Explorer's Journal

Explorer’s Journal

Assigned: April 30, 2012

Due:  May 4, 2012

Imagine that you are working aboard a ship that is sailing from Europe to the west, across the Atlantic Ocean, in search of new land, riches, and more.  You are working on the ship in a position that you will apply for in our classroom this week.  For example, some of you will be carpenters, sailmakers, musicians, cooks, captains, or even doctors. 

Instead of writing in your Reader’s Response Journal this week, create two journal entries for your voyage.  Each entry must be at least one page long (skipped lines) and must be done completely by you (just like with your journal entries, this must be your own work!).

A ship’s log or diary was a journal of the trip.  It could include mathematical and scientific information such as the date, distance traveled, landmarks sighted, weather conditions, and time line of travel.  It could also include personal information such as activities taking place on the ship, the emotions of the travelers, the health of the sailors and more.  Much like a person’s own diary today, it could include any information that the writer felt was important enough to record for safekeeping.

You may write your entries on standard notebook paper or any paper that you think would be appropriate for this situation.  As you are writing, remember what your role or job is aboard the ship.  Remember to include some details that are specifically related to that role.  For example, the doctor’s entry will include some information about his or her role as a doctor while the musician’s role will include information about being a musician.

As with all writing assignments, please edit your work when done.  Also, this must be your own work.  You are welcome to share your journal with your parents when you are done but you – not they – should be the writer and editor!

Be creative and have fun with this assignment.  You may include sketches with your entries if you desire.  I look forward to sharing these with each other on Friday in class.

Ms. Coffman

No Success in Savanna this week!

Look for a Success in Savanna next week!

Success in the Savanna 4/20/12

Dear Parents:

It was a rough start for me, personally, as I came down with some sort of stomach virus earlier this week.  I’m glad that I didn’t pass it along to the children.  Fortunately, I’m feeling much better and looking forward to the weekend.

We have just kicked off our unit on Explorers and will jump further into this next week.  We also reviewed some planetary concepts and will be moving into Matter next week.  In math, we finished our initial Fractions unit but will continue with this study as we start our Fractions/Decimals unit.  In Language Arts, students are enjoying their second Literature Circle book and writing short stories.  We will spend a little time exploring Poetry in the coming weeks. 

Our SOL testing dates have been confirmed.  We will be testing on Friday, May 18^th, Monday, May 21^st, Tuesday, May 22^nd and Wednesday, May 23^rd. The children will be given one subject test each day and will have as much time as they need to complete these tests.  We have started a general review of content with the use of various review sites on the Internet.  In class, the children will be assigned independent review packs to complete in their spare time.  Completion of these will result in a variety of rewards including extra game time, homework passes, and more.  As always, it is my hope that these reviews will help to build confidences and reduce stress.  Please look for a letter from Mr. Pascal in the Friday Folders for further information about the tests and testing period. 

The third grade teachers are just starting to plan a outdoor/hands on day of soils learning on Monday, April 30^th.  If you are available for any portion of that day to assist with this activity, please let me know.  I suspect that it will be either an all-morning or all-afternoon (or both!) day of fun learning.  I’ll have more information next week as we put together our final plans. 

Please take a look at the schedule of upcoming events.  I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend.

Ms. Coffman 

 

Upcoming Events

April 25-Career Day

April 25- Third Quarter Report Cards Issued

April 26 and 27- ETC Play-7:00pm

May 9- 4^th Grade Spring Concert 7:00 pm

May 11- 5^th Grade Spring Concert 7:00 pm

May 12^th- Family Fitness Day

May 18-23- SOL Testing

May 23- Volunteer Breakfast

May 26- House and Garden Tour

May 28- Memorial Day

Fraction Websites for Fun Practice

1. From the aaamath.com site OR just click below:

http://www.aaastudy.com/fra.htm

2. From Gamequarium/Math Gamequarium OR just click below:

http://www.gamequarium.org/dir/Gamequarium/Math/Fractions/

3. A favorite site for independent/challenge learning is www.visualmathlearning.com or just click below.  There seems to be a couple of fraction options (although challenging).

http://www.visualmathlearning.com/Exercises/practice_exercises.html

4. The BBC site (under Math section of Kid’s Links page) has a game called Saloon Snap that is matching fractions to decimals and percentage.  It’s a challenge but fun. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/shockwave/games/saloonsnap.html

5. Primary Games (also under Math section of Kid’s Links page) has some easier options for practice.  I use this one with third graders.

http://www.primarygames.com/fractions/start.htm

Success in the Savanna, 4/13/12

Dear Students/Parents:

It is hard to believe that the month of March is over, we have completed the third quarter and we are in our last months of school.  Wasn’t it just Thanksgiving a couple of weeks ago?  This also makes me realize that we are headed into much warmer weather and all the wonderful spring sports.  If your child is playing a sport could you please send me a copy of their schedule I would appreciate it.

This past week was quite busy as we talked out what we all did over the break, got back to learning and our school routines, and enjoyed learning about South African dance at the Humanities Assembly. We completed our unit on Ancient Mali and will soon start with Explorers.  In Science, we will do a quick study of rotation and revolution before jumping into Matter.  In Math we continued our study of fractions.   Students can expect a test on this unit later next week. 

Below are dates to put on your calendars for the coming months.  Please check the flyers in Friday Folders for additional information on these events as well.  Happy weekend to all!

Sincerely,

Ms. Coffman

Upcoming Events

April 25-Career Day

April 25- Third Quarter Report Cards Issued

April 26- ETC Play

Fraction Test Later this Week!

Fraction Vocabulary

A FRACTION represents equal parts of a whole or a set.

A NUMERATOR represents the selected parts of a whole or a set.  It is also the number on the top of a fraction.

A DENOMINATOR represents the total parts of a whole or a set.  It is also the number on the bottom of a fraction.

A UNIT FRACTION is one in which “1” is the numerator (for example:  ½ or ¼ )

An EQUIVALENT FRACTION names the same part of a whole or a set (for example: 1/4 = 2/8).

An IMPROPER FRACTION is one in which the numerator is greater than the denominator (for example:  5/2).

A MIXED FRACTION OR NUMBER is one that is made up of a whole number and a fraction (for example:  5 ¼).

In a fraction, if the numerator stays the same but the denominator gets larger, the size of fraction gets SMALLER.

In a fraction, if the denominator stays the same but the numerator gets larger, the size of fraction gets BIGGER.

Mali Test Tomorrow, 4/13!

In addition to the student portfolio and text book pages, these questions are being provided to help you prepare for your test.  Look them over and think about your answers.  You may even see a few of these on the test tomorrow!

Consider these questions when preparing for tomorrow’s test on Mali:

1.  Who was Sundiata?  Why was he important to the Mali people?          

2.  Who was Mansa Musa?  Why was he important to the Mali people?

3.  We know that the Mali people traded lots of gold and salt and that salt was even more valuable than gold.  What other items were traded by the Mali people?

4.  Mecca is the holy city that Mansa Musa made his pilgrimage (or Hajj) to in 1324 AD.  Where is Mecca located?  Find it on a map of the world today. 

5.  Bamako is the capital of Mali today.  Where is Bamako located?  Where is Timbuktu?  Find both, along with Mali, on a map of the world today.  

6.  What does it mean to “barter” with someone?  Give an example.

7.  Who were the griots and why were they so important?

8.  What did Mansa Musa do to help make Mali so important and powerful?  Timbuktu became the center of what?

9.  Describe how humans and animals, such as camels, have adapted to survive in a desert climate.  

10.  How is ancient Mali different from Mali today?  How are they similar?  Give an example of both.