Candy Heart Estimating

Estimating is a skill that we use on a daily basis. Sometimes we don't even realize we are using that skill. Children need plenty of practice with estimating so that they will be able to use it as adults. A fun way to practice estimating is with food or candy. So, yesterday during math class we did some estimating...with candy hearts in baby food jars. We spent time discussing what a good "guess" would be and how to adjust our estimations based on previous guesses and actual amounts. 

This is an activity that I used for many years when I taught first grade. The fourth graders did an excellent job of explaining (in writing) what they learned or discovered from this activity. We even took the math a step further and did some long division to figure out how many candy hearts each student would get to eat at the end of the class period. One kiddo even wanted to divide the remaining candy hearts into fractions! :)

Estimating candy hearts

What We Love

The fourth graders in my homeroom completed a little project to go along with Valentine's day. Using the website imagechef.com, we made word clouds in the shape of a heart. The kids typed what they love, chose the font and colors and the website created a heart shaped word cloud.

Here's my Valentine's day word cloud. :)

Our Classroom Door decorated with our 
Valentine's day word clouds.

Spelling Word Clouds

We were able to practice our spelling words last week in a very fun way! We used the mini-laptops to type the words and then made "word clouds" on www.abcya.com . This is an activity that I used many times when I taught first grade, so I knew the fourth graders would do great with this. They had so much fun! After checking their spelling, they had fun changing the fonts, color and layout of their word clouds. 

http://www.abcya.com/word_clouds.htm

Christmas Grid Pictures

Today we had a Math test. The fourth graders did very well on the test which was over multiplication. Many of them still need to work on quicker recall of basic multiplication facts.

After the kiddos completed their test, they worked on mystery grid pictures. They used the clue sheets to create the pictures.

We spent some inside recess, time earlier this week, making these gigantic snowflakes to decorate our classroom.

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas! I sure am looking forward to some rest and relaxation!!!!

Busy Fourth Graders

Almost every Tuesday and Friday we go to the library computer lab to work on math skills using the math website www.aleks.com. Each student has their own log in name and password. They can work at their own pace on various math skills to fill in their ALEKS "pie". Once a student fills one pie, they can move onto another pie. This website can be accessed after school hours from home as well. During some free time, several of the fourth graders used the iPads to work on ALEKS this week.

A fun math activity that we have been working on in October is coordinate grid pictures. The fourth graders used the clues to make a monster and an owl.

During our Spelling time we do various activities to practice the words on our lists. One activity is to use the website and iPad app called "Spelling City". There are games and practice tests for the students to use in order to master the spelling of the words.

These fourth graders are playing spelling games on the iPads.

"Hang Mouse" on SpellingCity.com

Fun Math Games

It's always a challenge for a teacher to make learning fun and interesting. It's also important to give students time to practice the skills they are learning so that they are able to master them. In my classroom I like to use games for this. I have slowly been adding games to their choices.

One such game is "24". There are 4 numbers on each card and the students have to come up with a way to make 24 by using any combination of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. The girls in the picture below have used the numbers 7, 5, 4 and 1 to make 24. (7x4=28; 28-5=23; 23+1=24.)

These girls are playing "24".  

The boys in the picture below are playing one of the many Frog Math games that we have. There are many different math skills that can be practiced playing these games.

Playing Frog Math games with friends.

 These girls are playing "Knock It Off". It is a multiplication game based on fact families. It's a fun way to get extra practice on the basic multiplication facts.

Playing the multiplication game "Knock It Off".

Math Nook

We just finished up our Math chapter on rounding numbers and money. That doesn't mean we won't be rounding again since all of these math skills we learn keep showing up in different areas. ;) I found this great website called MathNook (www.mathnook.com) the other day and more specifically the game called "Mathboat". It's a great way to practice the rounding skills we learned. We used our Mimeo interactive whiteboard and my new "toys" (a wireless keyboard and mouse) to project the game on the board and play it! Click HERE to play the game.

 

Some 4th graders playing the rounding game "Mathboat"
using the Mimeo and a wireless keyboard and mouse.
So fun!! :)