Geometry Unit --- Polygons

Students learned about Polygons this week. We will expand later this week on Quadrilaterals (4 sided polygons). We even watched a cute song about Polygons.

 

 

 



Students learned that a polygon was a shape/figure that has straight sides (line segments), closed sides, 3 or more sides and is 2 dimensional (flat). Students learned about the different types of polygons:

 



Equivalent Fractions, Simplifying/Reducing Fractions & Converting Fractions

Equivalent Fractions

Students learned how to generate equivalent fractions. In order to make equivalent fractions you can multiply or divide the numerator and denominator by the same number.

Example:

Another method students learned to determine if fractions were equivalent is the butterfly method. Using the butterfly method, you could cross multiply and if the two products were equal, the fractions are equivalent.



Simplifying or Reducing Fractions

Students learned how to simplify or reduce fractions. When we simplify or reduce a fraction we use division to make the fraction smaller. When reducing fractions, students had to make sure that the numerator and the denominator was divided by a common factor.

Simplest form --- the smallest number a fraction can be reduced to. In order to find the simplest form of a fraction, you have to find the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) then divide both numerator and denominator by the GCF.

Converting Fractions

Students learned 2 methods to convert fractions --- TX method and division.

In order to convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions, you would use the TX method. First, multiply the whole number with the denominator. If you have 4 wholes that are split into 4 equal parts (fourths) then you'd have 16 fourths. Then add the numerator... 16 + 3 = 19. You now have 19 fourths. We keep the same denominator so the improper fraction is 19/4.

In order to convert Improper Fractions to Mixed Numbers, you would use division. If I had 19/4 and I wanted to change that into a Mixed Number I would divide my numerator (top #) by my denominator (bottom #). 19 divided by 4 equals 4 with a remainder of 3. The 4 is my whole number and the remainder is the numerator of my fractions. We keep the same denominator so my mixed number is 4 and 3/4.

Fractions can be very difficult to master because there are so many aspects to it. Please continue to work with your child at home to ensure that he/she is comprehending the material. Thank you! --- Ms. Cao



Long Division - DMSCB

This week students have been learning how to do long division. We learned about the acronym DMSCB which stands for Does McDonald's Sell Cheese Burgers? Each beginning letter in that sentence stands for a step that students must take to do their long division.

Remember: The dividend (number inside our division house) is divided by the divisor (the number outside the house) and we ALWAYS put our quotient/the answer on the top of our house or on the roof.

We did 2 example problems so students could get some practice. We also did some more independent practice problems that I wrote on the board. Please review these practice problems with your child.

Here is a really good video for long division that we watched in class:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJe3564yY-g

Here is a copy of today's HW - Homework Wednesday 11/6/13 (click to download)

Reminder: Test on Friday 11/8/13 over multiplication (2x1, 3x1, 2x2 multiplication) and division (basic and long division).

Welcome to Ms. Cao's 4th Grade Math!!!

Welcome! Now that the first official week and a half of school have passed, I finally have some time to create this blog. This year I believe that all of my students can reach their full potential. I hope that with our wonderful parents' help, students will have a successful year in fourth grade math. My purpose of creating this blog is to share with parents the material/content that students are receiving and learning in class. I hope this additional material will help you and your child this school year. I will try to update this blog as often as I can. Here's to a wonderful, fun-filled year!

-Ms. Cao

 

Friday 8/23/13: Interactive Math Journals
We decorated our Interactive Math Journals :) and created the Table of Content

Monday 8/26/13: Place Value to the Hundred Millions
We set up our interactive math journals and glued in our place value charts. We wrote vocabulary words on the inside flap. We also played Display the Digits. Click link to download.
For this activity you will need Number Tiles, click to download.

     

Tuesday 8/27/13: Place Value Graphic Organizer (aka Foldable)
We created a graphic organizer to help students differentiate Standard, Expanded and Word Form. Inside each flap is a short definition and an example.

 

Wednesday 8/28/13: Comparing Numbers

We took notes and practiced comparing numbers.

Thursday 8/29/13: Ordering Whole Numbers

We learned how to order numbers. We also practiced ordering whole numbers from greatest to least and least to greatest. We also did a group activity where students had to order and compare numbers - Think Together. Click link to download.
For this activity you will need Number Tiles, click to download.

Friday 8/30/13: Place Value Quiz

Students' place value quizzes have been graded and updated on the database.