Updates for 1-28-13

Here’s a quick look at this week.

Math à  The kids will take their next Iowa CORE Math Test on Tuesday and Wednesday.  This will show their growth over the course of fourth grade so far.  This test is aligned with the Core Curriculum that Iowa and 44 other states have set.  More info here: http://www.corestandards.org/

After tacking that test, the students will celebrate the 100^th day of school with a special math lesson…pictures to come.  We will also begin exploring fractions this week.  Those on Khan Academy can find a plethora of practice activities.

Reading à  The kids will be reading some nonfiction revolving around the importance of energy in our lives.  We will be discussing author’s purpose, as well as practicing phonics, vocabulary, and fluency.

Science à  This week we will begin exploring circuits!  Do you know the difference between series circuits and parallel circuits.  I’ll give you a clue:  think Clark Griswold’s Christmas lights.  He thought that if one goes out, they’d all go out (series circuits).  However, we mostly see lights that will stay on even if one goes out (parallel circuits).  An awesome kit to explore electricity is posted below.  Again, I don’t get any royalties for this.  However, the kids that use this are incredibly engaged and motivated!  The one posted is the most basic, but there are lots of other more advanced Snap Circuit sets:

http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-SC-100-Snap-Circuits-Jr/dp/B00008BFZH/ref=pd_sim_t_3

http://www.clarkgriswoldcollection.com/

Social Studies à  We have been exploring the differences between capitalism, socialism, and communism.  This week we will look at people who preformed very well during the Progressive Era, including JP Morgan and John Rockefeller, as well as other “robber barons”.

*Conferences are coming up – please sign up down in the office as soon as possible.*

Thanks, and make it a great week!

Updates for the Week of January 22, 2013

Good afternoon, everyone.  I hope you enjoyed your three day weekend (if you had one…unlike me!).

First, and selfishly most importantly, your child brought home two sheets tonight.  The blue sheet had information of my graduate research project and the white sheet was a Sunday-Saturday schedule.  I want to clear a few items up.  First, the weekly schedule your child brought home isn’t for this particular week; rather, it is a generic, typical week.  What I’m trying to get out of each schedule is how much your child allocates free time in different areas.  Second, I realize that every week is slightly different.  I’m looking for generalizations.  For example, when your child returns the schedule tomorrow, I want to look and see “2 hours of basketball practice on Thursdays” and “15 minutes of reading each night” and “30 minutes of television each night”.  In the coming weeks, I’ll be tallying these more specific results.

Science!  The kids have been exploring magnetism.  Pictures will be posted on the blog this week.  Remember to keep checking the blog for tutorials, support videos, and pictures within the classroom.

Social Studies!  The kids have recently finished learning about the Southeast (you may have seen the final project – a quilt square research project).  We have moved into a time era rather than a region of the US.  We will be exploring the 1870s-1920s, know as the Gilded and Progressive Eras.  This will include the concept of capitalism, child labor, and tenement housing.

Math!  We will be finishing our unit on division this week.  The kids have this almost completely mastered, and they will be the first to tell you how much easier it is when they know their multiplication facts.  Next up…fractions.  www.KhanAcademy.org has some GREAT activities to support your child, so if you haven’t signed up, make sure to do so this week J.

Reading!  The kids have continued working on fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and phonics.  These are the foundations that make reading United States novels, nonfiction Science articles, and anything else under the sun possible!

Lastly, the conference schedules will be posted in a few days.  I can’t believe all that has been going on lately…and always, I suppose!  Please let me know if you every have any concerns or questions about anything.

Angles Can Be Found Everywhere!

...including on the Internet. "Banana Hunt" is a game which allows players to estimate a line angle given. The closer the angle ...the more bananas to be found! Our class earned 27 nanners the first round - can you find more?

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/bananahunt/bhunt.html

A quick tutorial of angles