A Big Bite

It feels like summer is here but we still are pushing full steam ahead with learning despite the heat.  There were many cheers of "YES," as we added Poetry Workshop to our daily agenda each day this week.  The students are fully immersed in the final stages of our year long study of reading and writing poetry as it connects across the curriculum.  We painted water colors in the style of Douglas Florian, poet and illustrator and will be writing free verse poems inspired by the painting. So much fun!  Our Poetry Coffeehouse will be on Friday, June 10th at 9:00 a.m.  Ms. Liz will be joining us and performing.  Parents are welcome to approach the mic and read or recite a favorite poem or an original work.  :)

What better way to jump into a project than by starting with a hands on activity!  In preparation for Tie Dye Tuesday,  another JFK 4th grade tradition, we tied shirts on Friday and learned how straight lines can create the illusion of curved lines.  This will be important as we extend the geometry unit with the line design project.  We discussed how much math is a part of art and everyone is excited to get started on the many mini projects involved in this geometry enrichment unit.

We are halfway done with PARCC testing in Math and we will finish this week.  We are working hard.  In Science we continued learning about static and current electricity and did some fun experiments with plastic wrap and paper towels AND some students were able to make a simple circuit using one wire, one bulb and one D-Cell.  FUN!!!!

Our journey around the West region has been slow but steady.  We learned about interesting places and natural resources of the west and will learn more about the people of the west this week.  There will not be a formal test on the West region; students will have the opportunity to create a slide show in Google Presentations, with a group, to demonstrate mastery of their knowledge of the West.  All work will be completed in school.

In reader's workshop we are LOVING Charlotte's Web, E.B. White.  Students are making great connections across texts, especially with The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate.  It is wonderful to see the students synthesize all of the skills that they have learned in Reader's Workshop this year as we complete our last interactive read aloud.  Keep reading at home!

 We have been enjoying our weekly 4th grade morning meeting and this week was a fun one!  Our mantra was "Make it Count," which we did in so many ways.  The students worked together to create the number 24, the year of their high school graduation.  Thanks to Miss Farrell for the panoramic picture!

Only 16 1/2 days to go and they are action packed, fun filled days!  Have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day Holiday.  Thanks to all of our friends and family members who have served our great nation.  We appreciate all that you have done to make this the best country in the whole world!

Mrs. Williams