Learning About Our World

One of the many things I love about Phillips is the Core Knowledge Curriculum and as part of Core Knowledge we have been learning about the mountain systems of our planet.  Mountains cover one fourth of Earth and are found on every continent.  We spent more than three weeks studying mountains through our Mountain Trek webquest.  You can see that at www.mountain-trek.wikispaces.com.  

We spent a long time reading, learning how to take notes, and writing.  We learned about organizing the information by main idea and supporting details.  Then we created our Mountain Trek Field Guides.  You will be able to see them when you come to parent/teacher conferences this week.  I have been doing this project for three years, and these are the best field guides I have seen.  

Our science unit, Earth Materials, is a perfect compliment to the Mountain World Geography unit.  So we have also been reading and learning about rocks and minerals.  On Friday, we observed mineral samples of quartz, calcite, fluorite, and gypsum.  Then we conducted scratch tests to determine the hardest mineral of the four.  Ask your student what they learned.

Next week we will be conducting experiments to determine which rock samples contain calcite.  

We have a lot going on in 4th grade.  Come to Parent/Teacher Conferences this week to check out some of the things we have been doing.  Also, don't forget about the PTA book sale that will be going on in the gym.

Parent/Teacher Conferences Are Coming

It's hard to believe, but parent/teacher conferences are coming up in just a week and a half. Conference notes went home on Wednesday, so if you haven't seen yours, ask your student to clean out their backpack. If the time will not work for you, please give me a call and we will arrange something else.

You have the greatest kids! They are doing a tremendous job. We are working hard in reading and math. Everyone is in the process of writing bio-poems. You will be able to see these when you come for conferences. Whenever I have done these in the past, I have always typed them for the kids. This year the kids are doing it themselves, and they are doing a great job. It's all part of learning to write with the computer. Next, they will have their own blogs. In fact, these bio poems will be their very first blog post.

Everyone has also used the computers to create a wordcloud about themselves using the website ImageChef.com. Mrs. Hall helped them to do this. You will also see those when we publish our very first blogposts.

We use our planners every day. We record our assignments, we write notes, and sometimes we write reminders to ourselves. You may also notice that I make notes, when students leave the room to go to the restroom or the nurse. Our class takes at least 3 restroom breaks each day. We take a break mid-morning, right before lunch, and after lunch. I only record breaks that are in addition to the classroom breaks. This is to let you know how students are spending their time.