Friday 28 February 2014

APP CONNECT

More Wonderful Apps for Learning
(as requested by some of you)!

Click on the apps for more information:

Word Study Apps:

Words With Friends          Daily Jumble               Scramble with Friends         

Word Builder                     Hooked on Words      Word Seek         WordSpot           

Jumbline 2                         Bookworm

Math Apps:

IXL Math           Fill the Cup

Other useful Apps:

BrainPOP                    Best Books for Tweens                    Cursive Practice

Word Study Activity - February 28

Use the following link to review the parts of speech.  Pay special attention to the section on ADVERBS.  A ninth part of speech has been added: ARTICLES. 

http://printables.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/36/0439504236_e011.pdf

You can also replay the parts of speech rap song for further review. 

We will focus on all the parts of speech for this week.

This week's WORD LIST and ACTIVITIES - DUE DATE: March 6

1.   multipy
2.   partner
3.   Canada
4.   array
5.   export
6.   economy
7.   divide
8.   conversion
9.   domestic
10. family

Here is a link to a game you can play to review some of the parts of speech.
http://www.abcya.com/parts_of_speech.htm

Word Activity 5: Silly Sentences
 
Step 1: Get out your word study notebook!

From Cogan Nursery School
Step 2:  Use each word from the word list to create a silly sounding sentence that includes all the parts of speech.  Identify each part of speech in the sentence.

Here's an example: 

Man, sometimes I wish my friend sat on an orange and blue array !

Man - Interjection    sometimes - adverb     

I/my - pronoun         on - preposition            could - verb              wish - verb      

sat- verb          orange/blue - adjective        and - conjuction      friend/array - noun

Step 3:  Choose one of your sentences to illustrate.  This can be done right in your notebook.  Put lots of effort into it and make it as funny as possible!!

Sounds simple, but this will be challenging.  Good luck!
 

WORD STUDY FEEDBACK!!!

Here's some feedback about your last word study on the first four parts of speech:

WHAT WE NOTICED:

Many of you were able to identify most nouns and verbs.  We saw some very creative work with the graffiti - great job!

WHAT YOU MISSED:

It looks like we still need to work on adverbs as that was a problem area for most students.

Some of you also had difficulty identifying "relationship" and "friendship" as nouns.  Some of you that it was a verb, but these are not ACTION!!! words.

Also, don't forget some words can be more than one part of speech.  In our last activity, "decimal" could be both an adjective or a noun.  When it describes the word "number" like in "decimal number", then it is an adjective.  "Text" and "trade" can also be a noun and a verb.  You can "text" a person (verb) and you can make a "trade".

WHAT TO DO NEXT:

When reading, look for adverbs and verbs in the sentences.  Don't forget to make the necessary corrections.  Keep up the good work!!

Monday 24 February 2014

Multiplying with two digit numbers

Hello All:

So it looks like we need to work on our multiplication. It is important that you do know all of your times tables, especially when we get to multiplying multi-digit numbers. Here are are few strategies you could use to multiply.

35 x 15 =

Using arrays:

Using place value 

Using traditional algorithm 




Now you try it:

42 x 14 =                23 x 18 =                 48 x 33 =             92 x 35 =          75 x 15 =


45 x 54 =                 43 x 15 =                   55 x 12 =           15 x 10 =         54 x 12      

Sunday 23 February 2014

Canada is GOLD!!!

 
Okay I know this is not what the blog is for, but what the heck!!!  Let's be proud!
 
GO CANADA GO!
 
 
                                          Picture from Bell Media

Here's an idea.  If you don't want to do the Graffit activity, then print off this picture, cut it out, glue it to the middle of a blank piece of paper, and choose either nouns, adjectives, verbs or adverbs as a part of speech to use.  Write as many words around the picture to describe it using whatever part of speech you've chosen.  (Example for nouns: PRIDE, CHAMPION, GOLD, EFFORT, etc...)

Saturday 22 February 2014

Word Study Activity - February 21

For this week's Word Study Topic, check out the video below:

 
Although there are 8 Parts of Speech, we will focus on only four this week.  Check out the wordlist first.
 
This week's WORD LIST and ACTIVITIES - DUE DATE: February 27
 
1.   patiently
2.   commodity
3.   decimal
4.   calculate
5.   internationally
6.   text
7.   relationship
8.   friendship
9.   correctly
10. trade 
 
The Parts of Speech we will focus on are: 
Word Activity 5: GRAFFITI
 
Step 1:  Get out your word study notebook!
 
Step 2:  Classify each word list according to the parts of speech we are looking at. For example, the word "patiently" is what part of speech:  adverb, verbs, adjectives or nouns??
 
Some may belong to more than one part of speech.  For example, "dry" can be both an adjective and a verb.  (The dry dog (adjective) or I need to dry my hands(verb)).
 
Step 3:  Get a piece of blank paper and choose either adjectives, verbs or adverbs to do the following:
             a)  In the middle of the sheet write one of the parts of speech in graffiti.
             b)  Write the definition underneath the word; you'll need to do a bit more
                   research to get the best definition possible (and in YOUR OWN WORDS!).
             c)  Look through old books, magazines, flyers, etc... and find examples of that
                  particular part of speech.
             d) Cut them out and glue them around the word and definition.
                  Look at the examples below to help you with this activity.

Use graffiti to create your part of speech category (verb, noun, adjective, or adverb) for the instead of regular letters.  The picture with "VERBS" shows you just some basic lettering.  The second picture is what should go around the word and the definition.  Have fun and BE CREATIVE!!
 
Samples of graffiti lettering:
 
 
 


Saturday 15 February 2014

Word Study Activity - February 18

*** Please note that due to the Family Day Weekend, the Word Study will be extended to Friday, February 21. ***
Olympic Endings... 

This week's word list comes from the Winter Olympics.

All the words are VERBS (one of the parts of speech).

The word study is very simple and involves two suffixes you're already familiar with: "-ed" and "-ing".
 
This should be review, however we've come across some spelling errors when it comes to adding "ed" or "ing" to the ends of words.  Many times we've noticed that you're not quite sure when to double the last letter or when to drop the "e" or "y".  
 
For example, when adding "ed" or "ing" to a simple word like hop we often see "hoped" or "hoping", but that it's incorrect.  Otherwise, how would you add "ed" or "ing" to the verb "hope"?

**Note:  when adding "ed" to a word it changes the tense of the word to past tense.  We'll look at tenses at a later time.**

Here are the basic rules to follow when adding the suffixes "ed" and "ing":
  
ROOT WORD
To add
"ed"
To add "ing"
FINAL WORDS
Try
Ends with a consonant and a "y", so drop the "y" and add an i and "ed"
Ends with a consonant and a "y", so keep the "y" and add "ing"
Tried
 
Trying
Bake
Ends with an "e", so drop the "e" and add "ed"
Ends with an "e", so drop the "e" and add "ing"
Baked
 
Baking
Track
Ends with 2 consonants, so just add "ed"
Ends with 2 consonants, so just add "ing"
Tracked
 
Tracking
Pray
Ends with a vowel and a "y", so always keep the "y" and add "ed"
Ends with a vowel and a "y", so always keep the "y" and add "ing"
Prayed
 
Praying
Lie
Ends with the vowels "ie", so drop the "e" and add "ed"
Ends with the vowels "ie", so change the "ie" to a "y" and add "ing"
Lied
 
Lying

WHAT ABOUT DOUBLING??

You double a word when it has all of the following criteria:
  • The word has consonant-vowel-consonant pattern at the end ( wrap - "r" is consonant, "a" is vowel and "p" is consonant)
  • The word is usually one syllable
  • The vowel in the word is a short sound
The word "wrap" fits under all these criteria, so when adding "ed" or "ing", the word becomes "wrapped" or "wrapping".

This week's WORD LIST and ACTIVITIES - DUE DATE: February 21

1.   skate
2.   ski
3.   race
4.   snowboard
5.   curl
6.   sprint
7.   compete
8.   bobsled
9.   train
10. succeed

Here is an online game to help you practise:

http://www.missmaggie.org/scholastic/fishemup2_eng_launcher.html

WORD ACTIVIY 4: Simply Simple

In this activity, everything is very basic; nothing too exciting!
 
Step 1 - Get you Word Study Notebook!
 
Step 2 - For each list word, add each suffix (-ed and -ing)
 
Step 3 - Next, find 5 other "Olympic Verbs" to add the same suffixes to.  You must have one word that ends with an "e", "y" and a word where the last letter is doubled.

Step 4 - Write your 5 new words in a sentence related to an Olympic athlete.  You can choose which suffix to use.  Here's an example using the word "skate" form the list words:

"Patrick Chan skated to win a silver medal for Canada."

Step 5 - Now that you're done, you've become very familiar with what we call INFLECTIONAL ENDINGS (letters that are added to the end of a word - this includes all suffixes, even the plural 'es' and 's").

Now let's see these Olympic sentences!!
 

Thursday 13 February 2014

Rail Safety Project by Gabby and Kaitlyn

The following project has been created by Gabby and Kaitlyn  in Mrs. Laratta's class.

Check out Kaitlyn and Gabriella R's video to promote rail safety.  It is project 287.  You can vote once a day!  We need lots and lots of votes to win.  So let's win this contest and show some St. Julia pride!

Here is the link:

http://bit.ly/1iz0QM7

The more votes they receive, the better chance of winnig.  Please vote for your peers!

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!

APP CONNECT

Do You Have a Tablet or an iPad??

For those of you who have tablets or iPads, there are some great educational apps that can help you with all kinds of learning while still having fun.  We will periodically post different apps on our blog as we find them.  

Keep in mind that some apps are free, but others you may need to pay for - so check with your parents first!

Here are some great apps for language and math:

Squeebles Timetables 2 (great for practising multiplication tables)

Math Bingo (great for practising all the operations -addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)

Geo board (virtual geoboard that allows you to create different shapes)

Bluster (extra practice with prefixes and suffixes)

Find the Synonym (great for reinforcing the understanding of synonyms)

Synonym Mania (game that teaches synonyms while trying to get the spelling right)

The Opposites (game for matching antonyms dictated by two unhappy kids!)

HAVE FUN!!!!

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Justify and Explain your thinking???? What the Heck!!!!

How can I justify an answer?

Give convincing reasons for a prediction, an estimate, or a solution: tell why you think your answer is correct.

I have a triangular prism has a length of 10 cm, a width of 2 cm and a height of 12 cm.
The volume of the triangular prism is base x h
Justify my answer:

Base of triangular prism

10 x 2  
    2
20/2 = 10
10 x 12
120 cm3

I know my answer is correct because I first found the area of the base which is the shape of a triangle by using the formula b x h / 2. Then I multiply the base by the height of the triangular prism which is 12 cm so the volume is 120 cm3.



How can I explain my thinking?

Tell what you did; show your mathematical thinking at every stage; show how you know.

Explain how knowing 1000 + 2000 = 3000 can help you solve this problem.

a) A plane flew 999 km to one city and 2001 km to another city. What is he total distance the plane flew

Answer: I know that the answer is 3000 because

1000 - 1 = 999 and

2000 + 1 = 2001

Therefore that means that the one less has been taken from the 999 and has been given to the 2001, so it has the same value as 1000 + 2000 = 3000

Doubling and Halving in Multiplication

Tips and Tricks for Multiplication

Hopefully you are working on developing your multiplication skills. It is critical that you are proficient in them going forward. Here is a strategy that can help you when you are having difficulty.

I need to do 6 x 8 but I don't know it:

but I do know 6 x 4 = 24 since 4 is half of 8 I can double 24 which gives me 48.

I need to don't know 8 x 9 but I do know 4 x 9 so I can just double it.

4 x 9 = 36
4 x 9 = 36
36 + 36 = 72

Now you can try halving and doubling with these questions.

a) 6 x 9
b) 7 x 8
c) 6 x 7
d) 8 x 6
e) 6 x 5 



Representing, Comparing and Ordering Decimals

Representing, Comparing, and Ordering Decimals

We are learning to represent, compare and order decimals in math. Here is a recap of these skills and some practise math for you to work on. 

Decimals are a part of a whole. Like (.10 cents is part of 1.00, 10 cm is part of a metre, 30 secs is part of a minute.)

Representing Decimals - We can represent decimals using base 10 materials

We need to determine what the whole number is first. In this case we use the flat (100) to represent the whole. 

To represent 0.231 this is what we would do 



Comparing decimals we need to determine which decimal is greater. We can decide this by representing them using base 10 first. 

Now look at the tenths column which one is greater? In this case both are same. 
Now go the hundredths column, which one is greater? In this case both are same again. 
So now move to the thousandths column and the first number is greater than the second number. 
Therefore 0.364 is greater than 0.362 

Ordering decimals - we need to order the decimals on a number line. First we have to understand what the decimals look like on a number line. We have magnified the number lines in each case so the highlighted part of the number line is where the next set of numbers would go. 

Now try this:
  1. Represent these decimals using base 10. 
  2. Compare these decimals using base 10. Which one is greater?
  3. Order these decimals on a number line. 


a) 0.51,   0.45,    0.32,   0.49,   0.38

b) 0.222,   0.456,    0.567,   0.254,  0.314

c) 0.33,  0.21,  0.53,   0.76,  0.67

d) 0.123, 0.322,  0.451,  0.411,  0.576












Tuesday 11 February 2014

WORD STUDY FEEDBACK!!!

Here's some feedback about your last word study on plurals:

WHAT WE NOTICED:

You were able to create plurals really well for words ending in o, x and ch.  Great job!
WHAT YOU MISSED:

Remember that you only drop the y if there is a consonant before it.  If there is a vowel before the y, then you keep the y and only add the s.  Let's look at an example:

Journey was written as Journeies.  That's incorrect because there is a vowel before the y.  If the word was Strawberry, then you would drop the y because the consonant 'r' comes before the y.  Then the word is Strawberries,

Also,  you will have to figure out which words ending with f require you to drop the f and add a v instead.  There are many exceptions to this rule.  Many of you wrote chief as chieves which is incorrect.  The word should be chiefs.  On the other hand, you will encounter words like leaf or loaf, which require you to drop the f and add the v (leaves and loaves).  Just keep working at it!

WHAT TO DO NEXT:

Reread the rules for irregular plurals and correct your mistakes.  For further practice, try to find words that end in f and y and write them as a plural form,

Keep up the great work!

Changes to the Word Study Activity

Please note that some changes were made to the Word Study Activity for this week.  Instead of sentences, please write the words onto the index cards.  Re-read the instructions for the activity.  Due to this change, we are extending the DUE DATE to Friday, February 14.

DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR WORK THAT DAY FOR A FUN BINGO DAY!!

Friday 7 February 2014

Word Study Actitivy - February 7

Antonyms and Synonyms - Huh??

Here's something we're sure you've seen on CASI many, many times.  Let's take a look!

What Are Synonyms?

Synonyms are words that have the same meaning. All parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs can have a synonym.

Examples of Synonyms

Adjectives: beautiful, lovely, gorgeous

Nouns: house, home, dwelling, residence

Verbs: jump, leap, hop, skip

All of the above synonyms could be substituted in a sentence.  However, when you do replace a word with its synonym, you have to pay close attention to the context so that the synonym will keep the same meaning.

For example:  It's important to make sure the food has not expired before you buy it.

A synonym for expire is die, but would that make sense in this sentence?  Of course not.  So keep in mind that not every synonym will be a good choice.
 
What Are Antonyms?

Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings.

Examples of Antonyms

Healthy – sick          Front – back          Male- female

Often words will have more than one antonym, but like synonyms, it depends on the context.

For example:  The student was a sharp thinker. 

The word sharp could have the antonym blunt or unsharpened.  You have to look at all the meanings and how the word is used. Would you say "The student was an unsharpened thinker"?

This week's WORD LIST and ACTIVITIES - DUE DATE: February 13

1.   relevant (Language)
2.   trade (Social Studies)
3.   power (Science)
4.   justify (Math)
5.   energy (Science)
6.   volume (Math)
7.   structure (Math)
8.   announce (Language)
9.   least (Math)
10. generate(Language and Science)

WORD ACTIVITY 3:  BINGO!!!

In this activity you need to create a BINGO CARD for the class.  You must also create sentences for each word to be used for the BINGO CARD.

Step 1- Get your Word Study Notebook!

Step 2- For each list word, write down one synonym and one antonym.

Step 3 - Write one sentence for each word using the synonym and antonym you've chosen.  Copy your antonyms and synonyms onto index cards (ask your teacher if you need any - we've got them!). 

Step 4 - Cut the words out.  Also, write the letters B, I, N, G, and O on your index cards. ( you can fit 2 letters on one card and cut it in half)

Step 5 - Access the link below and you can create your own BINGO CARD.
http://osric.com/bingo-card-generator/.  If you prefer, you can create it by hand.  Here's what to put on your BINGO CARD:

On your bingo card there should be 25 spaces including a free space in the middle.  You can use the list words, antonyms and synonyms to create the card.  Don't forget the BINGO on the top.

Step 6- Finally, bring in your BINGO CARD and sentence strips and we'll have a fun game of ANTONYM AND SYNONYM BINGO.

If you have any questions, come see us and we will clarify it for you.  HAVE FUN!!

Here's on online ANTONYM game!

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/antonyms/middle-school/basal-reader-word-antonym-match/