Math

Upon returning from winter break, the students cooperated on measurement tasks figuring area and perimeter of regular and irregular rectangles using a formula and other strategies.  On Bring Your Favorite Toy to School Day, the students created bar graphs and determined the categories based on their toys, and figured the fraction and percent for each. 

 We began our fraction study with the game of Cover Up and Uncover using pattern blocks to review the concept of fractions.  Students revisited equivalent fractions, simplifying, fraction vocabulary, and operations with fractions.  They were able to assess their knowledge and move forward accordingly, working independently or with a partner at their various levels.  We often review fraction concepts through whole class whiteboard response and sharing.  Recently the students were asked to write down two fractions that equal one half and then share with the group, allowing others to see how many different ways this task could be answered.  For example:  1/4 +1/4=1/2 or 4/16+4/16=1/2 or 1/8+1/8+1/8+1/8=1/2.

For Valentine's Day, the fifth/sixth graders worked on various holiday math activities, working cooperatively or independently to figure solutions.

The students continued to work independently in their geometry and algebra books and to hone their logic and mental math skills with the weekly activities of Digits and Place, Logic Pattern, Find X, Task Cards, Weekly Challenges, and Place Value Together.