May 19th - 23rd, 2014

• Thank you parents for attending our student conference celebration!  What a delight it was to hear students sharing this goals, growth, and successes from our fourth grade year! Our kids have worked hard this and are ready for fifth grade.  Thank you also for supporting our class this year with your help, kind words, and donations.  
• End of the year party:  Wednesday, May 28th.  Students will bring a sack lunch, beach towel, and out door equipment (Frisbee, soccer balls, footballs, etc.) Please no bats. We will have a picnic in the park gazebo. 
• Field Day: This coming Tuesday, May 20th. We will be outside all day.  Students need a good nights sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, bring and water bottle, and sun block and hat.
• Solar Ovens:  Friday, May 23rd.  If you volunteered to donate an item or help assemble ovens, we will combine all three science classes together in the library at 10:30.
• Report Cards:  will come home in Friday, May 23rd's Friday folder.

Social Studies:  DUE MONDAY, May 19th

History Assessment                                           Name_____________

                                                                     Teacher_____________

Directions:  Use the information in your notebook, what you remember from class discussion and videos, and apply your schema to the task below.  I will be looking for specific details and strong description in your response.

Scenario:  While on a field trip to the History Museum you 'accidentally' wander away from your group and discover an old, dusty door tucked away at the end of a long, dark hallway.  Of course you are curious and open it to have a look, despite the clearly printed sign that says KEEP OUT.  Little do you know it’s actually a time machine portal and now you are hurtling through time!  After tumbling and twirling back in time, you land with a thud and discover you have landed in historic Colorado in the 1880s.  You are the oldest child in a pioneer family that has recently homesteaded in one of the three regions of Colorado. Write a diary entry, describing in detail, your day from sun up to bedtime.  You will receive extra credit for mentioning what other family members are doing during the day as well. This is your opportunity to apply what you’ve learned and use your amazing writing skills to ‘knock my socks off!’  I can’t wait to read your diary entries.

Use the back of this page to plan you diary entry.  What thinking map would work well for this task?

Lastly, on a separate sheet of paper, write two-four sentences describing how your life is similar and different from an 1800s pioneer child settling in Colorado.

Note:  You may hand write your diary entry and reflection sentences on notebook paper and staple them to this page, or you may type and print your diary entry and attach it to this page.

May 12 - 16th, 2014

Student Led Conferences/celebration:  May 14th. Between 4:00-5:30 p.m. A Student-led conference is a time for your child to be in charge!  These conferences highlight the most important person in the assessment process – the student. What should a parent expect at a Student-Led Conference?

1.  Your child will do most of the talking.
2.  Your child will tell you the goals he or she is working on in class.
3.  Your child will discuss his or her progress.
4.  Your child will share and explain different types of work that he or   she performs throughout the day.
5.    This conference is a celebration of learning.
We look forward to seeing you!


An invitation to this celebration was sent home with your son/daughter on Wednesday.
• Wax Museum was a huge success!  Thank you to all who could attend and also the time and effort from parents  to help prepare costumes, and final biographies.
• Owl Pellet dissection:  Friday, May 16th.  We still need parent helpers during dissection from 10:30 - 12:00.  

Field Day for Fourth Grade:  Tuesday, May 20th.  Hot dogs, hamburgers and other snacks will be sold again this year for a small fee for those students staying on campus during lunch. Please check with me if you plan on taking your son/daughter off campus for lunch.

• Solar Ovens: Friday, May 23rd from 10:30 - 12:00, students will be building solar ovens as part of our energy science unit.  We still need parent help on this day, if you are free. 

1.  For Science:  Please watch the following video on food chains and food webs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE6wqG4nb3M

2.  Also, watch this movie on Carnivores, Herbivores, and Omnivores:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VejLXTsJrJc

3. Practice 3 digit by 3 digit multiplication. (Example:  284 x 398 = ?)Make-up 6 problems and solve them.  Check your work with a calculator. Due Friday.

4.  Study for your bone quiz. Study sheets will be given out in Friday Folders.

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May 5th - May 9th, 2014

Wax Museum, this Friday, May 9th!!! Students will come to school this Friday dressed as their notable person.  Please join us for our wax museum production from 9:00-9:45 a.m. on Friday, May 9th.  Students will change out of their costumes before specials that day.

Final Notable Person Biography due this Friday, May 9th.  Students writing is saved as a google document so your son/daughter can access their writing at home.

Student conference or celebrations are Wednesday, May 14th from 4:00-5:30.  

• Student Led Conferences/celebration:  May 14th. Between 4:00-5:30 p.m. A Student-led conference is a time for your child to be in charge!  These conferences highlight the most important person in the assessment process – the student. What should a parent expect at a Student-Led Conference?

1.  Your child will do most of the talking.

2.  Your child will tell you the goals he or she is working on in class.

3.  Your child will discuss his or her progress.

4.  Your child will share and explain different types of work that he or   she performs throughout the day.

5.    This conference is a celebration of learning.

We look forward to seeing you!

• Owl Pellets:  We will be dissecting owl pellets on Friday, May 16th from 10:30 - 12:10.  We still need parent helpers if you are free to come into our class and help.
• Field Day:  Tuesday, May 20th.

• 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, May 9th.

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April 28th - May 2nd, 2014

Flex Day testing: This Monday, April 28th. By appointment only. Students received 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, Friday, May 9th at 8:50 -9:45 a.m.  Students will come to school dressed as their notable person. School clothes need to be brought to school to be changed into for the remaining day.

Student Celebrations instead of Student Led Conferences, These student led celebrations will be held Wednesday, May 14th from 4:00 - 5:30.  These celebrations will showcase work student’s have done . 

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 21 - 25, 2014

• Thank you to parent helpers for joining us Friday for the Disney Bear Movie.  Our student's behavior was outstanding at the theater.  I'm very proud of all of them.

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, Friday, May 9th  at 8:50-9:45 a.m. Students will come to school dressed as their notable person.  All parents and guests are welcome at this time. 

Assessment Day: Monday, April 28th. Students will attend school by appointment only. Students only with a testing time will be required to attend on the 28th. Testing takes about one hour. Notes regarding you son/daughters testing requirements already went home in last weeks Friday folder.

Early Release Day:  This Wednesday, 23rd, 1:00 dismissal.
Paw Party!  Students earned 40 paws and have earned a party!  The party is scheduled for this coming Friday, April 25th.  We would still welcome any donations of bowls, or toppings.


WE NEED PARENT HELPERS for the following dates:   Friday, May 16th: dissecting owl pellets, Friday, May 23rd solar ovens.   Please let me know if you would be able to help support our learning on these dates. 

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