October 30th, 2017

Dear Parents,

Below is an overview of our learning last week. Please remember that there are conferences this week - Thursday 2nd, November.

Math
In math we focused on word problems all week. Word problems are becoming easier for the students, and they are showing much more confidence in distinguishing what is an addition problem and which is a subtraction problem. This week I would like to give the students a place value test, and to move on to data management. Our place value knowledge will continue to develop throughout every unit.

Unit
We started our week by reading a book called 'Follow that Map!' Within the book it taught us how to create our own map using graph paper. It was a nice link to map scales. Map scales is a term that students have been trying to figure out, and this was a perfect opportunity to dig deeper As a class we talked about how it is unpractical to make life size maps. They would be too big! Instead, we can create scales so that our maps can be smaller. We measured things outside using our feet. One square on our graph paper equaled one foot. Students began understanding that we were taking the size of an object and just making it smaller to fit on our map.

Students also inquired about the term 'Earth's features'. We soon realised that the term was very similar to 'terrain' from our central idea. I am so impressed with how knowledgable the students are becoming, and how interested they are in learning more about maps. They are making many connections.

We also finished our pirate maps. We used our maps to help us write directions to our hidden treasure.

As you can see, some students demonstrate understanding of a compass rose and a key, whilst others need to continue growing their knowledge. 

Literacy
Last week we looked at procedural writing. We thought of ways on how to instruct people to find our treasure on our maps. Students learnt key words that they could use to order their steps, and made sure to use specific details. Students did very well at including the directions, key landmarks, and using a range of verbs.

1) First
2) Next
3) Then
4) After
5) Finally