Field Trip Great Success!

We had a fantastic time on our field trip to the Satwiwa Cultural Center in the Santa Monica Mountains yesterday.  We used Native American hand drills to make abalone necklaces; we acted out a Chumash legend; we went inside a Chumash dwelling called an 'ap'; we tasted chia seeds; we learned about the native habitats; and we hiked trails for about a mile.  A great trip!


Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 667-668.
               Miss W: 667-668.
               Mrs. Thompson: no homework.
               Mrs. Leone: no homework.
2.  Last One Picked
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Dracula

On this day in 1897 Bram Stoker's book Dracula was first published, inspiring countless adaptations into plays and movies, an unending procession of imitators, and of course also inspiring millions of Halloween costumes.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 661-662.
               Miss W: 661-662.
               Mrs. Thompson: p.551-552.
               Mrs. Leone: no homework
2.  A Code For Cheetah (due Thursday.)
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Bring a sack lunch.  Field trip tomorrow!
5.  Get parent initials.

Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center

We are going on a field trip next Wednesday, May 27, to Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa, a site in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.  We will attend a Biodiversity Program called The Chumash: A Changing People, A Changing Land, presented by the National Park Service.  We will leave at 8:30 A.M. and return by 2:00 P.M.

Students will eat lunch at the park.  They may bring a sack lunch with them, or the school can provide a sack lunch.  We need parent volunteers to chaperone, so any parents may come with us.  If there is space on the bus parents may come on the bus with us, or you may drive your own vehicle and meet us there.

Students should wear comfortable clothes and good shoes for walking.  We walk for about a mile.  Hiking boots are not required, but close-toed sturdy shoes are helpful.  Water is available, however during the hike there are no drinking fountains. Students are encouraged to bring water and, if possible, bring reusable bottles.

Please make sure to sign and return the permission slip on time.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 647-648.
               Miss W: worksheet
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 541-542.
               Mrs. Leone: worksheet.
2.  A Baseball Great (due Friday.)
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Types of Volcanoes

Fourth graders learn about different aspects of Life Science, Earth Science and Physical Science during the school year.  They are currently finishing up a unit about fast changes to the earth's surface - volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, mudslides, and floods.

As part of our study of volcanoes we learned that they can be classified in different types depending on the profile they present.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 641-642.
               Miss W: p. 647-648.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 535-536.
               Mrs. Leone: worksheet.
2.  A Baseball Great (due Friday.)
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Books! Wonderful Books!

        
     

We have read some great books this year.  Fourth graders love reading.

Today's homework:
1.  No math today.
2.  What the Cheese Told.
3.  Science True False Test
4.  Read for half an  hour.
5.  Get parent initials.

Improving your Writing

Revise your writing to improve sentences.

Example: Tony was surprised to get a phone call from his sister. He was happy to hear her voice again.

Revision 1: Tony, surprised to get a phone call from his sister, was happy to hear her voice again.

Revision 2: Surprised to get a phone call from his sister, Tony was happy to hear her voice again.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 635-636.
               Miss W: p. 641-642.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 527-528.
               Mrs. Leone: worksheet.
2.  What the Cheese Told (due Wednesday.)
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin

We are almost done reading By the Great Hornspoon!  Disney made a movie of it in 1967 and called it "The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin."

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: Practice Test
               Miss W: No homework
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 521-522..
               Mrs. Leone: worksheet.
2.  A Famous Mistake.
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Transcontinental Railroad

After the Gold Rush and after the Civil War, plans were implemented to join California to the rest of the nation via railroad tracks.  For the first time people could ride a train all the way from the east coast to the west coast of the United States.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 619-620.
               Miss W: Practice test.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 514-515.
               Mrs. Leone: worksheet.
2.  Compare Timothy and Phillip with Praiseworthy and Jack.  How are they the same? How are they different?  Explain.
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Multiplying Fractions and Whole Numbers

Multiplying fractions by whole numbers is easy!  Fourth graders are learning how.  In the example above, you simply multiply the numerator 4 by the whole number 5 to get 20.  Write that over the the denominator of 20 and voila! - you've solved the problem!  If you want to get really fancy reduce 20/5 to the whole number 4.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 617-618.
               Miss W: p. 611-612.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 515-516.
               Mrs. Leone: worksheet.
2.  Rewrite and edit yesterday's writing assignment.  Draw a good picture to go with it.
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

There's Gold in Them Thar Hills!

The California Gold Rush was an exciting and important part of our state's history.  Fourth graders are learning the good and bad things associated with that dynamic period.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 611-612.
               Miss W: p. 605-606.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 509-510.
               Mrs. Leone: no homework.
2.  What would it be like to be a miner during the Gold Rush?
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Maya Angelou

Our poem for today is by the great  American poet Maya Angelou.  The poem is called "Harlem Hopscotch."

One foot down, then hop! It's hot.
 Good things for the ones that's got.
Another jump, now to the left.
 Everybody for hisself.

In the air, now both feet down.
 Since you black, don't stick around.
Food is gone, the rent is due,
 Curse and cry and then jump two.

All the people out of work,
 Hold for three, then twist and jerk.
Cross the line, they count you out.
 That's what hopping's all about.

Both feet flat, the game is done.
They think I lost, I think I won.


Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 603-604.
               Miss W: p. 603-604.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 503-504.
               Mrs. Leone: no homework.
2.  Read for half an  hour.
3.  Get parent initials.

Tests tests test!

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 597-598.
               Miss W: p. 597-598.
               Mrs. Thompson: no homework.
               Mrs. Leone: p. 497-498.
2.  Finish "Jet's Job."
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

State Testing

Today we started state testing.  Please make sure to get a good night's sleep!

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 581-582.
               Miss W: p. 595.
               Mrs. Thompson: no homework.
               Mrs. Leone: no homework.
2.  Jet's Job.  Due Thursday.
3.  Read for half an  hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Casey at the Bat

Fourth graders are learning some great American poems.  Today's poem is "Casey at the Bat."  Here is the first stanza:

     The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Mudville nine that day;
      The score stood four to two with but one inning more to play.
      And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
      A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game...

Today's homework:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 591-592.
               Miss W: p. 591-592.
               Mrs. Thompson: p. 495-496.
               Mrs. Leone: p. 495-496.
2.  Read for half an  hour.
3.  Get parent initials.