Happy Holidays! Over the holidays I am offering students an ST Math Challenge. I have sent home instructions for how to use ST Math at home. During the holidays I prefer that students are doing a lot of other enriching activities over the break from spending time with families and friends to playing out in the snow. However, if there is going to be screen time or the weather isn't great, a bit of puzzling over STMath is a good use of time. If students finish both levels of the ST math challenge then they will be able to decide what their grade does for one whole I.S. center.
Lately in.....
5th grade:
We have started unit 3 off with discussing how fractions and division are related. For example the fraction 3/4 is the same as saying 3 divided by 4.
Example of a word problem and how students would use a visual to solve the problem
"Julia can home from school to find that her mom has made 3 sandwiches. She had 3 friends with her. The 4 of them decided to share the 3 sandwiches equally. How much did each friend get?"
5th grade students then started to see the pattern between the dividend and the numerator of the quotient and the divisor and the denominator or the quotient. So they could then answer the word problems without having to draw a diagram. The following is an example of a problem that they solved using the pattern they noticed.
We then began to review fractions on a number line. After the break we will move into adding and subtraction fractions using only estimation and benchmarks, renaming fractions and mixed numbers, and we will begin to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers using common denominators.
6th Grade:
In 6th grade students have been very focused on ratios and specifically rates. They were given a ratio scavenger hunt in which they were asked to find certain ratios and unit rates in coupons. They were also given the following problem in which they have spend a few days on and we will finish up after the holiday break.
6th grade students were taught how to use Google Spreadsheets to organize their Giant ratios. They will have to create a life size model of one of the other body parts of the Giant that they calculated.
After this activity, students will have their end of the unit assessment.
6W also met with their Kindergarten buddies to create ornaments for the holidays! Pictures below!
