Christmas Website

www.claus.com

Fraction Videos

Math Update

Since we will not finish the math fraction chapter before Christmas, we are planning to cut the unit in ½ . . . test over lessons 1,2,3,4 is scheduled for Wednesday.  We will review Monday and Tuesday.

Today we explored more with equivalent fractions by playing the game "Fraction Match" (which is similar to uno). See the online Student Reference Book page 263 for instructions. Every child has their own gamecards! Make it a family game night!

Remember that the everyday math website also has a pretty incredible e-toolkit. During class we used the fraction circles. If you have some extra computer time this weekend, check it out!

Remember the website is:
http://connected.mcgraw-hill.com/class/t4t6h

Students have their log in and password in their agendas!

Tree of Lights

Some of you may be wondering about a classroom gift exchange. In 4th grade we ask that the $3.00 to $5.00 that would have gone towards a gift exchange be donated to the Tree of Lights campaign. The donations help others right here in Monroe County to have a nice Christmas. This goes along with December’s “Caring” character trait. Thank you for helping to teach Gardner students to be such caring individuals!

Latitude and Longitude

https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/geography/latitudeandlongitude/

Math Facts

Looking for a new way to practice your math facts?

Check out this fact practice website!

 www.mathfactspro.com  

Word Study Skill: Contractions

Watch this BrainPop. Then Take the BrainPop Quiz!
https://www.brainpop.com/english/grammar/contractions/preview.weml

Play this Game:
https://jr.brainpop.com/readingandwriting/word/contractions/scrollingbackground/

Check out this website! It has more games to practice contractions...
http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/vocabulary_games/contractions.html

Bet You Didn't Know: Veterans Day

Alexander Calder

This week we learned about the modern American Artist Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
He is known for making mobiles with wire.
He also invented the “stabile”(a fixed sculpture with similar design elements to a mobile)
He often created his sculptures in solid red or black.

This piece titled “Flamingo” was created by Calder. It is a 53-foot tall stabile located in the Federal Plaza in front of the Kluczynski Federal Building in Chicago, Illinois

“Eagle” is an abstract sculpture by Alexander Calder. It is located at the Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle

“La Grande Vitesse”, is a public sculpture by Calder. It is located on the large concrete plaza surrounding City Hall & the Kent County Building in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Inspired by Alexander Calder, we can created an additive sculpture out of paper!

Calder inspired additive sculpture with a patriotic twist!

Using various techniques we created 3 dimensional sculptural effects with paper!

• 
  
• Cutting

• Folding

• Curling — use long, thin strips of paper to make spirals and reverse spirals
• Rolling — make cones and tubes

• Bending — change direction without creasing the paper
• Scoring — lightly run scissors across the edge of a ruler to just barely break the surface of the paper for a crisp fold (a paperclip may also be used on light­weight paper), a great way to make folds along a curve

• Layering — glue smaller pieces of paper onto increasingly larger pieces
• Slicing & Joining — cut a slit into wider piece and slide narrower piece into it

• Twisting — hold one end of the paper with your right hand and one with your left hand and twist a little or a lot
• Crumpling — scrunch paper in both hands

• Stuffing — crumple paper and wrap with a second layer of paper
• Crimping — use a special “crimping tool” to make small, uniform waves or folds, similar to corrugated cardboard

Zoo Narratives... prewriting and rough drafting

Letters from Oklahoma

We got mail!
Every student received a personalized letter from Joe!
He took the time to respond to our thank you notes and questions.
What a kind and thoughtful man!

Zoo

 I really enjoy going to the zoo in the fall.
It fits perfectly with what we've been studying. 

We had a great day today!

We did a scavenger hunt!

  The zoo is decorated for their "Boo at the Zoo" event!

Rabbit (Herbivore)

Eastern Screech Owl (Carnivore)

Eastern Screech Owl (Carnivore)

Bearded Dragon (Omnivore)

The zoo classroom is a favorite event of the day!

Millipede (Decomposer)

 The animals were active.  Is he laughing at me?

herbivore skull

carnivore skull - see the sharp teeth?