News, information, and announcements from Mr. Trent's Classroom at Charles Ellis Montessori Academy in Savannah, Georgia.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Useful links at www.portaportal.com
The amount of websites on the internet can sure be overwhelming at times. I've collected a few of my favorite sites that will help you in class and placed them on the online bookmark site http://www.portaportal.com/. Simply type "student12" in the Guest Access box.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Progress Reports
Please review the progress report that was sent home today. Sign it, and return it to your child's homeroom teacher Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Week of February 27, 2012
As soon as everyone left after lunch today, I went right to work planning an exciting week for you! In Math, we will be finding the surface area of the geometric solids we recently worked with. Surface area can be tricky because there are a lot of steps to follow (and alot of places to lose your place or make a mistake). I really need you to focus, focus, focus while we are working with surface area over the next few weeks. HERE is a great website that gives you the procedures for finding surface area. It also includes online quizes to check your understanding. Be expecting homework Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night and a quiz on Thursday.
In science, we will be talking about the Earth, Sun, and Moon connection. We will specifically be focusing on nuclear fusion, the phases of the moon, and eclipses. HERE is the presentation I will show you on Monday. Below are your vocabulary words that you must study for a quiz on Friday:
In science, we will be talking about the Earth, Sun, and Moon connection. We will specifically be focusing on nuclear fusion, the phases of the moon, and eclipses. HERE is the presentation I will show you on Monday. Below are your vocabulary words that you must study for a quiz on Friday:
nuclear fusion- the process by which nuclei of small atoms combine to form a new, more massive nucleus; the process releases energy
sunspot- a dark area of the photosphere of the sun that is cooler than the surrounding areas and has a strong magnetic field.
eclipse- an event in which the shadow of one celestial body falls on another
phase- the change in the sunlit area of one celestial body as seen from another celestial body
satellite- a natural or artificial body that revolves around a planet
Yes, that's right! ONLY 5 WORDS! But, don't get too excited...the rest of the quiz will require you to identify the phases of the moon we will talk about on Monday. Here is a picture of the phases you must know:
Over the next two weeks, you will be working on a choice sheet to guide your studies on the Earth, Sun, Moon connection. This choice sheet will be due Friday, March 10th. The 10th is also the day of our final test on these topics.
So, you can see it's going to be a busy, busy, busy week. But, look forward to Friday because we will have a "Drop Everything and Read" event to celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday! Rest up this weekend so we can hit it hard on Monday.
See you then,
Mr. Trent
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Constellation Research Help
Having trouble finding information for your constellation research choice? Check out THIS great website!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
More Friday Good News...
In addition to Friday being a half-day, it will also be a dress down day for students!
Monday, February 20, 2012
The SHORT week of February 21st
It's a short week coming up...no school on Monday and a half-day Friday! That's not going to slow us down, because we can squeeze 5 days of fun into 3 and 1/2!
In math, we will be working with geometric solids. We will start by looking at nets and the type of solids they create. After that, we will identify the sides, faces, edges, and vertices of each. This work will prepare us for starting surface area next week. Get ready to do a lot of cutting and folding! Check out THIS online tool all about geometric solids. Finally, don't forget to complete one geometry sky-tower choice.
In science, we will continue investigating historical views of the universe and famous astronomers. Your three work choices are due this Friday. In addition, you will have a test on what we have studied on Friday. Your study guide will simply be the packet I gave you last Monday. All of your test questions will come from these pages. Pay careful attention to the questions on the back of the packet...you WILL see these again (hint, hint) Perhaps you could make a foldable to help you prepare?
Let's get this week started!
Mr. Trent
In math, we will be working with geometric solids. We will start by looking at nets and the type of solids they create. After that, we will identify the sides, faces, edges, and vertices of each. This work will prepare us for starting surface area next week. Get ready to do a lot of cutting and folding! Check out THIS online tool all about geometric solids. Finally, don't forget to complete one geometry sky-tower choice.
In science, we will continue investigating historical views of the universe and famous astronomers. Your three work choices are due this Friday. In addition, you will have a test on what we have studied on Friday. Your study guide will simply be the packet I gave you last Monday. All of your test questions will come from these pages. Pay careful attention to the questions on the back of the packet...you WILL see these again (hint, hint) Perhaps you could make a foldable to help you prepare?
Let's get this week started!
Mr. Trent
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
CRCT Practice
Click here for an online CRCT practice activity. The username is grade6 and the password is grade6.
Circle Formula Poem
Here's the poem I shared with you in class today to remember the formulas for circumference and area:
‘Tweedle dum and tweedle dee,
round the circle pi times d,
When it’s area they declared,
we must use pi r squared.’
Monday, February 13, 2012
Progress Reports
Progress reports went home today! Be sure to review, sign, and return them to school tomorrow (Feb. 14). If you have any questions, simply write a note on the top page, and Ms. Carol or myself will get in contact with you ASAP.
Valentine Fun!
There are a few Valentine activities going on this week to look forward to. First, the Jumprope for Heart fundraiser will happen on Thursday from 1:00-2:45. Also, the Valentine's dance will be Friday from 6:30-9:00. Be sure to bring in your permission slip if you are planning on attending.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
The Week of February 13, 2012
I'm sure everyone is excited for Valentine's Day this week! Our lessons for this week are also a cause for excitement...circumference of circles and famous astronomers!
In math, we will work together to discover the circumference of circles. We will start by using our trusty rulers to measure circumference, then we will explore a formula that will make the whole process a lot faster. Be ready for some homework and classwork that you will need to complete. In addition, we will have a quiz on Thursday. HERE is a fun online basketball game that helps you practice finding circumferences of circles.
We will start a new unit of outer-space in science this week. We will start off by talking about famous astronomers in history, telescopes, and constellations. Here is a copy of the powerpoint I will share with you tomorrow:
You will be given a "Planetary Pathways" choice sheet to guide your studies. It will be due next Friday. This Friday, you will have a vocabulary quiz on the following words:
In math, we will work together to discover the circumference of circles. We will start by using our trusty rulers to measure circumference, then we will explore a formula that will make the whole process a lot faster. Be ready for some homework and classwork that you will need to complete. In addition, we will have a quiz on Thursday. HERE is a fun online basketball game that helps you practice finding circumferences of circles.
We will start a new unit of outer-space in science this week. We will start off by talking about famous astronomers in history, telescopes, and constellations. Here is a copy of the powerpoint I will share with you tomorrow:
Astronomy- the study of the universe
Year- the time required for the
Earth to orbit once around the sun
Month- a division of the year
that is based on the orbit of the moon around the Earth
Day- the time required for the
Earth to rotate once on its axis
Telescope- an instrument that
collects electromagnetic radiation from the sky and concentrates it for better
observation
Constellation- a region of the sky that
contains a recognizable star pattern and that is used to describe the location
of objects in space.
Zenith- the point in the sky directly above the observer on Earth
Altitude- the angle between an
object in the sky and the horizon
Horizon- the line where the sky and
the Earth appear to meet
Light-year- the distance that light
travels in one year; about 9.46 trillion kilometers
I really enjoyed reading your biome essays! Please see me if you have any questions about the grade you earned.
See you Monday morning,
Mr. Trent
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Geometry Sky Tower
The Geometry Sky Tower Montessori material is used to practice geometric vocabulary. Here, a student completes the "Parts of a Circle" activity.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Area of Circles Practice
Would you like some more practice finding area of circles? Check out THIS fun memory-style game! Remember: A = pi x r2
Monday, February 6, 2012
Using Foldables to Help Us Study
We created "pocket books" to help us organize our biome notes. Using this study tool can help when preparing for Friday's test.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Rolling into the First Full Week of February
Here we are again, ready to start another week of school! In math, we will be starting an in-depth discussion about circles. Some of what we talk about will be a review from previous year's work, but it is important that we are comfortable manipulating circles so that some work we do with surface area in the near future will be easier. Here is come circle information taken from math2.org:
Circumference of Circle = PI x diameter = 2 PI x radius
where PI =
= 3.141592...
Area of Circle:
area = PI r2
In science, we will finish up our research essays about biomes. I am so excited to begin reading you essays and learn all the great facts you've discovered! Remember to use the cover sheet rubric to be sure you've included all the requirements for the assignment. The essay will be due this Friday. Friday will also be the day we have our test on climate zones and biomes. We will create a study booklet on Monday to help you prepare. You will also need to review the notes I gave you last Monday. You can find it in THIS blog post.
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
Mr. Trent
diameter = 2 x radius of circle
arc: a curved line that is part of the circumference of a circle
chord: a line segment within a circle that touches 2 points on the circle.
circumference: the distance around the circle.
diameter: the longest distance from one end of a circle to the other.
origin: the center of the circle
pi (): A number, 3.141592..., equal to (the circumference) / (the diameter) of any circle.
radius: distance from center of circle to any point on it.
sector: is like a slice of pie (a circle wedge).
tangent of circle: a line perpendicular to the radius that touches ONLY one point on the circle.
Circumference of Circle = PI x diameter = 2 PI x radius
where PI =

Area of Circle:
area = PI r2

In science, we will finish up our research essays about biomes. I am so excited to begin reading you essays and learn all the great facts you've discovered! Remember to use the cover sheet rubric to be sure you've included all the requirements for the assignment. The essay will be due this Friday. Friday will also be the day we have our test on climate zones and biomes. We will create a study booklet on Monday to help you prepare. You will also need to review the notes I gave you last Monday. You can find it in THIS blog post.
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
Mr. Trent
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Registration Packet Updates
We are in the process of making sure all information we have on file here at Ellis is up to date. If your child came home with a registration packet, please take the time to fill it out so we can have the most up-to-date information available. I appreciate your time filling out this paperwork.
Biome Research
This week, students are researching the world's biomes and writing an essay to share their findings.
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