Prism Power

As we start off science this year, students are encouraged to think like scientists. Scientists wonder, think, research and more. The children are being given problems to solve, facts to prove or challenges to pose. As we begin to explore the ideas of live science, the children become the scientists. In our first scientific exploration, we try to determine what happens to light when it goes through a prism and then why it did what it did. Be sure to ask your children what they know about light so far.

Light is energy.
Light travels in straight lines
Light can be reflected or absorbed.
White light is made up of Roy G. Biv.

What Do School Rules Mean to You?

What Do classroom rules mean? Well, let's see. We created a list of rules and decided on categories. These categories became the overarching rules for 202. And the individual actions became the "How Tos".  

Decimal Comparison Word Problems

This week, try your hand at writing and solving a word problem that includes comparing three different decimals and placing them in numerical order. Make sure your word problem makes sense.

Open House Presentation

Welcome Back

Francis Wyman CARES!

103 Creates an Air Conditioner

So, it is getting warm outside ...
.................................................and
........................................................inside!

Our answer to the problem; design our own ac with items we already have.

Materials:

• one large styrofoam cooler
• two elbow dryer vents
• one small but powerful fan
• many jugs of frozen water
• knife for cutting
• mini vacuum for clean-up

The plan:

1. line up the fan and dryer vents on the cover to see how they will all fit
2. trace the items carefully and closely on the lid
3. remove the items and prepare to cut
   *it is important to cut slowly and carefully
   *cut straight down
   *cut right into the inside of the traced line for the dryer vents
   *cut 1 to 2 cms into the circle of the traced outline for the fan -
   the fan doesn't fit into it but rather rests on top of the styrofoam lid
4. vacuum away the small particle of styrofoam
5. place your frozen bottles into the cooler
6. press the dryer vents into the holes
7. rest the fan facing down into the cooler
8. start your engine
   

Middlesex Math Madness Tournament

To Say I am Proud would be an Understatement

Have you ever wondered just how to solve complex problems such as A+A+A=HA? Just this past weekend I was honored to accompany Francis Wyman 4th and 5th graders in the Middlesex Math Madness Tournament to solve this and many other challenging problems. Critical thinking and number sense are the key to solving these mathematical problems. 

These students worked as both individuals and groups to solve many mathematical dilemmas. The children were presented with sheets of problems and got right to work using some great know how. I am amazed by what they knew and how they could get right to the task at hand. I also could see the benefits of practiced classroom group work shine. Independently they knew to prioritize based on what they knew, and as groups they could divide and conquer based on the skills of the individuals in the group.

In the end, FWS can safely say they gave it their all. Congratulations to all the students who participated. We even get to celebrate one student in his tie for third. Great job Garrett!