit     ailment     scoundrel     fortunate

hospitable      automobile     tonne

 

Vocabulary

The lean pioneer was always succinct.

The placid explorer made unwise investments in cardboard automobiles.

The pilgrims were English subjects who formed a new colony in America.

Metric Units

In math we have been learning about metric units of measure and making a class poster.  These are the ones we need to remember:

Length

10mm = 1cm          100cm = 1m          1,000m = 1km

Weight

1,000g = 1kg          1,000kg = 1t (tonne)          1,000,000t = 1Mt

Volume

1,000ml = 1L          1,000,000L = 1 ML

Also:

1 cubic centimeter holds one milliliter of water, which weighs one gram.

1,000 cubic centimeters holds one liter of water, which weighs one kilo.

Logical, right?

 

In Readers Workshop we discussed why we lose meaning when we read, and how to get it back again.

The most important thing is to notice when you don’t understand what you are reading.  Don’t just keep turning pages like a zombie!

Why meaning breaks down:

• too complex
• bored reader
• accidentally skipping a line or a page
• unknown vocabulary
• distracted reader
• tired reader
• forget who characters are
• stress

Fix up strategies:

• choose a more appropriate book
• ask a question and then . . .
  • re-read the last part
  • do research, or
  • read on
• take a short break
• try to rephrase in your own words

We tried this today with a couple of difficult news articles.  Most people found asking questions, rereading and looking up words the most useful strategies.

 

Have a fortunate weekend.

Across the Rockies and Back Again

Today in Readers Workshop we learned how to make connections between our reading and our own lives.  For example, when we read about Lewis and Clarke crossing the Rocky Mountains some people were reminded of times they were stuck in airports or got frost bite.

By the way, did you remember that Sacagawea was carrying her young child the whole way?  I had forgotten about little Pompey.  That must have been hard.

 

Vocabulary

Do you make more bank withdrawals or deposits?

We had to postpone our stargazing due to the overcast weather.

Though the man with the ailment was a scoundrel, he was fortunate to find the locals hospitable.

Homework

Welcome back, everyone!  I hope you all had a relaxing Chinese New Year break.

Today we came up with names for our new table teams.  This month we have an ‘explorer’ theme.  The team names are:

Big Tent

Golden Pirates

Roasted Camel

Apollo 13

The Mayflower

By the way, my favorite team name from last year was ‘Life’s Not Fair’.

We shared some more explorer projects and learned about Magellan and Zheng He.

In the afternoon we began writing a narrative with an ‘explorer’ theme and went to the library.

 

Homework

1.  Read for at least 30 minutes every day and record in your log.
2.  Write 10 new words in sentences.  These words will be chosen from the ones we learned in class.  Also, write 5 new words from your own reading and their definitions.  Due Friday.
3.  Practice the spelling words.  The words are below.  Test on Friday.
4.  Use Khan Academy for a total of an hour over the week.
5.  Challenge: find the volume of either a room in your house (easy option), several rooms (harder option) or your whole house (extension option).  You can also find the volume of something else as negotiated with me.  Remember to include all your working out, diagrams etc. because that is the most important part.

 

Spelling List 1

stage

judge          bridge

cage            coat                cuddle

cent             cistern          cyber

gate             goat                gunpowder

gentle         imagine         gym

pester     wade     seldom     paddle     timid

 

Spelling List 2

renovate     rearrange

preview        previous      predecessor

exceed          exile

subway        submarine     insubordination

pestering     nose-dive     sublime     seldom     paddle

hazardous     miserable     timidly     rapidity     supervision

 

Vocabulary

Stop pestering me to make the airplane do a nose-dive into the gorge.  I’m too timid.

I seldom wade or paddle in hazardous water.

Enjoying a coconut on the beach is sublime.