Tuesday, 03/31/09

Math
Today, we learned how to use the rectangle method. If you are trying to find the area of a triangle or a parallelogram, you can see if you can cut off a part of the shape and move it somewhere else to make a rectangle. If you make a rectangle, you can find the area much more easily. This method gets tricky at times but usually it is easy with the parallelogram. I have trouble with some of the triangles. I can't quite figure out where to split the shape.

Language Arts
Today, we started working on “The Board.” We chose three activities and we had 20 minutes to complete each. I chose Word Study, Artful Artist, and Story Outline. So far, I only did the Story Outline. In the Story Outline, you had to list the settings, the main idea, the characters, and three supporting events. Then, on the back, you had to describe a setting, write down a moral learned by a character, write down the conflicts, and list some reflections. Then you got to draw your favorite scene. I liked doing the story outline.

Social Studies
Today, we started working on the thirteen colonies. First, we had to fill in a map that showed the colonies. An important thing we had to do was change the borders because they were different before they became states. It was easy. Next, we had to present the different types of colonies. My group had to do the South Colonies. They were called the south colonies because they were at the bottom of the others. The climate was pretty good. Most days were sunny. The soil was rich and good for farming. A natural resource they used were the waterways. They used those for transportation. Also, the teacher said she was entering my poster into the Earth Day poster contest. I'm excited.