5th graders conducted research on stock symbols, figured out how to read the line graphs of prices, and started thinking about which stocks they would want to buy. Later on they worked on a simulation website about investing, where they had to balance a savings account, stock portfolio, various types of bonds, as well as commodity investments like gold. The aim was to give them a better understanding of how investments and earning interest pays off in the long run. Several of them were able to beat the computer simulated investment totals. We also came close to solving crisis #13 in the World Peace Game. This one is centered around global warming and can be solved with the devleopment (and investment in) new technologies to general energy.
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5th graders did a good deal of work on persuasion techniquest this week. They watched several videos, while taking notes, then tried to apply those strategies and ideas to their World Peace Game discussions. They also researched a few stocks and figured out how to read some basic information such as the 52 week high/low, current stock price, and stock symbols. Tuesday's class worked on expressing their mathematical thinking about shapes. Last week they completed a True/False activity, this week, they used that activity to prepare for a shape debate. Mrs. Smith, one of our wonderful assistant principal's stopped by to check out their learning. She was very impressed with their thinking and explanations. Once their ideas were prepped, they met with their partner and had a debate about why each answer was true or false. They also octile scaled their sketching paper and picture for our upcoming architecture drawing project. Wednesday's class put the finishing touches on several projects, including the arch experiment and the beginning of the True/False debate. (they will actually do the debating part next week) They started actually sketching their house on their scaled papers they prepared last week. We discussed several strategies for using the outline of the boxes to help draw the pieces of the house to the new correct size. Trying to maintain proportions is usually one of the trickiest parts of scaling for students when they do it for the first time. We played a double session of the World Peace Games today since we got a little behind last week. Students learned that taking inventory of all the "stuff" a country owns can take a lot of time. This week we had peace agreements, but we also had our first declaration of war. The military forces are moving into position, next Monday we will add up all the forces involved and set up a mathematical model to determine who has the advantage. They were also VERY BUSY writing checks and receipts, which also means they worked on writing their signatures. I received a lot of questions about the stock market, as several of them earned (or lost) tons of money in economic depressions or bull markets. So, next week I am going to give them some hypothetical money to invest and will give them some time to do some research and figure out what companies they want to put their "money" into. I will keep track of it on a big class spreadsheet, but I am also going to give them their own if they want to check on their stock prices more often. |