Math
In the math cabin, students continue to explore numbers through activities such as fact extensions (If I know 8+3, it helps me to solve 18+3 or 180+30) and What's My Rule, picture in last blog post. We reviewed the terms sum, factor, product, and multiple and students created Venn diagrams of the common multiples of 2 and 3. They then went on to create a Venn diagram of the common multiples of 2, 3, and 5. Some students listed all the multiples of 2 up to 50, created a list of all the multiples of 3 to 50 and then circled the numbers in common before filling out their Venn diagrams. Some chose to work independently and others in partnerships or triads.
We then reviewed turnaround facts 2+3=5 is the same as 3+2=5 (applicable to addition and multiplication but not subtraction), and created fact family houses using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I introduced the order of operations and how parentheses affect equations. Students remembered that parentheses could also signify multiply 6(3)=18. We reviewed the greater than, less than symbols and went over true or false facts.
Students continued to work their way through task cards, determine the hours between sunrise and sunset, take a facts quiz, and practice their facts daily in a variety of ways.
We have begun our annual wheat grass investigation and students eagerly wove baskets and planted wheat grass berries. The seeds have sprouted and students will be measuring them daily and graphing their growth in centimeters.
Positive Discipline curriculum continues, the gargoyle solution is working for the group. Students love sharing compliments and appreciations and their compliments are specific and thoughtful. I led an activity which illustrated the lasting power and harm engendered by hurtful actions and words and after class two students apologized for hurting their friend's feelings by pretending to be mad at her. Last week, we spoke of the difference between punishments and solutions. Some students brought up logical consequences or natural consequences and we spoke of those. I introduced the idea that solutions must be reasonable, related, respectful, and helpful: 3 Rs and an H. Ella corrected me saying that there should be 4 Rs and an H. We should include responsible, so I have created a classroom poster which includes the word responsible. Thank you Ella, the students continue to inspire and to teach me.