2/2/15

Supplies Needed

Dry erase markers

Felt to make dry erase erasers

This week’s class motto is: Give to Receive

VIRTUE OF THE MONTH: Integrity

Send me e-mails on how you see your child showing integrity.

Each week we will discuss a class motto. Over the remainder of the quarter, we will discuss Give to Receive. We need to remind ourselves about the basis foundational rules and guidelines for 4^th grade success. Give to Receive speaks to the fact that in order to receive success, you must give of yourself, effort. We will discuss giving your best effort in studies, homework, and in being a person. We will discuss relationships with each other and how we can give our best in everything.

The next two weeks are exciting:

History: AMERICAN REVOLUTION!!!! We begin my favorite unit. I am a history buff, but American History is my thing. How I wish we could travel back east to visit Philadelphia, Boston, and Plymouth as I did as an elementary student. But, we can't. I will simply have to make history come alive for the students here in Arizona. Over the next two weeks we learn about colonial life, self-sufficiency, and what started this rise for independence. We will look at the parallels between middle ages Europe and the colonies. The unit goes from colonial life through the Battle of Yorktown. It is a most exciting time of year for me as we will recreate battles, talk strategy, and do our best to determine who was a hero and who wasn't. 

Science:   We continue the unit on electricity! This unit is full of experiments, hand-on activities, and exciting information. The students have been "wired" the past few weeks. This week we "switch" to currents and power. 

Language Arts: We will finish reading Prince Caspian. Students will decide who is bravest. The ending brings a saddening revelation and we will discuss it. In grammar we will continue diagramming. A challenge has been levied against us. Ms. Posner's sixth graders have challenged us to a diagramming contest. Stay tuned for details. Stop on by to see a discussion!   

Math:  We continue geometry! This is an introductory course to geometrical shapes, perimeter, and area.

January 19th

Europe Project

The projects were an overwhelming success! I am so very impressed with the effort each student put into their project. Students enjoyed food from many European cultures and were enlightened by their classmates.

This week’s class motto is: Back to Basics

VIRTUE OF THE MONTH: Integrity

Send me e-mails on how you see your child showing integrity.

Each week we will discuss a class motto. Over the remainder of the quarter, we will discuss Back to Basics. We need to remind ourselves about the basis foundational rules and guidelines for 4^th grade success. We need to be sure we are ready for the rigors of the second semester. We need to go “back to basics”.

The next two weeks are exciting:

History: We begin a two week journey through the history of China. Obviously, to weeks is nowhere near enough time to cover the history of China in full, but we touch on some historic dynasties and cultural reference points of ancient China.  

Science:   We begin the unit on electricity! This unit is full of experiments, hand-on activities, and exciting information. Don’t be “shocked” if you child comes home “energized” every day.

Language Arts: We will continue reading Prince Caspian. Students are enthralled with the magical land of Narnia. We will follow Prince Caspian, Susan, Peter, Edmund, and Lucy as they attempt to free Old Narnia from the captivity of the evil Telmarines. Stop on by to see a discussion!   

Math:  We begin geometry! This course is really taking shape! Seriously, though, this is an introductory course to geometrical shapes, perimeter, and area.

1/9

This quarter we begin many exciting studies:

History: China, Arizona, and the beginning of our American Revolution Unit

Science: Arizona science, electricity, chemistry

Language Arts: Prince Caspian, prepositions, compound sentences, three paragraph essay

Math: four operations of fractions, geometry, measurements