Simple Machines

Over the past week, we have been working on simple machines.  Below are some pictures from our experiment using Inclined Planes.  Ask your child to explain what happened in the experiment and how Inclined Planes make work easier!


In this video, Morgan and Parker are demonstrating that it takes three metal washers to raise the cup without an Inclined Plane.

In this video, Katie and Evan are demonstrating that by using an Incline Plane at a length of six feet that it only takes 1 washer to accomplish the same feat.  

Students learnt that Incline Planes can make work easier, but as a result they must travel a greater distance!

                                                                     Teamwork!

                                          The only group to test out the Incline Plane using
                                                                    shoe boxes.

                                           
                                            Yuki has been visiting our class for the last week
                                           and is always  lending a helping hand when needed.

                                             Tying their knot before starting the experiment.

                                                       Very Serious about her work!

                                                        That is extreme FOCUS!

                                                 
                                                  Brae is obviously making an Inference!

Note:  Our video demonstrating the Wedge did not record properly and cannot be viewed.  With that said, simply provide your child with carrot, a very dull knife, a small hammer, and your child will be able to demonstrate how a Wedge can work!

Outdoor Careers in the Kootenays -- Dave Quinn

Last week, our class had a free presentation on Careers found in the Kootenays. Below is a brief description of the program and some pictures/videos of students.  

Description: What is it like to crawl into a bear den, with a sleeping bear? What is it like to work in the remote corners of the Kootenays doing Forestry work? How do you plan and guide a 2 week hike through the mountains for paying customers? Get the answers to these questions and more with wildlife biologist, wilderness guide, and outdoor educator Dave Quinn's engaging, story-filled slide show and discussion about outdoor careers in the Kootenays.

Our class playing Charades!  Students were put into groups and asked to brainstorm any job that worked outside.  Once students generated ideas, they were then placed into small groups and had to act out their job for others to guess.

Thanks to Dave Quinn for the presentation.  Below is a brief biography of his endeavours!

Dave is a wildlife biologist and certified BC teacher. He is also a certified wilderness guide who has lead expeditions to the Canadian Arctic, West Coast, overseas as well as throughout the Kootenays. Dave is a professional photographer and writer. He has been published in several adventure tourism magazines, as well as written several documents for scientific publications. Having worked on the Purcell Mountain Caribou Study, the Rocky Mountain Lynx Project, the Columbia Valley Badger Project, the Swift Fox Census, and the East Kootenay Fisher Project. Dave is one of the most reliable wildlife field technicians in the Kootenays.

Student Teacher: Scott Mackenzie from SFU

Our class will be welcoming Scott Mackenzie as a student teacher.  This will be his final practicum and will be teaching for 80% of the time for six weeks.  Next week, Scott Mackenzie will be observing in our classroom.  In the second week, Scott Mackenzie will slowly intergrate into the classroom.  By the third week, he will be teaching at 80%.  Below, is a brief letter from Scott Mackenzie.  If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to meet him, please let me know.

Thanks,

Mr. Blick
Grade 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello!

My name is Scott Mackenzie. I am an SFU Education student and as part of our program we are required to do a practicum in a B.C school. My parents live in Creston and I arranged the experience to be in Adam Robertson Elementary. My first day is January 21st and I’ll be at the school until April 10th. I’ll be in Mr. Blick’s class mentoring with him and working with your children so I wanted to introduce myself to you.

 I’m returning to university after being away from school for a number of years. I’m originally from Manitoba and my 1^st degree is in Business. After university I taught English in Chile. When I returned to Canada I got a job more in line with my degree and was a Recruiter for a computer consulting company in Winnipeg. I missed teaching however and moved to Taiwan to teach English again. Teaching is where my heart is and so I enrolled in SFU’s Professional Development Program and was accepted into the international module.  My classmates and I just spent October and November teaching Tibetan refugee children in Northern India. It was an amazing experience and I hope to be able to share some of my experiences with your children.

I’m looking forward to my time in Mr. Blick’s classroom and working with your children. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at the school. If you wish to visit me in person we can certainly arrange that.

Regards,

Scott Mackenzie

Novel Study: Stone Fox

Our class will begin a novel study on Stone Fox. Students will each be given a book and are expected to read one close to one chapter each day (ten in total).  Each day they will have a short assignment to complete. 

Focus of novel study:  Higher level thinking

Make two Meaningful Connections
Ask one meaningful question each chapter
Make regular predictions
Put thought into the Response Questions

Retell Chapters

Summarize the book every 3 chapters.  Also, include a summary of the entire book.

Write a book review

Basic Overview:

Little Willy has a big job to do. When his grandfather falls ill, it is up to Willy alone to save their farm. But where can a ten-year-old get five hundred dollars in a hurry? Then Willy sees the poster for the National Dogsled Race. The race pits Willy against the best dog teams in the country, including Stone Fox and his five beautiful Samoyeds, who have never lost a race. And Stone Fox wants the prize money as badly as Willy does. Willy's dog, Searchlight, is every bit as fast as the competition, and Willy knows the terrain better than anyone. But can one boy and one dog be a match for the unbeatable Stone Fox

After completing the book, the class will then watch the movie Stone Fox.  Unfortunately, students quickly learn that movies often do not live up the book!

Math Study Guide: Test on Friday January 18th

Math Study Guide:

1. Definitions:  Students must be able to define each word.  2 Marks for each definition.

Prime Number	more ...
A Prime Number can be divided evenly only by 1, or itself. Example: 5 can only be divided evenly by 1 or 5, so it is a prime number. But 6 can be divided evenly by 1, 2, 3 and 6 so it is NOT a prime number (it is a composite number). See: Composite Number

Composite: A natural number greater than 1 that is not a prime number is called a composite number.  For example, 6 is composite because it has the divisors 2 and 3 in addition to 1 and 6.

Number 1:  Is neither Prime nor Composite.

Composite Number	more ...
A Composite Number can be divided evenly by numbers other than 1 or itself. Example: 9 can be divided evenly by 1, 3 and 9, so 9 is a composite number. But 7 can only be divided evenly by 1 and 7, so 7 is NOT a composite number (it is a Prime Number). See: Prime Number

Factor	more ...
Factors are numbers you can multiply together to get another number: Example: 2 and 3 are factors of 6, because 2 × 3 = 6. A number can have MANY factors! Example: 3 and 4 are factors of 12, because 3 × 4 = 12. Also 2 × 6 = 12 so 2 and 6 are also factors of 12. And 1 × 12 = 12 so 1 and 12 are factors of 12 as well. So 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 are all factors of 12

Multiple:  The result of multiplying a number by an integer.

2.  Students must be able to prove the factors of a number using 1cm X 1cm grid paper.  Students will also be given the opportunity to use Grid Paper to help them figure out factors of a number.  For example:  if students where to show the factors of 12.  They would have one rectangle that is 1cm by 12cm, 2cm by 6cm, 3cm by 4cm.  This concept is important, as it will lead us into our next unit in Perimeter, Area and Volume.

3.  Students need to be familiar with all the prime and composite numbers to 100.  Students will be given a 100’s Grid, where they will be asked to colour the composite numbers one colour and the prime numbers another colour. 

4.  Students will be given 5 different numbers from 1 to 100.  They will be asked to give the factors of each number.  Students will gain an additional mark if the numbers in written from least to greatest.

Example:  Factors of 12 are 1x12,   2x6 ,  4x3

Answer in correct form:  1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

5.  Multiples:  Students will be given 4 numbers.  They will be asked to write the next 5 numbers in sequence:

Multiples of 50:  100, 150, 200, 250, 300

Suggested Strategy:  When given a number, this is a strategy taught in class.

Factors of 32:

Write a list from 1 to 10.  Go through each number to see if you have included all the factors.

1 x 32

2 x 16  Two works in every even number.

3 Does not work

4 x 8

5 Does not work.  Number must end in 0 or 5.

6 Does not work

7 Does not work

8 x 4

9  Does not work

10  Does not work.  Number must end in zero.

When writing the final answer, students do not need to repeat numbers:

Example:  8 x 4 = 4 x8

Answer:  1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32

If parents have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Thanks,

Mr. Blick

Thanks to http://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/multiple.html for the definitions.