Saturday School!  
We started our day helping the 1st graders build a community out of paper houses.

We did Math lesson #99.  We took drawings partitioned into different fractions (a rectangle with a blue section 1/2, a red section 1/4, a yellow and an orange section each 1/8).  We looked for the smallest section and how we could cut up the whole rectangle into those sections. (beginning of common denominators).  1/2 = 4/8, 1/4=2/8

We worked on our Westward expansion projects (even had one group present) and our fantasy writing.

We finished the day by reading Chains.

We got a GREAT report from the sub!
Saturday School runs from 9:15 (normal start time) to 12:45pm.  NO FOOD IS SERVED!  Bring a BIG snack.

In Math we continued talking about fractions as a "fair share".  We reviewed changing fractions from mixed numbers to improper (and vice versa)...a  4th grade goal.
In ELA we are continuing our focus on Theme.  The kids took a quick assessment that I was supposed to give last Friday.
In Social studies the kids worked in "family groups" to buy supplies for the Oregon Trail trip.  Great arguments happened!

Whew..short and fast day!
In Math we started lesson 96; which is about dividing up food among 10 people....15 hot dogs, two chip bags, etc..
We then had specials and lunch.
Last, we had our ELA rotations.

The students did very well on the number sequences and graphing test.  Today we started fractions.
In ELA we have now started "The Case of the Runaway Appetite" with all groups.
In Social Studies we talked about Westward expansion.  We watched the brain pop video on Westward expansion and played the OLD Oregon Trail game.  You can play that and lots of other MS DOS games on archive.com.

I love being at school....
In Math we took our number patters/graphing test today.
In ELA we continued working with fantasy, focusing on Themes!
In Social Studies the kids voted for an open notes test today (most did not finish and will finish tomorrow).

In the Wednesday folders....I-denta-kid was TODAY.  If you would still like to do this, that is fine.  I will just send the kids with the track 3 and 4 students (whenever their date is).

I did NOT get called for Jury Duty.  They called numbers 1-85, and I was number 212.
In Math today we reviewed creating sequences and graphing them.  We added 3rd quarter math to our binders!
In ELA we started reading 'Case of the Runaway Appetite' and continued working on our Fantasy writing.
In Social studies we started our talk on Westward Expansion.  We compared maps from the Revolutionary war to present day, and "wondered" how did we get all that land from Spain and France?

MATH TEST - tomorrow
SOCIAL STUDIES TEST - planned for tomorrow, but we will play it by ear....maybe Thursday.

Today we continued making function charts and graphing them.  Today we added graphing with the fraction 1/2.
In ELA we spent a solid hour writing our children's fantasy books.
In Social studies we started presenting our 5 amendments the aliens are allowing us to keep.

Don't Forget!  Tomorrow (Friday) is an early release day!  Dismissal is at 1:15.

In math we continued working with sequencing numbers using functions (add 4) and graphing them.  Today we added comparing the x and y, and creating a rule (y is 3 times bigger than x) that fits for all the ordered pairs.

In ELA the kids worked so hard creating a board game!  We will go to the media center Thursday to use the computers for our fantasy kids book we are creating.

In Social Studies we finished going over the Bill of Rights, and started a mini project where the kids have to give up 5 rights, and argue which ones to keep.

DON'T FORGET YOUR PICTURE FOR SPANISH!!!!!  It will be glued, so make it one that is replaceable.

In Math we continued to create graphs for function tables.  We focused on the intervals needed for the x and y coordinates.  (If the x values only go 1-10, then we can space out the numbers by skipping lines) (If the y values go from 1-250, then we need to count by 10's for each line).

In ELA we learned about how a character reacts to a situation can tell you a lot about the kind of person he/she is.

In Social studies we started the Bill of Rights.  We talked a lot about self -defense (the kids were asking questions about what is considered self-defense).  I told them that they are allowed to show force IF it is an act of escape.  If force is showed in retaliation or aggression, then it is not considered self-defense and the second party is also guilty and will be suspended/expelled.  (Using wake county guidelines).  The kids were very concerned about this.

In Math we started the Functions and Graphing unit.  Kids will have to be able to create a data table, create a graph (decide which data point is the constant X, decide how to space out the data, graph the data).
For example:  Josh and Jess picked apples every day for 5 days.  Josh picked 3 apples per day and Jess picked 3 apples per day.  How many apples did John have at the end of 5 days and how many did Jess have?
The days would be the constant (same for both kids) The X value.  The apples picked would be the Y value.  Two lines would be on the graph.

In ELA kids worked hard on writing and the Constitution Board Games.
In Social Studies the students learned about the three branches of government, and played a game claiming powers belonging to the branch assigned.

CASE 21 scores went home today!

In math we took the Order of operations test.  The kids were not happy when I gave them a pre-test for quarter 3, but most of them realized that they need to pay very close attention during this quarter.

In ELA - we spent a big chunk of time in the library creating our children's fiction book.

In Social studies most groups finished creating a flyer for a Constitution Article.

In Math, we spent the day in review, and learning to compare equations without solving....3x(3+3) would be greater than 2x(2+3).
TEST FRIDAY
In ELA we continued working on our fantasy children's books and reading fantasy stories.
In Social studies we learned that the Constitution has a Preamble and 7 articles.  Kids are researching one article in groups.

I got the Case 21 reading and math scores today after school.  I hope to send home results tomorrow.

In MATH - we deciphered written expressions for order of operations, and wrote written expressions from numerical expressions....The sum of 4 and 5 multiplied by 7.  (4+5)x7
In ELA - we continue to learn fantasy elements, and are finding them in text and applying them in writing a children's picture book.
In Social studies we deciphered the preamble to the constitution today.

We the People, of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Citizens of the US, in order to make (create) a better government, guarantee fairness, Make our country peaceful, protect all states, help take care of citizens, to protect our hard earned freedom, the people give power to the Constitution.

So PROUD! 

Today in the Wednesday folders, Student assignment papers went home.  If you are not happy with the middle school listed, you will have to go through the transfer process listed on that yellow paper.  

Welcome back!

In math we introduced Parenthesis, Brackets and braces into the PEMDAS Order of Operations.
In ELA we talked about the difference between Fantasy and Fiction.  We had a long talk about how some things used to be fantasy, but are now reality (like Hoverboards and self driving cars).  So, I made a "big boo boo" today.  I was trying to find a video (in the spur of the moment) that showed Back to the future items that are now reality.  In doing so, a bad word came up.  I apologize.
In Social studies we shared ideas about what is democracy and we learned about the articles of confederation.