Spelling Test Tomorrow

We continued to work on subtraction with borrowing today. Instead of using the traditional algorithm, we used base ten block pictures and a place value chart to help us. To start, we drew out the bigger number in base ten blocks, in the proper sections of a place value chart. Then, starting with the ones, we figured out how many we needed to take away. If there were not enough ones in the place value chart, we had to borrow. We pretended that the lines of the place value chart were guarded forcefields and if numbers were too big to cross, they had to break apart to fit into their new section. For example, if I was borrowing from the tens, the ten rod could not cross the forcefield until it broke apart into ten ones. Once I break it apart, I will have enough blocks to take a number away. Once we solved the ones section of the chart, we moved on to tens then hundreds then thousands. Once we were finished moving base ten blocks, we counted how many were left in each section of the chart and that was our answer.
Here is a great website where students can practice this method and show you how to use it:
Subtraction with Base Ten Blocks  (it may take a few seconds to load)
On the website, you can solve problems that have already been made or create your own.

We also began to talk about subtraction story problems and key words that would let us know we need to subtract. Some of the words we came up with were:
- take away
- how many more
- decrease
- fewer
- minus
- less

We will continue to work on story problems tomorrow.

We had talked about having a subtraction review tomorrow but Ms. Binks has decided to move it to Monday to give us more time to practice. She will be sending review sheets home with those students who are interested.

In social studies we started to learn about the 4 diverse countries we will be studying this year: India, Peru, Ukraine and Tunisia. Yesterday we used atlases to try and find each country the following information about it:
- what continent it is on
- what other countries share its borders
- if it borders a body of water

This is what we found out:
- India is on the continent of Asia. It shares its borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal and Bangladesh. It borders on the Indian Ocean.
- Ukraine is on the continent of Europe. It shares its borders with Poland, Russia, Romania, Belarus, Slovakia and Moldova. It borders on the Black Sea.
- Peru is on the continent of South America. It shares its borders with Ecuador, Brazil, Columbia, Bolivia and Chile. It borders on the Pacific Ocean.
- Tunisia is on the continent of Africa. It shares its borders with Algeria and Libya. It borders on the Mediterranean Sea.

Today we learned about a holiday celebrated in India called Diwali. Diwali is special because it celebrates the forces of light winning out against the forces of darkness. During Diwali families go to temple, take sweets to friends and neighbors, buy new clothing and set off fireworks. We learned that during Diwali, beautiful colorful art is placed on the ground in front of doorways to help welcome in the goddess of light. This art is usually made with colored sand or flowers and is called Rangoli. We started to create our own Rangoli art pieces. We will continue to work on them tomorrow.

We have our spelling test tomorrow. Please make sure that you practice your spelling words and know what two words make up the contraction and the proper place of the apostrophe.

Today we talked about collecting donations for the Veterans Food Bank. We have friendly competition going on with the other grade 4 classes to see who can bring in the most food donations. We are looking for nonperishable food items and are aiming for at least 50 items from our class. You can begin bringing in donations tomorrow until November 15. We would appreciate anything that you could donate! Students have been asked to check with their parents before taking any food items.

Reminders:
- Spelling test tomorrow
- Subtraction review Monday
- Picture order money can be brought in
- Picture retake day is November 14
- Remembrance Day assembly is November 10