This Week in LL38....

We had a few more presentations last week!  Congratulations to Christiane, Ti-Ti, and Kylie (not shown here) for their amazing presentation on sea turtles.  This group created an iMovie and a slide show to teach the class about sea turtles and what we can all do to help protect them!  I am hoping to upload both the slide show and iMovie at some point this week!

 

Also,,,,,,Congratulations to Angelina and Lizzie for their presentation on birds!  They taught the class a lot of fun facts about a variety of birds!  It is great to be able to learn from our classmates.  All of the kids have been encouraged to use these 3 presentations as possible inspiration to start their own project!

Math Workshop

Last week in math we started plotting fractions on a number line.  This led us to being able to compare 2 fractions using the number line.  One very important skill that was taught to all of the kids last week was the importance of using benchmark fractions such as 0, 1/2, and 1 whole.  We spent a lot of time getting lots of practice comparing a fraction to 1/2.  This will help us as we continue to work through this fraction unit.

Here is another way for the kids to think about it.....

Fraction Online Games

Each student now has on his/her Google Docs account a page with several links to fraction number line games.  These websites are a great way to practice what we are working on in the classroom.  

Reading Workshop

We jumped into the world of poetry last week in reading!  We were reading poems from a book called My Man Blue.  It is a collection of poems that tell a story about a man named Blue and a boy named Damon.  As we have been reading the poems from this book we have been talking about the inferences that we can make as well as noticing some of the poetry terms that we are becoming familiar with such as mood and stanza.

Giggle Poetry 

We also went on this website last  week.  This website a ton of funny poems written by Bruce Lansky.  For homework this week your child will be going onto this website and completing an assignment that goes along with it on Google Docs.  More information will be sent home with your child tomorrow!  This will be due on Friday.

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the weather this weekend!  Have a great week!

~Jen

This Week in LL38.....

We had a busy week as engineers last week as the kids designed their earthquake resistant buildings.  We also got to celebrate Dr. Seuss' Read Across America Day on Wednesday.  We had a guest reader come in and read a few books to our class!


Congratulations Amelia!  Amelia shared her PowerPoint about pollution with our class on Friday.  Amelia chose a topic that she was interested in, found out more about it at home, decided on a way to "show off" her learning, and then presented it to our class!  Great job!  We learned a lot about pollution.

We also got a sneak peek into another project about sea turtles.  Ti-Ti, Christiane, and Kylie will present their iMovie this week to our class!

Engineers!

The kids were able to finish researching earthquake resistant buildings.  They then created sketches of a few buildings that they felt showed off what they had learned in their research.  After creating their own sketch, they came together with their partner/partners and decided upon a building using all of their ideas.  They spent a few days using the materials that we had and trying to build a structure that would stand up to our shake table.  

The shake table simulated an earthquake.  The kids did a great job and many of the buildings held up under all of the shaking!  If a building fell apart, the kids went back to think about how they could revise their idea based on the results.  

I am really proud of the kids and all of the hard work and great thinking that went into building the earthquake resistant buildings!  

Reading Workshop

We have talked a lot about equality in our class this year through many books that we have read.  Last week we learned about Susan B. Anthony and how she worked hard to get equal rights for women.  Ask your child what he/she learned about Susan B. Anthony and her struggles!

This week we will take a little break from nonfiction reading and take a closer look at poetry.  We will be reading a variety of poems and analyzing the poems.

I hope everyone has a great week!

~Jen

This Week in LL38....

Engineers at Work....
   
     The class received a letter last week asking for their assistance in creating an earthquake resistant building.  In order to create this building the students were being asked to research what other engineers have done before them to create buildings that hold up against earthquakes.
      The kids were very excited to start researching the materials that engineers use to create this type of building.  They will be writing a letter stating what they feel are the best materials to use to create this building and why they have chosen them based on their research.  The kids will also be creating a replica of their building this week.  The buildings will be put to to the "test" to see how they hold up against an earthquake.

Thank you to the parents that were able to donate items to help make this project a success!  :)


Module 4 Assessments

     Tomorrow your child will be coming home with their Module 4 Assessment.  As in the past, please sign and return the cover sheet stating that you have reviewed the assessment with your child.  I will then send the cover sheet back to you so that you have it at home and it can serve as a reminder as to what your child needs to review.

Just a reminder that Wednesday is a 1/2 day. Dismissal will be at 11:40.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Jen

I hope everyone enjoyed the vacation week!  We are entering into a very busy time of fourth grade!

Writing Workshop and Science
      We will are getting ready to start our Nonfiction writing unit in Writer's Workshop.  We are going to continue to learn about earthquakes, how they are measured, and research how engineers make buildings safer if there is an earthquake.
      After doing the research the kids will be constructing an earthquake proof building.  To help with our project we will need the materials listed below.  If you are able to donate these items to our class, please let me know that way I will have an idea of what is being sent in and can make sure we don't have too much of one item.  :)  If you are able to send in anything, please let me know by Thursday, February 25th.  We will need the items by next Monday, February 29th.  

Items needed for engineering project:

• mini marshmallows
• toothpicks
• marbles
• box top similar to the size of a board game box or cereal box
• string/yarn
• pipe cleaners
• index cards
• box of spaghetti
• duct tape
• coffee stirrers

Reading Workshop

      We will continue to work on our Nonfiction unit in reading as well.  We will be reading paired texts which are multiple stories/texts that show multiple points of view.  For example, we will read a text about Hurricane Katrina as well as an account from a person who lived through Hurricane Katrina.  We will discuss the differing points of view.

Math Workshop

     We will  continue to work on fractions in math.  We will start to learn about multiplying fractions this week.  We do not have a homework helper packet for this module, but if your child is stuck, this website might be helpful.  

http://www.oakdale.k12.ca.us/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1424347210205 

I hope everyone has a great week!  

~Jen

Celebrating the Authors!

The Friday before vacation was certainly an eventful one!  Each of the kids got a ticket for our Book Launch Party.  They celebrated with popcorn!  Each of the authors got to participate and share their story with a small group.  After sharing, each student was able to compliment the author on a part of the story that they liked.  It was fun to see all of the kind words and hear all of the amazing stories! We will be putting the books into the Farley Library for other students to enjoy!

                                            

Punctuating Dialogue

Here is the poster that your child can refer to when typing on Google Docs.

This week in LL38....

I hope everyone enjoyed the extra long weekend!  

Writing Workshop

     We will work on becoming published authors this week.  Last week the kids worked on punctuating dialogue and started editing their story.  This week we will continue to edit and then we will start to type or write our final drafts.  This will be homework as well this week.  All stories will need to be finished by Thursday.  We will celebrate all of the authors on Friday!

Valentine's Day

     Your child should have brought home a class list last week. Your child can bring in their Valentine cards on Friday.  If you didn't receive a list, please remind your child to take one tomorrow.

Math Workshop

     We will be taking our Module 4 assessment tomorrow.  Geometry has been a fun unit.  The kids were able to do a lot of hands on learning.  

     Our next module will be on fractions.  I will be sending home a parent letter this week explaining some of the topics that will be covered.

     One topic that is very important for 4th graders to understand in this unit is multiplying fractions.  One fun way of reinforcing this at home is through cooking.  For example if you are baking cookies and you need to double the recipe your child could figure out the measurements for each ingredient if it was doubled or multiplied by 2.

I hope everyone has a great week!

~Jen