Weekly Update - December 2, 2022

Math: This week in Math, we studied input/ output machines for our patterns and relations unit. The students must know how to find the pattern rule that demonstrates the relationship between X (Input) and Y (Output)

Great Input/ Output video

Self Correcting Multiplication Tests

https://www.multiplication.com...

Science: This week in Science, we continued our studies in our Sky Science. We covered the Sun and comets and meteors. We are gearing up for an in depth study of Mars. We’ll cover questions such as; how do we get there, how can we settle on Mars and how can we use the natural resources of Mars in order to set up a colony.

Bill Nye Space Exploration:

Weekly Update - November 18, 2022

Math: This week in math students learned about Archimedes’ Principle and volume displacement. We then reviewed perimeter, area, and volume before writing the unit test later in the week. Our next unit is patterns and relations, which we’ve kicked off and did our pretest as is done at the beginning of each new unit.

Science: In science students learned about the different constellations we see in our night sky, their relative movement, and how the night sky might differ in other parts of the world. Students also created Planispheres! This can help them track and find constellations based on the day of the year and hour.

Weekly Update - November 4, 2022

Math: This week in math students were busy with testing! To start the week, students wrote their factors and multiples unit test. We also had our monthly multiplication check in the following day as well as our PRE TEST on perimeter, area and volume. We then we ended the week by reviewing and discussing perimeter. Next week will move on to area and volume. 

 Science: In Science students started the week by presenting  their space technology project to the rest of the class. We then began learning about the Moon, its phases and how the sun and movement of the moons affect these phases. 

 ** Just a friendly reminder to please check your childs google classroom, we post relevant and important resources weekly. This is particularly useful for students who are away and those who really want to refine their multiplication basic facts skills! We recommend each student spend at least 15 minutes a night practicing these basic multiplication facts. ** 

Weekly Update - October 21, 2022

This week in Math, students learned all about factors, including three strategies to find factors: arrays, t-charts, and factor rainbows. Next week, students will learn more about greatest common factors and will investigate common factors using venn diagrams. We will also begin learning about prime and composite numbers, as well as prime factorization.

 This week in Science, students reviewed their entire Evidence and Investigation unit, in preparation for their unit test on Thursday. Students had a lot of fun playing a game of Jeopardy on Wednesday to help them conclude their learning and finish reviewing. As mentioned, the students wrote their final test on Thursday, which means that next week we will get to start Sky Science! Many of the students are looking forward to this unit, and we hope they will be as excited and engaged as they were throughout our Evidence and Investigation unit!

Weekly Update - October 14, 2022

Math

This week, students continued their learning around multiples which included work with a number line, identifying common multiples and determining the least common multiple (LCM).  Students finished off the week with a quick formative quiz to demonstrate their understanding of multiples.  Classes will be moving onto factors next (factors are numbers you multiply together to get another number, for example 3x4=12 so 3 and 4 are factors of 12).  During this unit, we will be using arrays to represent factors, identifying all the factors of a number, writing factors from least to greatest using factor rainbows, and determining the greatest common factor (GCF). Students are encouraged to continue practicing basic multiplication facts at home to assist them in determining factors more easily.

 Science

Students have been busy all week working on their final crime scene project (crime scene illustration with accompanying comic or story).  Projects are DUE MONDAY OCT. 17th.  Students have had ample classroom time to work on these projects, so if used wisely there should be minimal finishing time required this weekend.  Please connect with your child early in the weekend to see where they are at with their project and support them in developing a plan to complete it for Monday. Students were shown exemplars of completed projects that received 1-2, 3, or 4 and as a class we have discussed the project guidelines thoroughly (see attached).  Students have had some very creative ideas and we can’t wait to see all the completed projects.     

Weekly Update October 6, 2022

Math

 This week, students learned all about multiples! We started the week by completing the Multiples and Factors pre-assessment as well as our second times table test of the year. *Hint: We encourage everyone to practice their multiplication facts over the weekend to prepare! A great website is multiplication.com. We also worked on "Representing Multiples" by creating a number line listing all the multiples between the numbers 1-12. We ended the week by learning about Least Common Multiples (LCM) through various problem solving activities and practice questions. Next week we will be writing our multiples quiz and then moving on to factors.

 Science

Last week, we wrapped up our DMCS Crime Scene Investigation! This week, we dove into other types of evidence that didn't apply to our school crime scene. This included examining animal tracks, tire tracks, and fabric samples. Next week we are looking forward to starting our final crime scene project! 

Weekly Update September 22, 2022

Math: This week, students began our Integer unit. The students must know how to compare integers and where to place them on both horizontal and vertical number lines.

 MathAntics (Negative numbers)

https://youtu.be/OAoLCXpao6s

 Self correcting multiplication quizzes

https://www.multiplication.com/quiz/multiplication-self-correcting-quizzes

Science: This week, students continued their studies in Evidence and Investigation. We learned about fingerprints and chromatography. We are currently studying handwriting analysis.

Fingerprints:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZKGpg_fttw&ab_channel=SciShowKids

 Chromatography:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN5YiY0Wm6o&ab_channel=MiniScientists

Weekly Update September 16, 2022

Math: This week, students began our Place Value unit. They learned about the “houses” of place value and practiced reading numbers past the billions. In addition they worked on putting numbers into standard, written, and expanded form, as well as rewriting numbers with decimals (ie. 2.6 billion = 2 600 000 000). The students also completed a practice Part A Provincial Achievement Test as well as a 12 x 12 multiplication chart, so we have a baseline and can see our progress as we continue our learning throughout the school year. Next week we will finish Place Value and may even begin Integers! 

 Science: This week, students continued their investigation of the crime scene at Dr. Martha Cohen. We focused on footprints this week and learned about the different identifying features that can help match footprints to a suspect. The students had the opportunity to learn outside at the sand pit where we analyzed our own footprints using various forms of movement such as running, walking, holding something heavy, and limping. Next week we will begin learning about fingerprints and chromatography. 

Weekly Update September 9, 2022

Math: This week, students engaged in a "Math All About Me" activity. This provided the opportunity for students to review some mathematical concepts learned last year, as well as allowed for us to continue to get to know one another. Additionally, students completed the MIPI (Math Intervention/Programming Instrument). This was an assessment of Grade 5 concepts, which provides insight into where the students’ mathematical understanding is at the start of the year. Near the end of the week, students collaboratively reviewed some of the more challenging problems from this assessment that were frequently answered incorrectly. Next week, we will dive into our first unit in math, Place Value! 

 Science: This week, students examined the difference between the terminology "Observation" vs. "Inference." Students examined different pictures/comics and completed an "OWI" chart (Observation, Wonder, Inference) to develop their understanding of these terms. Some classes also went on a "Nature Walk" at the pond near our school to examine evidence of human and animal activity. They again used the "OWI" chart to document their observations, wonders, and inferences about the evidence of human and animal activity that they found. 

 To initiate our first unit in Science, Evidence and Investigation, students entered the school Thursday morning to find a crime scene! Students were immediately put to the task to examine the evidence that they could observe at this crime scene as well as document their observations and inferences of this crime in our Grade 6 hallway! Students will learn how to analyze the footprints, fingerprints, writing samples, hair samples, etc. found at this crime scene in order to solve the mystery! We have great confidence in our new batch of Dr. Martha Cohen Investigators that they will be able to confirm the criminal!

Weekly Updates

Each week there will be updates posted to let you know what is going on in the Math and Science classes. Please check back regularly in addition to visiting your child's Google Classrooms to stay informed on classwork.