Math- Unit 4- What I'm learning so far

During Math unit 4, we are learning how to multiply and divide fractions. To kick off the unit, we got a rich problem set to see (first) what we already know and what we understand based off of other units and using our intuition in math. Today, we were working in partners to work on a rich problem called "Pond Critters". Esenia and I first wanted to create a graph to organize all of our data from the problem. Then, we filled it in and we also compared fractions using tape diagrams. Click here to see the picture of our work.


Here were our steps:

1. Create graph for info and fill it in
2. Compared 1/3 to 1/12 and fill in new info
3. Compared 1/4 to 1/12 and fill in new info
4. Drew a diagram of the pond and split it into twelves
5. Label 1/12, 1/3 and 1/4 and find out whats left
6. Convert 1/3 to sixths.
7. Divided it by 2
8. Fill in new info
9. Answer the question

That was our process for this problem and sometimes we either had to re do the step or ave o go back and double check our work. But we succeeded!

Village Session- What I'm learning in Miss Moon's Class

On Monday, we had more village session rotations as well as Wednesday and Friday. My favorite session we had was in Miss Moon's class for skill learning. On that day, we worked on our presenting and public speaking skills so that way, when we present our work, we are prepared for anything when it comes to the last week in Exhibition.

In this activity, each person drew 2 slips of paper and on each slip, there was a question. The two that I drew were:

• What is the first thing you do in the morning?
• What would you do with 1 million dollars?

Then, we had to choose one of the slips. I chose the first question. After we chose a question, we had about 30 seconds to prepare a 1 minute speech. This activity is supposed to help us be able to include humor, expression, enthusiasm and projection. I really enjoyed this activity/session, because I absolutely love speaking in front of people, even though it is nervous at first, but great once you start. 

I think that this session helped me practice and learn about...

• Communicator (Being able to talk in front of people)
• Enthusiasm (In your voice, to make it more interesting)
• Respect (Listening to the person speaking)
• Reflective (Reflecting on your last speech to make your next one better)

Secondary Research

Now that we're already at week 4, it's time to do some research about our passions/topic. First, we all decided to do secondary research first. Here was our process:

• Skim and scan 2 articles, log, comment if their a good source.

Skim and scan 2  more articles, log, comment if their a good source.

Skim and scan the final 2 articles, log, comment if their a good source.

As a team, create a document called "Resource List" and everyone put the URL's or links to the articles you read. Also, next to the URL, write one sentence what that article is about. 

Also as a team, go through most of the articles and delete any URL's if they are not useful, keep ones that are. 

Then (for homework) read one article for 30 minutes and take visual notes on paper to brig to class the next day.

Share notes/learning with team, in class.     

Then (for homework) read one article for 30 minutes and take visual notes on paper to brig to class the next day.

Share notes/learning with team, in class. 

Then (for homework) read ANOTHER article for 30 minutes and take visual notes on paper to brig to class the next day.

• Share notes/learning with team, in class

This is how far we have gotten. In class, I think that our team's research is going to pay off and also I think that visual notes is better than just writing paragraphs for notes, because it allows us to remember the notes more clearly and are able to present them in an easier way instead having to memorize 7 paragraphs for your research.

1st Meeting with Mentor

On Thursday, March 16th, we had our first mentor meeting!!!! LMSDA's mentor is Jeff Hinton or Mr. Hinton. I think that this meeting went well and even though we didn't do too much Exhibition related items, we really got to know each other and our mentor better. Here are some notes that were took and our agenda.



Highlight: We got to get to know each other and I learned so much about our mentor that I never knew before!

Work on next time: Maybe being able to all say something and be a risk taker, because this meeting I think my team members were super shy and I said almost everything!

Second Mentor Meeting (March 23rd)

Today was our second meeting with our mentor, Mister Hinton. I think that that this meeting we got a lot done and we finished so much work that we needed to get done. I think that this meeting had been our best so far even though its only our second meeting. Here are some of the notes, objectives and information from our meeting:



Here are some of the challenges and questions we (as a team and our mentor) came up with to solve and figure out before our next meeting:



The highlight of our meeting was probably when we created a line of inquiry that equally fit all of our team's interests and was able to make that line of inquiry one of our official inquiries to study. I think it is a very good and research able line of inquiry.

Next meeting I think we should work on making sure that each team member gets to talk and lead the meeting and not just have one person all the time leading the meeting, and also not always have the mentor leading the meetings.