Studying Soil

A few weeks ago we studied soil as part of our ongoing research into our own Rocky Run Nature Trail. Each of us filled up a small bag with soil from around where we live. We were surprised to see how different everyone's soil looked even though we all live pretty close together.

Just like scientists, we observed different samples of soil using magnifying glasses and recorded our notes. You can see Carly's notes below about Charlie's soil:

We were amazed to find living things in our soil! Worms, beetles, ants, etc. We later found out that many of these creatures are decomposers that help break down living things into soil. Using the words organic and inorganic we classified all the things we discovered.

Making bar graphs for the Food Drive

Learn how to make a bar graph using this Jing:
Click this!

Want to try making your own graphs at home? Here's a easy website:
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/

Sumerians

The Sumerians were one of the first to use numerals, or signs to represent abstract numbers. Around 3000 BC, six signs were created. They always put the largest amount on the left and then went in decreasing order.

On Wednesday we experimented with their number system. We tried creating the numbers listed below. Sometimes we found out there was actually more than one way to create the number.

At first we tired: 26, 78, 131, 194, 245, 620
More challenging numbers: 826, 1,313, 2,450, 3,912, 7,920, 39,709

  

New book!

What a cool "new" book (at least new to us). It's a mixture of math, Alice in Wonderland, and The Phantom Tollbooth. 

Book flap:
"In twelve dreams, Robert, a boy who hates math, meets a Number Devil, who leads him to discover the amazing world of numbers: infinite numbers, prime numbers, Fibonacci numbers, numbers that magically appear in triangles, and numbers that expand without . As we dream with him, we are taken further and further into mathematical theory, where ideas eventually take flight, until everyone-from those who fumble over fractions to those who solve complex equations in their heads-winds up marveling at what numbers can do."


In just the last few days we have learned about the importance of the number zero, how our number system is based on the position of the digits (unlike the Romans), and how numbers can be made infinitely small or large simply by adding or subtracting one. 

Living before numbers were invented?

On Tuesday, as we begin to move away from geometry and into number and number sense, we read the book How Did Numbers Begin? A few pages into the book it gave us this situation:

Imagine that you are living before numbers were invented. One day, while picking berries, you see a group of animals. It is important for the hunters to know about them, and you run to tell them. How can you tell them you saw seven animals? Remember, you know nothing about numbers or counting.

What would you do? Each of us used our problem solving skills to come up with at least on solution. Some of used sticks or pebbles to represent the animals. Others of us crushed up the berries to create an ink which we used on bark to draw circles to represent the animals. Many other ideas were offered, but all of them relied on the idea of matching. As we read on in the book we found out that matching was one of the first important steps in the invention of numbers.

Henry and Aiden's Movie

Virginia Wildlife Centner

We went to the Virginia Wildlife Center last Thursday. The center provides quality health care, often on an emergency basis, to native wildlife. Check out our pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/thirdgradestonypoint/VAWildlifeCenter

We will be adding captions to the pictures early this week, so check back later if you're wondering about something. Or feel free to leave us a comment with your questions. We are becoming quite the experts!