Halloween Fun!

On Halloween, we did lots of regular classroom learning but we did some special activities, too! We got together with our Grade One Buddies to make a bat. We explored using a variety of interesting materials, such as paper strips to form the sphere shape. It was tricky but we were able to make them! 

Happy Halloween!

HOMEWORK: Prepare for Number Quiz

Students, this is a friendly reminder that you have a Math Assessment on Thursday, November 7. You will need to be able to: 

• Count base ten blocks to 10 000 and give the numeral
• Draw base ten blocks to 10 000 to match a given numeral
• Order a set of numbers to 10 000 from least to greatest/greatest to least
• Give the expanded form to match a numeral
• Give the numeral to match an expanded form
• Solve a "number riddle" using place value vocabulary
• Write a numeral to match a number said out loud by the teacher

If you have any questions, please contact Ms Elder. If you're looking for ways to practice, review the material under "Classwork" -> "Math" on the Google Classroom.

 

Landfill and Composting Facility Field Trip

Here we were doing an activity that reminded us of the 4 R's

Today, we went on a field trip. First, we visited the Composting Facility. Here, we learned about the 4 R's (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and Compost. We could see compost from all over the city. First it arrives on the Tipping Floor:

The Tipping Floor

The Composting Cycle

Workers sift through the pile and pull out anything they can easily see that can not be composted, like a spoon, a plastic bag or a metal grate. Then, they shred it to make it easier to decompose. The compost is then moved to a vessel where the city adds water and oxygen to help it decompose. It stays for three weeks. 

Then, the compost goes through the screening process. It is blown through a machine that is like a tornado so all the plastic bits blow up and out of the compost. They use a giant magnet to pull out all the metal pieces. Then, it goes into the curing shed where it sits for another three weeks. It is turned to help the decomposers do their work. There is a layer of wood chips that helps to get rid of the smell. This is called the biofilter. Then it is tested and sold in garden stores. In May, citizens of Calgary can go pick up a compost bag for free from the Composting Facility. This entire process takes 60 days. If you were composting in your backyard, it would take about a year. 

How the Tornado Works to Remove Plastic from the Compost

Here's the magnet that helps get out the metal from the compost

We could feel the heat coming off the vessels!

Next, we went to the Shepard Landfill. At the landfill, we could see old garbage piles that have been covered over with dirt and grass. Every day, garbage trucks dump garbage onto the pile and soil is added to keep animals from taking the garbage (like a gull could fly off with it and drop it somewhere else). The soil also stops the garbage from blowing away and makes it less stinky. A landfill is different from a dump because a dump is just a big hole filled with garbage. A landfill has layers to help protect the ground water. The layers are: 

• grass (if it's finished)
• leachate collecting pipes (throughout)
• soil
• garbage
• rocks
• plastic lining
• clay

We did an activity to show the different layers in a landfill.

At the landfill there is also the Eco-Centre. This is a place where you can drop hazardous waste that might cause fires or make bad chemicals get into the earth. These are items like batteries, bear spray, car oil, aerosol bug spray, propane, and paint.

We had a great day and learned a lot!

"I learned that we need to sort garbage and recycle and compost instead of just throwing everything into one bin." ~ Viljo

"I learned that Calgary reduced its garbage by half. I also learned that there are 18 vessels in the composting facility." ~ Felicia

"I learned that there are wood chips to help it not smell so bad for people who leave near the Composting Facility." ~ Finnley

"I learned that if outside it's cold but in the Vessels it's almost 55 degrees C." ~ MM

"I learned that the air blowers in the vessels are so strong that they shook the glass on the windows." ~ Milu

"I learned that a dump is a big hole where you put garbage and a landfill has layers." ~ Nollan

"Even though I wasn't there, I learned that if you throw stuff you can't put in the compost, or recycling, or the landfill and it ends up in the river, there's a chance it can cause acid rain." ~ HS

HOMEWORK: Prepare for Science Test

Students, this is a friendly reminder that you have a Science Assessment on Thursday, October 24. You will need to be able to: 

• Name and define the 4 Earth spheres (lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere)
• Explain how the different spheres are interconnected (ex: a volcano erupts in the lithosphere sending gas and ash into the atmosphere, which lands on the plants surrounding the volcano and impacts the biosphere, etc)
• Compare different methods of waste management (landfill/dump, recycling, compost)
• Identify different ways we can reduce the amount of waste we make
• Distinguish between waste that is easy to decompose and not
• Identify hazardous materials and how to dispose of them safely
• Explain who uses the river as their habitat (5 specific plants and animals)
• Provide reasons why water is so important to plants and animals

If you have any questions, please contact Ms Elder. If you're looking for ways to practice, review the material under "Classwork" -> "Science" on the Google Classroom.

The Little Hummingbird

 

What was this book about?

"A hummingbird that was trying to help, no one else wanted to do it but she tried and persevered. The book ended on a cliffhanger." - Finnley

"(She was trying to help with) the forest fire." - Elaina

"When the fire came the animals run away but the hummingbird put water on the fire." - JK

"A raging forest fire happend and the animals fled, but the hummingbird grabbed the water drop with her beak and put it on the forest fire." - HS

"I think they ended it on a cliffhanger because they wanted us to think about what could have happened." - Milu

"They wanted us to challenge ourselves to think if the hummingbird could succeed or not." - Felicia

"To think on our own." - Davyd

"Wanted us to open our imaginations to what could happen." - MM

What did this book teach us?

"It taught us about never giving up. You just gotta try." - SS

"It taught me to never give up no matter your size. Anyone can do anything if they believe in themselves. To push yourself to the limit. The hummingbird was afraid too but still tried." - Felicia

"The story taught me that when something bad happens at least try to help," - HS

"Try your best no matter what your size." - Davyd

"Always believe in yourself." - Viljo

"Even if no one does it you can still do it. It may not make a difference but you still tried." - Finnley

"Never give up. At least try to reach your goal." - Aroosha

What did you enjoy about this activity?

"I loved how when you created the hummingbird and drop of water, you could blend colours and try different colours together to make new ones. I loved how you could make it so it expresses you." - HS

"We got to write on whiteboards, we got to think about what happened at the end and got to colour." - Aroosha

"I like that we had the freedom to make it (the hummingbird) different sizes and pick your colours," - Finnley

"I liked the writing. How we wrote about it in different ways, like "I feel..." And the colouring." - LD

"I liked that we could express our ideas in art." - Viljo

Numerical Patterns Assessment

Our next math quiz on Numerical Patterns is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15th. 

In my original email, I had the correct date (the 15th) but the incorrect day of the week (Monday - which is a holiday for Thanksgiving). I apologize for the error!

In the link below, you will find study materials and practice games on Google Classroom to support your preparation if you should wish to review.

https://classroom.google.com/c/NzA4NjI3ODA0Nzcy/m/NzE5MzI2Mjk0MDY5/details 

If this link does not work, simply log in to google classroom and you will find it under 'Classwork' and then 'Math.' Should you have any issue logging into google classroom please email myself and Ms. Elder.

Number Riddles

We are learning about numbers in Math. We are reviewing math words like: odd, even, digit, number, greater than, less than, and the place value column names.  Ms Elder is giving us Number Riddles where we have to guess her number by listening to clues like: 

• My number has three digits
• My number is even

Today, Ms Elder stuck a number on our back using a sticker. We had to figure out which number we had by asking questions using math language. 

We had to ask Yes or No questions. We asked questions like: 

"Is the digit in the ones place odd?"

"Is the digit in the tens place less than 7?"

"Is the whole number odd?" 

"Is it a three-digit number?"

"Is the digit in the hundreds place less than three?"

 

It was a lot of fun and helped us use important Math language!