Cause and Effect, Data Analysis, and ER Doctor Visit!

What a busy day! First, we had some open time to work on our Tuning In Booklets, which are due with reflections on October 30th. Some students also needed to finish their questions on the Right Stuff article, which had questions about the building blocks of food that are essential to our good health. Then, we used our iPads to do some research to fill in a cause and effect chart. We are nearing the end of our unit, and so I asked students to think about what happens to specific systems of the body when we don’t make the best personal choices and don’t get what we need in terms of daily sleep, diet, and exercise.

This was followed by two math activities related to data analysis. First, we worked to finish the math work we had on median, mode, range and mean, as well as some data work on heart rate that involved critical thinking and problem solving. Students chose whether they wanted to work in groups or individually. After this, we took a look at our data from the germ experiment, which we recorded on the board from all student groups in a large, visual chart. I asked everyone to think like a mathematician and do some data analysis. What could we do with the data presented? How could we organize it using numbers or our math skills in a way that we could use the data to communicate something to the community or the school? Students came up with many ideas of how they would attack the problem. One student began recording data on the computer, and several more volunteered to begin organizing the data so it made sense. Others suggested presenting the data in graph format and using numbers to show which area of the school had the greatest chance of having bacteria, mold or fungus. Tomorrow I will give everyone more time to work in groups and figure out ways to present the data.

For the afternoon, we were very fortunate, through a family contact of Sylvia’s, to have Dr. Lai and Nurse Jessica from Lion’s Gate Hospital’s Emergency Room Department present to us about their work there. Through an online Prezi presentation, short video clips and interactive demonstrations, they explained what life in the ER is like, who works there, what tools are used, why you would go there (and when not to), and what you could expect if you came to the ER yourself. Students were highly engaged and participated in an active question and answer session about ER visits at the end. Thank you to Dr. Lai and Nurse Jessica for coming in!

Homework tonight: There are four math pages total due on Thursday (the stapled three pages about mean, mode, etc. and the heart rate sheet.) I will give more time on these tomorrow. Tuning In Booklet due Oct. 30th. If you haven’t turned in your lab report or participation rubric, it is now late, so please get it in. If you haven’t paid for pumpkin patch, please do so. A blue notice went home today about family photo night, and it has a deadline of Oct. 27th. Remember the book fair is going on this week through Thursday.

Reminders: Early Dismissal Wednesday and Thursday at 2PM.  On Thursday of this week we also have a late start, 9:50 AM. See you at your assigned parent conference time. Please wait outside until I open the door to ensure privacy.

Halloween Activities: Halloween is a busy time! Next Friday we will be having a Halloween Party in class, organized by the students. They have a notice prepared for students to take home tomorrow. We will also be making pumpkins for our windows, and Ms. D just found some great orange Halloween lights to hang in our windows! I am bringing them on Thursday. Feel free to start bringing in some decor for our classroom early (except spider webbing, please!) We have Pumpkin Patch and Pumpkin Carving during the week, and on the Friday, we have a costume parade through the school, as well. As you are considering treats, please remember peanut and seafood free, please, so that everyone can enjoy what you bring. Thank you!