Yikes, sorry for the interrupted service!

Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is right around the corner!
Our Christmas party will be Tuesday, December 21 at 2:15. Mrs. Kramer is doing the planning and will be contacting those parents who returned the party volunteer forms.

The next literature project is due December 20 and/or 21. Students should be reading a fantasy. The suggested project for this genre is a cereal box report. Links can be found at http://rocket.cneschools.org/course.

November is Here!

This month's literature project is Informational Nonfiction. Informational nonfiction is any book of facts that is NOT a biography. Information Nonfiction books do not usually have plots, so when doing the literature project students should focus on presenting facts rather than story elements like characters, setting and plot (problem/solution). The purpose of an informational nonfiction book is to teach or inform the reader about the subject, so the purpose of a student's literature project on this genre should be to teach the audience about the subject matter.

Important points for Nonfiction include:

1. Subject: What was the book about?
2. Summary: What did you learn from the book?

• Some other important questions to ask yourself in this outline are:

1. Did you enjoy the book?
2. Was the book written well?
3. Was the author's objective clear by the end?
4. Who do you think the target audience is?
5. Is the book part of a series?
6. Would you recommend this book to a friend, and if so, why?

This project is due November 22.

Chilo Lock #34

On Thursday, October 28, our class visited Chilo Lock #34 for a day filled with nature and history. The students met and petted a few native animals, went on a nature walk to learn about native plants, and explored the river museum and the Jennie Wade paddle boat.

Cinderella

Be sure to come and see the fourth and fifth grade students as they present Cinderella on Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6, 2010 at Clermont Northeastern High School. Shows are at 7:00, 2:00 and 7:00 respectively with tickets at $5.00 each.

To find us in the local newspaper:
http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/20101028/NEWS/10280327/1001/news/CNE-to-present-Disney-s-Cinderella-Kids-

Reds Day on Count Week

October is Here!

This week's selection is What Jo Did.

• What Jo Did powerpoint
• vocabulary practice
• To guide your reading
• Quizlet
• more vocabulary
• Poems by Charles R. Smith, author of What Jo Did
• Plot Diagram powerpoint
• Interactive Plot diagram

In math, we will continue to add and subtract with regrouping and decimals and practice counting money and making change.

• Ordering Decimals game
• Decimals of the Caribbean game
• Beat the Clock
• Save the Dog
• Making Change
• Change Maker
• CA$H Out
• Place Value
• Gamequarium Place Value

Our science focus will be on physical and chemical changes.

• Mixtures and Solutions
• Mixtures and Solutions 2
• Examples and Nonexamples
• Solutions and Mixtures
• Mixtures Powerpoint

Happy Labor Day!

Enjoy the Labor Day weekend!

The Horned Toad Prince

This week's story is The Horned Toad Prince. We will visit the world of fairy tales through the work of Jackie Mims Hopkins.

The Horned Toad Prince resources:
Powerpoint
Vocabulary Practice
More vocabulary practice

Welcome Back!

CNE fourth graders had a great first day in our new home away from home! Parents need to finish their homework (all of that paperwork) and students should choose a realistic fiction book to read for their first literature projects due on Sept. 24-only four weeks away!

Realistic Fiction is

• a form of fiction (not true)

• accurately reflects life as it could be lived today
  

• everything in the story could happen to real people living in our natural physical world
  

• the characters have normal human powers
  

• story may be set in real places, but the story is NOT based on history, nor does it contain elements of science fiction

Do NOT choose Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing or Because of Winn Dixie as we will read them in class.
Click here or here for a list of titles that fit this genre.

Vote for CNE!

Things to do this summer

Donate Free Rice and Learn your Multiplication Tables

READ!

Getting Closer

Don't forget, Rock & Roll Forever is this Thursday at 6:30! With a dash of Ed Sullivan, a sprinkle of Elvis and a whole lot of fourth graders, we're in for a really good show (shoe)!

All library books need to be returned to school pronto!

We're still working on fractions, chemical and physical changes and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Physical and Chemical Changes

Science
Mixtures and Solutions
Mixtures and Solutions 2
Examples and Nonexamples
Solutions and Mixtures
Mixtures Powerpoint

This week's story is To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers.

26 days of school left, but who's counting?

This week we are reading Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride written by Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrated by Brian Selznick, one of our favorite artists.

In addition, we are beginning new units in both math and science. Our science focus is on physical and chemical changes while in math we are using fractions.

Freshbaked Fractions

Pizza Party

Comparing Fractions game

Indentify Fractions

Roller Coaster Heaven

This week is full of fun as six of our classmates get ready for their trip to Washington D.C. Those of us who are not going will be creating our own brand of fun. One morning will be spent at Gauche Park, another spent learning strategy as we play a variety of board games. On Friday, 14 of us will head to Kings Island for Math and Science Day.

Create your own roller coaster

Roller Coaster Simulator

Happy Spring!

Our first two journals have arrived! After long trips across our country and around the world, Becca's and Rachel's journals returned to Clermont Northeastern Elementary. Becca also received her final postcards from Phyllis in Iowa, Wilma in Minnesota, Loretta in Illinois, and Todd and Susan in North Carolina. Jessup's journal should be heading our way soon. It was last seen by Jean in Washington on its way to Texas!

We are studying perimeter, area and volume in math this week. Tomorrow we will have a math day during which the students will travel to 9 different stations learning about probability, fractions and measurement in preparation for the Ohio Achievement Test next week.
In science, we are finishing up our unit on weather. Weather ABC books are due this Friday, April 16.
Our language arts focus this week is poetry and figurative language.

News from Afar

While Joline's journal found its way to Lebanon, Ohio, Becca's went to Wisconsin, Jessup's to Sacramento and Santa Cruz, CA, Ethan's to Norwich, Connecticut, and Rachel's to Cedar Park, TX and Pella, Iowa. Sydne received a cool care package from Crofton, Maryland containing lots of information about Annapolis. Meanwhile, Mikella's journal sojourned at Stirling Castle in Scotland while Jack's journeyed to Japan. Every day the students look forward to seeing what kind of mail we might receive!

Happy Easter!

Geometry

Informational Websites
Figures and Polygons
Math is Fun
Polygons
Interactive Websites
Math Cats
AAA Math
Practice Activities
Sorting Polygons
Polygon Quilt
Printables

Perimeter Game
Terms to Know:
polygon: a closed plane figure bound by straight sides

perimeter: the distance around a two-dimensional shape

What You Need:
•One deck of playing cards (Print a deck.)
•Metric rulers (scaled in centimeters)
•Pencils
•Paper
What You Do:
1.Shuffle the deck and place it in the center of the table. Give each player a pencil, a ruler, and a sheet of paper.
2.Players take turns drawing a card. They take the value on their card (aces = 1, all face cards = 10) and use it to draw a line equal to that many centimeters. They should label this line with its measurement.
3.In the second round, players will draw a new card, then draw another line stemming from either end of their previous line.
4.The goal is for a player to make a polygon by closing their figure with a final line on their third or subsequent turn.
5.When a player creates a polygon, they must also state its perimeter. If correct, they earn 1 point. On their next turn, they may begin drawing a new polygon.
6.The first player to earn 3 points wins.

News from Abroad and More

Postcards have been arriving daily from overseas and from our own great country. Becca's journal traveled to Memphis, TN and Orland, FL while Jessup's went from Alaska to Florida, Sydne's from Florida to Arkansas, Lauren's from Kentucky to Texas, and Ethan's from Las Vegas, NV to central Pennsylvania. Jack's journal was in China according to the last postcard he received. Mikella's journal must be especially weary as it flew from Norway to Australia and is now on its way to Scotland. All of the students love receiving word of their journals' journeys!

Current Topics
Reading: Encyclopedian Brown and the Case of the Slippery Salamander
Language: Mystery writing
Math: Geometry
Science: Weather

Literature Projects

Only two literature projects are left this year. Historical fiction is the genre due on March 26. Do not choose a book we have read together (i.e., Pink and Say.)
The historical fiction you choose should:
*present a well-told story that doesn't conflict with historical records,
*portray characters realistically,
*present authentic settings,
*artfully fold in historical facts,
*provide accurate information through illustrations, and
*avoid stereotypes and myths.
List of historical fiction books

More ideas for historical fiction
The final literature project for this year is the student's choice, but it MUST be a chapter book.

This week we are learning about clouds. Ohio fourth graders need to know how to identify cirrus, cumulonimbus, cumulus and stratus clouds. We will be observing the sky and recording our observations in our cloud journal.

Cloud Finder

Our reading selection this week is Seeker of Knowledge.

News from Afar

Michele in Panama City, Florida sent Becca a postcard of a shrimp boat to give her a taste of the area while Diane from Hampton, Virginia sent a slew of postcards to Sydne. Jessup's journal visited Savannah, GA before flying on its way to Sarah Palin's home state. Sam received a big hello from a fourth and fifth grade class in Sweden.

Conferences are tonight and Thursday night from 4-7. If you still want/need a conference, I have times available. Call 625-1211 to make an appointment.

The Houdini Box

This week's reading selection is from the reading book and is called The Houdini Box.

Houdini Box powerpoint

Houdini Box powerpoint 2

Houdini Box flashcards

Houdini Box quizlet

Our math focus continues to be on graphing while in science we are learning metric measurement.

Yesterday Ethan, Abby, Kassi, Eric and Kylie met me at the movie theater to see Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. We really liked the movie, but I was disappointed in how different the movie and the novel are. I am offering extra credit to any of my students who have seen the movie (with or without me): Compare the movie and the book. Which did you prefer? Why?

Rain or Snow, the Journal Journey Continues

Merrill Holman from California, PA dropped us a note via snail mail letting us know that she enjoyed participating in the journal journey. Rachel's journal traveled from Mark and Amy in Alaska to the Pietersma family in South Dakota who then mailed it to the east coast. Monica in Glendale, AZ sent Ethan's journal to Washington. From there it is headed to Nevada. Jan in New Jersey is forwarding Jessup's journal on to a friend in a secret location. Kylie's journal saw Jennifer in Washington D.C. and is on its way to Chicago. After Jack's journal visited Jennifer in San Diego, it traveled half way around the world to Thomas in Dusseldorf, Germany. I wonder where they'll go next?

Snow Days

I hope everyone has been at home working on/completing their fantasy literature projects and Olympic event projects. Both are due this Friday. We will also have our Valentine's party on Friday afternoon.
The field trip to Pattison Park has been canceled for Thursday, February 18 and will be rescheduled at a later date.

More Journeys

Jessup's journal was recently at the Oklahoma City National Memorial with Brynne and Kevin. Austin's journal visited Gail in southeast Pennsylvania, Kylie's saw Krystie in Chicago and Kassi's called upon Ruth in Kernersville, North Caroline. Jack's journal is currently in Germany and from there will go to Asia. Meanwhile, Sydne's journal sojourned in Edwardsburg, Michigan and California, Pennsylvania. Click here to see CA, PA. Sydne's journal will then be traveling to Hampton, VA.

Winter Olympics

We will be studying the Olympics for the next few weeks as well as having our own Mini-Metric Olympics in science. Below are a few links to help with Olympic projects.
Winter Olympics for Kids (has information on the many events)
Meet Team USA (has many useful links for other countries as well)
Winter Olympic Games by Wikipedia (Wikipedia always has lots of information about history, etc.)
Vancouver Home page (will find medal counts and specific event information here)
Maps of the World (more information on events)
Olympic Project (created by students for students)
Winter Olympics First Grade project (We are participating in this one.)

Insight into Percy Jackson

Rick Riordan, author of The Lightning Thief and the rest of the Percy Jackson series has a really cool website. Check it out by clicking here.

Greek Parents

This is just for fun! Find out your Greek god/goddess parent as if you are a demigod by clicking here.

Artsonia

Ms. Knoth has registered our student artists at Artsonia, a really cool website that showcases student artwork. So far Kassi, Eric, Lauren and Abby from our class have artwork that is exhibited on Artsonia. To visit Artsonia go to www.artsonia.com and enter the zipcode 45160 or click here.

Journals Still Journeying

Two more postcards just in. Becca's is from Fredericksburg, VA (maybe from her cousin Ashley?) and Jack's is from Erica in Palm Peach Gardens, FL. The students LOVE getting postcards!

Traveling News

Washington D.C.- Four students from our class are going on the trip to Washington D.C.: Ethan, Megan, Rachel and Tori. All other students who sent in $$ are on a waiting list. Any questions regarding this trip should be addressed to Mrs. Bower at bower_b@cneschools.org.

Journal Journey-Four students received postcards this week-Megan from Debbie in Cincinnati, Austin from Amy in the Big Sky State (aka Montana), Kassi from Morrena in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Sam from Uncle Type in Alaska.

Second Quarter Honors

Congratulations to the students who are in the second quarter Rocket Club:
Kylie
Samson
Abby
Mikella
Ethan
Jessup
Megan
Sam
Eric
Garrett
Becca
Congratulations to the students who made the second quarter honor roll:
Kylie
Samson
Mikella
Jessup
Eric
Sydne
Garrett
Becca
Congratulations to the students who made the second quarter merit roll:
Abby
Ethan

Water Cycle Contract

For the water cycle games in both interactive and printable formats, click here.
Select interactive word scramble by clicking here.
Select interactive fun facts matching game by clicking here.

Water Cycle

For access to our science lesson plans for this week and next, click here.

Back in the Saddle

I don't know about anyone else, but I was definitely ready to get back in the routine of school. The snow days were nice, but we have lots of work to do here!

The district website has a new feature that I am just learning to use, but that should be very handy because I can now attach assignments that are in the form of a word document.
Click here to see.

Rainforest Animals

We are reading The Great Kapok Tree and learning about rainforests. As part of our rainforest study, each student is researching a rainforest animal using encyclopedias and other resources. While computers will not be used at school, they may be used at home for more information.

anaconda armadillo army ant boa constrictor bushmaster snake chimpanzee cobra flying lemur harpy eagle howler monkey hummingbird jaguar kinkajou morpho butterfly ocelot paca poison dart frog sloth spider monkey tarantula toucan tree frog

Wikipedia is also a great source of information.

Snow Alert

The weather forecast is not looking good as far as school being in session over the next couple of days. If we are at school on Thursday, I will send home the Friday folder report tomorrow in the event that school is canceled on Friday. Just in case we are not in school either day, next week's important information was shared with students today so they could write the upcoming events in their planners. If we are not at school on Friday, the spelling test will be postponed until the next school day, and the science poster will be due on the next school day for those who have not already turned it in.

Next Week
1/11: Social Studies test (ch. 4); Practice Reading Ohio Achievement Test
1/12: Math test (multiplication)
1/13: Practice Math Ohio Achievement Test
1/14: Science test (processes that change the Earth)
1/15: Literature Project due (informational nonfiction); Reward Movie (for students with no behavior infractions and no missing work)

January 15 is the end of the grading period so all missing work needs to be turned in before that day.

Traveling Journals

Our journals are traveling in every direction! Some went east (Vicki's to the Sommers in Maine; Austin's to the Ficklen's in Suffolk, VA-home of Planter's Peanuts), some went south (Samson's visited the Moores in Corpus Christie, TX) while others went west (Sydne's to San Diego and Mikella's to Cary's in CA and Chris's in WA) or north (Jack's to Detroit, Michigan). Garrett's went overseas to the Ernsts in Germany and back. Now it's on its way to AZ!

The Great Kapok Tree

I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break! We are back to work on our erosion unit in science. We should have a test sometime next week.

We will be reading The Great Kapok Tree in reading for the next 2 weeks. Here are some fun activities to go along with our story.

Count the rainforest animals
Learn about rainforest animals
Label the rainforest animals
Life in the Strata information