February 1-5

This week the fourth grade: 

• Began reading 3rd quarter book clubs!
• Identified volcanoes around the world by exploring patterns of where volcanoes exist today and where they have existed in the past
• Investigated how differences in lava types explain differences in eruption patterns among volcanoes
• Learned about different types of volcanoes and different statuses of volcanoes
• Reviewed nouns and took a test on Tuesday
• Continued practice classifying sentences with Shurley Grammar
• Identified subject pronouns in sentences
• Reviewed long division strategies for a test over Topic 10
• Reviewed the Western region of the United States in preparation for our test on Thursday 
• Completed our infographic projects on the West region
• Learned about the War of 1812 and how The Star Spangled Banner was written
• Continued our work with wpponline.com
• Explored elements of fantasy (this quarter's book club genre) by planning our own fantasy stories on storyjumper.com

Next week we will:

• Continue 3rd quarter book clubs
• Begin Topic 11 in math by finding factors of a number, categorizing numbers as prime or composite, and finding multiples of a number
• Continue our study of pronouns
• Begin our 50 states unit!
• Complete a survey to be matched with one of the 50 states
• Describe life in the Missouri Territory after the Louisiana Purchase
• Write a draft of our fantasy story on storyjumper.com
• Continue our study of volcanoes in science
• Go on a field trip to The Kauffman Center to see The Underground Dance
• Celebrate Valentine's Day by exchanging Valentines and having a party on Friday

Upcoming dates:

• Tuesday, 2/9:  8th Grade Pancake Breakfast, 7:00-8:30 am, $5 admission
• Wednesday, 2/10:  Science Club, 7:30 am in Mrs. Van Maren's classroom
• Friday, 2/12:  Book Clubs, 12:30-1:00, Valentine's Day parties 2:30 pm
• Monday, 2/15:  No School, Presidents' Day
• Students have an assigned book club reading for this day so we can stay on schedule for finishing book clubs on time.  They will be reminded to take home their novels and journals on this weekend so they can complete the assignment at home.
• Thursday, 2/18:  4th Grade Showcase, 7 pm
• Thursday, 3/3 and Friday 3/4:  Parent Teacher Conferences
• Friday, 3/11:  End of Quarter 3

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 a great week in the fourth grade!

Mrs. Stephenson and Mrs. Van Maren