Math
Today we talked about four different ways we can find change or subtract. These strategies work for whole numbers as well as decimals (money).

1) Add up using a number line

We know that subtraction is the opposite of addition, so we can turn a subtraction question into an addition question.

Write the total cost on the left and the amount used to pay for the purchase on the right.
Hop to the nearest 10 cents, nearest dollar, then finally to the amount given.

The change would be $1.63

2) Make an easier question.

If we subtract 1 cent from the amount given ($20.00) and 1 cent from the cost ($18.37) the difference is the same. We have just shifted the number line so to speak.

The new question would be:

 $19.99
-$18.36
$    1.63

This subtraction is easy because there is never any regrouping when the larger number has digits that are 9.

3) Subtracting in chunks:

This method we subtract a bit at a time. Subtract in a "chunk" that you can do in your head.

$20.00 - $10.00 = $10.00
$10.00 - $8.00 = $2.00
$2.00 - $0.30 = $1.70
$1.70 - $0.07 = $1.63

4) Regrouping

Good old fashion pencil and paper method. This method involves subtraction across zeros.

We cannot subtract from zero, so we need to regroup from the tens place. If we think of $20.00 as 200 dimes, we take one dime away and give 10 cents to the hundredths place (cents). We are then left with 199 dimes.

For the Action Task tomorrow, make sure you have the cost of ticket of a show or sporting event you would like to see. I chose a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game at Yankee Stadium. You can choose a concert, theme park, sporting event or play. You have a budget of $1000. Sadly, not enough to see the Super Bowl. 

Science
Today we talked about lenses. We talked a bit about the shape of the eye ball of a person who is nearsighted (can't see far away) and a person who is farsighted (can't see close up). In both cases we uses lenses to correct the position of the image on the retina. The retina is sort of like a screen at the back of your eye that sends messages to the brain about what you're seeing.

In both cases we use the principal of bending light (refraction) to correct vision using a plastic lens. Very cool!

Here is a short video explaining what we talked about in class. Start the video about a minute in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQh5po93lG0

Reading

Today we reviewed our reading test and redid a few questions. MUCH BETTER!

Reminders:

• Money test signed and set a goal
• Candy-grams for sale 50 cents for 1 or 3 for $1.00. THIS IS OPTIONAL.
• Field trip to Race Against Drugs on Friday. Any parents that would like to attend and you have a police check, please let me know. It's a great learning experience!