We got a LOT of stuff done today.  It was fantastic.

 

In math, we talked a lot more about multiplying fractions.  It’s very important for the students to understand that if we are multiplying something like 3 x 0.4, we are doing…

3 times 4 tenths

Therefore our answer is 12 tenths.

if we multiply 2 by 8 thousandths, our answer is 16 thousandths, and so on.

For math homework the students have three more multiplication problems to do tonight, with area models.

45.62 x 25

127.25 x 17

75.31 x 124

 

Odds are we will check and grade these as a class tomorrow.  Do your best on them!

 

In Language Arts we left our Mysterious Benedict friends on a cliffhanger, and then talked quite a bit about our sneaker stories.  Tonight for homework the students should have their sneaker story rough drafts printed out, and should have written down these 5 questions on the back:

1.  What is the setting?

2.  Who are the characters?

3.  What is the conflict? (problem)

4.  What is the resolution? (solution)

5.  Is there a theme?

Tonight for homework they should answer these questions, as well as look at their rough draft with a critical eye.  Could a reader answer the above questions just as they did?  Did they really describe the setting?  Is the conflict and resolution apparent?  Did they describe action and dialogue, or just give a list of ‘this happened, then this, then this, the end’?

In science we measured our plants and began in earnest our biome research.  Students received a print-out that will aid them in taking notes on their chosen biome for their brochure project.

We also had a very serious talk about plagiarism, and how it will get you an automatic 1 on this assignment, and likely a 1 for the quarter in language arts.  This was something that was brand new to many of our students, and if you have a moment to discuss with them this very serious issue, I would appreciate it.

 

Tonight in science the students have a chart to fill out.  They should fill in the height of their plants on September 4th, and then again on September 9th, and record the difference between them.  They should not yet calculate the average growth over this time period, as we will be learning about that and doing that tomorrow in class.

 

so, tl;dr

3 math problems

45.62 x 25

127.25 x 17

75.31 x 124

answer 5 questions about Sneaker story rough draft, and look over it with a critical/editing eye

fill out growth chart for sep 4 and sep 9 and difference, do not do the avg growth yet

 

Tomorrow is another busy day!

 

-Mr. Potter