Loads of Measurement

Last week we began our mini unit on measurement. Both the Grade 2 and the Grade 3 students need to learn similar outcomes in this area, but in Grade 3, we begin looking at standard measurement such as centimeters and meters.  

We began by reviewing non-standard measurement for all students.  Laid out on each table were two pictures of school objects and some unifix cubes.  Students moved to each table to measure and record the length of each object in the picture using the unifix cubes.  Before we began we reviewed where we begin measuring from (the very start of the object), and how we measure when we do not have enough materials (we take from the back and move to the front).  This activity worked really well as an introduction to the unit.

Next, we continued practicing our measurement skills using non-standard units.  Each table group was provided with three units they were to measure with, unifix cubes, paperclips, and popsicle sticks.  They then had to measure a variety of classroom objects using all three of these units.  Some of the objects took quite a while when using some of the smaller objects such as the unifix cubes!

In our next activity, the Grade 3 students were introduced to the concept of standard measurement and why we use it.  We then talked about how we measure using our ruler.  Our classroom set of rulers have inches and millimeters on them, so we had to be a bit creative.  We are not using the inch side and for the millimeters we can measure correctly as long as we ignore the last zero.  So if we measure something that is 40 mm long, we know that it is 4 cm long.  This conversation led us to discuss why it is so important to include our units of measurement when recording the length of objects.  

During this time, the Grade 2 students were practicing measurement as well.  Each of them received a paper to trace their had.  They then cut the paper down to size and used it to measure different objects around the classroom.  They had to see how many hands wide, tall, and long the objects were.

Today we continued working on measurement and this time we used gummy worms!  Each student got 4 gummy worms of different lengths.  The Grade 2 students were to measure each of their gummy worms using unit cubes and the Grade 3 students were to measure their gummy worms in centimeters.  Of course when we were all finished, everyone got a little treat.

Mexican Taco Time!

We are talking about Mexico.  We came up with questions about what we wanted to find out about the country.  We went on the Smartboard and looked at Google Earth.  The first place we looked at was Canada and we found Winnipeg.  Then we looked at the temperature in Winning, and then we searched the temperature in Mexico City.  We found that it was a lot warmer.  We are doing it everyday so we know how much warmer or colder it is.  We will share all of our awesome questions now.

From Room 20 Non-Hockey Students

The List of Our Awesome Questions

Brandon-Are tacos different in Mexico?

Julia- What is Mexico all about?

Cameron- Does Mexico make stuff?

Garrick- Do people cook in Mexico?

Faith- Is the buffet the same in Mexico as buffets here?

Kyla- Does Mexico have the same types of fruits and vegetables that we do?

Shylo- Is there different types of animals in Mexico?

Anique- Do they know how to speak English?

Kiera- Do people in Mexico have pets?

Rhylan- Do people in Mexico wear dresses?

Ashlee- Does Mexico have Halloween?

Sara- Do they have Christmas at the same time as us?

Jayda- Do people have cats or dogs?

Joshua- Do people have Christmas in Mexico?

Brandon- Do they have different holidays in Mexico?

Nicholas- Do they have school in Mexico?

Leland- Do they drink coffee in Mexico?

Jaden- Do they have different seasons in Mexico?

Marie- Do people in Mexico have Thanksgiving?

Rhylan- Do people have cars in Mexico?

Kiera- Do they have hotels?

Leland- Do they have mistletoe?

A Festive Day for Room 20

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We've had a very festive day here in Room 20!  It has been filled with many St. Patrick's Day activities, then because March is Dr. Seuss's birthday month, we had some Dr. Seuss themed activities as well.

We began our festivities this morning with a St. Patrick's Day math game to practice our addition.  We then did some shared writing on how to catch a leprechaun.  

This afternoon we had our joint St. Patrick's Day/Dr. Seuss Activity Day.  Some of our activities were St. Patrick themed, and others were Dr. Seuss.  Students participated in seven different stations.  There was The Cat in the Hat Design Studio, where students designed a new hat for the Cat.  There was also a Green Eggs and Ham graph where students selected whether they liked green eggs and ham or not. Other stations included a St. Patrick's Day math game (this one was different from this morning's and students practiced their partners for ten mental math strategy), a reading corner with both St. Patrick's Day and Dr. Seuss books, an activity book station, a station for students to write three wishes, and lastly the whacky classroom scavenger hunt.  While everyone was at gym, Mrs. Deyoe got in touch with her leprechaun side and made some "changes" to the classroom.  Students had to find and record all eight of those changes.  Some were relatively easy, while others had most of us stumped!

All in all we had a very busy and fun day.