Thumb Wars and the Scientific Method

If your child came home and told you that we are thumb wrestling in science, well, it's true! As we get used to using the scientific method, we are doing fun things too, including eating M&Ms and thumb wrestling. In Mrs. W's class, Phillip and Katlin are the Thumb War Champions. In Mrs. P's class, Jared and Holly took top honors. Mr. F's class will finish their wars tomorrow.

Today we:

• took our reading test.
• took our math test.
• worked in our Writing Buckle Down-lesson 6, activity 1.
• wrote about fall for a hallway display.
• continued to study about the regions of Ohio.

Tomorrow we will:

• take our spelling test.
• turn in our spelling packet.
• turn in our homework packet.
• bring home our Friday Folders.

Today's All Stars:

Holly and Bryce

Congratulations to Morgan and her family! Her baby brother was born on Monday!

Early Release Day

Don't forget today is Early Release Day and the students will be dismissing two hours earlier than ususal.

For tomorrow:

1. Study for reading test.
2. Study for math test. If you want extra credit, do text p. 48 and 49.
3. If you did not finish the social studies paper on Regions, then do so.
   
4. Work on homework packet.
5. Work on spelling packet.

Tomorrow is Talk Like a Pirate Day (and Early Release Day)!

September 19 really is Talk Like a Pirate Day! Fourth grade students have permission to dress like a pirate as well as long as the attire does not go againgst the dress code! My pirate name is Red Bess Rackham. Find your own at http://www.piratequiz.com/.

Speaking of pirates, we will be attending the new "Real Pirates" exhibit at the Museum Center on Wednesday, October 3. While there we will also see the Omnimax film The Alps. Permission slips will be coming home in this week's Friday folder.

Today we began a new experiment to practice using the scientific method-Thumb Wars. We measured the circumference of each student's thumb and wrist and the length of each person's thumb in order to compare the data and make a prediction about who would be the Thumb War Champion. On Thursday we will form a hypothesis about who will win based on our data and then test our data.

Football No More: Due to a rash of incidents on the playground, there will be no more playing of American football. Also, students are NOT permitted to bring their own recess equipment to school. Equipment is provided every day.

Caterpillar Update: We have been hosting a monarch caterpillar for the past two weeks. Last night "he" went into a chrysalis! When we arrived this morning, what a surprise! The sickly looking caterpillar had formed a beautiful, jewel-like chrysalis! Thanks to all who provided milkweed for our caterpillar, especially Holly!

Assignments:

Math-Study for chapter test Thursday. Text p. 48-49 are for extra credit.

Science-Begin thumb war lab

Reading-Discuss "Coyote School News"; Quiz Thursday

Social Studies-finish Ohio relief map; worksheet

Homework:

Packet

Spelling

Week of Sept. 17

Lots of students were exceptionally well-dressed today, but sorry, pictures are not until NEXT Monday:)

Homework packets are coming home today- one math page, one social studies page (front and back), and two pages of science-one to read, one to answer.
Spelling came home in the Friday Folder last week. Please remember that the spelling activities are not optional. If your child chooses to complete only one 5 point activity, that equals a 10%.

Assignments
Math p. 11-12
Reading-Read The Coyote School News; vocab. 64
Science-Observation/Inference Quiz; debrief M&M lab

Homework
Packet
Spelling
Both due Friday
Literature Project
Due September 28

Have a great weekend!

Please remember to check your child's Friday Folder each Friday (or last day of the week) and SIGN and RETURN the left half of the Friday Folder Report. It helps me to know that you know that I know...about your child's progress:)

If your child has not already selected a realistic fiction book for his/her literature project, please help them do so or let me know so that I can help them choose an appropriate book. The project and presentation will take place on Sept. 28.

All students in Grades 2,3, and 4 will use a computerized diagnostic testing program called ThinkLink during the week of Sept. 24. Fourth grade students are assigned to the computer lab on Monday and Wednesday of that week. This is the first time for fourth graders, but the second grade teachers have raved about its effectiveness.

Today we learned about the scientific method using M&Ms, took a spelling test, practiced counting money in math, painted our Ohio maps, and used our Reading Buckle Down for test preparation. Ask your child for details!

The weather should be much better this weekend-ENJOY!

Don't forget to turn in homework!

Tonight's To Do List

1. Make sure spelling is finished and in backpack to turn in tomorrow.
2. Make sure homework packet is completed and in backpack to turn in tomorrow. Put name on all pages.
3. Study for spelling test.
4. Finish math p. 10 if not completed at school.
5. Finish persuasive letter to Mrs. Putnam. Try to talk her into choosing my holiday to celebrate.

Monarchs Unite!

Judy Krebs, educator from the Clermont County Soil and Water District, will be in the fourth grade classrooms once a month reinforcing science concepts. Today each student created his/her own life cycle of a monarch butterfly after discussion of the milkweed's lifecycle and the relationship between the plant and the animal.
We do not switch classes on Wednesdays because we have computer class and once a month Mrs. Krebs. It's really nice to have this self-contained time once a week with our homerooms. The time gives us a chance to decompress, catch up, and review skills from a different viewpoint.
Assignments:
Reading: Write a summary of "The Horned Toad Prince"; study for the test tomorrow
Math: Fix/finish math quiz pages 15 and 27
All Stars: Thanks for the jokes Bryce!