Tuesday, 01/27/09

Math
Today, we used a math tool we like to call the “Slide Rule.” There is a holder where on one side is for fractions and the other side is for something we have not used yet. The other part is the slider. Like the holder, one side is for fractions and one side is for something we have not used. You place the slider in the holder and adjust the slider to match the numbers. If the 2 on the slider is right on top of the 2 on the holder, you are set. What we did with this tool is we added and subtracted fractions. If it was ¼+¾, you would move the zero to the ¼ of an inch mark. Then slide it over ¾ more. The zero would end up at the 1 whole mark. There's your answer. We also took a quiz. There were problems on converting fractions to decimals, fractions to percents, decimals to percents, and many more. I finished it then worked on some pages in my math journal.

Language Arts
Today, we worked on our first half of centers for section 2 of The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Our group's first center was Antonyms Out. There was a sentence and then a part where you choose the antonym of the right word. If the sentence was, “Another word for girl is (woman, female, man). The word you'll circle is man because it doesn't belong. It's an antonym of girl. Easy, huh? The next center we did was the literature game. The way you play is you get seven red cards. Those are literary technique (L.T.) cards. Characterization, setting, you name it. Then there are green cards called action cards. You roll two dice. You pick which ever amount you want. If one lands on 2 and the other lands on 5, you may choose either 2 or 5. That's the amount of points you get. Fail to complete the challenge and you subtract that from your original score. Get it right though and you add it to your total. After you roll the dice and choose, you pick up an action card and flip over one of your L.T. cards. Read them both and do as follows. There's the game!

Social Studies
Today, we continued working on the Explorer project. My explorer John Cabot is the explorer who likes to search for new land. He worked for the great King Henry VII. He got paid £20 which I think was good back then. The research outline was finished and now, my partner and I started our poster. With my art skills and his planning skills, we made a great poster so far. Right now, the only things left are gluing the picture down and writing down the facts in the 4 squares. We have this all in the bag.