Week April 18-21

 Outdoor School for grade 6`s all week !!!

Keep in mind that the MATH TEST on chapter 1 is going to be on Wednesday, April 27. The answer key for the REVIEW DOCUMENT is now posted on the VLC Calendar (April 25th).

Week April 11 - 15

Math:

This week we concluded chapter 1 on Patterns and Equations with 1.7 &1.8. Students reviewed the meaning of an equation and learned how to balance an equation. At this point, the concept is simple - anything you add on one side of an equation, you have to do the same on the other side (same applies to subtraction, multiplication and division). Students practiced to illustrate this concept by drawing coins on each side of equations. **Note: isolating a variable in an equation (solving a linear equation) is not part of the gr.6 curriculum yet**

Students received a REVIEW DOCUMENT on chapter 1, as a preparation for the TEST on April 27 (after Outdoor School). They also worked this week on a few PAT questions from 2013 - on chap.1 content - as a practice. I will post an Answer Key of the REVIEW DOCUMENT on April 25 (Monday).

Students ARE NOT EXPECTED to bring any math work during Outdoor School (they have a 4 day long week-end when they come back).

Science:

We have concluded our unit on ASTRONOMY. Students had time to work on their ACTUALITÉ project (current events) and to study in class. The TEST on astronomy was given on Thursday. Everybody worked hard through this unit, bravo! Our next unit in Science will be Air & Aerodynamics. 

I wish all grade 6` a great time a the camp next week!!! Hopefully they`ll have wonderful views of the sky and constellations at night!

Week March 30 - April 6

Math:

For the past week and a half, we continued to work on patterns, filling input-output math tables  and FINDING THE RULE.  We went a step further by giving the rule USING A VARIABLE  (algebraic expression). 

We also started to solve problems using an input-output table and the rule (applied to a situation where there is a pattern). Students learned how to plot points in a simple graph (plan cartésien) from an input-output table. They practiced how to read coordinates and make the connection with an input-output table.

Science:

We have concluded our unit on ASTRONOMY. The last topics we covered were the PHASES OF THE MOON and the ECLIPSES (solar and lunar). Students are also working on 1 topic of their choice in astronomy as part of their 'current event project'. The unit test on astronomy will be next Thursday (April 14).

Week March 14-17

Math:

This week we started chapter 1 on Patterns and equations. Students learned to fill input-output math tables following a given rule (ex. +3 or x2  or /5 ). They also practiced to find the mathematical rule when numbers in the table were given. We went a step further by doing the same exercises with a 2-step rule (ex. x3 + 2 ).

Science:

This week in ASTRONOMY we studied SEASONS in detail. Students learned about the ROTATION the Earth, its REVOLUTION (around the sun) and, most importantly, the EARTH`S TILT which is causing our seasons.

We also studied  the 6th and 7th planets of the solar system, 'Saturne' and 'Uranus'. Students completed their 'Giant Solar System Decoration Project' and we put it up on the wall in our classroom.

Week March 7-11

Math:

On Monday students wrote their TEST on chapter 5. For the rest of the week, they practiced more problem solving still involving fractions, decimal numbers, ratios and percents (see 'Problèmes - chap.5 ')  We will start chapter 1 on Patterns and Equations next week.  

Science:

This week in ASTRONOMY we studied CONSTELLATIONS more in detail (Ursa Major and Big Dipper, Ursa minor and Little Dipper, North Star, the 12 constellations from zodiac signs, and more...). We watched videos, took notes and built a STAR SEAKER in class.

We also studied  the 5th planet of the solar system, Jupiter. Students continued their 'Giant Solar System Decoration Project' on the side.

Week February 29 - March 4

Math:

This week we concluded our chap.5 with ratios. Students learned the meaning of a ratio (rapport) and practiced to solve problems using this concept. On Wednesday, the whole time was given for working on REVIEW exercises. The TEST on chapter 5 (fractions, decimals, ratios and percents) will be next Monday. 

                   

Science:

This week in ASTRONOMY we focused on the study of the 3rd and 4th planets of the solar system (starting from the sun), Earth and Mars. Students learned specific facts related to these planets, took notes, watched videos and saw images coming from 'Curiosity', the robot sent on Mars (for 3 years now).  We also continued our 'Giant Solar System Decoration Project' on the side.

We also studied more in detail  'light / lumière' (emitted or reflected), 'stars / étoiles' in general and our 'sun / soleil', defining their components and exploring their origin... 

Week February 22-26

Math:

This week we added a little more to last week`s conversions. We learned how to convert fractions that are not 'common', doing the long division in order to find the decimal form. We also learned how to transform a fraction and a decimal into a percentage and vice-versa (the triangle is now completed!). Students have started to memorize a few common fractions and their decimal / percent form.

                   

Science:

This week in ASTRONOMY we focused on the study of the first 2 planets of the solar system, Mercury and Venus. We also started our 'Giant Solar System Decoration Project' on the side.

We also researched and took notes on the meaning of 'astéroïde', 'comète', 'météore', 'constellation', etc.