Learning Our Multiplication Tables 

We have been working hard on practicing our multiplication facts. During Math Menu we have different activities that help us further our understanding and practice our multiplication facts. 

We play bingo games with our partners. 

We use arrays to complete challenging tile tasks.

These algebra tiles expand our thinking about how we can apply our multiplication and use different operations at once. 

Multiplication Machines help us with our accuracy and fluency. How fast can you correctly complete the whole machine? 

As a class we have been working on other ways to help us remember the facts. One excellent way is by rehearsing a catchy song or rhyme. 

Can you sing along to this multiplication rap to help you learn your x3 facts?

This song uses rhyming to help retain the x4 facts!

 

How about this song? It has a memorable tune that helps me remember my x8 facts!

 

How do you prefer practicing your multiplication facts? Why do you think multiplication is so important to learn? 

 

Nouns Galore

We have been learning all about identifying singular and plural nouns. What does singular and plural mean? You may hear a familiar word in the word singular. I hear single.

singular = one 

plural = more than one

Usually we simply add a s to the end of a word to make it plural. However, some nouns are exceptions, or words that don't follow this rule. 

Here is an example of a sentence using a plural noun. 

Jacob had 3 boxes of delicious golden apples to share with his class. 

What noun follows the simple rule of adding a s? 

apples

What plural noun is an exception to the rule? 

The plural noun is boxes. 

Since the word box ends in with a x to make it plural you must add es.

There are also nouns that change completely to new words when made plural. These are called irregular nouns. That is because they are certainly not regular. 

Watch this BrainPop video and see if you can identify the plural nouns. Click on the link below the picture. 

 

BrainPop Plural Nouns

username: chaparrales password: brainpop

 

Write three to four sentences to a friend using at least 5 plural nouns. Challenge yourself to use plural nouns with ch, sh or x or even using irregular nouns. Remember the rules! 

 

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon week is all about making healthy choices to maintain a wholesome life! Being healthy is an important part of life. Without our health it would be impossible to do the many eventful things we adore including interacting with friends, playing sports or even learning!

We created Haiku Decks to share our ideas on how to make healthy choices.

Red Ribbon - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires
Copy of Red Ribbon - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires
Red Ribbon Week - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

In class we also discussed how making healthy choices is not just about having a healthy body or our physical health. 

We believe it is just as important to make healthy choices for your mind and heart. For example, having a positive attitude is a great way to influence your mood and emotions. Also it is important to share your feelings with friends and family and not keep things bottled up inside. 

Taking care of your mental health and emotional health is part of having a positive impact on your overall health. 

What are some ways you take care of your health? Can you think of some examples on how to take care of your health? Remember to focus on the things we should do not the things we shouldn't do. Tell us how it keeps you healthy physically, emotionally, or mentally. What are some things you plan on doing this year to make sure you stay healthy?  

Who Will Visit on Character Dress Up Day?

Photo by Mrs. Yollis

 

This Friday is Character Dress Up Day at our school! 

 In class, we have been talking about the various characters we have read about! This brainstorm helped some of us decide who will be on Friday.  Some people are characters from our reading textbook like Anthony Reynoso, Ms. Gernsblatt, or Mulan. Others are from chapter or picture books. I've heard that Cam Jansen, Katie Kazoo, and even Harry Potter will be in attendance this Friday! 

Have you decided what character you will transform into this Friday? 

 Leave a comment as if you are the character! What name tag will you be wearing? What props will you use in the classroom? Tell us a little about yourself! Who are you excited to meet?

Bones

In honor of the horrifying holiday of Halloween we have started

 learning all about the incredible skeleton system. Have you ever thought about what our bodies would be like without bones? Watch the video below for a great song all about bones!

We had a special guest in our classroom named Barneby Bones. He was quite helpful while we built our very own mini skeletons. 

Mrs. B and Francis hanging with Barneby Bones! Photo by: Zoe

This diagram shows some of the most common bones in our bodies and their names. When you comment, please be sure to use the correct name and spelling for the bone you are discussing.

What is the main purpose of our bones? Which bone do you think is most important and why? Have you ever broken any bones?   

 

When you are done posting a comment practice naming the bones by playing this game. 

Name that Bone!

  

Celebrating Traditions

Celebrating Traditions

 A tradition is something that family, friends,
or another group of people has done for many years and continues to do on a regular basis.

 *     *     *     *     * 

The story for this week is "The Keeping Quilt".

 In the first story, "The Keeping Quilt," by Patricia Polacco, the author retells the story of her family's handmade quilt. In the story, a Russian immigrant mother and family arrive in the United States. She plans to make a quilt from a basket of old clothes, telling her daughter, "It will be like having the family in back home Russia dance around us at night."  The quilt is passed along from mother to daughter for four generations. It becomes a Sabbath tablecloth and a wedding canopy. It even becomes a blanket for new generations of children. "The Keeping Quilt" is a heart-warming story about one family's tradition.

Please share a family tradition. It can be an annual party, a holiday, or any traditional event.

Please include details about: special foods,  decorations, songs, and/or activities.

 Your comment should be 4 to 6 sentences long. 
 Students: Your comment is due on Monday, October 13th!

Delightful Dictionaries

What is the purpose of a dictionary? 

Both writers and readers use dictionaries as a wonderful resource. 

When readers come across a word they don't understand they can use a dictionary to: 

*find the definition or meaning of a word

*find examples of how to use the word

Writers can use the dictionary to help them:

*spell a word correctly

*use the correct part of speech or word form

*Find useful examples that can help them use the word in their own sentences! 

Dictionaries also have plenty of other interesting information! Look at the picture below. Some dictionaries include an interesting fact about each letter on the first page of its entries. 

Dictionaries also include labeled illustrations!

Illustrations are always labeled and sometimes even give history on where the word came from! 

For example, did you know that the word "aardvark" 

comes from Africa and means "earth - pig"? 

Aren't dictionaries intriguing! 

(ooh that's a high vocab word! Look it up in a dictionary to find out what it means!)

Now that we all agree on how fabulous dictionaries are we need to learn how to use them! 

There are many parts to finding a word in the dictionary. Use ABC order and the guide words. 

Guide words tell you what the first and last word on the page is. So you need to use your brain to figure out if your word falls in between the guide words. 

 The guide words here are foghorn and food chain. Is the word fork on this page? 

Here is an educreations made by some students on how to understand and dictionary entries! 

What are some new and intriguing words you can find in the dictionary? Provide us with the most common part of speech and its definition!