3, 2, 1 BLAST OFFFF!!!

We are scientists!!

To practice each step of a simple scientific investigation, we built and launched ROCKETS!

We began by creating a testable question, researching some background information about rockets, and making predictions about how far the rockets would launch! Our testable question was-"How long should a paper rocket cylinder be to make the rocket launch the farthest distance?" The girls made predictions about-If I made the rocket ---- inches, my rocket will launch ---- feet. 

Next, we gathered our materials and came up with steps to create our rockets.

After gathering our paper, rulers, etc. we were ready to start building!

After getting our rockets measured, decorated, and launch-ready, we were ready to blast off!!

We used the launcher to launch our rockets and measure the distance that they traveled! Which would travel farther-rockets with a longer or a shorter distance??

A huge shout-out to Jadyn's mom and Kassidy's mom who helped us with measuring the rocket's distance and setting up the launcher!! :)

3, 2, 1...BLAST OFFFFF!!

Stay tuned to see how our predictions compared to the results and see how we graphed our results and looked for patterns!

Goodies with Grandparents

What a special Friday morning our 4th graders got to spend with their grandparents, who visited OES to enjoy breakfast with some precious girls!

While spending time with each other, the girls practiced their interview and writing skills by asking their grandparents specific questions as well!

Native American Homes

To review the Native American region cultural groups, we worked together to BUILD Native American homes for each of the five regions. Each home reflects the climate, location, food, and culture of each region. 

1. Eastern Woodlands
2. Southwest
3. Plains
4. Pacific Northwest
5. Great Basin

Be on the lookout NEXT Tuesday, September 16th in room 402 to see our homes displayed at the PTA Open House!!

Pueblos (Southwest) 

Hogan (Great Basin)

Plankhouse (Pacific Northwest)

Teepee and Earth Lodge (Plains) 

Here the girls are hard at work building their homes and building each other up with encouragement through the process!

Chickee and Wigwam (Eastern Woodlands)

 

Week of September 8th

This Week at a Glance (Week of September 8-12) 

Ride the Weekly Wave:

Math-We will be continuing to practice our multiplication facts at home this week using flashcards. We will continue learning how to round numbers effectively using strategies such as the number line.

Reading-We will be continuing our novel study of the book WONDER this week as we look at author’s choice in words, craft, and tone. We are also reading and analyzing a book and song “Don’t Laugh at Me” to accompany our “Choose Kindness” PBL, in which we will practice making inferences and evaluating tone and word choice.

ELA/Writing-In Writer’s Workshop, we are discussing the difference between revising and editing, strategies for editing, and author’s dialogue. We will incorporate what we learn from workshop into writing our memoirs and publish our memoirs this week!

Social Studies-We will be reviewing the regions and cultures of five Native American groups and testing on Native Americans this Tuesday. We are also beginning our new unit on explorers as we research early explorers and their accomplishments.

Science-3-2-1 BLAST OFF!!! We are reviewing Science Safety Procedures and the scientific method as we practice each step in an exciting experiment of building and launching rockets!

Set Sail for…Upcoming Tests/Projects:

·       Tuesday-Social Studies Test on Native Americans (Review culture notes, regions map, and home pictures *all in Social Studies notebook*)

·       Friday- Math Test on Rounding (Study rounding notes in Math notebook on

·       Next Thursday (Sept. 18^th)- Science Test on Safety Procedures and Simple Scientific Investigation (Study notes in Science notebook)

News from the Beach:                      

Upcoming Events:  

·       Friday, September 12^th-“Goodies with Grandparents” at 7:00 AM for 4^th Grade *look for a note going home Monday*

·       Tuesday, September 16^th- PTA Open House @ 6:30

·       Thursday, September 18^th- Interim Reports

·       Friday, September 19^th- FIELD TRIP to Magic Wood Forest Festival **Turn in permission forms and money ASAP!! J

100 Book Challenge Goals

  Good: 44 steps

  Better: 60 steps

Super Surfer of the Week

Valerie is the student of the week for showing COOPERATION in the classroom!  She always encourages others during group activities! J

Classroom Pledge

On the first day of school, we created a classroom pledge that we say together each morning to remind us about what we pledge to do every day in our classroom to be respectful, kind, and take risks! Our morning meeting leader of the week helps to lead the class in the pledge! Check out the girls' classroom pledge below: 

I Pledge...to be a Risk-Taker and a Problem-Solver

In room 402, we start out each morning with a "Morning Meeting," and one morning we practiced some team-building and problem-solving skills! 

Especially since we are a class of all girls, we have been practicing how to take risks, learn from our mistakes, and be problem solvers! We put this statement in our "Classroom Pledge" from the first day of school for what we promise to do each day!

This doesn't mean that you have to do it alone...

Each group could ONLY use a rubber band and string (**no hands) to make a pyramid out of 6 cups. Challenge accepted! Did any of the groups get it exactly right the very first time? Absolutely not! However, we persevered, and every single group was successful in creating a pyramid in their groups! We also brainstormed some of the important skills required in the activity that will also be necessary in our classroom this year and help us the rest of our lives!

PATIENCE

COMMUNICATION

TEAM-WORK & COLLABORATION

BUILDING OTHERS UP INSTEAD OF TEARING OTHERS DOWN

PERSEVERANCE & NEVER GIVING UP

TAKING RISKS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

Week 3 Announcements

I hope that all of you have enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing long weekend! I know that I have, but I can't wait to be back in the classroom with my girls!

Here are some announcements/reminders as we "set sail" for September and the third week of school!

"Ride the Weekly Wave" in each subject: 

Math-We will be continuing to practice representing numbers and their place values in different ways-including word form, standard form, expanded form, and using base 10 blocks. We are also introducing how to represent place value of numbers on a number line. We are testing this week.

Reading-We will be reviewing the vocabulary from the beginning of the Wonder novel as we continue reading. Students will also be responding to “precepts” found within the story as we practice our reading/writing strategies. We are testing on WONDER vocabulary this week.

ELA/Writing-We will be writing about our “Best Day of Summer,” and we will be working on the rough draft for our memoirs as we have mini-lessons on using transition words and figurative language in our writing.

Social Studies-We will be reviewing the regions and cultures of five Native American groups, and we are looking at the difference between primary/secondary sources about the Native Americans. Also, we will be learning more details about the Native American homes before we BUILD the homes!

Science-We are testing on process skills this week before we kick off learning about safety procedures in science and the steps of a simple scientific investigation.

"News from the Beach" Dates/Announcements: 

·       September 3^rd- Fall Pictures, dress pretty!

·       September 12^th-“Goodies with Grandparents” for 4th Grade @ 7:00 AM *Forms due on Sept. 2nd*

·       September 18^th- Interim Reports

·       September 19^th- School Spirit Day (Wear OES colors)

SUPER SURFER STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Our student of the week is the lovely Miss Kaitlyn for showing KINDNESS in the classroom!!

**Remember to bring in supplies for building Native American homes by this Wednesday! Thank you so much!!