Formulas are Fun!

We trying out lots of new things in math for the new year. Last week we worked on negative numbers and this week we are learning formulas for perimeter and area for squares and rectangles!

perimeter = the distance around around a figure

a square has four congruent(equal) sides SO the perimeter can be found with this formula

P = 4s (perimeter = 4 times the measure of one side)

a rectangle has two pair of congruent sides SO the perimeter can be found with this formula

P= 2l + 2W ( perimeter = 2 times the length + 2 times the width)


Area is the measure of the space inside of a figure.

the area of a square or a rectangle can be found with this formula

A = l x w ( area = length times width)

How does SETTING affect a story?

Our Houghton-Mifflin selection this week is Cendrillon, a Carribean Cinderella Story, by Robert D. San Souci.
We are looking at how the setting of the Carribean changed the story from the original Cinderella story we are used to. We have also read several other versions of this classic story and noted how the setting changed things.
Then we made up our own settings and talked about how the Cinderella story would be changed.
For example:
if it took place in modern times VS the time of the dinosaurs

in modern times: Cinderella would arrive in a limo, have a DJ at the ball and it would be held at the Save Mart Center or maybe at a fancy casino in Las Vegas. Cinderella would have very high-heeled glass slippers.

in the age of dinosaurs: Cinderella would arrive on the back of a very large dinosaur, drums would be the only music played at the ball, and Cinderella would wear a moccasin.

We also discussed a winter VS summer setting

summer: Cinderella would arrive in a convertible or on a surfboard, the ball would take place at the beach, she would wear a tank top and shorts, and would leave behind a flip flop

winter: Cinderella would arrive on a sled or maybe a snowmobile, the ball would take place at a ski hill or ice rink, she would be wearing a parka and would leave behind a boot

Veteran's Day Activities

Here is a link to PBS with some activities for kids related to Veteran's Day.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/activitypacks/socialstudies/americanidentity/

Order of Operations

We are working on expressions, equations and inequalities with all of the operations. The rule we follow to know which operation to do first is called the Order of Operations.
It goes like this:
Parentheses
Exponents
Multiply and/or divide (left to right)
Add and/or subtract (left to right)

We use the Mnemonic Device to help us remember the Order of Operations.
Please
Excuse
My
Dear
Aunt
Sally

Example: 45 - (3 x 8) + 9
In this expression we would multiply 3 x 8 first because it is in parentheses.
That would leave us with 45 - 24 + 9
Then we subtract because it come first moving from left to right.
That would leave us with 21 + 9 which equals 30.
So the value of 45 - (3 x 8) + 9 is 30.

Figurative Language

We are working on similes, metaphors, personification and hyperbole.

Similes are a comparison of two unlike things using like or as: the boy ran like the wind Metaphors are a comparison of two unlike thing: The misbehaving child was a monster. Personification is giving human characteristics to inhuman things, objects, ideas or animals: The wind whispered my name and told me to come out to play.
Hyperbole is exaggeration: that was the worst movie I've ever seen.

Here are some similes the students in G-2 have written.
I am as brave as a bear.
Mrs. Coleman is as smart as a scientist.
I was as hungry as a bear that hasn't eaten all summer.

Test-Taking Strategies

Next week is the middle of Trimester 1 here at Mark Twain, which means we have a Language Arts test, as Science Test and a Math Test all in one week. Today we covered some good strategies for a taking a reading comprension test. We talked about how reading in a test is different than reading a book for pleasure or even information, so we need to approach it differently. Here are some strategies that can help us attack a test.

1. Read the Questions First
2. Highlight or underline key words or phrases in the questions.
3. Read the passage 2 - 3 times.
4. Highlight key words or phrases in the passage that relate to the questions.
5. Read the questions again and ALL of the answer choices.
6. Eliminate the wrong answers.
7. Choose the correct answer and mark it.

We are practicing these techniques now, and will continue to review them throughout the year.

Happy Birthday Mr. Anderson!

What happens when the principal has a birthday?

Learning Powerpoint

We made our second trip to the computer lab to learn how to use the program Microsoft PowerPoint to make presentations. The first presentation is All About Me. The students will be presenting these to the class next week. The students will continue to use this program to make reports on science social studies throughout the year. Some students may be able to compete to participate in Tulare County's Cyberquest on November 21st.

Properties of Addition

Zero Property - when you add zero to a number, the sum is that same number
Example: 5 + 0 = 5
Commutative Property - when you change the order of the addends, the sum stays the same.
Example: 3 + 4 = 7 and 4 + 3 = 7 so 3 + 4 = 4 + 3
Associative Property - when you change the way the addends are grouped, the sum stays the same.
Example: (2 + 3) + 6 = 11 and 2 + (3 + 6) = 11 so (2 + 3) + 6 = 2 + (3 + 6)

Some Good Books We've Read

Wilma Unlimited by Kathleen Krull - The storyof how Wilma Rudolph overcame immense disadvantages to become a record-winning Olympic athlete. Used this in our discussions on Commitment, our character of the month for August.

Salt in His Shoes by Doloris Jordan - A biography of Michael Jordan, written by his mom, that let's us know, even superstars have to work hard for what they get.

The Honest to Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack - the story of a girl who tells the truth a little too well. This was used in our discussions on Honesty, our character of the month for September.

Tea With Milk by Allen Say - this is part 2 of the story Grandfather's Journey, which we read in our reading anthology this week. Grandfather's Journey tells the story of Allen Say's grandfather, who moved from Japan to California, then back to Japan. Tea With Milk is the story of Allen Say's mother, a California girl, who has to adjust to life back in Japan.

The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco Ellen is bored with reading, so her grandpa takes her on an adventure to find the bee tree, in the process, teaching Ellen a lesson about the adventures that can be found in books.

Our class guardian

Thanks to the Sweatts for adding to my Star Wars collection! I love my new Yoda. He has a place of honor at the front of the class. Watch us he will.

We learned a new song this week in science to help us to remember how resistors, conductors and insulators help us use electricity. It is sung to the tune of "How Much is That Doggy in the Window"

Electricity Helpers

Chorus:
Resistors, conductors, insulators
Help us use electricity
Resistors, conductors, insulators
Help us use electricity

Resistors slow down the electrons
Then change them to heat, light and motion
Resistors slow down the current
Then changes it to other forms
Chorus
Conductors help move the electrons
To places far and near
Conductors are metals like copper
Help charges flow smoothly for us
Chorus
Insulators stop electric charges
From going where they shouldn’t be
Insulators like rubber and plastic
Keep us safe, you and me

First Reading Selection: Akiak

We will be finishing our first reading selection from the Anthology tomorrow: Akiak.
Tuesday will be our first selection test.
Use the information on our class wiki to review the story structure of Akiak.

Place Value Through the Millions

We spent a lot of time this week working on reading, writing, and understanding numbers up to the hundred millions place.

First we learned The Place Value Song

it is sung to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Place Value Periods
Come in Groups of Three
Ones, tens, hundreds
Read them right to left

Thousands, Ten thousands,
Hundred thousands
Place value periods
Read them right to left

Millions, ten millions
hundred millions
Place value periods
Read them right to left.

We also learned 3 forms of a number:

Standard form: 198,876, 612

Word form: one hundred ninety-eight million, eight-hundred seventy six thousand, six hundred twelve

Expanded form: 100,000,000 + 90,000,000,000 + 8,000,000 + 800,000 + 70,000 + 6,000 + 600 + 10 + 2

This week we will be working on rounding numbers and comparing and ordering numbers (putting them in order by size).

We will be using this rounding rhyme

Find your place
Look next store
Five or greater
Add one more
Digits in front
Stay the same
Digits behind
Zero's your name

Data collection and analysis

We spent some time during math this week getting to know each other a little better. We did some collecting of data and then we displayed that data in bar graphs to find out information that might be helpful to our class. Our first two questions we did together: Do you have internet at your house? and What type of soda do you like? The first question is helpful to me for designing assignments that require use of the internet. The second question is useful when planning a class party. We found out that only half of our class has access to the internet and that Root Beer and Dr. Pepper are the favorite sodas of the class. The students then designed their own research questions and worked in partners to collect their data and construct their graphs. (some of those will be added to the post shortly)