 | "I'm a million different people from one day to the next..."* Richard Ashcroft (the Verve) lyrics |
Rounding Numbers...
My instructions: Review, on the board, rounding numbers (to tens, hundreds, thousands)...
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As the students were finishing up their silent, okay, silent-ish, reading, I approached each table and asked them if they had a favourite number. Then I told each to put it up on the board, anywhere, in whatever colour. A stir began to be created as the students noticed something happening... ooooh, I created a bit of a buzz, I did:)
Then I asked a series of questions to gather knowledge of what the students already knew and what some of them may need to review further:
Next, I gave the instruction to group the numbers together...
Then, I just randomly asked them to round certain numbers:
We came up with the rules pictured in the top left of the picture:
I was able to ascertain that the students had a pretty firm understanding of the concept of rounding, which was further substantiated when I circulated around the room whilst the students were working on their task:
The Rounding Game (left by the classroom teacher):
Then I asked a series of questions to gather knowledge of what the students already knew and what some of them may need to review further:
- What's the smallest number?
- What's the biggest number?
- What's the longest number?
Next, I gave the instruction to group the numbers together...
- 1-digit, 2-digit, 3-digit, etc
- one with a decimal
- numbers ending in 0
- numbers already rounded
- numbers needing rounding
Then, I just randomly asked them to round certain numbers:
- What is _________ rounded to the nearest (ten/hundred/thousand)?
- How do you know?
We came up with the rules pictured in the top left of the picture:
- 5 or higer, round up
- 4 or lower, round down
- If rounding to the nearest ten, look at one's place
- If rounding to the nearest hundred, look at ten's place
- If rounding to the nearest thousand, look at hundred's place
I was able to ascertain that the students had a pretty firm understanding of the concept of rounding, which was further substantiated when I circulated around the room whilst the students were working on their task:
The Rounding Game (left by the classroom teacher):
- Roll 2 dice & round to the nearest 10; roll 3 dice & round to the nearest 100; roll 4 dice & round to the nearest 1000.
- They were to do each 2 times, but I'm seeing how you could easily vary this, as some of the students told me they did (after having played in the last class).
Canadian Government/Political Parties...
Here's a brilliant website: http://studentvote.ca with lots of useful teacher resources! We had a bit of a discussion about Canadian Political Parties... just let me say, that's interesting with a bunch of 4th graders! Too bad we ran out of time before they had helped me who to decide who to vote for:(
WHAT IS STUDENT VOTE?
Student Vote is a parallel election for students under the voting age, coinciding with federal, provincial, territorial and municipal elections.
The purpose is to provide young Canadians with an opportunity to experience the voting process firsthand and build the habits of informed and engaged citizenship.
Since 2003, 26 Student Vote programs have been conducted across Canada. In the last federal election, 563,000 students cast ballots from 3,750 schools.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Voter turnout in Canada has been declining for decades at all levels elections, particularly among young people.
Studies have also shown that habits of voting and non-voting persist over time, so if young people don’t vote now, there is good reason to believe that they won’t become voters later in life.
By practicing the habits of informed and engaged citizenship at an early age, students will be more inclined and prepared to participate in our democracy when they graduate high school.
Student Vote is a parallel election for students under the voting age, coinciding with federal, provincial, territorial and municipal elections.
The purpose is to provide young Canadians with an opportunity to experience the voting process firsthand and build the habits of informed and engaged citizenship.
Since 2003, 26 Student Vote programs have been conducted across Canada. In the last federal election, 563,000 students cast ballots from 3,750 schools.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Voter turnout in Canada has been declining for decades at all levels elections, particularly among young people.
Studies have also shown that habits of voting and non-voting persist over time, so if young people don’t vote now, there is good reason to believe that they won’t become voters later in life.
By practicing the habits of informed and engaged citizenship at an early age, students will be more inclined and prepared to participate in our democracy when they graduate high school.
Check out the videos from the website!
... and a little Art History... Painting with Scissors - Creating in the Style of Henri Matisse:
 Read-Aloud |  |
All the artists at the time were painting in the Impressionist style. But not, Henri Matisse. He used brilliant colours and made art like nobody else. In fact, everybody made fun of Matisse and called him weird, and he said, "Thank you." He did not want to be just like everyone else! What a brilliant way to draw a connection between a time in history to the students in today's classroom.
 teacher art  teacher art |  teacher art "discarded and picked up off the floor pieces" |
Whole-Class Engagement... Bam!
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Seriously, (despite the purposeful blur) these kids were super into their artwork. Each one of them did something different; and even the ones who were less sure of themselves, the ones who started copying one of the modelled ideas, ended up with something truly their own... creativity abound!
When the students bring me their finished, or in-progress piece, I ask:
What do you call your piece? - the answer tells so much (hitting communication and literacy curriculum expectations). Students who love to tell stories have a chance to shine:)
When the students bring me their finished, or in-progress piece, I ask:
What do you call your piece? - the answer tells so much (hitting communication and literacy curriculum expectations). Students who love to tell stories have a chance to shine:)
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