April 11-15

This week the fourth grade: 

• Took ERB tests in the morning Monday-Thursday
• Reviewed Topic 12 in math for a test on Wednesday, April 20th 
• Began 4th Quarter Book Clubs
• Illustrated our state narrative writing projects
• Voted on how to categorize our states for our presentations at the State Fair. Some suggestions at our brainstorming session include by: size, population, date of statehood, climate, time zone, number of presidents from the state, natural resources, and alphabetical order
• Note: Students voted to categorize states by size (area). We are one step closer to the State Fair!
• Began rehearsing our State Fair presentations individually
• Students should also begin practicing their speeches at home! A copy went home this week.
• Recorded a stop motion film for the 50 States Fair
• Students were asked to bring in small objects or 2-D images that represent their state for this film by Wednesday!
• Began learning about rocks and minerals
• Performed a variety of tests on mineral samples to identify them including observing luster, hardness, and streak color

Next week we will:

• Begin learning about the three types of rocks and how they are formed in the Earth
• Continue review with classifying sentences with an emphasis on interjections
• Review proper uses for commas in sentences
• Continue reading fourth quarter book clubs and writing daily journals about the readings
• Review Topic 12 in math over fractions and mixed numbers
• Take a test over Topic 12 in math on Wednesday, April 20th
• Practice our 50 States Fair speeches (be sure to practice at home, too!)
• Put the finishing touches on our state narratives, class VoiceThread, and iMotion projects

Upcoming dates:

• Tuesday, 4/19: Math Club, 7:30 am in Mrs. Stephenson's classroom
• Wednesday, 4/20: Topic 12 Math Test
• Thursday, 4/21:  Noon Dismissal for Professional Development
• Friday, 4/22:  Book Clubs, 12:30-1:00
• Wednesday, 4/27:  Science Club, 7:30 am in  Mrs. Van Maren's classroom
• Thursday, 4/28: State Float Project due
• Friday, 4/29:  Book Clubs from 12:30-1:00, Grandparents Day activities 1:30-3:00
• Friday, 5/6:  State Fair presentations
• Information was sent in Monday folders and via email. Please look for a Sign-Up to help out with products, set-up, and clean-up for the luncheon (from room parents) and a Sign-Up for your dish (from Mrs. Stephenson). See you there!

Did you know that Missouri Residents can subscribe to Xplor Magazine for Kids, and it's free?!
go to: wplormo.org/node/2618
This magazine is created by The Missouri Department of Conservation for kids in Missouri!

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