Welcome back to another week.

In math, we worked on estimation and subtraction, as well as word problems. We combined our developing skills at regrouping, especially across zero, and applied them to word problems. We looked at a few strategies for tackling word problems, but I also wanted them simply to tackle them on their own. Part of learning how to tackle word problems is NOT simply learning how to break them down into their parts, but to read the whole problem and realize/figure out what is being asked in the first place. For a better explanation of what I mean, watch this video (which I hope remains viewable): 

In other words, a good chunk of solving word problems is having good reading comprehension skills, along with number sense. In class, I use the following website to generate random word problems: Word Problem Generator. We play it as a game on occasion as a quick way to jump in and try new problems. The children enjoy it. We talk about the question, look for clues, but also simply try to read the problem and figure out what it is asking before resorting to underlining "key" words and circling any numbers we see. 

In language arts, we have begun our Rats of NIMH project. Students chose their groups, and then began talking about what they wanted to analyze from the book and film. I let them brainstorm for one period. The next day, we came back as a group and began examining our ideas. All the groups had great ideas about what they wanted to look at. We then looked at the why. Why did they want to examine that scene, character, or plot point? How would they tie that in to what we had looked at with our rubric and the Program of Studies?

Several groups wanted to create a skit re-enacting a sword fight from the film, but which was not in the book. We had to really examine that scene to show how that was a legitimate scene to look at. What were they going to compare and contrast? How were they going to do it? Were they simply thinking they would have a sword fight at the front of the class and be done? We went through the same process with each group and tried to nail down our topic to a very specific point. We'll spend the next week or so working on this, and then present our ideas to the class. 

In science, we pretended we were astronauts on a newly discovered planet, X-97a. One of our first jobs was to collect and examine rocks and minerals from this planet. We had to use scientific techniques for categorizing minerals (lustre, colour, etc.). They had to perform hardness tests by trying to scratch their mineral and then try to rank it on the Mohs scale of hardness. They also had to perform acid tests with vinegar to determine if their sample contained carbonates. It was fairly chaotic, but it was a fun time, and I believe the kids both really were engaged and got something important out of it. 

On Fridays, we have a chess club for our Try Something New sessions. We had fun this week practicing our chess skills and playing games. Overall, it was a great week! Have a fantastic weekend.