WMS: Math/Science Update

Dear Families,

It's June already! Welcome to the time-warp known as Spring Semester! I wanted to let you know what we're working on in math and science this week. I am still assigning homework. You can see homework assignments on my blog [link]. Just click on the calendar tab. And I am still recording homework completion by stamping in your child's planner when the homework is due. Usually, if your student's planner isn't stamped, they haven't turned in their homework.

Math: Percents and MAP Math Testing

• Back in the Fall we worked with percents when we were dealing with decimal notation of fractions. This time we are coming at it again, but from the point of view of problem solving and equivalent fractions.
• This week we are still focusing on reviewing fraction/decimal/percent equivalencies and calculations. The thought process goes like this:
• I know that 1/4 is equivalent to 2/8. All I have to do is multiply the numerator and the denominator of 1/4 by 2 and I get 2/8.
• PERcent means "for one hundred."
• I can pretend that the group I'm looking at has 100 members instead of just 8. 1/4 can become 100ths if I multiply the numerator and the denominator each by 25. 1/4 x 25/25 = 25/100. 
• Example: In a class of 25 kids, 13 are boys and 12 are girls.
• What percent are boys? 15/25 are boys. If I multiply the 25 by 4, I can pretend there are 100 students. Then I just need to do the same to the 15 on top to get 60 boys. 60/100 is 60 for every 100... or 60%.
• MAP MATH testing Wednesday 6/6 for the BLUE group kids.
• MAP MATH testing Thursday 6/7 for the GREEN group kids.

Science: Layers of the Colorado Plateau

• This week we will finish looking at the layers of the Colorado Plateau. We will examine sand samples to see how their grain textures inform us of the history of sandstone layers and we will get some estimated dates of the rocks in these layers. 
• The big picture we're building here is that the layers of the grand canyon were laid down in specific environments that existed over the same physical location. These layers were compressed into sedimentary rock and then the whole thing was somehow lifted up about 8000 feet. We won't go deeply into earthquakes and plate tectonics because there is an entire unit on that in 7th grade which is really good.

Our students are also looking forward to their Greek Olympic Games in two weeks at Cornwall Park! It should be a blast!

Cheers,

Brian MacNevin