Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Visit Washington, D.C.

Jonah visited Washington, D. C. with his family. He created a beautiful travel journal of his trip. Learn about our nation's capital through his pictures and information!


To make a picture larger, click on it.



















Thank you Jonah!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Leonis Adobe Museum Trip

By Taylor G., Taylor S., Bethany, Shane F.,

Learning about your community is part of the third grade Social Studies curriculum. To learn more about the history of our community, all third graders visited the Leonis Adobe Museum.


Miguel Leonis and his Chumash bride, Espiritu, lived in the adobe.



At first, we gathered around the giant oak tree. Our docent told us this tree was over 600 years old!

All we could find under the oak, were acorn leaves and acorn caps. The squirrels have been busy!


Water was needed at the ranch. Here the docent explains about how water is pumped from the ground.


Here is one of the cowgirls working hard at the pump!


Later, a windmill was added. The wind provided the energy to pump up the water, and it was then stored in the water tank.


Water was needed to wash the clothes. Here is a photo of a washboard and wringer.

Water was also used for...bathing! The tub was small so it could be picked up and carried out to the garden. The bathwater was reused to water the plants.


Inside the house, the docent explained who lived in the house and what kind of a life they lived. We were surprised to see the kitchen floor was dirt!


Upstairs we got to see some sample adobe bricks and learned more about them. Adobe is made of mud, straw, and animal manure.

Upstairs there was a museum room with old books, musical instruments, and a journal. There were sample quill pens on the desk so we could see what people used to use for writing.


During our field trip to Leonis Adobe Museum, we made tortillas and butter.

The first step was to get yellow corn from the garden. Then we took all the corn off the cob. Next, we put the kernels in a bowl and mashed it into
a yellow corn powder.


Water was added to the corn meal to make a corn tortilla mix. Next, the workers rolled the batter into a ball and pressed it flat in the iron tortilla press. It was hard work keeping the ranch going!


At Leonis Adobe we saw goats, Texas long horns, and sheep. They used fur from the sheep for wool blankets, and the meat for food. The goats' milk was used for drinking and making cheese. The Texas long horns provided meat for food, fur for blankets, and
manure for planting.


Here is an anvil and whetstone used by the blacksmith.



A big part of life on the ranch was tending the animals. Here is one of the ranchers showing off his skills with the lasso!


Yeehaw!



We fed the animals hay. It tickled when they took the hay from our hands.

We learned that goats and sheep have rectangular pupils unlike ours which are circular.



At the Leonis Adobe Museum the girls made rag dolls. We could have a pink doll or a green doll. The docent gave us a long string and three little strings. With the short strings, we made two arms and a head. Finally, we knotted the long string to the doll so we could wear it as a necklace. During the 1880s, girls at Leonis Adobe used the wool from the sheep to make their dolls.

Back in the 1880s, Miguel and Espirtu did not have indoor bathrooms. They had to walk outside to an outhouse. That must have been a long, cold walk!




After a long day working at the adobe, we were treated to yummy corn tortillas and homemade butter! They were delicious!

The road in front of the Leonis Adobe was part of the trail that connected the 21 missions from San Diego to San Fransisco. It was called the "El Camino Real" or "King's Highway".


A great time was had by all, and much was learned about the history of Calabasas.


The End

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Rainy Day Clay

On Fun Friday, anyone who is finished with their weekly work has free time to create and explore in Mrs. Yollis' Classroom. Many students enjoy sculpting with the modeling clay.

It rained cats and dogs on Wednesday, so we had to stay inside at lunch.
Something new happened with the clay!

Normally everyone sits at their own desk with their own clay making their own sculpture. It is a very independent time.

Read and see what happens when people work together. :-)



The Clay Park

Lexi asked Jonah if he wanted to create a sculpture scene. Lexi had green clay and made swings. Jonah had orange and he made a short waterfall, a long stream that spanned across the desk, and a pool. Alasia came and asked if she could join with her yellow clay. She made a straight slide that lead into Jonah's pool.

Without anyone saying anything, a park started to form.

James noticed the park and asked if he could join with his blue clay. He added a twisty slide and people. Sean came to see what was going on. He asked if he could make people and lopsided monkey bars with his black clay. Taylor G. was sitting next to the park. She had made a giant dog out of blue clay. The dog was too big for the park, so she reformed the dog into two small dogs and a cat.

The park was finished in about 15 minutes.

Cooperation was needed in our work.

Here...take a look at the masterpiece!



We feel amazed by the park we created! We hope you like our creation.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Hip Hip Array!




The concept of multiplication is our current unit of study in math. Multiplication is repeated addition. We have also learned about arrays.

Our math glossary defines an array as: An arrangement of objects in rows and columns.

ROWS go across.

C
O
L
U
M
N
S

g
o

d
o
w
n



* * * * * * * * * *



Here are some arrays we found around our school. Notice how we used synonyms for the word see!



While I was reading a book outside at recess, I glanced over and saw an array of windows.

3 x 4 = 12 windows

Taylor S.


When I was seated at my desk, I peeked over my chair and saw an array of giant paper coins.

2 x 5 = 10 giant coins

By Matthew


When I was at my desk, I spied an array of pictures called Take your Acorn on Vacation. There were four rows of two.

4 x 2 = 8 vacation photos
By Behyan


When I was looking at the world map, I noticed there was an array of squares in the map key.

2 x 5 = 10 land and water squares

By Shane F.


While I was outside on the jungle gym, I glanced across the yard and saw an array of benches.

1 x 4 = 4 benches

By Kyle



While I was in the library, I observed an array of math books.

7 x 4 = 28 math books

By Lexi


When I was sitting in class, I looked at the computers and I saw an array.

1 x 3 = 3 computers

By Shane J.


I was in the P.E. equipment shed, and I saw an array of bowling pins.

2 x 4 = 8 pins

Taylor G.




While I was seated at my desk, I spotted a Parts of Speech poster array.

3 x 2 = 6 Parts of Speech posters

By Sean


While I was walking around the classroom, I stopped and observed the elapsed time stories array.

2 x 8 = 16 elapsed time stories

By James



When I was walking by the world map, I spied an array of cubbies.

8 x 3 = 24 cubbies

By Amanda


While I was walking around the non-fiction section of the library,
I stared at the Zoo Book rack. The columns were easy to see. There were two columns.

Some students thought this was

2 x 23, rather than

23 x 2


Solution?

*

*

*



Rotate the picture!

Now you see two rows.

2 x 23 = 46 Zoo Books

By Chloe



When I was walking around the room, I spied the dictionaries. The two columns were easy to see. Some students thought
this was 2 x 10 rather than 10 x 2.

Solution?


*
*
*

Rotate the picture!




Now I see 2 rows x 10 = 20 dictionaries
By Alasia


The next few arrays are special. Both of the factors are the same and they make a square. We call them the square products!


When I was inside the classroom, I spied one row of one quarter.

1 x 1 = 1 quarter

By Emily



While I was walking around the classroom, I spotted our Chinese character stories in an array.

4 x 4 = 16 Chinese character stories

I also noticed that both factors are the same, so it is a square.
By Jonah


I stared at the board in the classroom and saw a penny array. I noticed it was a square. That means it has the same number of rows and columns.

5 x 5 = 25 pennies

By Warren



While I walked through a teacher's room, I looked at an array of boxes.

10 x 10 = 100 boxes

By Marcus



While I was strolling around the room, I looked at the multiplication chart. There were 13 rows and 13 columns.

14 x 14 = 116 squares




Here are two arrays of yellow and orange zinias that Mrs. Yollis planted.

I see 3 rows of 2 on the left.

I see 3 rows of three on the right.

How many yellow and orange zinnias?

Hint: Use multiplication and addition!


*


*


*

Answer:


(3 x 2) + (3 x 3)

6 + 9 = 15 yellow and orange zinnias!


Do you see any arrays in your life? Tell us about them in the comments!

* * * * *
Extra Credit from Shane J.!
Shane sent us a hyperlink to a photo of his French doors.
Can you name the array?