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December 4, 2011

Explorers Festival, 2011

NEWS BRIEFS

Thanks. Thanks to all our wonderful parents throughout the grade level who sent in items for our Explorers Festival. We had so much fun, and learned a lot about the science of navigation, the science of sails, cartography, creative writing, and the cultural exchange that occurred throughout this era.
Thanks. Thanks to all our PTO parents for working at the Santa Shop this week. You rock!
Math Test. There will be an exam over Unit 5 in math this week.
Science Test. There will be an exam over Grades 3, 4, and 5 Life Science on Friday, December 9th.
Robotics Team. Our robotics team members are preparing for District Competition on January 7th and 8th at Central State.

MATH

Equivalents. We have been working to find equivalent fractions, decimals, and percents. First we spent time comparing fraction equivalents on a chart so that we could visualize them, and think about them using common sense. Next we learned to use math strategies for converting fractions and decimals: 1) Use equivalent fractions in tenths and hundredths when possible, and 2) remember that all fractions are division problems! For example:

1/2 = 5/10=.5 = 50% 3/8 means 3 divided by 8 = .375 = 37.5%

Graphing. We also have been comparing the different ways you can show data in graphs. Bar graphs show amounts, line graphs show change over time, circle graphs show how much each is out of the whole. The circle graphs use a lot of our new skills in fractions, decimals, and percents.

SCIENCE

Wormeries. Just before Thanksgiving, high school student Elizabeth Kimmel teamed up with Marvin's Organic Gardens' Wes Duren to teach us about worms, how worms improve soil, and the practice of composting. Each student made a wormery, starting with different layers of sand, soil, mulch, oats, and smidgeon of water. We darkened the wormery by covering it with paper, then uncovered and examined it five days later. Most of the worms had been busy tunneling through the layers. At the end of the week we released the worms to a neighborhood composting pile. We learned a lot about soil, decomposers, and the benefits of having worms in our soil!

Ecosystems and Biomes of the World. We are just winding up our study of ecosystems. We are making a globe of the world, showing the major biomes. A poster project will finish our study. Finally, we will be taking our test over all Life Science concepts grades 3, 4, and 5 on Friday, December 9th.

Related links:

SOCIAL STUDIES

Homework Project. Before there was money to make purchases in the New World, settlers and Native Americans used trade to get what they needed and wanted. The last week before break, our students will participate in a Trade Fair. It will provide a strong backdrop for lessons in economics, such as supply and demand. Students need to try to use items already around the house, or, if craft items must be purchased, try to keep the costs down to $5 or less. Examples of trade fair items made by students in the past have included:

friendship bracelets; other homemade jewelry
bookmarks
stationery
picture frames (using items like popsicle sticks or things from nature)
holiday decorations
sock puppets
cookies or candies
hair decorations/ribbons
rock or fossil collections
pet rocks
sand paintings
find even more ideas by doing an Internet search "gifts kids can make"

If you have any questions about this project, please email Miss Mell.

Picture: "Barter is Better...An Essential Living Experiment!" by Robert Harris Brevig.

READING and WRITING

Fantasy. With Miss Mell, students are currently enjoying the novel Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin. A fantasy, students are entertained by multiple short stories on this reading journey. See videos about the novel and author at this website. Students also will be polishing their persuasive skills by writing ads for the item(s) they intend to trade at the Fair. To write a good persuasive piece, students must first consider the audience, then come up with a creative way to use words to convince their readers to trade for what they have to offer!

Thanks for all you do to send your child to school ready to learn!

Mrs. Nettling

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