Exploring Odd and Even Numbers!

We have been working on developing our number sense. One of our activities in calendar is to record the date as an odd or even number.   Last week we used the place value blocks to explore odd and even numbers more extensively.  Before we started our thinking we played with the blocks for a few minutes!  We love to create with them.

From our calendar activities we know that the long block is worth 10 and the small block is worth one.  We started by making numbers that Mrs. Betts gave us - we were very quick at this.  We could make a number and tell how many tens and how many ones were in the number and how we record the number using numerals.

Then Mrs. Betts asked us to show how we could share the numbers we make between two people.  It was easy to start with because she gave us numbers that had an even number of tens!  It got a little harder when the number of 10s was odd.  For example, how would you share 35 between 2 people? 


Some one quickly realized that after sharing the two tens there was one ten left and 10 can be shared between 2 people - each person gets 5!  Someone else said, "I know!  We can make a trade - trade the one ten for ten ones!!!"  What thinkers!

While we were learning to share numbers we developed a frame to help us share our thinking out loud.   Here it is. . .

First we share the tens, then we share the ones.  We count the number each person gets.  If each person got the same number, the number is even.  If each person got a different number the number is odd.  We know that odd numbers can not be shared equally but even numbers can!

We practiced this many times so we became comfortable sharing our thinking. 

The next day,  Mrs. Betts gave us a challenge.  She asked us to work with a partner and choose 7 numbers between 11 and 100.  We had to make the number, share it and then record whether the number was odd or even.

After working through this challenge we met at the carpet to record our numbers and analyze our work.  We looked to see if there was a pattern to the numbers.  There was!!!!  We found out that all odd numbers end in the numbers 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 and all even numbers end in 0, 2 ,4, 6, or 8. 

Using this information can you tell whether the number 368 is odd or even?  How many would each person get if you shared it between two people?

Diwali Celebrations!

 Happy Diwali!

Today we celebrated Diwali!  We know this year it actually started on November 11 but we were busy with our Remembrance Day ceremony so decided to wait until today.  First we made some very colourful artwork to help decorate our gym.  We used pastels to create patterns on a hand print and then we created contrasting backgrounds.  We love the way they turned out!

Before the assembly, Zara gave us a brief talk about Diwali.  We enjoyed listening to her tell us about her cultural celebration.  We learned lots about Diwali.  She described much like Christmas!  People dress up in fancy clothes, eat special food and celebrate with fireworks, sparklers and lots of lights.  It is even known as "The Festival of Lights!"


During the assembly we saw many dances and traditional clothing.

When we got back to class we were treated to some delicious samosas.  They were so good!  Thank you to our PAC and parents who donated them. Have you ever tried samosas? 

In the afternoon every primary student received a diya to paint.  Diyas are small clay lamps that are used to help decorate homes during the Diwali celebrations.

Thank you to Mrs. Sahota and all the Chantrell Creek students who worked so hard to bring us an amazing assembly celebrating Diwali!

Did you celebrate Diwali?  How do you celebrate your cultural holiday?

Animal Research

We have been practicing our research skills while learning about animal classifications and the special features that each group has.  After looking at books, videos, websites and talking with each other to determine what makes a ____ a ___, we recorded our findings on a sheet.  Then we met in our small groups and highlighted the facts that we had in common.  We focused on the words. . . all, most and some. 

Then, as a group, we wrote a paragraph to share this information with the rest of the class.

Finally, we are each making a book about each animal group!  The learning that took place through this process was amazing!  Well done, Cheetahs.

We Remember. . . . .

Yesterday we had a very moving and powerful assembly to honour the many men and women who have served our country during the wars. Our gym was beautifully decorated with symbols of peace, love and remembrance.  

We had a bagpiper lead us into the gym. She played many familiar tunes that we recognized.  Our choir sang, students shared their thoughts about peace and we watched a video of a Canadian singer playing and singing a song about our veterans.  It is a very moving song.  If you would like to hear it, click on the link below.

Soldier by Shawn Hlookof
  
At one point during the assembly we were asked to stand and make a pledge to be a "peacekeeper" in our classroom, on our playground and in our community.  During the assembly Mrs. Betts asked us to think about what Peace meant to us. When we returned to our class we shared our thinking with our classmates and then chose one thought that we wanted to print on our doves that we had sponge painted in the morning.  

They look amazing and remind us daily of how lucky we are to live where we do and enjoy a life of peace and freedom.

Thank you Chantrell Creek for providing us with such a thoughtful, powerful and inspiring assembly and thank you to our special guests for honouring us with your presence. 

A Visit to the STEAM Room!

This week was our first visit to the STEAM room!  That's what we are calling our new "maker space!"  Mrs. Soo, our librarian, has been very busy organizing, collecting and creating bins for our learning fun.  STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math!  This is a place where we can create, build, problem solve, collaborate  and learn!

Mrs. Soo introduced us to just a few choices - there were Kiva blocks, Lego (with a challenge), Tower Building (with another challenge), and Building a Marble Maze (with all kinds of "stuff").

Look what we made!  Our challenge was to build the tallest tower we could that would hold a tennis ball!

Mrs. Betts loved to see the problem solving, creating and collaboration that went on for an hour!  Lots of fun and learning happening.  The best part is that when you are done - you take it all apart and let someone else create!

The finished products!

 The challenge we had with Lego was to build our idea of a fantasy playground.  What would we like a playground to have if we could design our own?

 This looks like a very space age playground!

 Keva blocks are so much fun to build with!

 I think I heard Matthew say this was a garbage can!  Hope he is not being sick!!!!

This was a marble challenge - could we build a marble maze from recycled materials. . .  wow!  We were very creative.  It took lots of thinking, trials, problem solving and cooperation . . . . but it worked!

Do you have a maker space or STEAM room in your school?  Do you like to build and create something new from recycled material?