Mr. McCoy's Summer Weekly Log
Friday, June 17, 2016
Tales from the Crypt
Tales of African hunters, mummies that come back to life, anteaters, and ancient games of skill and chance: We have continued to be mesmerized by the facets that comprise our study of Africa! Our work, on the "Facing Africa" project, featured taking notes--as well as weaving thinking into the process. And, speaking of weaving, each student learned about African Kente cloths--and wove one for himself/herself. Our math focus was on place value through millions, decimals and place value, rounding decimals; using place value to compare decimals; decomposing multiples of 10, 100, 1,000; number patterns; and adding/subtracting related fractions. Each student also played games of “Firecracker Multiplication,” “Kalaha," “Nine Men's Morris,” “Double or Nothing,” and “Survivor: Africa.” We have also been enjoying the rollicking adventures involved in Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy during lunch! Light your torch, cross your fingers, and keep reading: More “Tales from the Crypt” can be excavated below!
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Research Help
African Folk Tales
Here are the links to this week's pulse-pounding African Folk Tales:
8-"he Story of Muhammadu"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FywYY8NIq2k
9-"A Hunter, When the World Began"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zT6RtxUhtI
10-"Koba, the Hunter Who Stopped Hunting"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl5tBmJu8gc
11-"A Rich Man and His Goat"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JfCec8KMrk
12A-"The Story of Mullum the Soldier," Part 1
THE EGYPT GAME
And, here are the links to this week's editions of The Egypt Game:
Part 8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIJXuqgnqi8
Part 9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWU27vnSpf4
Part 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTcEIfkCMI8
Part 11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XvJCo73Lks
Part 12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYpZ_yexAjY
Part 13
African Beginnings
We have continued to delve into African Beginnings, a nonfiction book about the history of Africa. You can access the second part of this book via this link:
http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/african-beginnings-2/8801136/?ref=app
Motivational Tip
Turn everyday events into learning opportunities. “Being educated doesn’t mean knowing a lot of disconnected facts. Learning is building from what you know and connecting it to new facts. Encourage your child to explore the world around him/her. Although sports activities are valuable experiences, too many scheduled activities can add “too much stress” to your child’s life, and distract him/her from exploring the pleasures of learning at his/her own pace.
Organizing for Success
Study skills are being taught this summer—and will be taught in fifth grade. To assist with this process, please support these skills, at home, by emphasizing following:
Encourage a START NOW approach. Procrastination is the main cause of poor homework!
Familiarize yourself with your child’s homework and organizer. Help him/her organize his/her work routine. Work on what needs doing when. Especially encourage your child not to leave everything until the night before it is due. ÒTeach your child to organize himself.
Help your child plan his/her study time, each evening, before he/she starts.
Encourage routines, such as doing homework, immediately when your child gets home from school.
Insist that work precedes play.
Notebook Organization
The time has come to emphasize notebook organization! It is vital that your child learn how to use a notebook to organize all assignments. For that reason, your child has set up a notebook with subject dividers. I have worked to guide your child to organize assignments and other information by reminding him/her to always take the time to clamp every piece of information into his/her notebook. The first Organization Inspection took place this week! Mastering the art of notebook organization will make life easier for your child when he/she begins fifth grade on August 18. And, of course, it will pave the way for monumental successes at Discovery Middle School!