This morning we focused on a study skill while learning the Great Lakes.
See
Max!
He
Eats
Oreos!
for Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Students wrote their own to memorize.
After this we studied our SAT words, learned what the idiom "bite the hand that feeds you" means (and wrote a journal entry about it). We worked on a spelling activity - line poem, classifying sentences, and a new 3-point paragraph. Students chose from various topics:
favorite books/movies
things I like to do that cost money
waterways
3-POINT PARAGRAPHS WILL BE DUE FRIDAY.
MATH HOMEWORK IS TO FINISH THE REVIEW. We have a test tomorrow.
We had Foreign Language, Drama, Yoga/Karate/Dance, and Music. Yes, it is our packed Specialist day. We also had a visit from an Orem Police Officer, who discussed many topics, including bullying and safety.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
January 14th, 2013
This morning we learned the five Great Lakes of the United States. They are Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. We are reading information about these lakes. THESE FIVE LAKES AND THE SEVENTEEN RIVERS BELOW WILL BE ON A TEST ON FRIDAY. The students will be given a map showing the bodies of water and numbers associated with them. They are:
Snake River
Columbia River
Colorado River
Little Colorado River
Green River
San Juan River
Virgin River
Gila River
Rio Grande River
Mississippi River
Missouri River
Arkansas River
Red River
Ohio River
Hudson River
Delaware River
Potomac River
The river system will also be part of the test. For example:
What are the sources of rivers (how do they form)?
What is the significance of the Continental Divide?
What is a dry lake?
What can we do to protect our rivers?
What great river has been depleted to the point that it doesn't reach the Pacific Ocean anymore?
etc., etc.
For Language Arts this morning we learned new words:
emulate: try to equal or match, to copy
enervating: causing debilitation
ephemeral: short-lived, like the life of a butterfly
evanescent: disappear, as in a vapor
exemplary: worthy of imitation
We also learned State of Being Verbs. Then we chose picture fiction books and mapped out the setting (time and place) of the book. STUDENTS SHOULD MAKE A SETTING WEB OF THEIR BIOGRAPHY FIGURE. Five settings from the book should be mapped out from the center of the page. THESE ARE DUE TOMORROW.
For Math, I felt the kids needed more instruction and practice finding shaded area. A TWO PAPER (FOUR PAGE) PACKET WENT HOME TODAY FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO WERE AT SCHOOL ON FRIDAY. THE OTHERS NEED TO BE DONE THROUGH EXERCISE 6 BY TOMORROW. Some students will want to work on their chapter review tonight. Those who are 100% complete tomorrow will get to be on the computers during math. The others will be working at the board on review questions. The chapter 5 test will either be Wednesday or Thursday.
After lunch we had Structured Independent Reading and Meridian Math Club. During Writer's Workshop we described settings and fantasy surprises. This is a style that many authors use to catch readers' interests. Students each wrote their own settings and fantasy surprises.. They will be writing a new one every day this week. We will choose our favorite ones to type out as story starters and hang outside the classroom.
During 4th Grade Art/5th Grade Science, we discussed the three North Poles. 1. Geographical 2. Santa's Workshop town in Alaska, 3. The Magnetic North Pole. We focused on the third. Students observed and experimented with magnetic forces changing compass needles. We found that electromagnets gave off force fields strong enough to change compass needles. Some students observed the North and South of their compasses attracting or repelling with various magnets. My favorite connection was the kids' connections to the use of magnets and electromagnets in turbines, engines, dams, etc, to generate electricity.
After P.E. we crafted the base of our puppet heads and attached them to poles. We will be making rod puppets with moveable arms. It is my first time to make them, but we are having fun learning.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD READS HIS/HER BIOGRAPHY FOR 30 MINUTES EACH NIGHT UNTIL HE/SHE IS DONE. A BOOK REPORT OF CHOICE IS DUE AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
Snake River
Columbia River
Colorado River
Little Colorado River
Green River
San Juan River
Virgin River
Gila River
Rio Grande River
Mississippi River
Missouri River
Arkansas River
Red River
Ohio River
Hudson River
Delaware River
Potomac River
The river system will also be part of the test. For example:
What are the sources of rivers (how do they form)?
What is the significance of the Continental Divide?
What is a dry lake?
What can we do to protect our rivers?
What great river has been depleted to the point that it doesn't reach the Pacific Ocean anymore?
etc., etc.
For Language Arts this morning we learned new words:
emulate: try to equal or match, to copy
enervating: causing debilitation
ephemeral: short-lived, like the life of a butterfly
evanescent: disappear, as in a vapor
exemplary: worthy of imitation
We also learned State of Being Verbs. Then we chose picture fiction books and mapped out the setting (time and place) of the book. STUDENTS SHOULD MAKE A SETTING WEB OF THEIR BIOGRAPHY FIGURE. Five settings from the book should be mapped out from the center of the page. THESE ARE DUE TOMORROW.
For Math, I felt the kids needed more instruction and practice finding shaded area. A TWO PAPER (FOUR PAGE) PACKET WENT HOME TODAY FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO WERE AT SCHOOL ON FRIDAY. THE OTHERS NEED TO BE DONE THROUGH EXERCISE 6 BY TOMORROW. Some students will want to work on their chapter review tonight. Those who are 100% complete tomorrow will get to be on the computers during math. The others will be working at the board on review questions. The chapter 5 test will either be Wednesday or Thursday.
After lunch we had Structured Independent Reading and Meridian Math Club. During Writer's Workshop we described settings and fantasy surprises. This is a style that many authors use to catch readers' interests. Students each wrote their own settings and fantasy surprises.. They will be writing a new one every day this week. We will choose our favorite ones to type out as story starters and hang outside the classroom.
During 4th Grade Art/5th Grade Science, we discussed the three North Poles. 1. Geographical 2. Santa's Workshop town in Alaska, 3. The Magnetic North Pole. We focused on the third. Students observed and experimented with magnetic forces changing compass needles. We found that electromagnets gave off force fields strong enough to change compass needles. Some students observed the North and South of their compasses attracting or repelling with various magnets. My favorite connection was the kids' connections to the use of magnets and electromagnets in turbines, engines, dams, etc, to generate electricity.
After P.E. we crafted the base of our puppet heads and attached them to poles. We will be making rod puppets with moveable arms. It is my first time to make them, but we are having fun learning.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD READS HIS/HER BIOGRAPHY FOR 30 MINUTES EACH NIGHT UNTIL HE/SHE IS DONE. A BOOK REPORT OF CHOICE IS DUE AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
Friday, January 11, 2013
January 11th, 2013
This morning we drew and labeled the Hudson, Delaware, and Potomac rivers. These are not large rivers, in the context of physical landforms, but they are extremely important in lieu of America's beginnings. WE WILL HAVE A TEST ON RIVER SYSTEMS OF THE USA NEXT FRIDAY.
After our Language Arts test, students tested each other in spelling and conferenced with each other on business letters. TYPED ROUGH DRAFTS OF THE BUSINESS LETTER ARE DUE NEXT WEDNESDAY.
We are still reading biographies. PLEASE KEEP READING YOUR BIOGRAPHY FOR YOUR BOOK REPORT. You should be halfway through it already.
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXERCISE 6. We mapped out the Common Area and figured out the area of the uncovered portion.
After lunch we learned about the Brothers Grimm in Cultural Roundtable. We worked on "Beginning with the End in Mind" in 7-Habits. Next, we practiced the rivers in a hands-on activity, and acted out movement simulations in Writer's Workshop. Students also chose between finishing off "Where the Red Fern Grows" and working on Type III projects.
Have a great weekend!
After our Language Arts test, students tested each other in spelling and conferenced with each other on business letters. TYPED ROUGH DRAFTS OF THE BUSINESS LETTER ARE DUE NEXT WEDNESDAY.
We are still reading biographies. PLEASE KEEP READING YOUR BIOGRAPHY FOR YOUR BOOK REPORT. You should be halfway through it already.
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXERCISE 6. We mapped out the Common Area and figured out the area of the uncovered portion.
After lunch we learned about the Brothers Grimm in Cultural Roundtable. We worked on "Beginning with the End in Mind" in 7-Habits. Next, we practiced the rivers in a hands-on activity, and acted out movement simulations in Writer's Workshop. Students also chose between finishing off "Where the Red Fern Grows" and working on Type III projects.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
January 10th, 2013
Hi! Yesterday was our 25th Anniversary, so I was gone. Sorry not to blog, but life definitely does have to happen sometimes, even for teachers!
This morning (and yesterday) we labeled the Mississippi River and four rivers running to it (Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas, and Red). We learned about the Continental Divide, and what happens to rain that falls on either side. It ends up either in the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans.
TOMORROW IS OUR LANGUAGE ARTS TEST. We studied the words of the week, worked on grammar punctuation, and began writing business letters. STUDENTS NEED TO ADD TO THEIR ROUGH DRAFTS. Ask them what company they are writing to, and what their compliments and suggestions for that company are. Please teach them how to request politely!!! I have been laughing at the boldness in these kids!
I am noticing that they love to write! Great! They don't generally ask, "How long does it have to be?" They even complain a little when it is time to finish. A great present or incentive might be a home journal, thankful journal, or author's journal.
TOMORROW STUDENTS WILL BE PRESENTING THEIR MOVEMENT DESCRIPTIONS. We didn't work on them today, but they are mostly finished. Students chose a movement they wanted to describe, acted it out in slow motion, and broke the movement down into separate sentences. Students will be acting out the written descriptions tomorrow.
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXERCISE #5. Big Area - Little Area = surrounding area.
Students had Foreign Language, Art (5th) and Handwriting /Science (4th). In Science we discovered the power of magnets on compasses and the pull of the magnetic North Pole.
Mrs. Hagan and Mrs. Allen helped the students with their Huck Finn production for the rest of the day.
This morning (and yesterday) we labeled the Mississippi River and four rivers running to it (Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas, and Red). We learned about the Continental Divide, and what happens to rain that falls on either side. It ends up either in the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans.
TOMORROW IS OUR LANGUAGE ARTS TEST. We studied the words of the week, worked on grammar punctuation, and began writing business letters. STUDENTS NEED TO ADD TO THEIR ROUGH DRAFTS. Ask them what company they are writing to, and what their compliments and suggestions for that company are. Please teach them how to request politely!!! I have been laughing at the boldness in these kids!
I am noticing that they love to write! Great! They don't generally ask, "How long does it have to be?" They even complain a little when it is time to finish. A great present or incentive might be a home journal, thankful journal, or author's journal.
TOMORROW STUDENTS WILL BE PRESENTING THEIR MOVEMENT DESCRIPTIONS. We didn't work on them today, but they are mostly finished. Students chose a movement they wanted to describe, acted it out in slow motion, and broke the movement down into separate sentences. Students will be acting out the written descriptions tomorrow.
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXERCISE #5. Big Area - Little Area = surrounding area.
Students had Foreign Language, Art (5th) and Handwriting /Science (4th). In Science we discovered the power of magnets on compasses and the pull of the magnetic North Pole.
Mrs. Hagan and Mrs. Allen helped the students with their Huck Finn production for the rest of the day.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
January 8th, 2013
This morning we mapped the Rio Grande River and reviewed tributaries of the Colorado and Columbia Rivers.
After vocabulary review, idiom journal writing ("A miss is as good/bad as a mile"), shaving cream spelling, quick sentence diagramming.
We edited our 3-point paragraphs for evidence of the 5 senses and students handed in their biography webs.
HOMEWORK IS TO TYPE OUT THE 3-POINT PARAGRAPH AND ILLUSTRATE IT. DUE TOMORROW. I tried to make sure each student went home with their homework!
MATH HOMEWORK WAS EXERCISE 4 (PERIMETER). Today we learned what composite figures are (square and rectangle attached, or other obvious shapes "stuck" together to form a large shape). Most of the kids are doing very well finding the perimeter when only one side and the area are given. This is a difficult concept.
Today our schedule changed to Winter Term. Students went to Foreign Language, Drama, chose between Dance/Yoga/Karate, and went to Music with our new teacher, Mrs. Allen. She is a music professional who knows Meridian's quality in and out. She is excited to work with the children, who were also very excited coming back from a vigorous vocal workout!
In history, we summarized the American Revolution for our Bulletin Board display and worked on loose ends.
The puppet play is being written!
After vocabulary review, idiom journal writing ("A miss is as good/bad as a mile"), shaving cream spelling, quick sentence diagramming.
We edited our 3-point paragraphs for evidence of the 5 senses and students handed in their biography webs.
HOMEWORK IS TO TYPE OUT THE 3-POINT PARAGRAPH AND ILLUSTRATE IT. DUE TOMORROW. I tried to make sure each student went home with their homework!
MATH HOMEWORK WAS EXERCISE 4 (PERIMETER). Today we learned what composite figures are (square and rectangle attached, or other obvious shapes "stuck" together to form a large shape). Most of the kids are doing very well finding the perimeter when only one side and the area are given. This is a difficult concept.
Today our schedule changed to Winter Term. Students went to Foreign Language, Drama, chose between Dance/Yoga/Karate, and went to Music with our new teacher, Mrs. Allen. She is a music professional who knows Meridian's quality in and out. She is excited to work with the children, who were also very excited coming back from a vigorous vocal workout!
In history, we summarized the American Revolution for our Bulletin Board display and worked on loose ends.
The puppet play is being written!
Monday, January 7, 2013
January 7th, 2013
Whew! I remembered to post!
This morning we mapped the Colorado River and other major rivers that flow into it (Green, Virgin, Little Colorado, etc.) On Friday we mapped the Snake River and Columbia River. STUDENTS SHOULD REGULARLY REVIEW THE PHYSICAL LANDFORMS THAT MAKE UP THE USA. Look online for games to review these. THERE WILL BE A TEST ON USA LANDFORMS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY.
We reviewed last week's SAT words (empathy, disdain, discredit, diligent, and divergent). We also edited each others' 3-point paragraphs. THE BLUE 3-POINT PARAGRAPH PAPER IS DUE WEDNESDAY, TYPED OUT AND ILLUSTRATED. The topics to choose from were: future careers, popularity, anger, and games.
Today in grammar we learned that the question: Verb - What? points us directly to the Direct Object, or D.O.
We wrote for 8 minutes straight in our journals, elaborating on an idiom, "Count Your Blessings", and then we focused on a character web for our biography reading. OUR BIOGRAPHY BOOK REPORTS ARE DUE THE LAST WEEK OF JANUARY. Be sure your fourth grader is reading for at least 1/2 hour each day. Fifth graders should be reading for 45-60 minutes daily.
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXERCISE 3. Students are learning algebra in memorizing area and perimeter formulas. A=lxw and P=2x(l+w) should be memorized. The story problems may need adult help. Be encouraging. If your students need further help, I am always available during morning recess, most lunchtimes, and after school. I am happy to help them. It would be most helpful if you could have them measure rectangles and squares, and find out the area and perimeter of them. Lots of what we do is working backwards from the area and one perimeter measurement, to find the whole perimeter.
Today was Meridian Math Club and S.I.R. I am impressed that students are making small time goals, and sticking with their plans.
Today we worked on Writer's Workshop. Some students will be coming home with typing to do. They are writing so much, it is a bit overwhelming to type!
Fourth Graders went to Art today. Fifth Graders had a Science lesson about Electromagnets, and then made their own. Several students experimented with multiple batteries. It was fun to explain the workings of electricity and currents. Please show your child how batteries and magnets are used in your home.
To complete the day, we finished writing "skeletons of puppet skits, and illustrating rough excerpts for possible backgrounds.
It was a good day.
This morning we mapped the Colorado River and other major rivers that flow into it (Green, Virgin, Little Colorado, etc.) On Friday we mapped the Snake River and Columbia River. STUDENTS SHOULD REGULARLY REVIEW THE PHYSICAL LANDFORMS THAT MAKE UP THE USA. Look online for games to review these. THERE WILL BE A TEST ON USA LANDFORMS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY.
We reviewed last week's SAT words (empathy, disdain, discredit, diligent, and divergent). We also edited each others' 3-point paragraphs. THE BLUE 3-POINT PARAGRAPH PAPER IS DUE WEDNESDAY, TYPED OUT AND ILLUSTRATED. The topics to choose from were: future careers, popularity, anger, and games.
Today in grammar we learned that the question: Verb - What? points us directly to the Direct Object, or D.O.
We wrote for 8 minutes straight in our journals, elaborating on an idiom, "Count Your Blessings", and then we focused on a character web for our biography reading. OUR BIOGRAPHY BOOK REPORTS ARE DUE THE LAST WEEK OF JANUARY. Be sure your fourth grader is reading for at least 1/2 hour each day. Fifth graders should be reading for 45-60 minutes daily.
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXERCISE 3. Students are learning algebra in memorizing area and perimeter formulas. A=lxw and P=2x(l+w) should be memorized. The story problems may need adult help. Be encouraging. If your students need further help, I am always available during morning recess, most lunchtimes, and after school. I am happy to help them. It would be most helpful if you could have them measure rectangles and squares, and find out the area and perimeter of them. Lots of what we do is working backwards from the area and one perimeter measurement, to find the whole perimeter.
Today was Meridian Math Club and S.I.R. I am impressed that students are making small time goals, and sticking with their plans.
Today we worked on Writer's Workshop. Some students will be coming home with typing to do. They are writing so much, it is a bit overwhelming to type!
Fourth Graders went to Art today. Fifth Graders had a Science lesson about Electromagnets, and then made their own. Several students experimented with multiple batteries. It was fun to explain the workings of electricity and currents. Please show your child how batteries and magnets are used in your home.
To complete the day, we finished writing "skeletons of puppet skits, and illustrating rough excerpts for possible backgrounds.
It was a good day.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
January 3rd, 2013
Welcome back!
This morning we discussed physical characteristics of the United States of America. Rivers, mountains, oceans, lakes, mountain ranges, deserts, plains, deserts, forests, etc. Students received a map. We will be adding features each day in colored pencil.
We went over the five ACT words for next week. They are:
diligent: quietly and steadily persevering in detail or exactness (Keeping on keeping on)
discredit: being held in low esteem (underestimate effort)
disdain: lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike (hate - can't stand)
divergent: tending to move apart in different directions (wandering away)
empathy: understanding and entering into another's feelings (feeling with someone)
THERE WILL BE A TEST ON THESE WORDS ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 11TH.
We also went over 1/2 of our grammar sheet. Next week we will be learning about Direct Objects.
We did our mid-year spelling assessment.
And... we also began our biography book reports. I checked out 34 books from the Provo Library. Students are choosing one (or several) to read. THE LAST WEEK OF JANUARY BOOK REPORTS ARE DUE.
Recess was inside, due to the inversion alert.
MATH HOMEWORK IS UNIT 5 EXERCISE 1. We used square ceramic tiles to estimate the area of various shapes. We traced our hands on centimeter grid paper and tried to guess the area as accurately as possible. We learned how to write centimeters squared, using the subscript "2".
Fourth Graders worked on cursive practice today. We also made electromagnets out of iron nails, a battery, and wire. I burned myself! We noticed how the temperature of the battery and the wire increased upon contact. We learned what currents are, how atoms move, and about the strength of batteries. We learned about car batteries, etc. There were quite a few aha moments.
All students worked cooperatively on puppet play scripts for the Revolutionary War puppet play. We will continue this through next week.
PLEASE BE SURE YOUR CHILD GETS TO SLEEP EARLY TONIGHT!!! Also, it is typical that students get really hungry during the day. Feel free to send a small snack or two with them for recess time.
This morning we discussed physical characteristics of the United States of America. Rivers, mountains, oceans, lakes, mountain ranges, deserts, plains, deserts, forests, etc. Students received a map. We will be adding features each day in colored pencil.
We went over the five ACT words for next week. They are:
diligent: quietly and steadily persevering in detail or exactness (Keeping on keeping on)
discredit: being held in low esteem (underestimate effort)
disdain: lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike (hate - can't stand)
divergent: tending to move apart in different directions (wandering away)
empathy: understanding and entering into another's feelings (feeling with someone)
THERE WILL BE A TEST ON THESE WORDS ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 11TH.
We also went over 1/2 of our grammar sheet. Next week we will be learning about Direct Objects.
We did our mid-year spelling assessment.
And... we also began our biography book reports. I checked out 34 books from the Provo Library. Students are choosing one (or several) to read. THE LAST WEEK OF JANUARY BOOK REPORTS ARE DUE.
Recess was inside, due to the inversion alert.
MATH HOMEWORK IS UNIT 5 EXERCISE 1. We used square ceramic tiles to estimate the area of various shapes. We traced our hands on centimeter grid paper and tried to guess the area as accurately as possible. We learned how to write centimeters squared, using the subscript "2".
Fourth Graders worked on cursive practice today. We also made electromagnets out of iron nails, a battery, and wire. I burned myself! We noticed how the temperature of the battery and the wire increased upon contact. We learned what currents are, how atoms move, and about the strength of batteries. We learned about car batteries, etc. There were quite a few aha moments.
All students worked cooperatively on puppet play scripts for the Revolutionary War puppet play. We will continue this through next week.
PLEASE BE SURE YOUR CHILD GETS TO SLEEP EARLY TONIGHT!!! Also, it is typical that students get really hungry during the day. Feel free to send a small snack or two with them for recess time.
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