April 29th - May 3rd, 2013

Flex Day testing: This monday, April 29th. By appointment only. Students receieved a note indicating their time if they were to be tested. Testing will take about one hour.


Notable person Biography: Student's final project will be our “wax museum” presentation and a written biography, Thursday, May 2nd at 9:00-9:45 a.m.  Students will come to school dressed as their noteable person. School clothes need to be brought to school to be changed into for the remaining day.

Field Trip:  Lakewood's Heritage Center, Tuesday, May 7th. Students will need to bring a sack lunch and dress for the weather and comfortable walking shoes. If you have agreed to drive, you need to check into the front office for a copy of your driver's liscense and insurance card.  Please be at Van Arsdale by 8:50 a.m. as we will meet in the classroom.

Solar Ovens: Parents Needed! Students will be building solar ovens from 10:30-12:00 on Friday, 23rd. We are in the need of several parents that are free to facilitate this undertaking.  Please email me if you are free to help on this day. snisely@jeffco.k12.co.us

Student Celebrations instead of Student Led Conferences.  These celebrations will showcase work student’s have done .  We have designated the time being from 4:00-6:00 on May 8th. 




Writing

1.Please work on your costume for the wax museum. 

2.Construct a simple 3-D ON button for your desk.  Your ON button cannot make a noise, it's just for show.  Remember our chat, it should be about the size of a small jewelry box or a child's block.

3. If needed, continue to research your notable person on line.  Bring any additional research to school to add to your essay.
READING

It is a fourth grade expectation that you are reading independently at home at least 150 minutes per week.  Please record your minutes, total them, and then present your reading to your parent for their verifying signature.  Independent Reading Slips should not be signed before Thursday night or Friday morning.  The number of missing reading slips is on the rise, let's all work together to fix this problem.  Thank you!

April 22nd-26th, 2013

Lakewood Heritage Days field trip - Tuesday, May 7th. We will leave the school at 9:15 and return around 2:00 p.m. Due to the extended time of the field trip and in the attempt to keep costs down, we would like parent drivers for the activity.  Cost per student is $8.00, while parent drivers are without a charge.

• Notable person Biography:  Students will choose their famous person from history. They are required to read a book on their notable person and complete research through the Internet and our wireless laptops. Their final project will be our “wax museum” presentation and a written biography, Thursday, May 2nd  at 9:00-9:45 a.m. More information to follow.

Assessment Day: Monday, April 29th. Students will attend school by appointment only. Students only with a testing time will be required to attend on the 29th. Testing takes about one hour. Notes regarding you son/daughters testing requirements will go home Monday, April 22nd.

Early Release Day:  This Wednesday, 24th, 1:10 dismissal.

1.  The Wax Museum and completed biography report deadline is fast approaching, Thursday, May 2nd. Many students are on target with gathering information and working on first drafts of their notable person writing.  Several students need to spend extra time at home with  completing more on-line research and gathering props and costume items.  First drafts will be due on Friday, April 26th.

3.  ALL SCIENCE Students:   Play the following game to reinforce our studies on ecosystems:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/gamesforkids.htm

April 15th-19th, 2013

• Notable person Biography:  Students will choose their famous person from history. They are required to read a book on their notable person and complete research through the Internet and our wireless laptops. Their final project will be our “wax museum” presentation and a written biography, Thursday, May 2nd at 9:00-9:45 a.m. More information was sent home with your son/daughter in their planner.

No Word work this week due to acuity testing

• Assessment Day: Monday, April 29th. Students will attend school by appointment only. Information to follow.  If you have any questions please call me.
• Early Release Day:  Next Wednesday, 24th, 1:10 dismissal.
• Young Writer’s Conference, April 20^th 8:00-8:50 a.m.: Student’s will share a published or polished piece of writing including small moments, short stories, poems, essays, or other writing pieces.  A light breakfast will be served, a certificate of participation, a journal and pen will be given to each student participating.  All students in my class are encouraged to attend and share a selection of their writing.
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1.  Access the internet and print infomation on your notable person.  Be prepared to bring this information to class in order to continue our work on biographies. 

2.  Writing Prompt:  Imagine that you are a small pet, such as a hamster, goldfish, or lizard. Describe a perfect habitat for you to live in.  Please include paragraph describing your habitat and why it's perfect for you as a small creature.

3.  Don't forget your Trash to Treasure project!  Due this Friday, April 19th!
     See last weeks blog for picture examples and details.
4.After  learning about the interactions between both living and non-living elements in ecosystems, read about some of the world's biomes at this website:


http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769052.html

Choose one biome -   Now choose one animal that lives in that biome.  This animal goes in the center of your science sheet. Write the animal you selected in the center of the paper.  What elements (both living and non-living) are in this ecosystem?  Place these elements around the edge of your science sheet.  Write the interactions on the lines going from your chosen animals to the other elements in this biome. 

April 8th - 12th, 2013

• Notable person Biography:  Students will choose their famous person from history. They are required to read a book on their notable person and complete research through the Internet and our wireless laptops. Their final project will be our “wax museum” presentation and a written biography, Thursday, May 2nd at 9:00-9:45 a.m. More information to follow.

• Assessment Day: Monday, April 29th. Students will attend school by appointment only. Information to follow.  If you have any questions please call me.
• Early Release:  Wednesday, April 24th, 1:10.
• Was Museum: Thursday, May 2nd, 9:00-9:45 a.m.
• Young Writer’s Conference, April 12^th 8:00-8:50 a.m.: Student’s will share a published or polished piece of writing including small moments, short stories, poems, essays, or other writing pieces.  A light breakfast will be served, a certificate of participation, a journal and pen will be given to each student participating.  All students in my class are encouraged to attend and share a selection of their writing.

1.  Students are asked to reuse and create something from trash!  Our current science ecosystem discussions have keyed on creating less waste for our environment.  Students are challenged to turn trash to treasure and design something different from trash.  A few picture examples are given below. Each treasure should be no more then 8 x 8.  These treasures will be displayed in the library once completed and turned in on Friday, April 19th.





2.  Students need to come up with three notable people from history and be prepared to submit these names on Monday. Students must be sure that there are  books and internet resources availiable to them on each person. The list of three will be narrowed down to one.


3.  Math Game:  Adding numbers to 20.
http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/math_games/addition/math-lines-20.html

March 18th - 22nd, 2013

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·         Students did a fantastic job on CSAP testing this week.  I’m proud of their hard work and dedication to doing their best!  Thank you to all the many parents that provided healthy snacks.  Also, a big thanks to Mrs. Lopez, Mrs. Dressler, and Mrs. Krysiak for organizing all the amazing snacks for us.

Vault/PTSA March 20

Early Release Day, March 22

Spring Break, March 25 - 29

No School, April 1st

Students return Tuesday, April 2nd 

1.  Create a flow map to represent the sequence of events that occur in the following activity. Oh, and have lots of fun doing it!! Your teachers sure did :)   Click on the following link:

http://www.drawastickman.com/?m=1

Now all you have to do is follow the directions that appear in front of you on the screen!