November 24th and 25th

This week the fourth grade: 

• Met with our preschool buddies to make a Thanksgiving craft with them
• Finished our independent reading contracts
• Used rounding to estimate when multiplying
• Increased accuracy in math by asking ourselves whether or not our answers are reasonable
• Read our "Duck On a Bike" published books to our buddies and help them create a turkey Thanksgiving project
• Published our Thanksgiving persuasive writing assignments
• Recognized similes, metaphors, and personification in the book Owl Moon
• Shared our power point presentations about animals we researched for Earthworks
• Discussed how the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park changed the ecosystems and geography
• See the video here:  http://themetapicture.com/when-they-brought-these-wolves/

Next week we will:

• Begin reading second quarter book club assignments
• Identify proper and common nouns in sentences
• Practice forming plural nouns correctly
• Begin learning about Earth's layers and it's characteristics
• Review Topic 5 to take a test on Thursday, December 4th
• Finish our Midwest scrapbooks
• Continue our holiday poetry unit
• Map the westward expansion trails and discuss how most of them began in Missouri
• Practice for our Christmas Program
• see important information below!

Upcoming dates:

• Thursday, 12/4:  Christmas Program, 7:00 pm
• Friday, 12/5:  Book Clubs, 12:30-1:00
• Thursday, 12/11:  Science Club, 7:30 am in Mrs. Van Maren's classroom
• Friday, 12/12:  Book Clubs, 12:30-1:00
• Wednesday, 12/17:  Math Club, 7:30 am in Mrs. Stephenson's classroom
• Friday, 12/19:  Book Clubs, 12:30-1:00
• Friday, 12/19:  Ice Skating trip in the morning, homeroom parties at 2:30

 We will celebrate the season together on Thursday evening, December 4th for a 7:00 p.m program.  Students should plan to arrive by 6:40 to meet home room teachers in the undercroft of the church.  Dress is nice, church-type clothing in CHRISTMAS COLORS –any jewel tones you see in Christmas lights are great.  Ladies – dresses or skirts and tops/sweaters, slacks outfits, anything festive and Gentlemen – slacks and a Christmas colored sweater or shirt.  Our final joint rehearsals will be in the church on Tuesday, December 2nd and Wednesday, December 3rd from 8:45-11:00.  Please avoid pulling students out during these rehearsals if at all possible.  We have a very limited schedule to work with all three grade levels and want to have the students feel very prepared!

***Please note:  4th graders will also need a Santa Hat to wear for part of their program.  Please bring one from home or purchase an inexpensive one as soon as possible so they can practice in class and at final rehearsals with them.

Happy Holidays!

 You can order books for your child through Scholastic Book Clubs!   

Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub
One-Time Class Activation Code: HFWTD 
Every online order earns three free books for our classrooms!  We use these free books for classroom libraries and as a punch card reward.

Here's to another great week in the fourth grade!

Mrs. Stephenson and Mrs. Van Maren