Using Manipulatives Online for Division

Recently we worked with place value blocks for a math lesson on division.  However, as we entered into the higher level questions, we ran out of blocks to show our work!  Using this website online helps show the block theory of division and how a large number is broken up into groups.
I really like how this website uses a word problem first.  Then step by step asks for the numbers to be entered when figuring out the solution. 
Enjoy!

http://www.mathplayground.com/TB_MD/tb_md5_iFrame.html

Making Flipbooks with Technology

In Grade Four, students are asked to put together a flipbook.  A flipbook uses art by displaying action.  The trick to showing an action is to only move one part of the body at a time.  This way when the pages move quickly, it looks like the action is actually taking place.  Instead of using a ton of paper, or a ton of sticky notes, students can make their own flipbook online.

Making a flipbook online: http://www.benettonplay.com/toybox.php

Patterns in Bold Colours

Take a look at this author's work!  His name is Romero Britto.  He is a young artist who lives in the United States.  Romero uses patterns with bright colours to show off the different lines in his picture.

http://teachkidsart.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-11-07T22:09:00-08:00&max-results=7

Learning about the Water Cycle

In Science class we are beginning to learn about the water cycle.  We have been using the following sites to help us understand some of the key concepts.

Water Cycle Game: http://apps.southeastwater.com.au/games/se-water-cycle.swf

Also...for teacher's interests, there is a site online that has numerous activities and experiments for the students to do.  We did the watercycle game with the different stages.  It was pretty neat!  Here is the site: http://scifiles.larc.nasa.gov/docs/guides/Water_Cycle.pdf

Learning to Multiply by 10's

As students are gearing towards completing their math passports, we are starting to look into how to multiply by 10's.  We've done some lessons in class and are now trying to reinforce the concept.  I have found this website to help us practice our multiplication by 10's.  Enjoy! http://www.toonuniversity.com/flash.asp?err=517&engine=13

Habitat Home Projects

These projects were made as a one-month homework assignment to coincide with our habitat unit in science. The students worked very hard on putting these dioramas together and can you ever tell!  The creativity and time put into these displays shows how much has been learned!  When the projects were brought to school, each student gave an oral report about their creation.  Click on the button below the picture to listen!  

Why do animals go extinct?

In our science class we have been studying habitats and how the organisms work and live together in order to survive in their ecosystem.  The class made wonderful dioramas (which I hope to have up soon!) showing what they had learned through out the unit.  The last unit of this biology section discusses how humans make changes on habitats, both for the good and for the bad.
When we look at Genesis, we are told "Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.  They will be yours for food.  And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground--everything that has breath of life in it -- I give you every green plant for food." And it was so.  God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:28-31)

With such as responsibility how can we live with the pollution, waste, and damage to the environment?  We should be jumping up and down in eagerness to help and change the world to a better place! After all, it's the reason humanity began!  To take care of God's creation! Then when sin fell into the world, we were bound to mess up. Thank goodness for God's grace and His covenant with us to bring Jesus into the world to save us from our sins....and our filthiness on Earth and what it would become.

As we talk about pollution, waste and damage, we start to learn about animals that did not survive.  How does God feel about entire species dying out?  Are we as humans responsible? Why would God create animals knowing that they would die, like dinosaurs?  (As we discuss these questions, we learned that often questions just bring more and more questions!)

Sometimes we get answers and sometimes we don't.  It's best to trust in God in everything, even our questions.  And if we can't answer questions, we should at least continue to try and do the right thing.  And when it comes to our environment, it is our responsibility to take care of our world.

For some answers on extinction and why habitats can't keep organisms alive, we browsed this website: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/endangered_animals/overview.htm