First Day!

What a great first day!  100% attendance on the first day of school is a great start! Tonight's homework includes multiplication, math review, parent paperwork, and covering the social studies book.  Please check to be sure your child has mastered his/her multiplication facts.  If he/she hasn't, it's time to start studying.  Look to the right side of this page for multiplication practice.

Back to School

Going back to school after a long, fun-filled summer is always bittersweet.  While many of us are excited about the new school year and all that it promises, we are still enjoying the fun activities of summer.  I know that I will miss swimming, Kings Island and spending time with family and friends!  Since we can't stop time though, might as well jump right into this school year!
Upcoming Dates
Open House:  August 20 6-7 p.m.
First Day of School: August 21
Parent Information Night: August 27

If you haven't been practicing your multiplication facts, now is the time to get started.  We will begin mastering those facts right away!
Can't wait to see you at Open House!!!

Step Through the Hole

Tomorrow's science immunity challenge will be Step through the Hole.  Your child has been tasked to find a way to step through an index card given only the 3 x 5 card and a pair of scissors.  Yes, it can be done!
See here for instructions:
http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/games/stepthroughhole.html
Or watch the video!

Don't forget that informational nonfiction literature projects are due this Friday!  This project will be assessed using the following tool:

Informational Nonfiction Project

Element	Possible Points
Student Check List	Teacher Assessment
Title/author are given.	5
Project is interesting, creative and relates to the topic	15
Project is neat and made with care.	10
Facts are included.	15
Connections are made: text to text, self and world.	15
Recommendation/Opinion are shared without prompting.	10
The student uses 3-5 sentences to clearly communicate the main idea of the book (summary).	10
The student explained vocabulary relevant to the topic.	10
The project was completed on time.	10
Total	100

Physical and Chemical Changes

Our science focus is on chemical and physical changes.  Click on the following links to learn more:
Physical and Chemical Changes
Chemistry for Kids
Physical or Chemical Change
Physical science
Quiz
video
Brainpop Jr.

Descriptions & differences between chemical & physical changes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/chemistry/chem_react_intro.shtml
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_chemphys.html
http://chemistry.about.com/od/lecturenotesl3/a/chemphyschanges.htm
http://www.ric.edu/ptiskus/chemical/
http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae244.cfm  
Interactive site for students & teachers to become more familiar with mass and weight.
http://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/mass_volume_density.htm  
Good information on the differences between solids, liquids, and gases.
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/states_of_matter/
PowerPoint on matter. 
http://www.schools.pinellas.k12.fl.us/educators/tec/Davis2/matter.ppt/sld001.htm
Webquest and experiments on Chemical & Physical Changes
http://mypage.direct.ca/k/kasmith/gina/index.html  

We are now using StudyLadder weekly to support our learning goals and to individualize instruction.  Your child has been given a username and password to access www.studyladder.com at any time.

Adelina's Whales

This week's reading selection is Adelina's Whales by Richard Sobol.

Links 
About the Author

Powerpoint
Flashcards


We are beginning our multiplication study in math.  Students were expected to have mastered their multiplication facts 0-10 by the end of third grade.  If your child needs to review or practice his/her facts, flashcards, practice tests or worksheets and the following sites may help.
Games
Times Tables
Online Tests and Quizzes
Multiplication Game
Online Flashcards
Multiplication Facts


In science, we are studying states and properties of matter.  
1.D.3: Investigate how water changes from one state to another (e.g., freezing, melting, condensation, evaporation).
 Students were introduced to the following sites during class:
Phases of Water
Changing State
Gases Around Us: Activity, Quiz, What's Next
Solids and Liquids:  Activity, Quiz, What's Next
States of Matter:  Solids, Liquids and Gas, Change of State, Label the Diagram, Vocabulary Game-States of Matter; videos

The Stranger

This week's reading selection is The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg.

It is late summer when Farmer Bailey has the accident. The man he hits with his truck is dressed in peculiar fashion, all in leather. The man has lost his memory, and Farmer Bailey takes him into his home to recuperate. Some weeks pass but the stranger still does not know who he is or where he came from. The Baileys grow quite fond of the man. One day a group of geese flies overhead, going south. The stranger follows them with his eyes until they are out of sight. Farmer Bailey begins to notice how strange the weather is. It seems that fall will never come.

Below are websites that you may want to visit for more information or practice on this week's language topics.
Vocabulary Practice: Quia
Spelling Practice:  Spelling City
Seasons: Deciduous Forests, BrainPOP
Dependent and Independent Clauses: Sentence Speedway
Complex Sentences:  Complex Sentence Camp

 Chef of the Week Isaac served Chex Mix.

CHEX PARTY MIX
6 tbsp. butter 4 tsp. Worcestershire 1 tsp. seasoned salt or (3/8 tsp. garlic powder & 3/8 tsp. salt) 6 c. Chex mix (Wheat, Corn, Rice) 3/4 c. salted nuts &/or pretzels Heat oven to 250 degrees. Melt butter. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and salt. Add Chex mix and nuts. Mix until all pieces are coated. Heat in oven 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes. Spread on absorbent paper to cool.

Chef of the Week Ajay shared Apple Bites.


Just quarter and core an apple, cut a wedge from the skin side of each quarter, then press slivered almonds in place for teeth.

Happy October

Fall is my favorite season so I am happy to see the arrival of October.
Upcoming Events/Activities:
October 8:  No school for students
October 19:  Mystery Literature Project due; end of quarter
October 24:  Field trip to Chilo
October 26:  Report Cards

October Chefs:
10/5:  Isaac
10/12:  Ajay
10/19:  Rachel G.
10/26:  Hannah

This week's reading selection is What Jo Did by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
For links to activities that go along with this selection, click here or here.

In math we continue our review of addition and subtraction both with and without regrouping.  The design process a.k.a. the scientific method is our focus in science.