Power Our World and Integers Intro

Announcements:

• Report Cards were sent home today
• No School Tomorrow - Have a great long weekend!!!

Math:

We began learning about Integers (this set of numbers includes positive & negative whole numbers and zero) today. Today we practiced using the elevator model to solve integer problems. Next week we will continue building on the elevator model to include number line models and solving integer addition and subtraction problems using number sentences. 

Science:

Thank you to Gerald and Tyler from Open Streets Calgary for their Powering Our World presentation in today's Science classes. Students learned a great deal about different types of energy (mechanical, thermal, electrical, chemical) and had the opportunity to try generating electricity with bicycles, learned the difference between LED and incandescent lightbulbs, and more. It was a very fun morning!

Estimating % of a number and Geologic Time Scale Posters

Math:

Students practiced estimating percent of a number and learned tricks for quickly determining 50%, 25%, 10%, 5% and 1% of a number. They also learned to combined percents to figure out 35% or 20% of a number. 

For more information visit the estimating percent of a number presentation 

OR

see Ms. Bowen for extra help (make an appointment for lunch time or after school)

Science:

This week students have had several classes (one or more per day) to complete their Geologic Time Scale posters or presentations. If this has not been enough time they were encouraged to bring posters home or attend Mustang Drop In Zone or spend lunch in room 1. Extensions will also be given to students upon request.

These posters are supposed to reflect the Era in Earth History that the student chose. Students should look at the project check list to be sure they have completed all of the requirements.  

Percent, Storytelling and Geologic Time Scale Project

Announcements:

• Good luck to those wrestling in tomorrow's meet!
• Report Cards go home at the end of next week
• Friday, February 1st, is a Non-Instructional Day (No School)

Math:

Students continue to practice how to calculate percent of a number using a hundreds grid or unit square or equivalent fractions.

For more information on using the 100's grid go to Calculating percent of a number using a hundreds grid or unit square or review Percent of a Number Practice Problems.

Percent of a Number Word Problem Quiz was pushed back to tomorrow. Thank you to those students who came at lunch or after school for extra help!

Science:

Today we had a special guest, Jill Harbour (Indigenous Coach at EMS), teach the class. She taught the scientific perspective and the Blackfoot perspective of how the Big Rock in Okotoks came to be. At the end of class students designed a comic strip to share one of these perspectives and they did this with wonderful artwork and thoughtful attention to detail.

We are currently researching Geologic Time Scale Eras. Every student has chosen an Era and is researching 10 organisms, the landscape, and more. Individually or in groups students will make a poster or presentation to share their findings. This project is due next Wednesday. If possible, research should be completed by Friday. Click the link for the project checklist.

Rocks, Minerals and Percent of a Number

Announcements:

• Semester 2 classes and new exploratories start tomorrow (Monday, January 21st) 
• Every class at Ernest Morrow has selected a student to attend the My World Conference leadership on February 21st. Congratulations to those who were selected!
• Report cards will be going home at the end of January (Thursday, January 31st)
• I am available at lunch and after school tomorrow and Tuesday if anyone would like extra Math practice before the Quiz Wednesday

Math:

This week students learned to convert between percent, fractions, and decimals. They made posters, practiced various techniques, and assembled and then built their own percent puzzles (with Ms. Logan as a guest teacher on Friday). The goal of these activities was to help students understand the underlying concept of percent rather than just memorizing steps. 

Students continued practicing communicating their math understanding with Math Talks. These questions aimed to help deepen understanding of part of a whole and how this can be expressed as a fraction, percent or decimal. Number Talk 5 arguably has no one right answer, as students could argue that any of the four do not belong for different reasons (as demonstrated in the photo). In Math Talks students are graded on their use of Math language and their ability to explain their thinking.

Thursday we began solving Percent of a Number word problems using hundreds grids. This week students will continue practicing solving Percent of a Number problems. 

There will be a Percent of a Number Quiz on Wednesday. Students are encouraged to come see me for extra help if needed.

Science:

We continued to explore Rocks and Minerals last week. Monday and Wednesday we did the Mineral Identification lab. Students had the opportunity to test ten or more samples. They assessed properties including colour, streak, lustre, and hardness. Have your student explain these tests if you have some free time. Students were very careful with the samples and did their best to think like scientists. This is a very tricky lab and students were quite successful in determining which samples they were testing. 

They also wrote a short Rock and Mineral Quiz and we marked the quiz in class in the hopes to learn from our misconceptions. Tomorrow we will revisit the Rock Cycle, as this is a concept many students were not very familiar with. If students missed this concept they can also read more about the Rock Cycle.

We finished the week by making observations about a rather ordinary looking rock. We then opened it up to find crystals within and it turned out to be a geode!

This week we will also research period os the Geologic Time Scale and the organisms and landscape that existed on Earth in those time periods. We will also make fossil models out of clay and learn about indigenous story telling and another perspective for explaining glacial erratics, specifically the Big Rock in Okotoks, with Jill Harbour, our Indigenous Coach. 

Looking forward to a fun week!

Welcome Back!!!

Announcements:

• One student from each class was selected as a student leader to attend the My World Conference (this year's theme is Sustainability)
• Students who missed this week are encouraged to try to solve the two Math Talks posted below and fill in the Math talks template posted below for each problem

Math:

Students jumped right back into Math routines on Thursday. We began by warming up with Fractions word problems. 

Math Talks were also introduced for the first time on Thursday. These activities allow students to develop their ability to explain their thinking when problem solving in a safe setting where there is no right or wrong way to reach a solution. They inspire an open-mindedness towards Math thinking and help students build confidence in their Math understanding.

The class Math Talks will be regularly added to the attached presentation. You can already view the two questions from last week. 

The problem in the picture on the right is the Day 2 Math Talk: "What percentage (and/or fraction) of the square is red?"

Students were encouraged to write or draw as much of their problem solving as possible in the Math Talks template attached. In order to solve this problem they need to figure out how to make equal parts to compare the different colored shaped. After a period of independent problem solving, they then have the opportunity to listen to their peers' thinking. If this helps enhance their understanding they are welcome to add to their solution. There are many "right" ways to reach a solution and the three selected students each day may approach their solutions in unique ways. This process will hopefully expand each student's problem solving strategies and communication skills.

Students will receive a mark for Stem 5 for Math Talks based on the effectiveness of their communication. Students can receive a 4 for expressing their ideas clearly, using Math vocabulary and concepts, whether or not their solution is completely correct.

We also reviewed their Fractions Assessment from before the break and students were given the opportunity to ask questions and correct any misconceptions they had. 

Science:

Students reviewed Planet Earth Unit Science concepts from before the break and identified concepts and terminology that remain unfamiliar. 

We also discussed the tests used to identify minerals including colour, streak, breakage (cleavage or fracture), hardness (Mohs Scale) and Lustre. We will review these terms on Monday before we have the opportunity to do the Minerals Lab. This is a very fun and challenging hands-on activity that will last both periods on Monday. 

Students who missed class or would like to be extra prepared for the lab are encouraged to learn about mineral testing. Note: This video shows many of the tests we will be using, although there are some differences between the methods used in the video and those used in class. It is still a good introduction to the various mineral tests.

Question of the day: Why is colour alone an inadequate test to determine the type of mineral?