Research
Most research is complete for exhibition! This is by far the most important step of the entire process. Without the knowledge, they are unable to apply it in meaningful ways. Students were asked to research their topics using the following sources: 3 books or articles, primary (interview) and any websites. Ten pages of notes was our "magic number" that helped us determine if they were gathering enough information on their topic. Check with your student and their progress thus far. Ask about where they are listing their resources, what questions they are researching and if there are any questions they still have. Taking Action Now that students are knowledgeable on their topics, they can start planning a meaningful action to take. Meaningful action for exhibition is NOT a canned food drive, fundraising or picking up trash once in the playground. Although these are great actions, we are trying to inform the community and create a bigger ripple effect with creative solutions to their issues! The action component is due: May 12th. Students finished up their first mini inquiry circle this week and it was a huge success! We love applying what we learn on our Fridays (when we go to school) and bring it into the classroom. Mini inquiry circles are a five day inquiry group of 3 students that research one question. This week our big ideas they created their inquiry questions from were: atoms, elements, rocks and minerals. Last week we continued to explore the Periodic Table through coordinate grids; we even added one to our window! Thanks Parker, Akira and the many others who worked diligently to create a coordinate grid on one of our huge windows! It looks awesome! We spent several days exploring multiplying fractions. Students used manipulatives, graph paper, models and Quisinaire rods to find the best way to model what happens when we multiply two fractions together. Key learnings:
I will post several of the videos students will use to understand and explore dividing fractions and different scenarios in which we divide fractions. Last week we embarked on a brand new Inquiry Unit - "Who We Are." This unit is in addition to the Exhibition Unit of Inquiry, "How We Express Ourselves." "Who We Are" has a central idea that "Scientific exploration can lead to new discoveries." Students were introduced to the Scientific Method, the Periodic Table of the Elements, and the Atomic Theory! Whew! This week we will continue to practice how to write up a lab report, complete with hypothesis, results and conclusion. I am adding new math videos to help reinforce strategies for finding common denominators at home. We use these models, as well as multiplying to find common denominators. Some students are not ready for multiplication, and I am encouraging them to stay with either one of these strategies rather than trying to memorize. As inquirers we have a genuine appreciation for learning for its own sake. All of these models give us the opportunity learn the magic of math! In math this upcoming week:
Workshop for March 14th--17thStudents will Adopt an Element for our Who We Are unit of Inquiry. This project will be completed during workshop this week, but to encourage your child to ask a variety of questions and show persistence, to not give up easily when seeking answers, any extra research at home would be very helpful! We had a great week for researching exhibition topics. Students used articles, the computers in the library and books they checked out. They have one more week devoted to research, but it will mainly need to be done on their own time. Students may need help finding resources and going to the library. They have their first Mentor meeting this Monday. Students set up Sage e-mails that can only work in the Sage network. They have been e-mailing their mentors and students in their group. Attached is the exhibition "Must Haves" and the due dates. We will devote some class time to working on these must haves, but they will need to mainly keep themselves on track. We have been encouraging the use of their planners.
Review Addition & Subtraction of Fractions and GraphsIn math this week, we have reviewed our understanding of fractions, created surveys, graphed results, researched statistics for Exhibition and graphed that data! Whew! Huge learning goals through stations this week. The stations will continue through Tuesday this week. Look for the mid-unit assessment in Thursday folders this week and next.
As a team, we have added a communication in Thursday folders. If your child is missing assignments, there will be a printed report in their folder. This should help students keep track of action that is needed during breaks at school or at home. Our hope is to encourage organization and personal responsibility. Please look for this important communication in Thursday Folders on March 10. Thank you for your support at home. |
Kadie JohnsonJennifer LairdAngel Larson
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May 2016
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