Multiplying Fractions and Whole Numbers --Get a Head Start!

Multiplying fractions and whole numbers:
Check out two more awesome videos on this topic from Learnzillion.
Fractions by whole numbers with addition.
Fractions by whole numbers using visual models.

Print your own worksheets on this topic from one of my favorite at home websites, Dad's Worksheets.

Try out this game/quiz to see how good you are.  Challenge your parents to a competition!  (Tell them your teacher said they had to try ;)

Happy Holidays

Try out some Christmas math.

Check out these Christmas math word problems.

Check out my old page for holiday photos of my kids.

Have a great Christmas.

Multiplication of fractions -- Get a head start on what's next.

Math is Fun has a good lesson on this.
Purple Math is an interesting website that covers this.

What a great day!  I found this quiz, another quiz, and (wait for it...) a third quiz on multiplying fractions.  How cool is that?  It's a Christmas present from me to you.  Test yourself.

Decimal Practice and Word Problems

These two videos are from a new website I found.  Check out http://www.mrmaisonet.com/

Practice mixed operations with decimals online.  Take the quizzes too.
Don't forget to do your math practice over the break.  You can use the math tag at the bottom of this post to filter out any non-math posts.  Happy Holidays!

Dividing Decimals by Decimals

Check out decimal division on Cool Math and Math is Fun.

Check out this quiz on decimal division.  Try this website on decimals.  (cool website)
Try this quiz on multiplication and division.

Extra Credit Opportunities

If you are a fourth or fifth grader, you can do one of the at home science experiments from unit A in your science book.  Please post two paragraphs online at kidblog.org/teacherp.  The first paragraph should explain what you did and what happened.  The second paragraph should explain what you learned from the experiment.  If you want to post pictures, it would make your EC even more awesome.

Fourth graders have an extra credit opportunity in social studies.  Please post one paragraph explaining who the Californios were.  Use specific information from your social studies book.  Explain about their lifestyle, where they came from, how they affected CA history, etc.

Finally, fifth graders MUST post about the Lost Colony book.  The first paragraph should be a summary of the book.  Part two of the same post should be your ideas about what happened to the Lost Colony.  What do you think happened to it?  This is due Friday.

Dividing Decimals by Whole Numbers

Watch the video above for basic instruction on this concept.  Then try the personal tutor from your math book.  You can also try out this lesson from Cool Math.

Take a quiz when you think you've got the concept.

Limericks -- Hooray!

There once was a teacher, Mr. P
He was kind of cranky, wasn't he?
He got really mad,
when the kids were bad.
And then he gave them a D.

Limericks are fun.  We will work on writing these fun little poems this week.  Although they are short, they take a lot of thought.  Take your time.
Giggle Poetry -- How to write a limerick.
How to write a limerick -- ehow.
Poetry for kids, how to write a limerick.

Would you like some examples?
Limericks for kids.
Illustrated limericks by Edward Lear. 
More limericks by Edward Lear. 
Limericks for Children. 

So Many Poems, So Little Time

His Day is Done -- A tribute to Nelson Mandela -- Maya Angelou
The Swing -- Robert Louis Stevenson
Sea Fever -- John Masefield
Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening -- Robert Frost
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod -- Eugene Field
Helen Keller -- Langston Hughes
Where the Sidewalk Ends -- Shel Silverstein.
The Say Hey Kid -- Sue Mason
The Land of Nod -- Robert Louis Stevenson
Jabberwocky -- Lewis Carroll
Since Hannah Moved Away -- Judith Viorst

Do you have a poem that you think should be shared?  Send me a comment and I will post it if I can.

Taylor & Alex recommended:  Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony
Caitlyn & Leah shared: Homework Stew 
Taylor also likes: SARAH CYNTHIA SYLVIA STOUT
Mary enjoys:  The Silver Swan 
Alexandra found: The Meehoo with an Exactlywatt
Marisa liked two poems:  Poets Hitchhiking on the Highway and To Look at Anything. 

Multiplying With Decimals

Get a piece of scratch paper and try out these problems online.
Sample word problems at Math Goodies.  (Practice at the bottom.)
Try out these tutorials and word problems.
Quiz yourself.

Personification

per·son·i·fi·ca·tion

noun

the attribution of human nature or character to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract notions, especially as a rhetorical figure. 

the act of attributing human qualities to an animal, object, or abstraction; the act of personifying: The author's personification of the farm animals made for an enchanting children's book.

-- dictionary.com

Check out these personification examples.

Here are some humorous examples of personification.

Poems Everyone Should Read

Acquainted with the Night -- Robert Frost
Little Orphant Annie -- James Whitcomb Riley
Barbara Frietchie -- John Greenleaf Whittier
The Duel -- Eugene Field
The Song of Hiawatha -- Longfellow
Paul Revere's Ride -- Longfellow
Mary's Lamb -- Sarah Josepha Hale

Sarah Josepha Hale

Sarah Josepha Hale

Sarah Josepha Hale

The Cremation of Sam McGee -- Robert W. Service
A Dream Deferred -- Langston Hughes (This is my personal favorite.)
Dreams -- Langston Hughes
The Children's Hour -- Longfellow (I like this one because it reminds me of my children.)

Do you have another poem you would like me to add?  Let me know.  I'll check it out and post it here.

Nelson Mandela -- 1918 to 2013

Nelson Mandela was one of the most inspirational leaders of our time.  We will be learning more about his life on Monday.  Read these articles.

Scholastic News

Time For Kids

Ducksters Biography

Quotes by Nelson Mandela

How are each of these informational pieces different?  Why do you think articles about the same man are all different?

We will also read a short book on Nelson Mandela.  Once we have done this, consider how the book was different from the articles above.

CA Academy of Sciences!!!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I had a great time at the California Academy of Sciences today.  I encourage you to check out their website for more information and cool videos/activities: http://www.calacademy.org/

I posted most of the photos that I took today on my old tumblr page.  Check out the photos and send me more if you want them posted.  http://teacherp.tumblr.com/tagged/field-trips

Finally, to those of you in my class, there is an opportunity for science extra credit.  Post a paragraph on http://kidblog.org/teacherp/ explaining what your favorite exhibit was and what you learned from it.

Subject Verb Agreement

Try out these activities and games.
Read the lesson first.
Try out Verb Viper.
Check out Verb Battleship.
Verb Carousel will be fun.
Grammar Bytes has links to many different grammar exercises.

Subtracting Mixed Numbers!!!

Need more help on this concept?  Try out this video.


Here is another lesson on this.
Check out how you can do this with area models.
Another example and activities on AAA math.

Do you understand this concept?  Take a quiz.

Flower Power!!!

I found these awesome resources for studying about flowers.  Check it out!
Speed quiz -- Flower parts.
BBC -- Quiz, games & info.
Virtual dissection.

This site from ProFlowers has tons of information which can take you beyond what we studied in class.  (Don't worry. You don't have to buy any flowers.)