Rainy Days and Mondays

Today students took a social studies test, tomorrow it's math test day. On Friday we will complete our study of the design process (another term for scientific method).

In reading we began a literature unit for the book Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. Each day we will read one chapter (ten in all) and complete a worksheet guided by the state language arts indicators for fourth grade. During the two weeks we will spend on this unit, each student will also be working on his/her own literature contract. The contract is broken into five sections-one for grammar, one for vocabulary, one for research, one for art, and one for creative writing. Together, the students decided how many activities needed to be completed for each heading. The learning contract will be worked on each day in class and turned in next Friday, Nov. 2.

This week in science we will complete our Secret Formulas unit by inventing toothpastes. We read and discussed Toothpaste: From Start to Finish during science and discussed the feel/foam tests that will be completed in class tomorrow. On Thursday students will do a "clean test," and then Friday each student will invent his/her own recipe for toothpaste.
Because of the nature of labs, students who are absent during a hands-on activity are not able to complete that activity. Instead, they must find a peer with whom to discuss the process and gather the data. Every student is required to take the Accelerated Reader test on Toothpaste: From Start to Finish. For another cool science design process using toothpaste, try this link for extra credit.

During computer we continued googling scientists. On Wednesday, each student will commence research on the scientist of his/her choice.

Assignments:
Reading: worksheet chapter 1

Homework:
Spelling 50 points
Packet
Literature Project (due next Friday)

10/26 Interims
11/1 Grandparents' Day Program/Lunch; Evening Program
11/2 Literature Projects due (mystery)
11/5 Trip to United Dairy Farmer's Norwood plant (sorry, no chaperones)
11/5 Conferences 3:30-9:30
11/6 No School-Teacher Inservice
11/14 Two Hour Early Dismissal
11/16 End of Quarter
11/20 Report Cards

I am in the process of scheduling conferences. If you wish to have a conference with me, please let me know ASAP. If you would like for Mr. Fiore (math) or Mrs. Wood (social studies) to be present, please let me know also ASAP. Conference times fill are filling up quickly, but we want to meet with everyone who would like to confer about a student's progress.

Vehicle Day

Friday's Vehicle Day was a huge success! I had no idea that fourth graders would be so excited about honking horns! Everyone who brought a vehicle to share with the students was kind enough to let the kids clamber all over, in and around their cars and trucks. The Owensville Fire Department hooked up the hoses so the kids could practice putting out fires. Both the State Highway Patrol and the Clermont County Sheriff allowed the kids to sit in the backseats of their cruisers (hopefully the only time they sit in the backseat of those particular cars).



My class would not let me leave the parking lot until I rode in Duke Energy's cherry picker, hence the white-knuckled grip. I actually thought the experience was really cool until Mr. Siefert informed me that the only way down was if I got us down. Apparently he has never seen me drive! Finally, I did manage to bump us to the ground.
Thanks to everyone who participated-it was a great time!



We are almost finished being inventors, at least for a while. Next week we will focus on toothpaste-testing ingredients then creating our own. Our next unit of study will be matter and physical and chemical changes.

In reading we will begin reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. We will spend two weeks reading this book and working on a learning contract to go with the book.

Everyone should be working on his/her mystery literature project!


Reminder: Social Studies test on Monday, Math test on Tuesday

Harvest for Hunger

This class has worked very hard to promote our Harvest for Hunger food drive. Many students made posters to hang throughout the building and motivate other classes. One group created a commercial to persuade others to give to people who may need a little extra help. I'm very proud of all of their hard work!

Tomorrow we will:

1. take a spelling test.
2. turn in our homework if it hasn't already been done.
3. invent our own flavor of cola.
   

Today we:

1. made observations, created a hypothesis, and designed an experiment to create a cola.
2. took a reading test.
3. played a game to review the operations in math.
4. reviewed for Monday's social studies test.
5. practiced identifying common and proper nouns (worksheet 23 and 24).

Late, but not forgotten

Today was an early dismissal day, but we still managed to get in our third reading of What Jo Did and discuss rising action and climax. Nothing like a chock full day!

In math the students finished a graphic organizer sorting clue words with the operation that each represents: in all=addition; in equal groups=division; left=subtraction, etc. There will be a math test next Tuesday!

In social studies, we finished a worksheet on timelines that compared how long different prehistoric Indians lived in Ohio. It is not too late to bring in shoeboxes, artifacts, and clay! There will be a social studies test on Monday!

In language we reviewed common and proper nouns. We will not spend a lot of time on nouns as the children have been learning about nouns for years! A worksheet was started in class and should be finished tonight.

In reading we reread the story What Jo Did. Tomorrow will be the weekly test on the selection.

Friday is Vehicle Day and Cola invention day. Be sure to ask your child how his/her cola tasted!

We were Boo-ed!

Our class was boo-ed today. Although that sounds like a bad thing, it's actually a cute way to boost morale and school "spirit"! Someone left a poem and a bag of treats for the class this morning when no one was watching:) We will continue the tradition by boo-ing another class (or two) soon.

Today's Assignments:
Science-quiz, turn in Cola lab
S.S.-bring shoebox, clay
Reading-read What Jo Did

Tomorrow is an early dismissal. Students will be dismissed at 1:25 on Wednesday.

Friday is Vehicle Day. Fourth grade is scheduled to tour the vehicles from 11:45 to 12:30 and from 1:30-2:15.

October 15

Welcome back to the ninth week of school!

Upcoming Events for Mrs. Putnam's homeroom:
10/17 Two Hour Early Dismissal
10/26 Interims
11/1 Grandparents' Day Program/Lunch; Evening Program
11/2 Literature Projects due (mystery)
11/5 Trip to United Dairy Farmer's Norwood plant (sorry, no chaperones)
11/5 Conferences 3:30-9:30
11/6 No School
11/14 Two Hour Early Dismissal
11/16 End of Quarter
11/20 Report Cards

Assignments:
Math p. 24 (finish 22 if not already done)
S.S. bring artifacts, shoe box, clay
Reading p. 54-55

Homework:
Spelling activities
Packet

Tomorrow there will be a science quiz on the scientific method. Students should be able to correctly identify the parts of the scientific method (question, observations, hypothesis, procedure/experiment, data, and conclusion) when given a lab report.

No School Tomorrow

Sorry for the lack of graded work. I'm a little backlogged right now, but I plan to catch up over the long weekend, so look for lots next week! Enjoy your long weekend! Don't forget that next Wednesday is an early release day.Today we took the reading and spelling tests, read about the biological production of methane gas, learned about Ohio's Native Americans, practiced the scientific method, and continued working with addition and subtraction. Both the homework packet and spelling activities were sent home today.
Shutterbugs should be taking pictures of "Fall".

Assignments:
Math p. 22
Weekly Reader

Jessica continues with All-Star by completing 4 activities!