Thursday January 16

Thinking math this morning was tricky. Students had to solve for an unknown that was on both sides of the equal symbol and had to be the same value. Example: 18 + N = 4 x N. It was helpful to have knowledge of the multiplication facts to have a place to start. If you understood that both unknowns had to be the same and each side of the equal symbol were balanced and knowing the basic facts there was much less guessing and checking. After this we practiced multiplication using the box method or area model solving for multiple digit equations such as 123 x 5 or 23 x 34. Also before lunch we identified what instruments are used when measuring different parts of weather. Temperature = thermometer, precipitation = rain gauge, wind speed = wind vane, wind speed = anemometer, air pressure = barometer and humidity = hygrometer. We will look into building a weather station using these tools once we are completed our design challenge activity.

After an indoor lunch we read Refugee and learned how to make connections as a Connector. This is the final job of the readers in Literature Circles. There are three types of connections good readers make while reading: text -text, text-self and text-world. Connecting characters, feelings, settings and events are all aspects to be considered when making connections. Students listened and read along to the section of the book and then made their own connections after a modeled example was given. 

Then we shifted mind sets and did some thinking and ideating about the elastic design challenge. Even with the focus of designing something to help the natives move from place to place easier and faster, this was a difficult task for the class. Wheels and axles were thought of, but how to use the power of elastics is a still a challenge.