Viewing: May, 2012
May 30, 2012
Discussion Topic: Limerick Challenge
This is an actual university, located in Ireland, I believe. But we in room 209 seem to be making our own limerick school! 🙂
This assignment might be tough, a little,
You might rather find some wood to widdle.
Create a limerick.
Use words that you handpick.
But leave out the last word so it makes a __________.
Can you tell what word fits in the blank space? It’s the word RIDDLE. Limericks are five-line poems in which the first, second, and fifth lines end with words that rhyme (see red words in the limerick above) and the third and fourth lines end with rhyming words (see blue words). Also, the third and fourth lines tend to be shorter.
Your assignment is to create a limerick where we have to guess the last word. Like in the example above, you need to include clues to help us to figure out what the missing word can be. The HARD part is thinking of words that rhyme that will work. But I have a strategy to help you: If you go to http://www.rhymer.com/index.html, you can use the online rhyme dictionary to search for words that rhyme! How cool! Take some time to work on this; you may have TWO NIGHTS to do this assignment! (So it is due FRIDAY.) This is separate for the “Limericks for L…” activity.
When you post your limerick riddle, be sure to give it a title on the top. For example, if it were me, I’d write:
“What a mystery…”
By 25
This assignment might be tough, a little,
You might rather find some wood to widdle.
Create a limerick.
Use words that you handpick.
But leave out the last word so it makes a __________.
Have fun! After you post, see if other kids can guess the answer to the riddle. IF YOU CORRECTLY GUESS ONE, LET OTHER KIDS HAVE A CHANCE TO GUESS OTHERS. You may post as many limerick riddles as you want, but please wait until someone has correctly guessed the answer to your previous limerick riddle.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 29, 2012
Discussion Topic: Interesting Facts About States
Using one of the websites, below, research a bit more information about your state. Maybe you’ll even find information that you want to print and add to your research packet! Write a short post sharing an interesting fact about your state. Pay attention to your spelling and grammar as you write your posts today. Take an extra moment to EDIT your writing!
Here are some websites you can use:
The following states have been assigned:
1 – WI, 2 – ME, 3 – AK, 4 – CT, 5 – UT, 6 – FL, 7 – GA, 8 – KY, 9 – IL, 10 – RI, 11 – TX, 12 – PA, 13 – WA, 14 – CA, 15 – DE, 16 – NC, 17 – MO, 18 – NJ, 19 – OR, 20 – HI, 21 – MA, 22 – NY, 23 – SC, 24 – MI.
If you want to challenge yourself, pick one of the states that NOBODY is researching and share a fact about that state too!
Bonus Question: That map (above) is made of license plates from the states in each location. (For example, New York is made with a NY license plate.) Pretty cool, huh? What’s very, very wrong with this map?
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 22, 2012
CarTalk Puzzler
Today, you worked on a Car Talk Puzzler about flying with a standby ticket. I thought the person would be stuck in Chicago, but sure enough, they made it! Wasn’t the solution interesting? Your homework tonight is to share the puzzler (but not the solution) with someone at home. It could be a parent, older sibling, babysitter, neighbor, or someone else. See if they can solve it!
As they work, pay attention to the following things:
- What strategies does the person use to figure out the answer? Do they use the same strategies we discussed? Something new?
- Were they able to figure out the answer?
In the end, it’s ok to give the answer if the person is stumped! Afterwards, log in, and post a comment sharing what you observed as the person at home worked on this puzzler. It’s ok to comment on other people’s messages too. Remember, no names!
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 20, 2012
Avon Road Race
I hope any of you attending the Avon Road Race today have an outstanding time! I was planning on joining you, but I’m a bit “under the weather” today. If you go, feel free to log on afterwards and post a comment (below) to let us how how it was! See you tomorrow!
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 16, 2012
Thoughts about TBS
Today, we visited Thompson Brook School! Answer one or more of the following questions, and feel free to comment on other people’s responses in a kind, respectful way! Remember, no names!
- What are you most excited about and looking forward to at TBS? Explain why.
- What is one thing you learned about TBS today that surprised you. Explain.
- What concerns do you have about going to TBS? (I bet you’re not the only one! If you share, maybe you can help one another to feel better about this!)
Write your responses by clicking on the title of this article (where it says “Thoughts about TBS” above the top of the message) and then adding your comments at the bottom.
Enjoy! Remember, TUSS projects are due tomorrow with your program page!
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 15, 2012
TUSS Reminder
(The first in a series of student-written class updates!)
Our T.U.S.S. (Teach Us Something Somehow) project is due very soon! We all can’t wait to see your projects! We can’t wait to see what you have chosen for your topics and how you present it, it is going to be so much fun! Make sure your projects have tons of info so that we can understand what you are teaching us. Make sure you double check your work so that you don’t make any mistakes! Can’t wait till Thursday!
From 111 – 23 and 1112 – 10. 🙂
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 15, 2012
Symmetry Practice
Tomorrow, we will review our recent work about symmetry. To practice, try playing any 3 of these symmetry games. No need to print anything – the honor system works fine!
http://www.softschools.com/math/geometry/symmetry_game/
Click your mouse on one dot to start a line segment and on the next dot to end that line segment. Create the matching shape.
http://www.softschools.com/math/geometry/symmetry_game/draw_symmetry/
Try drawing a mirror image with your mouse.
http://www.innovationslearning.co.uk/subjects/maths/activities/year3/symmetry/shape_game.asp
How many lines of symmetry can you identify in each shape?
http://www.haelmedia.com/OnlineActivities_txh/mc_txh4_001.html
Try the “Create a Pattern” option to make a symmetrical image.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 14, 2012
TUSS Home Stretch
Just a reminder: The TUSS projects are due on Thursday along with the program page. If you would like to download an editable copy of the program page to type in your responses, you can download one here. The final progress reports were due this morning. Please be in touch with me if there are any final questions. (I may not be able to reply to all messages if I receive a dozen all at once on Wednesday night.)
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 9, 2012
NTS: Wednesday’s Homework
Tonight, we have a new forum on our class website. First, log in. Then, click on the book cover of Number the Stars to the left of this post. This will take you to the forum page. Your assignment tonight is to comment on AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT TOPICS. These comments should be your own ideas, not just reactions to other people. (It’s ok to add posts that comment on other people’s messages, but you ALSO need two posts that show your own thoughts.)
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 8, 2012
How do I login?
I have made an account on our website for each student. This will allow you to comment in our online discussions and have your ideas appear under your unique account. It’s also safer this way, because once everyone’s account is working, I will turn OFF the ability for people without accounts to comment on our site. That way, only we get to have these discussions.
Here’s how to remember your login information. Your username is “1112 – your class number” and your password is your last name LOWER CASE. So if we had a student named Mary Smith and she was #25, her username would be 1112 – 25 (notice that there are spaces before and after the dash) and her password would be smith. (Again, don’t capitalize any letters of your last name. If your last name has a space in it, enter it without any spaces.)
I know this means that you all can figure out how to log into each other’s accounts. The purpose it not to keep your accounts secure from each other, since I trust you all, it’s just to limit who can comment in our discussions. I’m trusting you to be honest and to login only as yourself. (I can see where people’s comments come from, so I’ll know if you’re using someone else’s login information!)
If you have any issues, please email me.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss