The Hardest Job

Karana working on her whale rib fence.

In Island of the Blue Dolphins Karana has to do many jobs.  She hunts and gathers food.  She makes tools and weapons.  She builds her house.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 423-424.
                      Mrs. Thompson: p. 417-418.
                      Ms. Nuzum: p. 333-334.
     2.  What is the hardest job in the world?  Explain.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Talking Animals

In Island of the Blue Dolphins, after years of living alone Karana starts to think of the animals as her friends and family.  What would it be like if animals could talk to us?

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 419-420.
                      Mrs. Thompson: no homework.
                      Ms. Nuzum: My Foldable.
     2.  If animals could talk, what would your pet say to you?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

History

In fourth grade we study California history.  History is the story of everything that has come before us - all the crazy, awful, wonderful things people did in the past.  What is the most interesting thing to ever happen in all of history?
Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 417-418.
                      Mrs. Thompson: no homework.
                      Ms. Nuzum: no homework.
     2.  What is the most interesting thing that has ever happened?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

More Math

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 415-416
                      Mrs. Thompson: practice test.
                      Ms. Nuzum: multi-step problems
     2.  What is the most fun thing about math?  Explain.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Math

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 413-414.
                      Mrs. Thompson: practice for test
                      Ms. Nuzum: two digit multiplication.
     2.  What is the hardest thing about math?  Explain.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Tutok

The Aleuts have returned to the Island of the Blue Dolphins.  Among them is an Aleutian girl named Tutok.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  no homework.
                      Mrs. Thompson: 401-402
                      Ms. Nuzum: Climb the Ladder
     2.  What will happen with Tutok?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Aleutian Hunters

In Island of the Blue Dolphins the Aleutian hunters have returned to Karana's island.  Those were the people who betrayed her tribe and killed her father.  What will she do now?

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 401-402.
                      Mrs. Thompson: p. 397-398 or 399-400.
                      Ms. Nuzum: Fours Practice
     2.  What will happen with the Aleuts?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

The Best Thing

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 399-400.
                      Mrs. Thompson: p. 391-392.
                      Ms. Nuzum: Nines Practice
     2.  What is the best thing to happen to Karana so far?  Explain.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Karana and the Giant Devilfish

In our story Island of the Blue Dolphins, Karana fights a giant devilfish, her word for octopus.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 391-392.
                      Mrs. Thompson: Fact Family Cards.
                      Ms. Nuzum: Practice Test.
     2.  What is the most dangerous animal?  Explain.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

I've Got the Blues

Today in music class we learned about the history of blues and rock and roll.  We learned to sing a blues scale, learned the lyrics of an old blues song, and listened to music.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 385-386.
                      Mrs. Thompson: p. 383-384.
                      Ms. Nuzum: p. 327-318.
     2.  What is your favorite part of Island of the Blue Dolphins so far?  Why do you like it?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Native American Foods

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 383-384
                      Mrs. Thompson: p. 377-378
                      Ms. Nuzum: p. 315-316.
     2.  What did Karana have to eat?  How did she prepare it?  Would you like to eat her food?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Compare and Contrast: Characters from Fiction

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 377-378.
                      Mrs. Thompson: p. 371-372.
                      Ms. Nuzum: p.371-372.
     2.  How are Karana and Palmer different?  How are they the same?  Explain.
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Fort Tejon

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 365-366.
                      Mrs. Thompson: Draw Problems.
                      Ms. Nuzum: p. 304, 7-13
     2.  What are three questions you have about the Fort Tejon trip?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.

Alone on an Island: Themes in Literature

It is an important English Language Arts standard to be able to determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text.  One of the themes of Island of the Blue Dolphins is coping with loneliness.  Karana is left alone on an island and must survive on her own.

Today's homework:
     1.  Math:  Mr. Spaulding:  p. 363-364.
                      Mrs. Thompson: Fact Family Cards.
                      Ms. Nuzum: p. 303, 1-6
     2.  What could Karana do to not be lonely on her island?
     3.  Read for half an hour.
     4.  Get parent initials.