Week of December 15-19

Class 5a completed our first engineering design challenge.  We had to build a bridge strong enough to hold 100 pennies out of 1 sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper.  The engineers worked very well together, and all were successful.
Class 5b had our last class come to play our carnival games.  Next week, we will try the paper bridge challenge.
No hw this week!

In 4th grade, our ELA students joined the classes, and we entered the world of engineering.  Our design challenge was to create a tower at least one foot tall that could hold up our stuffed animal cow for at least 10 seconds.  We could use 100 index cards, two feet of tape, and our creativity.  This challenge proved to be quite difficult, but we did have some successful groups.  At the end of the challenge, the groups shared their successes and failures, and we all had ideas of how we could improve our towers in the future.  Check out some of our towers below:

HW: enjoy the break!



In third grade, we turned in our floor plans and cost sheets for our shore houses.  I was so impressed with the creativity and effort that everyone put into their projects!  We also learned how to solve matrix logic problems, and 3c enjoyed figuring out some stories with holes.  After the break, we will embark on our engineering unit!
HW: enjoy the break!

Week of December 8-12

This week, 5a invited Mrs. Weisbrot's class to play our carnival games.  We showed off our knowledge of theoretical and experimental probabilities, and, by the end, the players understood that we had to make the games slightly unfair in order to make a profit.  We also took our final unit test.
HW: Skunk questions: you must answer #6.  You must also choose to answer either #4 or #5.

5b had 5-3 and 5-4 come and play our games today.  Afterwards, numerous students stopped me in the hall to tell me how much fun they had!  Your games must have really entertained them!
HW: study for unit test; Skunk questions: you must answer #6.  You must also choose to answer either #4 or #5.

In 4th grade, we shopped at our classmates' stores and figured out the prices of the items for sale.  Some of the equations that go together stumped us until we realized we could isolate and variable on one side of the equation and use substitution to solve the problems (see last week's post for two examples where this method would work).
After that, we learned another method of solving equations using a strategy called "Hands-on Equations." We used a pan balance and manipulatives to figure out the value of our variable.  Click the link below for more practice using pan balances.
http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activity.aspx?id=3531
HW: Finish the problems from the packet (you can use the balance, coins, and dice to help you, or, if you feel comfortable, you can try it without the manipulatives).


The third graders took the unit assessment today.  Then we did a quick tutorial on google drawings and talked about our floor plans we drew for homework.  The main issue was that some rooms were not big enough.  We realized this once we counted out floor tiles.  See the floor plan below for an idea of reasonable room sizes.

HW: adjust room measurements and/or floor plans as needed.  Fill in the Floor Plan Dimension and Cost Worksheet (add more rows on the back or make a copy if needed).  You can also try to create a room or two using google drawing, but this is completely optional.

Week of December 1-5

This morning, Mrs. Kregeloh's class and Mrs. Feldman and Ms. Zagarola's class came in to play the carnival games we created.  Not only did the classes have fun, but they also learned about experimental and theoretical probability and why carnival owners must make their games slightly unfair.  Next week, one more class will come to our carnival, and we will also take our unit test (don't forget to study)!
After the carnival, we learned how to play a game called SKUNK.  For homework, students must play and record a round of the game and answer questions 1-3 on a separate page, making sure to explain all thinking.


Class 5b played and reviewed one another's games in order to prepare for our carnival next week.  Make sure all posters include the name of the game, directions, goal/how to win, and decorations. Also, remember to type or write the theoretical probability (including chart, diagram, or list) of the player winning and losing and the experimental probability based on your trials and your reviewers' trials.
In addition to finalizing your games, your homework is to play and record a round of the game SKUNK and answer questions 1-3 on a separate page, making sure to explain all thinking.

Joyce and Varenya's carnival game

Class 4c took their unit test and started to shop at their classmates' stores.  Some of the equations really stumped them!  See if you can solve these equations:

This week, the third graders were introduced to our final project, a webquest where students will take on the role of an architect and use measurement skills to redesign a shore house that was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy. You can check it out at: http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=248649

The homework this week is to study for the unit test by reviewing the mathematician's journal, complete a floor plan on grid paper, and some students still need to finish part 1 where they must copy a shape from level 3 of a perimeter/area activity onto grid paper and show how to find the perimeter and area.