Sea Otters

Sea otters figure prominently in the novel we are reading in fourth grade, Island of the Blue Dolphins.  A Russian ship carrying Aleutian hunters, comes to Karana's island to hunt sea otters.  This leads to conflict between Karana's tribe and the Aleut hunters.

Sea otters are sleek, furry, streamlined marine mammals that live along rocky Pacific Ocean coasts, bays, and kelp beds. They are found from the coast of California through Alaska and along the eastern coast of Russia to northern Japan. They were hunted for their beautiful fur.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 309-310.
                   Mrs Thompson: No homework.
                   Ms. Nuzum:p. p. 268.
     2.  What is the best present you have ever gotten?  What made it the best?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Slow Changes on Earth

As part of our fourth grade earth science, fourth graders are learning about the processes of weathering, erosion and deposition.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 303-304.
                   Mrs Thompson: No homework.
                   Ms. Nuzum:p. p. 265-266.
     2.   How has the earth changed over time?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Using the Distributive Property to Multiply

Let's say you want to multiply 14 x 6.  You can break 14 into 10 + 4.
Then, multiply (10 + 4) x 6.
That is the same as (10 x 6) + (4 x 6.)
(10 x 6) + (4 x 6) = 60 +24 = 84
Simple!

Today's homework:
     1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 297-298
                   Mrs Thompson: Review Chap. 5 Test
                   Ms. Nuzum:p. p. 265.
     2.  What would it be like to be only one inch tall?  What would be good about it?  What would be bad?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

You're Invited to the Rio Vista Winter Program!

Fourth graders will sing four songs tonight at our annual Winter Program:
Simple Gifts, Home Again, When the Snow Begins to Fall, and Cowboy's Christmas.  Second year band and fifth grade will also perform.  Please come out and support our students and enjoy the show.  Refreshments will be available as part of our Fort Tejon trip fund raising.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 289-290
                   Mrs Thompson: no homework
                   Ms. Nuzum:p. 259-260.
     2.  Come with your family to the Winter Program
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Satwiwa Trip

We had a great field trip to the Satwiwa Cultural Center in the Santa Monica Mountains today.  Thank you to all the parent volunteers!

Don't forget:  4th and 5th Grade Winter Program tomorrow at 6:00.

No homework today.

Field Trip Tomorrow

Today's homework:
     1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 281-282.
                   Mrs Thompson: no homework
                   Ms. Nuzum:p. 252
     2.  Write five rules for a field trip.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Permission Slips

Please fill out and return the field trip permission forms going home today.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 267-268.
                   Mrs Thompson: no homework
                   Ms. Nuzum:p. 245-246.
     2.  Write about the best field trip you have ever gone on.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Memories

Our new novel, Island of the Blue Dolphins, is a first person narrative.  It is told as the memories of the Native American girl Karana.  What are your earliest memories?

Today's homework:
     1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 253-254.
                   Mrs Thompson: no homework.
                   Ms. Nuzum: multiples of 9
     2.  Write about your earliest memory.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.