Feb. 23 - 27

Welcome back!!  Fasten your seatbelts because it's a long one today!

Upcoming Field Trips:
We have our field trips booked from now until the end of the year.  Please mark these dates on your calendars - we will need parent volunteers!  Notes will come home closer to each trip.

• March 26th - Helen Schuler for "Recycling in Nature" - 12:30 p.m. (bus leaves at 12:05)
• March 30th - Chinook High School for "Charlotte's Web" - 12:30 p.m. (bus leaves at 12:05)
• May 19th - Helen Schuler for Plants Program - 9:30 a.m. (bus leaves at 9:10)
• May 27th - Gregg LeRock French performance at the Yates (bus leaves at 12:00)
• June 3rd - Fort Macleod for "March of the Redcoats" - 9:15 (bus leaves at 8:40)  *Note: this trip will go into the afternoon
• June 9th - Cemetery Tour 9:20 a.m. (bus leaves at 9:00)
• June 24th - Swimming at Westminster - 1:00 p.m. (we walk at 12:45)
• We are also planning to go swimming at Stan Siwik again - stay tuned!

Notes:
We are completely out of pencils and I am hoping that some families would be willing to bring in a package or two.  The best quality ones are the Ticonderoga by Dixon.  Other brands (particularly dollar store pencils) tend to either not sharpen well or break easily; and pencils that have a plastic coating gum up the electric sharpener.  However, we will take whatever we can get with humble thanks!

Curriculum:

• Math: We are taking a brief detour into geometry starring Pigeon of the Mo Willems books before diving into fractions.
• Language Arts:
• Guided Reading - The students presented their Flat Stanley tri-fold projects today and we will soon resume regular guided reading routines.
• Spelling - Lesson 8 is coming home today.
• Writing - We will be starting a new writing project this week that ties in with our upcoming science unit, Waste in Our World.
• Science: This week will see the end of the Wheels and Levers unit with review for the test that will happen next week.  Reminder: the leprechaun traps are due March 9th.
• Social: We are almost done learning about all the regions of Alberta.  We will finish the Grasslands Region with the Calgary Stampede before moving on to a final test.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Welcome back!

Tuesday:

• Energy Day Assembly 8:30 a.m.
• Hot Lunch
• Tone It Up Tuesday
• Family Fun Night in the gym 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday:

• Pink Shirt Day
• Guitar Club for applicable students

Thursday:

• Grade 3 Cupcake Sale to support the SPCA.  Cupcakes will be sold for $0.50 each.

Friday:

• Final Enrichment of this round
• Blue and Orange Day - students are encouraged to wear our school colours

Science Review Sheet

Here are most all the concepts we have covered and learned about. 

How can you give friction the slip?

1. slide
2. ice rink
3. curling

Do rollers make work easier?  Why? Rollers placed under a load reduce contact surface between the load and the floor.  This reduces friction.  Less friction means that less effort is needed to move the same object

 

Name 4 ways we use “rollers” everyday.

1. Conveyor belt
2. Toilet paper roll
3. Steam roller

Rolling pin

Will a load moved on rollers and a load moved on wheels be able to complete a slalom race in the same amount of time? NO – the wheels will win because they are able to TAKE the load with them; where you need to go with the load on rollers. 

 

 

Machine: a device that helps us to do work.

Force: a push or a pull action.

Friction: is a force that slows down motion between two objects that touch.

There is LESS friction between smooth surfaces than between rough surfaces.

Work: is the result of a force moving an object.

Fixed Pulley System: a pulley that is stationary and changes the direction of the force (makes it easier because you get to pull down)

Load: an object that needs to be “moved”

Effort: the amount of force used.

Gears: wheels with teeth that interlock to give off energy

Fulcrum: the supporting point of a lever, also called a pivot

Pivot: an object that allows something to “move” slightly

A third class lever is a lever in which the EFFORT is in between the LOAD and the FULCRUM.

A first class lever is a lever in which the FULCRUM is in between the LOAD and the EFFORT.

A second class lever is a lever in which the LOAD is in between the EFFORT and the FULCRUM.

Two examples of a 1st class lever: seesaw and prybar.

Two examples of a 2nd class lever: wheelbarrow and nutcracker.

Two examples of a 3rd class lever: tweezers and stapler.

 

 

 

In a wheel to wheel drive system, will both wheels turn in the same direction? No, the wheels turn in opposite directions b/c they are touching.

In a belt drive system, when do the wheels turn in the same direction?  When the belt is around them in a “straight” line.

 In a belt drive system, when do the wheels turn in the opposite direction?  When the belt is crossed in a figure 8.

In a belt drive system does the size of the driver wheel affect the rate at which the driven wheel is turned?  (“Change the Driver” experiment) Yes, smaller wheels will rotate more times than a big wheel will in one rotation.  Whereas if the small wheel is the driver, the larger wheel will not go around a full rotation compared to one rotation of the smaller wheel.

 

How are dominoes like simple machines? They transfer energy from one to another.

In a gear drive system, do gears of different sizes affect the speed of the driver gears (“Gear Together” experiment) ___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does changing the size and number of gears in a system affect the speed and direction of the gears? _______________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does changing the position of the fulcrum affect the force needed to carry a load? Yes, you need more force to lift a load as the fulcrum gets closer to the effort.

Does changing the location of the effort on a third class lever affect its performance? Yes, a 3^rd class lever is most effective when the effort is close to the load.

In a 2^nd class lever, as the load moves closer to the fulcrum, is more or less effort required to lift the load? As the load gets closer to the fulcrum, there is less effort required.

Do pulleys make raising an object easier? YES! – b/c I can use my body weight.

Will the use of a pulley reduce the amount of force required to lift a load?  NO – but it changes the direction (pulling down)

 

Will a moving pulley affect the effort required to lift a load?  (Single Movable Pulley experiment) YES! – it reduces the effort in half. –refer to comparison sheet.

Does a fixed & movable pulley system affect the effort required to life a load? (Single Fixed & Single Movable Pulley experiment) HINT HINT HINT *** be able to draw a labeled picture of this pulley system** S.M. – reduces the effort; S.F. – changes the direction

Will the placement of the axle in the wheels change the efficiency of the vehicle? Yes.  The best place for the axle is in the middle of the wheel so that the wheel turns evenly.

 

Where will the largest movement in a wheel and axle occur – in the axle or in the wheel? WHY? The axle has to work harder b/c it is smaller than the wheel; therefore it rotates more times than the wheel does in one rotation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feb 9 - 13

Valentine's Day: Thank you for the responses to our call for Valentine's Day treats.  This is going to be fun!  At staff meeting, we agreed as a staff to move Enrichment to before recess to accommodate parties.  Therefore we are going to have our party after recess on Friday.  So far the following items will be coming in for our party: marshmallows, apples, bananas and juice boxes.  If there something you could send, please let me know via email or a note in your child's agenda.  Thank you!!

Curriculum:

• Math - The students started a "work at your own pace" division booklet today.  They were highly motivated by the thought of getting a draw ticket for every page completed!  Please continue practicing multiplication facts up to 9x9 and division facts up to 7x7.
• Language Arts
• Writing - the photography projects are finished and we have moved on to creating book fair tri-folds for the Flat Stanley novels we read during Guided Reading.
• Spelling - assessment for Lesson 7 is on Thursday.
• Social - This week we finish the Canadian Shield Region and begin the last region of Alberta: the Grasslands.
• Science - We learn more about levers this week.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters due
• Library books due

Tuesday:

• Tone It Up Tuesday

Wednesday:

• Guitar Club for applicable students

Friday:

• Valentine's Day party - thanks for the goodies!  Students may bring Valentine's cards if they wish
• If students would like to add our student teacher, Mr. Irvine and Miss. Groeger, to their Valentine's list they may although they may not be here on Friday

Feb 2-6

The Month of Love is here!  Mrs. Samayoa and I would like to have a Valentine's Day party on the afternoon of Thursday, February 12th.  (The Friday is too scheduled with other things so we won't have time.)  We are thinking of having a chocolate fondue and could use your help!  We will provide the chocolate fondue and are hoping that parents will provide things to dip.  If you are willing to send an item, PLEASE CONTACT ME so I know what is coming and can let other parents know.  We are also looking for drinks for the kids (e.g. juice boxes).  Dippers could include (but are not limited to:

• strawberries
• bananas
• pineapple
• raspberries
• apples
• marshmallows
• shortbread cookies
• pretzels 

Curriculum:

• Math: We continue working on multiplication and moving into division this week.  Keep practicing those facts!
• Language Arts:
• Writing: Tomorrow is the last day for our photography project.  Thank you so much for the use of the cameras.
• Spelling: Look for Lesson 7 coming home today and a new Spelling City assignment due Feb. 16.
• Social: In the Canadian Shield region this week the students will be learning about the climate, vegetation and animal life of the region.
• Science: Last week the letter about the final project for our Wheels and Levers unit went home.  Please read it carefully and let me know if you have any questions.  We will be finishing up with gears this week and heading into levers.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Welcome back after a long weekend!  I learned some great new strategies for student assessment on Friday.

Tuesday:

• Indy 500 for Tone It Up Tuesday
• Town Hall Meeting for Lethbridge School District #51 in the Victoria Park High School gym 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Wednesday:

• Winter Walk Day 10:15-11:00 a.m.
• Grade 4 Lunch in the Gym with Ms. Scheldrup and Mr. Nussbaumer
• Guitar Club for applicable students

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday

Following week:
Monday - Feb. 9

• Swimming 1:00-3:00 p.m. - we need parent volunteers! See note coming home

Class List for Valentines

If your child wishes to bring valentines to school they are more than welcome.  If they are bring them, please make sure everyone in the class gets one. 

Levi
Mia
Dakota
Ashmin
Tanisha
Kashius
Colby
Felix
Bryce
Rylee
Taytum
Teagan
Chantelle
Rebecca
Mason
Madison
Momin
Alejandro
Dustin
Maria
James
Kennedy
Dasius
Lucas
Keyshawn
Bonavi
Mrs. Webster
Mrs. Nelson
Mr. Irvine
Miss. Groeger