Division Experts

Students Become Teachers  

Fourth  graders have been working in Math in Focus exploring division with and without remainders.

Students used the app educreations to share their knowledge.  Check out how these two experts from Mrs. Murphy's Class explain the process of division.

    http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/finding-the-quotient-with-a-remainder-by-nick/14259022/?ref=link     http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/division-with-regrouping-by-molly/14251684/?ref=link    

Trip to Antarctica

Second Graders participated in the presentation "TFK Live from Antarctica!" with Suzanne Zimbler, Assistant Managing Editor, TIME For Kids and Jaime Joyce, Assistant Managing Editor, Education, TIME For Kids, with David Bjerklie, TFK Science Writer.

For more information be sure to check out the Time For Kids website.

 True or False: (answers below)

1.  Antarctica is located at the North Pole.

2.  Antarctica is a continent.

3.  The United States is bigger than Antarctica.

4.  The lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was in Antarctica.

5.  Antarctica is a desert.

6.  There are polar bears in Antarctica.

 

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False

 

 

The Hour of Code

Teach the Hour of Code

The Hour of Code is an opportunity for every student to try computer science for one hour. 

Students have been visiting the computer lab to work on learning how to code.  This tutorial looks very much like a video game but it is actually having students learn what coding looks like.  The program starts off simple and gets progressively harder. We talked about how to solve a problem when the answer doesn't come to you right away.  This was a fun way to work through problem solving exercises.

Click on the link below to try coding yourself.  It really is a lot of fun. 

I earned my certificate.  Can you? 

Add a comment below if you try this activity.  Share your experience if you know how to code.  Does your job involve any technology?

http://csedweek.org/learn

 

 

Students working on the tutorial.

 

Mrs. O'Leary offers some suggestions.

 

Working together to solve the next level.

 

Steward students solving the program in the lab.

Proctor students working in the lab.

20 levels completed earns the student a certificate.

 

 

Leave a comment if you have tried coding.

 

Writing Contest

Students had the pleasure today to listen to Jeff Kinney and Dav Pilkey talk about writing.  They worked together to write the beginning of a story,  Scholastic is having a contest for students in grades 2-8 to finish the story.

Good Luck!

 

http://www.scholastic.com/kpwebcast/?eml=TRADE/e/20131121///PilkeyKinneyWebcast//////&ym_MID=1508572&ym_rid=14652002

Use the story panels and finish the story.

Submit your entry by February 14:

The Mini-Story Cliff-Hanger Contest
P.O. Box 714
New York, NY, 10013-0714

One Grand-Prize Winner will have his or her entry framed with the existing panels, autographed by the authors themselves.

10 Runners-Up will receive their very own graphic storytelling extravaganza book collections!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. All students in grades 2 through 8 in a U.S. school who are legal U.S. residents are eligible to enter, except those who have family members employed by Scholastic Inc. Every entry MUST include student name, teacher name, grade/age, school name, address and phone number and mailed to: Mash-Up Mini-Story Cliffhanger Contest, P.O. Box 714, New York, NY, 10013-0714. One (1) Grand Prize Winner (approx. retail value: $300) and ten (10) Runners Up (approximate retail value: $75) will be selected based on clarity of thought, execution and creativity. Winners will be notified on or about March 13, 2014. Complete rules: scholastic.com/clubcontests.

Void where prohibited.

 

We even tweeted while we were watching.

 

 

 

 

Adjectives

Mrs. Corliss' Class created a project on adjectives this week.  They first drew the pictures in drawing pad and then completed the project using educreations.   Can you find the adjectives before the third graders tell you?          

Fractions

Adding and Subtracting Unlike Fractions  

Grade 4 students in Ms Scott's class have been exploring fractions in Math in Focus Chapter 6.

 

Students used their text books to explore adding fractions.



Using bar models, students worked on subtracting unlike fractions.

 

Students worked in small groups to share their knowledge of adding and subtracting unlike fractions using the app, educreations.  Click on the links below to learn more about adding and subtracting fractions.

 

 

Erin and Cecily http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/adding-fractions-by-erin-and-cecily/15251643/?ref=link Caitlin and Cooper http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/subtracting-unlike-problems-using-fractions-by-cai/15139832/?ref=link     Allie and Joshua http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/subtracting-unlike-fractions-by-allie-and-joshua/15021605/?ref=link     Andrew and Camelia http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/adding-unlike-fractions-by-andrew-and-camelia/15253000/?ref=link     Kare and Alby http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/adding-unlike-fractions-by-kate-and-alby/15251855/?ref=link Connor and Caroline http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/adding-unlike-fractions-by-connor-and-caroline/15251661/?ref=link     Ava and Drew http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/subtracting-unlike-fractions-by-drew-and-ava/15251598/?ref=link   Alex, Carissa, and Nick http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/adding-unlike-fractions-by-carissa-nick-alex/15247382/?ref=link  

Gar and Abby

http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/fractions-by-abby-and-gar/15394972/?ref=link

        Jackie, Charlotte, and Chris http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/adding-unlike-fractions-by-jackie-charlotte-and-ch/15394870/?ref=link     Charlie and Maya http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/subtracting-unlike-fractions-by-charlie-and-maya/15247338/?ref=link    

Common Core Standards~ Grade 4

Number & Operations—Fractions ¹

Extend understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering.

1. Explain why a fraction a/b is equivalent to a fraction (n × a)/(n × b) by using visual fraction models, with attention to how the number and size of the parts differ even though the two fractions themselves are the same size. Use this principle to recognize and generate equivalent fractions.

Number & Operations—Fractions ¹

Extend understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering.

2. Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators, e.g., by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing to a benchmark fraction such as 1/2. Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole. Record the results of comparisons with symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.   

I Got An iPad! Now What Do I Do?

"Appy New iPad!"

 

As the holidays are coming to an end and we will be back to our normal routine soon, I wanted to make some suggestions for students with new (or old) iPads.  In school we have some foundational apps that we use all the time.  Here is a brief summary of the apps we have tested and happily approve. 
Appy Downloading.

 

Creation Apps:  I personally love the apps that enable students to use what they know to share their knowledge with others.  These are the apps that we use to show higher order thinking skills.  We are able to create project based activities across grade levels and curriculum areas with these apps.
Learning to collaborate with others and connect through technology are essential skills in a 21st century learner.

 

 

Educreations is a  FREE app for screencasting that turns an iPad into a recordable whiteboard.  We use this app to share our knowledge and teach others.

 

  

 

 

 

 Drawing Pad  is a PAID app that gives the user a wide range of art tools to create detailed pictures.  Art work can be saved to the camera roll and used in other programs.  Students often start with this app and then add the picture to educreations.  We love "app smashing".
 

 

 

Book Creator is a PAID app that allows you to create a book right on the iPad.  The record feature allows the user to record their voice along with their work.  This app works with iBooks and you can also send these books to friends.

                    

Scribbble Press is a PAID app for book creation that allows users to create and share their own stories with hundreds of great drawing and writing tools. Story templates are included.

 

Skitch is a FREE app that can annotate and draw on just about anything that you see, whether it’s a new or existing photo, a webpage, screenshot, map, or a blank canvas.

 

 

Haiku Deck  is a FREE app that lets you create inspired picture presentations. 

 

 



       

 

  

 Animoto is a FREE app that allows you to turn your photos and short video clips into videos projects. Music and templates are provided.  Very easy to use.
 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kidblog is a FREE app that students use to manage their kidblog account.  Teacher moderation is still necessary.

 

 

 

Math Apps:

 

Splash Math is a PAID app. There are different versions for grades 1 -4.    Excellent for practicing math skills. 

Motion Math:Hungry Fish

Feed your fish and play with numbers! Practice mental addition and subtraction with Motion Math.  There is also a LITE version.