Maze Game Example

Mr. Lee isn't very good at this programming stuff.  I made a maze game that works, but it doesn't look great!

What do you think?  Click Here

A Picture to use for Scratch

To see Mr. Lee's unfinished program, click here!

Grandparents Day Interviews

We interviewed our grandparents and heard good stories.

Karson's grandpa has been praying the their children and grandchildren love the Lord.  His prayers have been answered.

Caleb's grandfather went to a school that Caleb has never heard of before.

Emmett's great grandpa was in the war.

Jared's grandmother liked tag and Red Rover as a child.

Morgan's grandma had six brothers and four sisters.

Braelyn's nanny once was praying for her uncle who had a very serious accident.  He did wake up and get better.

Cadence's had an uncle that she didn't know.  His name was Punk (Henry).

Julia's grandmother has a favourite memory of Julia.  It was when she would come over and climb up and down the stairs at her house.

Matthew's grandma said that when he was born, Matthew was so tiny and very cute.

Abby's grandma's favourite part of Abby's birth was that it was so close to Christmas.

Jayden's grandmother went to John Calvin School for grade 4.

Ephraim's opa was born before World War 2. The Nazis took most of the food and he had to survive by eating tulip bulbs.

Keegan's grandpa played a lot of baseball when he was a kid.

Our Learning about Canadian History

Our driving question:  Why is there conflict between Canadians and First Nations today?  

Historical Conflicts Between First Nations and European/Canadian People

• The government put First Nations children in residential schools.
• Giving flood plains as a reserve (Attawapiskat)
• They traded alcohol for furs.
• Jacques Cartier kidnapped some First Nations people.
• Land treaties were unfair.
• Europeans brought diseases that killed up to 50% of First Nations people.
• They claimed / stole First Nations land.
• They fought with First Nations.
• Canadians tried to get First Nations to forget their culture.
• Early explorers raised a flag (and cross) on First Nations land and claimed the land.

How First Nations were treated

• like garbage when the settlers first came, when they made unfair land treaties. and took advantage of them.
• very poorly when settlers took land.
• like children when they made decisions for First Nations
• in Residential Schools, they were not able to speak their own language.
• like they were unequal when missionaries tried to convert them to European ways of life.

Scratch Programming

We are going to begin to learn how to program (or code).

We will be using Scratch. <click here>

You can watch a demonstration video.  <click here>

A Visit From Nate Bramsen

Today we had a visit from a "missionary".  I thought that it was great.  I found one story he told written on a blog post.  Click Here to read it!

He asked us to pray for Slalmantu who has not believed on Jesus.

Fall Art

We have a fine group of artists creating colourful Masterpieces!

Interesting Art

We drew batman as a practice today.
Students were challenged to draw only what they see.   This was our practice peice.  

I wonder what the real work will look like when we are done?

Guess the Covered Word

Yesterday we learned that good readers can read words that they can't read!

How do they do that?

They look at the size of the word.  They look to see how it begins.  They think about what word makes sense.  Then, they check to see if their guess makes sense.  Here's a picture of the paragraph we read.

Computer Assignment

I have made a presentation to explain your next computer assignment.

Click Here to see it.

Math Contest

Click here to take the contest.

Around 8pm, you will be able to check your results.  To do that you'll need the access code that you used today.   Click here.

New Link

Next week we're going to try a Math Contest.  The last question on the Math Contest is a game called Dots. You can try that game by clicking on the Math Contest Games link to the right.

You can also practice the Math Contests by clicking the Math Contest link to the right.

Happy solving!

La Television Gala

Today we had a gala to celebrate our favourite shows. Some of us dressed up as TV characters and some of us just dressed up for the gala. Here we are:

A New Link

In Grade 3/4 we are learning typing skills.  Typing skills are very critical for future success.  Look to the right and you will see the link for Typing Web.

The Pin Chart

This is a way for me to remind students of their behaviour.  I like it because it allows me to show praise when students do great things.

Every day students begin at “Reporting for Duty”.  If they show responsible behaviour they move their pin up the chart.  If they show irresponsible behaviour they move their pin down the chart.  Moving up the chart the levels are “Code Cracked”, “Mission Accomplished”, and “Agent with Distinction”.  Moving down the chart the levels are “Identity Compromised”, “Agency Choice” and “Contact Headquarters”.  I will phone or email if a student finishes the day on that level.  Finishing at the top of the chart earns a stripe, and 6 stripes earns a new pin.

La Television Theme Song

Grade 3/4 is Unique

Spelling Lesson 2 Words

Grade 3

ever
sick
well
dragon
hill
woods
tell
pick
smell
because
kill
bit

Grade 4

hop
mud
there
hunt
frog
buzz
their
rocks
such
swam
clock
shop
bug
cup

Early Exploration of Canada Quiz

Note: The answers are posted in the comments.

Cool Things We Learned

In Bible class today we talked about how ancient people used pictographs to write.  The problems with using pictographs were that 1) one picture could mean different things 2) they are difficult to understand and 3) it took too long to draw them. Then students made secret messages using pictographs for a partner to solve.

September Nifty Thrifty Fifty

Here are the words for September

• composer
• encouragement
• musician
• unfriendly
• discovery
• hopeless
• richest
• impossible

Welcome to a New Year!

Welcome to Grade 3/4!  I am sure that God has a great year planned for us.  I just wanted to send out a little note to familiarize you with what our class will be like for the year.  I am expecting that this will be the best year ever!

Class GPS

To get somewhere, you need to know where you are going.  There are five things I would like our class to be.

Christ-Honouring: He is the reason we are here and He loves us and has work for us to do in His name.

Safe Community: Students should feel accepted and loved, and they should feel safe to make mistakes.

Love of Learning: I hope to instill and develop a love of learning in students.

Growth: We want to grow as people and improve our skills this year.

Interesting Lessons: I have challenged myself to bring passion, creativity,  and enthusiasm into the classroom.

http://wonderopolis.com
http://bbc.co.uk/ancientgreece.com
http://ancientgreece.com

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/topic_t_1.html
http://www.brocku.ca/caribou/test/practice_test_login.php

Computer Assignment

Your job is to use Open Office Impress to share things about yourself.

1. You need to make 3 slides.
2. Your slides need to have a picture and some words.
3. To get an A+ you need to have some animations.

Possible Slide Topics:

- My favourite animal
- My favourite sport
- The best book I read this year
- The worst book I read this year
- Something we did in class that was great
- Something that we did in class that I didn't like
- Your choice...

Accelerated Reader Team Challenge

There is a program called Accelerated Reader.  When a student reads a book, they can take a quiz on that book.  Accelerated Reader keeps track of your progress and gives you points for the books that you read.

Our class has been divided up into 5 teams.  Each month we have a competition to earn points and get correct answers.  

The winning team for May was Team Sweeden.  (Other winners were team Russia, and team USA.) Way to go!

Persuasive Homework Assignment

This weekend you have a job to do.  Your job is to find a persuasive article, ad, or commercial.



If you have a commercial, you need to email the link to me, Mr. Lee.

Here is a video we watched in class to introduce the idea of persuasion...

Wordo

We sometimes play a game called Wordo. This game 1) has kids practice spelling and reading the Nifty Thrifty Words, and 2) has kids practice listening for prefixes, suffixes, and root words.

I will say a word and the students cover all the words on their card that have the same prefix, suffix, or root word.  When you have three in a row you shout "Wordo".

Here are last week's winners.

Designing A Map

1. Go to Google Maps.
2. Search for your area for your survival book.
3. Zoom in to make it a good size.
4. Create a map that shows your location.

Your Map needs:

• A compass rose
• A title
• Colour
• A Legend
• All words need to be written horizontally.

Le Canard

Le canard nage bien.
Le canard vole.
Le canard marche.
Le canard creuse.


Le Couguar

Le couguar cours vite.
Le couguar marche.
Le couguar saute bien.
Le couguar grimpe.
Le couguar nage.

L'ecureuil

L'ecureuil grimpe bien.
L'ecureuil marche.
L'ecureuil saute tres bien.
L'ecureuil creuse.
L'ecureuil cours.

Le lievre

Le lievre saute.
Le lievre cours.
Le lievre creuse.
Le lievre marche.
Le lievre grimpe.

Le mouton

Le mouton marche.
Le mouton cours vite.
Le mouton saute.
Le mouton grimpe.
Le mouton creuse.

Long Division Rap

Math Test Thursday

Good things - Some students were able to do the grade 6 test. - Colby, Sam, Liam, Elijah, Jesse, and other students liked that it took so long so they could read their books. - Extra work could get done. - Keean sat at my desk, and liked the grade 6 Math. - There was a bonus question that was VERY challenging that Tye liked. - Nathan liked that he could study before doing the test. - Kate liked that she had a study sheet with the questions she needed practice on. Madison agreed. - Jacob liked that he could do fractions. - AGV liked the option of doing two different tests. - Elijah thought the test was really easy. - Jesse liked the extra challenge. Things to improve - During the middle some students were too loud. Some people got in trouble. - Jacob would like to try working at his desk. - If students stay put, then they will not be a distraction. - It was tough for some students who needed some help and Mr. Lee was busy.

How to survive in the Wilderness

Things to eat - raspberries - turtle eggs - gut cherries (not great) Fire - Use flint to make sparks - Use to keep warm - Use to keep mosquitoes away - It was like a friend - Use as a signal fire

Inferring and Writing

      

      Monique is sad because she lost Ginger.  She cried all night and never slept.  She was planning a funeral for Ginger in her bed.  The next day I gave her a card that said:

      "I'm sorry for your loss of Ginger.  I hope you're okay because I am sad too.  From Taylor."

I saw Monique at school eating her lunch and crying and crying and sobbing.

      I said, "I will comfort you if you are sad.  That is what friends are for."

      "Ya I guess,"said Monique. 

Inferring and Writing

Jimmy

"Hi my name is Jimmy.  I have two false legs!" said Jimmy.
      Jimmy (Jim for short) had no legs when he was born, so he had to get two false legs.  Jim is the fastest in his class and he can run as fast as a race car!  He always runs races and usually wins.  He raises funds for hospitals so that if anyone needs a false leg, they can get it free!  But there is a down side; lots of the older kids make fun of him.

Historica Display Boards

Do you want ideas for how to display your history fair project?  Click Here.

What to do first?

The boy in Hatchet thought that he had to do something.  What should he do first?

• try rubbing rocks to make fire
• try to chop down a tree
• try to make a shelter
• try to find food
• try to make a shelter with branches
• try to make a shelter in the trees
• try to make a hunting blind
• make an "H" on the beach, or "SOS"
• try to make a floating shelter
• try to cut down trees in the shape of SOS
• try to make three piles of anything

Two groups decided that food would be the best thing to find now.  One group decided that shelter would be the best thing to find.

Math Problem of the Week

I need 12 pieces of fruit to make 3 glasses of juice. How many pieces of fruit do I need to make 10 glasses of juice?

1. 30
2. 36
3. 40
4. 120
5. 60
6. 37
7. 48

How Can We Work Better in Class?

• Use self control to keep working
• Try to ignore other people if they are off topic
• Try to be as quiet as you can
• Try to not be the one distracting others
• Try to be a good influence
• Think of how you are avoiding homework by working now

If you have more tips, leave them in the comments below.

BOB Spreadsheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvskcbbZ7eIFdC1VeG5MeHR0S0gyVDZtaXBDeDUxOGc&usp=sharing

Introduction and Conclusion Paragraphs

The introduction paragraph gets people ready for your writing.  It should do 2 things.  It should make people interested in your report.  It should tell people what will be in your report. Here are the sentences that you should have in your introduction paragraph.

1. An introduction sentence. This says what your topic is and something that makes the reader interested.
2. What you will say in sub-topic 1.
3. What you will say in sub-topic 2.
4. What you will say in sub-topic 3.
5. What you will say in sub-topic 4.
6. A conclusion sentence.

The conclusion paragraph reminds people what was in your report.  You should tell the reader what was the most important points.  You can include what you think or feel. A conclusion paragraph can look like this:

1. Why the person/thing is important to Canada.
2. Details that show the important thing. 
3. Details that show the important thing.
4. A conclusion sentence that says what you think or feel.

Historica Steps

1. Pick your topic
2. Get information - Research
3. Graphic Organizer - Organizes our thoughts
4. Write paragraphs about your subtopics.
5. Add an introduction and conclusion paragraph.
6. Your paragraphs and your introduction paragraph and your conclusion paragraph are your rough draft. 
7. Fix up your rough draft.
8. Type a good draft.
9. Create a creative component.
10. Make your board.
11. Tell the class about it.
12. Show your project to the school and judges in the gym!
13. Win Prizes!

Math Problem of the Week

2 dollars + 20 pennies = 1 dollar + ? pennies

1. 100
2. 120
3. 200
4. 220
5. 80
6. 240
7. 150

Successful Olympian Traits

In class we are trying to discuss what kind of people are successful at the Olympics, and in life.  We have 12 character traits that make the kind of person that God can use.  They are:

zest
grit - Keep going even though it's hard.
thankful - Attitude of gratefulness.
holiness
faith - Trusting in God (believing without seeing).
optimism
curiosity
self-control - When you stay calm and do the right thing.
social intelligence
love - Showing care for others (like Alex Belideau.)
integrity
humble - Not proud or braggy.

I was reading this story from the Olympics.  Is there a trait on this list somewhere in the story?

Click Here

Historica Lesson - How to write a paragraph.

For Historica we have a graphic organizer.  We used it to make our topic easier to sort out.  We put the main topic in the middle, and we wrote out 4 sub-topics.  With each sub-topic we put, in point form, a few important details.  

Today we talked about how to turn our point form details into a paragraph.  A paragraph has an introduction sentence.  It has some detail sentences, and a conclusion sentence.  A good conclusion sentence can say what we think or feel (about the topic).

We learned about Tim Horton and made a paragraph as a class.

Tim Horton's hockey career

• started at 5 years old
• played on 4 teams, TML, Pens, Sabers, NYR
• He played defence
• he won 4 stanley cups
• Gordie Howe called him hockey's strongest man.
• was an all star 6 times.

Paragraph about Tim Horton's hockey Career

     Tim Horton's hockey career began at age 5.  He played on four different NHL teams, the Leafs, the Penguins, the Sabers, and the Rangers.  He was a defenceman.  He was on a cup winning team four times.  Tim Horton was selected to be an all star six times.  Gordie Howe called him the strongest man in the NHL.  He had a long and successful hockey career over 17 seasons. 

Skype Interview With an Expert

   Today we skyped with Sarah McFadden.  She works in Alberta in the Rocky Mountains to check up on companies who work in the wilderness. We learned that there are dangers to being alone in the Rockies.  There are cougars, grizzly bears, black bears, moose, wolves, wolverines, You will need to have a first aid kit, extra clothes (because the weather changes quickly), food, things to build a fire with,  and a knife.  She said that there were animals in the Rockies.  We should be prepared!

    There are questions that we still have. We still are wondering why we need a knife. Is there poison ivy?  How long has Sarah been doing that work?

Math Problem of the Week

A row of 14 townhouses in a city are all identical except for the colour of their doors. They are painted red, blue, green and purple in order from the beginning of the block and then repeated. Which one of the sentences is true?

1. Both ends of the block have the same colour doors
2. The 13th house is red
3. The 5th house is blue
4. The 8th house is green
5. The 10th house is purple

Put your answer in the comments.

Study Skills

Today we talked about different strategies that are helpful for studying for tests.

The first strategy has 4 parts to it.  First you should read over the study sheet.  Second you get a friend to quiz you.  Third, you circle the questions you got wrong. Finally, you go back and look over the ones you need to learn.

Another study strategy was to read over the study sheet, then close your eyes and see if you can say the information.

Another study method was to write down the important information.

The next strategy is a lot like the previous one.  You can go through your information and highlight the important details.

This strategy is good for when you have to memorize a Bible verse.  All you have to do is to write the verse over and over until you know it perfectly.

To memorize a Bible verse you could also break up the verse and memorize little bits.

A fun way to study is to play games like Bible Baseball.

If you know your stuff really well you could just look it over a few times.

Good luck on your tests everyone!