The Week of March 2, 2015

Another month has come and gone....welcome to the first week of March!  We are entering the last two weeks of the third term, and I have a number of lessons I'd like to present to you.

In math we will continue to work with measures of central tendency.  I will show you a useful way to present data using a box and whisker plot.  Here is the procedure to follow to make one:

Box and Whisker Plots

You will have some box and whisker homework Monday and Tuesday evening to complete.  In addition, please complete your weekly journal and Compass Learning assignment by Friday.  You will have a quiz on box and whisker plots Thursday.

In science, we will be blasting off to research how the sun, Earth, and moon interact with each other as they travel through our amazing universe.  Here is a copy of your notes that you can use to help you understand everything from the makeup of the sun, the phases of the moon, and eclipses.

Earth Sun Moon Study Guide

You will have a vocabulary quiz Friday, March 6th on the following words and moon phases:

(Click to enlarge)

(Click to enlarge)

Use this choice sheet to guide your research.  The completed choices will be due Friday, March 13.

The Lunar Lunchbox Restaurant

The last progress reports of the term will be sent home Tuesday.  Please review, sign, and return them to your child's homeroom teacher.  All 2nd term work is due the last day of the term (Friday, March 13).  Please check PowerSchool Parent Access to see if you are missing any work.

Have a great weekend,
Mr. Trent

Famous Female Astonomers

As you are doing your research about the history of astronomy, take some time to explore how female astronomers have influenced space exploration.  Click below for an article from the Mother Nature Network to get to know more about a few of them.

"Ten Female Astronomers Everyone Should Know" - Mother Nature Network 

Interactive Line Plot Graph

Check out this great resource you can use to create line plots.  As an added bonus, it will automatically calculate the mean, median, and mode of the data set you put on the graph!  Isn't technology amazing!?

Interactive Line Plot Tool 

Clothespin Math & Science

We used clothespins in both math and science today.  To help us with our studies with measures of central tendencies, we played a game to create a data set.  Students were challenged to see how many clothespins they could drop from their nose into a cup on the floor.  After compiling the entire class' scores, we graphed it and found the mean, median, mode, and range of the data set.  For science, we used clothespins to create a simple tool called an astrolabe.  Early astronomers used astrolabes to measure altitude of objects in the sky.  Who knew that clothespins could do so much more than hold our clothes to a drying line?!

A data-collecting clothespin game

Using homemade astrolabes to calculate altitude 

The Week of February 23, 2015

Happy International Montessori Week!  I hope you will take some time over the next few days to think about how the Montessori philosophy has influenced your life.  We will be doing a few fun things this week to celebrate. First, we will have a Peace Pole celebration Wednesday.  You can also dress as your favorite Montessori material on Friday!

We will continue our work with interpreting data this week in math.  The measures of central tendencies (mean, median, mode, and range) we introduced last week will help us decipher hidden meanings in groups of numbers.  More specifically, we will look at how we can interpret data found in graphs.  The following text will help you better understand this concept. 

Measures of Central Tendency

You will have homework Monday and Tuesday night to complete.  Your weekly Compass Learning assuagement (due Friday) will also focus on measures of central tendency.  In addition, don't forget to complete your journal assignment.  It is found on your Google Classroom page, and will be due Friday.

In science, we will continue getting to know the famous astronomers that were introduced you to last week.  Use your "Planetary Pathways" choice sheet to guide your studies.  Three choices from the sheet will be due Friday.  You will also have a test on the astronomers Friday.  Use your study guide to help you prepare.

If your family has not completed the Parent Climate Survey, please do so by the end of the week.

Enjoy your weekend,
Mr. Trent

One-Hour Delay: Friday, Feb. 20, 2015

SCCPSS Schools to open on a One-Hour Delay Friday, Feb. 20, 2015

School Start Delayed by One-Hour for Students - (Buses will Operate on a One-Hour Delay)

Based on information from local weather broadcasters and the Chatham Emergency Management Agency calling for continued extreme cold associated with wind chill temperatures as low as 14 degrees during the morning hours, all Savannah-Chatham County Schools will open on a one-hour delay on Friday, February 20, 2015.  All schools will dismiss at their normal dismissal time and all after-school athletic and extra-curricular activities will remain as planned unless otherwise notified by your school.

Parents who wish to drop their children off at school at their regular school start time may do so.

***All SCCPSS Employees are expected to report to work at their regularly scheduled time, unless advised differently by your supervisor.

Savannah-Chatham Public Schools bus up to 24,000 students to and from school each day, and with the continued low temperatures that are predicted tomorrow morning, the start time for tomorrow's school day will be delayed.  Buses will operate on a one-hour delay for all morning routes.  

**Part time students who attend the Woodville Tompkins Technical and Career High School for morning sessions will remain at their home high school campus.

Please make sure to check our website at www.sccpss.com for updates.

Timetoast Timeline: Famous Astronomers

Timetoast is a great online tool you can use to create interactive timelines!  Here is one that was made showing famous astronomers throughout history.  Click on the + next to their pictures to see more information about their lives.

Famous Astronomers Timeline 

Parent Climate Survey (Deadline: Feb. 27)

The Georgia Parent Survey will be available until February 27.  This new survey requests information from families to correlate information from student and school personnel surveys.  although it is not mandatory, parents are asked to complete this brief survey.  Your feedback is appreciated.  Please click HERE to access the survey.  

Progress Reports Issued (Growth Reports Attached)

Progress reports will be sent home today.  Attached to the report you will find a "Growth Report" page that shows performance data from the past few years of CRCT testing.  More information about this report can be found on the accompanying letter and on the report itself.  Let me know if you have any questions about this information.  You can keep the growth reports, but please return the other pages of the progress report.  Review, sign, and return it tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb. 18).

Mean, Median, Mode, & Range Brainpop

Brainpop movies are a great way to review and practice concepts you are focusing on in class.  Check out the Mean, Median, Mode, and Range movie....Tim and Mobi do a nice job quickly explaining the concept.

Mean, Median, Mode, & Range Brainpop (See Mr. Trent for log-on info.)

The Week of February 16, 2015.

Our upcoming week is a tad shorter than normal....you get Monday off to celebrate Presidents' Day!  While you are enjoying some much deserved time off, I will be at Ellis preparing another great week for you!

When you return on Tuesday, we will start our studies of statistics in math.  Our first focus in this domain of math will be mean, median, mode, and range.  Be looking forward to a number of mini-games we will play to gather data to use to practice these skills.  In addition, check out this fun activity that is all about mean, median, mode, and range:

Mean, Median, Mode, and Range Game Show

You will have homework Tuesday and Wednesday evening, and a quiz Thursday.  While you will NOT have a journal this week, please be sure to complete your Compass Learning assignment by Friday.  

Here is an extra practice sheet you can feel free to try on your own.  The answer are at the bottom of the page.

Mean Median Mode Practice

In science, we will leave our atmosphere and start studying astronomy!  Our lessons will begin with exploring historical views of our universe and the astronomers who studied it.  You will become very familiar with with following astronomers:

Famous Astronomers Study Guide 

As part of your research, please study the following words.  You will have a vocabulary quiz on them this Friday.

Exploring the Universe Vocabulary 

Finally, use the following choice sheet to explore our universe.  It will be due Friday, Feb. 27th.

Planetary Pathways 

Enjoy your long weekend,
Mr. Trent

Read, Set, READ: Read-A-Thon

Read A Thon 

Minecraft Volume Game

Do you like the game Minecraft?  If so, check out the awesome game that will help you practice finding volume of rectangular prisms!

Minecraft Volume Review Game

The Week of February 9, 2015

This upcoming week at Ellis will be chock-full of opportunities for you to explore the world around you.  Our week will start out with some lessons on volume, continue with some more weather research, and end with a field trip to the Beach Institute!  

Our math studies will continue to focus on geometric solids.  Instead of looking at surface area, we will be practicing how to find the volume of solids.  You will have homework Monday and Tuesday evenings to complete as well as two Compass Learning assignments.  Your math journal will be due Friday.  All of this practice should get you ready for your quiz on volume that will take place Thursday.  You can also use the resource below to help you master the skill of finding volume.

Volume of Rectangular Prisms Practice 

Our science studies will continue to focus on weather patterns.  Please complete the "Meteorology Matrix" choice sheet by Friday.  You final test on weather patterns will take place that day, also.  You can use your study guide to help you prepare.

There are a number of other exciting things to look forward to this week.  First, the PTA has organized a number of guest speakers to visit the room and talk to you about science topics.  Secondly, we will have an assembly on Rosa Parks this Thursdays as part of our celebration of Black History Month.  Finally, our field trip to the Beach Institute will take place Friday.  Please remember to hand in your permission slip and $2.00 by this Wednesday.

Have an enjoyable weekend,
Mr. Trent

Fieldtrip: Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center

Forms were sent home today for a field tip to the Beach Institute on Friday, Feb. 13th.  Please return the form and $2.00 to your homeroom teacher by Wednesday, Feb. 11th.

In 1867, the Beach Institute was established by the Freedmen’s Bureau with funds donated by Alfred Ely Beach, editor of Scientific American. The school was privately funded as a manual training school to provide a means for newly freed African Americans to assimilate into white society. By 1874, the institute was appropriated by the Savannah-Chatham Board of Education for the purpose of providing free education to Savannah’s African American citizenry. - from:  http://discoverblackheritage.com/beach-institute/

The Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center

Severe Weather Preparedness Week Guest Speaker: Meredith Ley

Ms. Meredith, a Public Information Officer with the Chatham Emergency Management Agency, visited us this week to talk about severe weather preparedness.  She shared with us some great tips about staying safe before, during, and after storms.  In addition, she gave us some informative literature, a pencil, and a first-aid kit.  Thanks, CEMA!

A Visit from CEMA

Weather Lore - The Facts Behind the Folklore

Weather Lore 

Super Bowl Math

Are you planning on enjoying the Super Bowl today?  If so, check out the following article about some interesting math behind the big game.  

Click above to learn the math behind the game of football!