Science - title pages for the Light and Shadows unit due Monday.
Title page must have: "Light and Shadows", your name, coloured pictures appropriate to what we are studying in this unit (e.g. pictures that are connected with light and shadows). The title page is worth 5 marks.
30 March 2007
28 March 2007
Wednesday, March 28
Language Arts homework -We read Chapter 9 in Mice at Center Ice. The students are to finish the worksheet questions for Chapter 9 and Chapter 7 (if not done) for Thursday, March 29.
Spelling- Unit 25 is still due on Friday, March 30. We will be having our quiz on Friday also.
Meager Lunch - a note will be coming home regarding the meagre lunch on Friday, March 30. It will be a day of fasting. The school canteen will NOT be open and the snack program will NOT operate. Rice WILL be provided for lunch. Mrs. Cowan has kindly donated the time to prepare it for the class. Students are asked to bring a bowl, a glass, and a spoon for the lunch.
Students went to look at the books for the Book Fair set up in the Library. The Book Fair will be open until 5:30 today and from 12:00 - 4:30 Thursday, March 29.
Spelling- Unit 25 is still due on Friday, March 30. We will be having our quiz on Friday also.
Meager Lunch - a note will be coming home regarding the meagre lunch on Friday, March 30. It will be a day of fasting. The school canteen will NOT be open and the snack program will NOT operate. Rice WILL be provided for lunch. Mrs. Cowan has kindly donated the time to prepare it for the class. Students are asked to bring a bowl, a glass, and a spoon for the lunch.
Students went to look at the books for the Book Fair set up in the Library. The Book Fair will be open until 5:30 today and from 12:00 - 4:30 Thursday, March 29.
27 March 2007
Tuesday, March 27
Science - I introduced the students to a Science Alberta website called Wonderville.ca today. It provides excellent information and practise for the Light and Shadows unit in Science.
Understandably, many parents (myself included!) are cautious about letting their children play games on the internet. I invite you to visit the site and try it out yourself before allowing your child to play it at home. It is an excellent site with direct connections to the Science curriculum so I hope you will have a look at it!
Understandably, many parents (myself included!) are cautious about letting their children play games on the internet. I invite you to visit the site and try it out yourself before allowing your child to play it at home. It is an excellent site with direct connections to the Science curriculum so I hope you will have a look at it!
26 March 2007
Apologetic Monday
I have been neglectful on updating the blog. I sincerely apologize to those who use it regularly. When I was reminded of it today, I was surprised and shocked to see I had not written for a month...I am sorry.
Updates:
- Spelling Unit 24 was due today. Unit 25 will be due on Friday, March 30. The students will have classtime on Tuesday to finish it.
- Art - paintshirts for Thursday would be appreciated as the paint project can splatter.
- The Panarama Book Fair is at the school. Students (and parents) can purchase browse and purchase books during the following hours: Tues., Mar. 27, 12:00 - 4:30; Wed., Mar. 28, 12:00 - 5:30; and Thurs., Mar 29, 12:00 - 4:30.
- Pizza lunch will be served on Wed. Mar. 28 to those who ordered.
- On Friday, March 30, the students will have a meagre lunch of rice. The Junior High grades will be participating in the 25 hour famine and will not have lunch. The Elementary grades will have rice provided and may have additional lunch from home. The canteen will not open on Friday.
Updates:
- Spelling Unit 24 was due today. Unit 25 will be due on Friday, March 30. The students will have classtime on Tuesday to finish it.
- Art - paintshirts for Thursday would be appreciated as the paint project can splatter.
- The Panarama Book Fair is at the school. Students (and parents) can purchase browse and purchase books during the following hours: Tues., Mar. 27, 12:00 - 4:30; Wed., Mar. 28, 12:00 - 5:30; and Thurs., Mar 29, 12:00 - 4:30.
- Pizza lunch will be served on Wed. Mar. 28 to those who ordered.
- On Friday, March 30, the students will have a meagre lunch of rice. The Junior High grades will be participating in the 25 hour famine and will not have lunch. The Elementary grades will have rice provided and may have additional lunch from home. The canteen will not open on Friday.
22 March 2007
Thrillin Thursday
Math- Complete P 59 and 60 #1 and #2 for Monday March 26th. Test on Decimals and Fractions Tuesday March 22nd.
20 March 2007
Tuesday, March 20
Science - Vehicle Design Project report due tomorrow.
Thank you for saving materials and supporting our science class! Students really get a lot out of applying the science we learn by using it in a project like designing vehicles.
Thank you for saving materials and supporting our science class! Students really get a lot out of applying the science we learn by using it in a project like designing vehicles.
Tuesday's Talking
Math- For Thursday March 22 please complete the homework p497-502. Class time was provided to complete the work today.
Test on Fractions and Decimals will be on Monday the March 26.
Test on Fractions and Decimals will be on Monday the March 26.
16 March 2007
Friday, March 16
Science - students can spend time building their vehicles on Monday in class. That is the final class time allowed for building.
Tuesday - vehicle testing - does it run down a ramp and drive 2m in a straight line?
Wednesday - group reports due. I will allow some class time on Wednesday to finish up the reports.
Have a great weekend.
Tuesday - vehicle testing - does it run down a ramp and drive 2m in a straight line?
Wednesday - group reports due. I will allow some class time on Wednesday to finish up the reports.
Have a great weekend.
14 March 2007
Wednesday, March 14
Science - homework is to gather materials for the Vehicle Design Project, and complete any outstanding worksheets on the machines we have built over the past week and a half.
I want to see what students have learned, so even if they use materials from a purchased kit I will expect to see modifications and changes that show that they are applying what we have learned in class.
I want to see what students have learned, so even if they use materials from a purchased kit I will expect to see modifications and changes that show that they are applying what we have learned in class.
13 March 2007
Science 4 Vehicle Design Project information
I am attaching the Vehicle Design Project information. I hope this will help make clear what your grade 4 student will be doing in Science class over the next week or so. I had originally planned to attach the assessment rubric too, but the table format didn't transfer well. If you would like to see a copy of the assessment rubric, please contact me at the school or ask your child to bring home their copy.
Vehicle Design Project
Your task is to use the information you have learned in the “Wheels and Levers” and the “Building Devices and Vehicles that Move Units” to build a vehicle.
Goals:
1. To work with other students to identify the steps to be used in constructing a mechanical device (a vehicle) that moves or has moving parts
2. To construct the vehicle or device
3. To design and construct different models and identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of the models (this means to make improvements on your design and explain why you made the changes you did)
4. Work cooperatively with other students
Criteria: Vehicle will roll down a ramp and travel 2m or more in a straight line after leaving the ramp.
Final Report: Students will work in groups. Each group will submit a final report, and each of the group members will receive the same mark.
The report will contain the following sections and information:
A. List of group members
B. An explanation of why you chose to design your vehicle the way you did.
- Why did you choose to use particular materials? (If there is a scientific reason why, please be sure and explain it.)
- Can your vehicle be made cheaply with easily available materials?
- Does it use recycled materials, and can the materials be used again?
C. Plan – a labelled picture of your first design showing measurements where appropriate, and giving a description of the materials used to make your vehicle. E.g. axles made from bamboo skewers, wheels made from…
D. Modifications – if you needed to make changes to your design, write them in this section and explain what changes you made and why.
E. Evaluation –
- Does your vehicle work? Does it work every time?
- Does it stand up to repeated use?
- Is it easy to construct? Is it easy to use?
- Are there any risks of hurting oneself or others in making or using it?
- Are there any possible improvements you would have liked to make?
- Are there any new applications for your design or method of construction? (Could you use your design for another purpose or another device?)
Vehicle Design Project
Your task is to use the information you have learned in the “Wheels and Levers” and the “Building Devices and Vehicles that Move Units” to build a vehicle.
Goals:
1. To work with other students to identify the steps to be used in constructing a mechanical device (a vehicle) that moves or has moving parts
2. To construct the vehicle or device
3. To design and construct different models and identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of the models (this means to make improvements on your design and explain why you made the changes you did)
4. Work cooperatively with other students
Criteria: Vehicle will roll down a ramp and travel 2m or more in a straight line after leaving the ramp.
Final Report: Students will work in groups. Each group will submit a final report, and each of the group members will receive the same mark.
The report will contain the following sections and information:
A. List of group members
B. An explanation of why you chose to design your vehicle the way you did.
- Why did you choose to use particular materials? (If there is a scientific reason why, please be sure and explain it.)
- Can your vehicle be made cheaply with easily available materials?
- Does it use recycled materials, and can the materials be used again?
C. Plan – a labelled picture of your first design showing measurements where appropriate, and giving a description of the materials used to make your vehicle. E.g. axles made from bamboo skewers, wheels made from…
D. Modifications – if you needed to make changes to your design, write them in this section and explain what changes you made and why.
E. Evaluation –
- Does your vehicle work? Does it work every time?
- Does it stand up to repeated use?
- Is it easy to construct? Is it easy to use?
- Are there any risks of hurting oneself or others in making or using it?
- Are there any possible improvements you would have liked to make?
- Are there any new applications for your design or method of construction? (Could you use your design for another purpose or another device?)
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Science - Students have a chance to redo some experiment worksheets to improve their mark. These will be due tomorrow. The worksheet for the Vehicle Control experiment we did will also be due tomorrow - some groups have a little bit to do to wrap up the experiment, but their worksheets will still be due tomorrow.
Assignment information for the vehicle design assignment was given out today. I will assign students to small groups tomorrow, and they will begin designing their vehicle in tomorrow's class.
Assignment information for the vehicle design assignment was given out today. I will assign students to small groups tomorrow, and they will begin designing their vehicle in tomorrow's class.
07 March 2007
Wednesday, March 7
Science - Several students did not hand in their "Evaluation of Two Designs" worksheet today. Please hand it in Friday at the latest!
06 March 2007
Tuesday, March 6
Science - "Evaluation of 2 designs" worksheet is due tomorrow. Unit tests will be returned tomorrow.
Please bring a shoebox for tomorrow. (The shoebox we used for the gear systems would be fine).
Please bring a shoebox for tomorrow. (The shoebox we used for the gear systems would be fine).
05 March 2007
Monday blues
Math - Please complete for tuesday March 6: P231 and P232 #1 a,d,f,i,l,o,r,t and #2.
Students had most of the class to complete the assignment.
Students had most of the class to complete the assignment.
02 March 2007
Friday, March 2
Science - We finished up all the unit work for Wheels and Levers and played a review game today. Students need to study for Monday's unit test. If they have questions, I will be available on Monday at recess and at lunch.
Starting Tuesday, we will begin our new unit on Building Devices and Vehicles that Move. We will be building lots of different machines, so please help us by saving cardboard, shoeboxes, string, bamboo skewers (for axles), drinking straws (for axle housings), and clean 1L milk cartons. In about a week, students will begin designing their own vehicles and will need these materials to build them.
Thank you for your help and support.
Starting Tuesday, we will begin our new unit on Building Devices and Vehicles that Move. We will be building lots of different machines, so please help us by saving cardboard, shoeboxes, string, bamboo skewers (for axles), drinking straws (for axle housings), and clean 1L milk cartons. In about a week, students will begin designing their own vehicles and will need these materials to build them.
Thank you for your help and support.
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