Light Bulb Moments!

We had a blast this week exploring electrical circuits. Groups of students were given a battery, 2 wires, and a lightbulb in a socket and asked to see if they could make the light bulb light up.  Most students didn't think it was possible before they started.  After lots of teamwork, and exploration, all groups were able to make their light bulbs light up.  I also saw many figurative "lightbulbs" go off as students discovered that if they could connect their light bulb to a power source, they could make a circuit.  Enjoy some pictures below of before and after groups discovered how to make their circuits work.

Reminders:
Early Release on Friday and Winter Break on Monday: Don't forget that we get out of school at 12:15 on Friday and students don't return until Tuesday, February 7th due to Winter Break.

Math Test for Unit 4:  Is on Monday.  A review went home today, please use it to study.

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: 
I can pre-write a introductory paragraph to my literary essay.

I can pre-write a conclusion to my literary essay that restates my claim and makes a connection to my life or the world.

I can carefully draft my literary essay.

I can revise my literary essay.

Science:  

I can explore electrical circuits.

I can tell the things needed to make a circuit.

I can tell the difference between a complete and incomplete circuit.

I can define and describe open and closed circuits (and how switches work).

Math: 

I can practice with factor pairs, multiples, prime, and composite numbers.

I can generate number or shape patterns.

I can write equations or use models to solve multistep word problems.

I can review word problems, equations, patterns, multiples, factors, and prime and composite numbers.

Reading:

I can practice finding the big ideas and supporting evidence in non fiction text.

I can practice comparing and contrasting information in non fiction text.

I can annotate informational text.

I can construct responses to questions about non fiction text.

Important Dates:

February 3rd:  Early release day; school ends at 12:15
February 6th: Winter break; no school
February 14th: Valentine's Day party, details to come
February 14th: Parent Club meeting at 9am
February 17th: Popcorn Friday
March 10th: Early release day; school ends at 12:15


Before:

              



After:

                         

                          

    
                         
      

MLK Day and More

Here we are with another completed week of 4th grade! We started off this week celebrating the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was inspiring to read and learn about how hard he worked to help those who weren't being treated fairly, and many people remember his legacy by helping others each year on MLK Day.   Also this week we finished learning about heat and energy and took a quiz.  Next week we will start learning about electricity.  In math, we continued to study equations and word problems.  We will continue to work on them next week with our unit test the week of January 30th.

Reminders:
Agendas:  Don't forget to read any information and sign your student's agenda each night.

Box Top Competition: Takes place next week. Please send in any box tops!  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: 
I can write a thesis for my literary essay. 

I can find evidence to support my thesis.

I can angle my evidence toward my thesis.

I can cite the author in my literary essay.

Science:  

I can tell the 2 ways to transfer heat energy.

I can read a thermometer.

I can explain increasing and decreasing temperatures. 

Math: 

I can compare and contrast bar graphs and pictographs.

I can use strategies and models to solve comparison word problems.

I can write equations or use models to solve 2 step word problems.

I can solve equations using order of operation.

I can write equations or use models to solve multistep word problems.

Reading:

I can recognize and organize cause and effect informational text.  

I can summarize informational text.

Important Dates:

January 21st: Mother/Son bowling 
January 23rd-January 27th: Box Top competition
January 26th: Skating party at 6:30
February 3rd:  Early release day; School ends at 12:15
February 6th: Winter break; no school

Pirates, Ice day, and Early Release!!

   What an exciting week!  Students started the week by becoming pirates of published opinion pieces during our opinion essay writing celebration.  It was great to see students sharing their carefully crafted opinion pieces with a pirate-y twist. 
     A special thanks for sending in games for our transition star party.  We had lots of fun on Wednesday celebrating our hard work on transitioning well.   
    More excitement came along yesterday with an unexpected Ice Day (a least it was unexpected to me!).  I hope your ice day was spent in a relaxing and re-energizing way!  It was good to see students back at school today, even if it was only for a half-day.  While students are excited to get out of school early today, I am excited to spend the second half of the day learning and training with other teachers in the district. 

Reminders:
Mother/Son bowling: Blue sheet is due on Monday.

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: 
I can tell elements of an essay.

I can compare essays and narrative writing.

I can read a book, think about it, and find the big idea.

I can find evidence of big ideas in books.

Science:  

I can define energy.

I can define heat.

I can use the scientific method to perform an experiment using heat energy.

Math: 

I can use inverse operations.

I can write situation and solution equations.

I can use factor pairs and variables to create equations.  

Reading:

I can read informational text and think about how to construct a response about it.

I can practice paraphrasing sections of my informational book.

Important Dates:

January 20th: Popcorn Friday
January 21st: Mother/Son bowling 
January 26th: Skating party at 6:30
February 3rd:  Early release day; School ends at 12:15
February 6th: Winter break; no school

     

2017...Here we come!

Cheers to a new year!  Your fourth grader took some time this week to think of some goals that they would like to accomplish in 2017.  He or she made a goal for Reading, Writing, Math, and a behavior goal.  Students took their time and wrote a thoughtful goal for each.  Feel free to ask your student what they wrote down!  I am excited to see what this year holds for each of them!

Reminders:

Moon Phase Quiz:  Will take place on Monday.  Foldables were sent home to study.  Here is a fun rap that goes over the moon phases: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQRNzepe4wI
and another fun song to help:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkvlrWpsnuQ

Can Drive: One day left of the can drive.  Send in any empty cans or bottles to help support the 5th graders on their quest to raise funds for camp.  Our class could win a fun party with a 5th grade class if we bring in the most cans!

Early Release: Is Friday!  School ends at 12:15.

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: 
I can revise my opinion essay.

I can edit my opinion essay.

I can draft my opinion essay.

I can  publish my opinion essay.

Science:  

I can observe phases of the moon.

I can name the phases of the moon.

I can put the phases of the moon in order.

I can review the moon phases.

Math: 

I can tell what expressions and equations are.

I can review order of operations.

I can use properties to help simplify and solve equations.  

Reading:

I can recognize and organize comparison in informational text.

Important Dates:

January 3rd-9th: 5th Grade Can Drive
Januray 10th: Parent Club meeting at 9:00am at Sprinkles
January 13th: Early release day; School ends at 12:15
January 20th: Popcorn Friday
January 26th: Skating party at 6:30
February 3rd:  Early release day; School ends at 12:15
February 6th: Winter break; no school

Snow Day, Holiday Program, and More!

Students did a wonderful job at the Holiday Program on Tuesday.  I was very proud to see how all of their hard work paid off!  

Reminders:

Math ReTest:  Our Unit 3 math retest for those who got a 1 or 2 in any of our standards will be on Tuesday.  We are taking time at school to reteach those concepts in small groups, but any studying at home would also be helpful.

Gingerbread House Time:  Will take place on Wednesday, December 21st at 10:00am.  Volunteers are welcome!

Classroom Holiday Party: Will be immediately following gingerbread house time around 10:45 - 11:40.  

Girls' Intramural Basketball:  Morning intramural basketball will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting in January.   Forms went home yesterday.  They are due on Monday.  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: 
I can write an introductory paragraph that clearly states my opinion statement.  

I can write evidence paragraphs that support my opinion statement.

Science:  

I can observe phases of the moon.

I can identify features of the moon.

I can compare the sun, earth, and moon.

I can tell the difference between revolution and rotation.  

Math: 

I can practice dividing with different methods.

I can solve single and multi digit word problems using different operations.

I can use test taking strategies to review our division unit.

Reading:

I can support the main ideas with key details from the text.

I can recognize and organize descriptive informational text.

I can recognize and organize chronological informational text.

Important Dates:

December 21st: Gingerbread house making and Classroom Holiday Party in the a.m.
December 22nd - January 2: Holiday Break; no school
January 3rd-9th: 5th Grade Can Drive
Januray 10th: Parent Club meeting at 9:00amJanuary 13th: Early release day; School ends at 12:15
January 20th: Popcorn Friday

More Program Photos:

Working Hard and Holiday Cheer

Donations Still Needed!

Our class  is going to be making miniature gingerbread houses. 

We are still in need of the following items: 

-cans of vanilla frosting (we really need these!)
-Christmas hard candies

-skittles

-m&ms

-red and black licorice

-miniature candy canes

-necco wafers

-gummy lifesavers

-large lifesavers

 The last day for donations is Friday, December 16th. We will be making these houses in our classroom on December 21st at 10:00. Anyone who is available to help is greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you are able to come in. It will be a morning full of fun!  

Reminders:

Math Test:  Our Unit 3 math test will be on Wednesday or Thursday.  I am hoping to send home a review on Tuesday.

Holiday Program Info: 
Tuesday, December 13th

Fellowship Reformed Church

6:30pm - K, 1st & 2nd

7:30pm - 3rd, 4th, 5th

** Students can come down to our the room at 7:15. Please do not send them down any earlier as there will not be supervision in the rooms until then. Students are to use the bathroom before they come to the room. Please also know that your student must be picked up by an adult after the program.

Gingerbread House Time:  Will take place on Wednesday, December 21st at 10:00am.  Volunteers are welcome!

Classroom Holiday Party: Will be immediately following gingerbread house time around 10:45 - 11:40.  If you volunteered to bring an item, I will send you a reminder as we get closer.

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: 
I can generate opinion essay topics by noticing things around me.

I can notice how opinion essays are organized.
I can organize my opinion essay with boxes and bullets.

I can think about transitional phrases that use parallel structure.

Science:  

I can identify features of the sun.

I can identify features of the earth.

I can observe the phases of the moon.

Math: 

I can practice dividing with different methods.

I can use estimation to check if my answer is reasonable.

I can figure out when to include zeroes in my quotient.

I can make sense of remainders.

Reading:

I can determine the main idea by thinking about what is important.

I can support the main ideas with key details from the text.

I can determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

I can recognize and organize descriptive informational text.

Important Dates:

December 13th: Holiday Program at 7:30pm
December 16th: Popcorn Friday
December 21st: Gingerbread house making and Classroom Holiday Party in the a.m.
December 22nd - January 2: Holiday Break; no school
January 3rd-9th: 5th Grade Can Drive
January 13th: Early release day; School ends at 12:15

Diving into December!

Donations Needed!

Our class  is going to be making miniature gingerbread houses. We are asking for the following items: small cinnamon candies, sprinkles of all colors, Christmas hard candies, skittles, m&ms, red and black licorice, miniature candy canes, miniature marshmallows, necco wafers, gumdrops, gummy lifesavers, large lifesavers, cans of vanilla frosting, and graham crackers. All donations need to be sent in by Friday, December 16th. We will be making these houses in our classroom on December 21st at 10:00. Anyone who is available to help is greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you are able to come in. It will be a morning full of fun!  

The division we are currently working on is tricky!  We are using 2 methods that you may be unfamiliar with.  Here are some videos to help guide you in case your student needs help at home.

Division Methods (Links to help you understand):
Place Value Sections: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLbbjAuamA4
Expanded Notation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PoArz2KP_U

Reminders:

Moon Project:  Students should be observing the moon and coloring their observations into their agendas each night.  At school we are checking our observations and labeling the phases of the moon.

Holiday Program Info: 
Tuesday, December 13th

Fellowship Reformed Church

6:30pm - K, 1st & 2nd

7:30pm - 3rd, 4th, 5th

** Students can come down to our the room at 7:15. Please do not send them down any earlier as there will not be supervision in the rooms until then. Students are to use the bathroom before they come to the room. Please also know that your student must be picked up by an adult after the program.

Gingerbread House Time:  Will take place on Wednesday, December 21st at 10:00am.  Volunteers are welcome!

Classroom Holiday Party: Will be immediately following gingerbread house time around 10:45 - 11:40.  If you volunteered to bring an item, I will send you a reminder as we get closer.

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: 
I can read essays and tell the big idea.
I can notice how mini-stories provide evidence of the big idea in essays.

I can write mini-stories.

I can generate big ideas.

I can turn big ideas into opinion statements.  

Social Studies:  

I can think about core democratic values and write about them:

• Patriotism
• Justice

I can review and recall core democratic values.

Math: 

I can use the place value sections method to solve multidigit division problems.

I can use the expanded notation method to solve multidigit division problems.

I can use the digit by digit method to solve multidigit division problems.

I can solve division word problems using different methods.

Reading:

I can review and notice non-fiction text features.

I can tap prior knowledge as I preview non-fiction texts.
I can preview and predict non-fiction texts.
I can paraphrase information by putting it into my own words.

Important Dates:

December 7: Parent Club Elf Factory
December 13th: Holiday Program at 7:30pm
December 21st: Gingerbread house making and Classroom Holiday Party in the a.m.
December 22-January 2 Holiday Break