Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Pictures Posted!

I've posted the Gingerbread House pictures online.

Here is the address:


http://gallery.mac.com/ross.matthew#100008

Check your email--you're going to need a username and a password.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Project Gingerbread: Baking Done!

Baking is complete!

We're all cut out, baked, and cooled.

Tomorrow we will work on putting the houses together, take some pictures, do a little math, and get ready for Thursday's big memorizing test.  (Check a prior post for links to the OOMIPPEO.)

If you are going to make icing, please send it in tomorrow!

Friday, December 14, 2007

Test Today

We took our test today and everyone did pretty well. There are a few who needed to do some corrections. The next large part of the test is next Thursday (the memorizing one).

Monday is baking day and Tuesday is creating day! If you're making stuff--thank you and don't forget to send it to school on Monday!

If you are reading this and thinking, "gosh, I would LOVE to help out!" -- email me!!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Geo Test Pt I Tomorrow

Geometry Test Part I Tomorrow!!

No need to worry about memorizing--tomorrow is just about solving surface area and volume problems.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Getting ready for the test

We're still not exactly sure who is going to win our Formula Bee! It's down to Eliza and Matt GH. Henry did an AWESOME job on his problem today.

The kids got a chance to work on their Surface Area and Volume problems--they will be wanting to practice tonight because the test is on its way!

Geo Tests and GB Houses

What a whirlwind past few weeks it has been. (Well, I guess you could say that at just about any other time of the year as well!) This is the long-awaited email explaining what's been going on Geometry-wise and what is just on the horizon that I'm going to need your help with.

Geometry in Pre-Algebra focuses on reviewing area & perimeter formulas for the basic shapes (square, rectangle, circle, triangle, parallelogram, and trapezoid) and introducing and hopefully solidifying kids' knowledge of surface area and volume of a variety of 3-dimensional shapes (including cubes, prisms, cylinders, cones, spheres, and pyramids).

Our test will be in three parts:

Part I (This Friday): The kids will have to solve surface area and volume problems on the 3D shapes listed above--and they can use their OOMIPPYEOs (their formula sheets).
Part II (Next Monday/Tuesday): The kids will have to find the surface area and volume of their gingerbread house.
Part III (Next Thursday): The kids will have to be able to list all of the formulas for area, surface area, and volume--memorized.

Which brings me to Gingerbread houses. Those parents whose children went through Lower School might be groaning about now and I understand that. I want to share with you my process.

The kids will be getting into groups (either I'll pick 'em or they'll get the privilege) and they will be creating their houses in groups. (First period will have 3 houses, Fourth period will have 4--I think.) The kids will have patterns for their houses that Christel and I have selected and created that they will be able to pick from. On Monday we will take the dough that we have received, roll it out, and each group will cut out their pieces. Then, we'll make the MS smell WONDERFUL by baking all of that wonderful gingerbread. On Tuesday, the kids will construct their houses (using icing, and whatever other materials THEY want to bring in) and find the surface area and volume of them. Wednesday will be a clean-up day, followed by the memorizing test on Thursday.

Here's where you all come in. For Monday. I need dough. I mean gingerbread dough. From past experiences I've figured that it takes about 1 batch per house (depending on how creative they get) so that means 3-4 batches for first period and 4-5 batches for fourth period. Also from experience I know that making a second set of dough is just easier than making one. I'm finalizing the recipe I want to use this year and will be getting that out to those who are interested in helping.

Tuesday. And I need icing. Let's face it, you can never have enough. Well, you know what I mean! I'm planning on making some of the icing glue (the good stuff) that will really hold those houses together and make your teeth fall out if you try and eat it. But, still, we need about 2 batches of that per house.

PLUS I would love any additional parent support on either of those two days. A couple of parents showed up last year on baking day and then on creating day and it made a world of difference to have a few more adults here to help out!

So, after all that here's a summary. Tests on their way. Want to help? Options: come join us, either or both days, make dough, make icing.

Whew. What an email! I'll also post this on the blogs as well. Shoot me back an email and be on the lookout for recipes!!!

Hope you all are doing well!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Reminders and Notes

Reminder: Volume of the 3D Shape Sheets should be done for tomorrow.

Check the calendar: Friday is Part I of the test! (There will be more about this in tomorrow's post.)

Also, be on the lookout for an email on Gingerbread Houses--hopefully tonight!!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Formula Bee

We had our Formula Bee today--and we have not identified our winner yet. These kids REALLY know their stuff. Currently we still have Matt GH in Round 4, and Eliza and Henry in Round 5. We had to move to the board and solve some problems. We'll finish it on Wednesday and I'll give you the update then.

Tonight and tomorrow night's homework is to finish the VOLUME shape sheets (for 3D shapes). (Due to the half day, they won't actually see me again until Wednesday... thus the greater amount of homework.) More soon.

Friday, December 7, 2007

3D Shape Sheets

Today we checked over (talked through) the kids' homework and then they got a packet called "3D Shape Sheets." They began working through them and they should finish through the Surface Area of a Pyramid over the weekend.

Heads-up: the formula bee is Monday!

Thursday, December 6, 2007

2D Shapes and HW

Today the kids worked on some Shape Sheets that dealt primarily with 2D shapes. They also got to take a look at the calendar for the next two weeks.

Here is tonight's homework:

#56 Find ‘em

Find 3 of the 6 2D shapes somewhere in real life, draw them, and find the area and perimeter of them.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Calendar

Click here to view the calendar of what's coming for your children. I'll be giving them hard copies tomorrow.

Tonight's Homework... some memorizing!

Today in class we spent most of our time going through the OOMIPPYEO and explaining the formulas.

They will participate in a "Formula Bee" next Monday--and as such, there homework for tonight is to create flash cards to help them memorize their formulas.

Front Side of OOMIPPYEO
Back Side of OOMIPPYEO

Monday, December 3, 2007

Monday Updates

Today we took our quiz on two-step equations and word problems.

No class tomorrow--we'll meet up again for a long period on Wednesday when we'll jump head first into geometry. We're gearing up for Gingerbread houses, so be on the lookout for much more information coming your way!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Welcome!

Welcome to the fourth period Pre-Algebra blog! Stay tuned for updates!