Mining for Gold

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math:  p. 855-856.
     3.  Describe different ways to get gold.

Band Concert

The Rio Vista Band played today.  Rio students have learned a lot about music this year.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  No math today.
     3.  Describe in detail today's band concert.

The State of California

It took only two short years, from the discovery of gold in California in January of 1848, for California to become the 31st state in 1850.



Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 673-674.
     3.  What do you do during recess?

Hannibal Is Coming to Rio Vista!

Hannibal of Carthage, the ancient general who brought elephants over the alps, is coming to Rio Vista School in the form of a musical play: Hannibal the Musical.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 667-668.

Volcanoes

In fourth grade earth science students are learning about volcanoes.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 935-936.
     3.  Write a short story about a volcano.

Cape Horn Route

One way to get to the gold fields during the California Gold Rush was to go the long way all around South America.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 929-930.
     3.  What is the most fun you have ever had?  Describe what you did.

What Do Good Writers Do?

Good writers revise!

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math multiplication page.
     3.  Write (in detail) about two things that your family has taught you.

State Testing This Week

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  What is the best way to do well on a test?  Explain.

Types of Triangles

Triangles can by classified based on sides or angles.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 923-924.
     3.  What is the best advice you ever got?  Who gave you that advice?  How did it work out?

Classifying Angles

Classifying angles in different categories can help you describe different geometric shapes.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 897-898.
     3.  What is your least favorite food?  Describe it.  Why don't you like it?

Parallel, Intersecting and Perpendicular Lines

The concepts of parallel, intersecting and perpendicular lines help us describe geometric shapes.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 883-884.
     3.  Write a short story where the main character gets surprised by something.

Geometry Part 1

Fourth graders are learning about geometry.  The most basic figures are points, lines, rays and line segments.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 877-878.
     3.  Make a list of shapes in your bedroom.  For example, the top of my bed makes a rectangle.

Open House and Science Fair

Please come to our Spring Open House and  Science Fair at 6:00 this evening.



Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p.829-830.
     3.  Come to Rio Vista's Open House at 6:00.

Area and Perimeter

Fourth graders are learning about area the relationship between area and perimeter.


Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p.829-830.
     3.  What do you most like to talk about?  Who do you most like to talk about it with?  Explain.

What Is Beauty?

Do you think this picture is beautiful?  Why or why not?

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p.785-786.
     3.  What makes something beautiful?  Explain and give examples.

Metric Measurement

The metric system is based on unit amounts, multiplied by factors of ten.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 779-780.
     3.  Finish reading Scholastic News and answer questions.  Highlight where you found the answers in the text.

Time

Time can be a mysterious concept.  We measure time in seconds, minutes, hours, etc.

Reminder:  Be ready for our field trip tomorrow.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 739-740.
     3. What is your favorite mythical creature?  Why do you like it?  Describe it and draw a picture.

More Measurement

We are learning about customary units of weight.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 727-728.
     3.  If your life were a movie, what would be its title?  Explain why that would make a good title.

Converting Units

When converting units of measurement, divide when going from smaller units to larger units.  Multiply when going from larger units to smaller units.
Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 719-720.
     3. Interview project.

Liquid Capacity Man!

In our study of measurement, we are learning about units of capacity.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 713-714.
     3. Why is it important to measure things?  Explain, and give examples.

Improving Your Writing

Fourth graders are learning to revise, edit and proofread their work.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 707-708.
     3. How do you get really good at something?  Explain.

Measurement

Fourth graders are learning about customary units of length.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 701-702.
     3. What is your favorite way to waste time?  Explain.

Fractions and Decimals

Fourth graders are learning how decimal numbers are really just a special way to write fractions and mixed numbers.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 655-656.
     3. What are your favorite clothes?  Describe them.  Why do you like them?

Fishing

In our novel Island of the Blue Dolphins, Karana spends a lot of her time hunting and gathering food.  In the last chapter we read, Karana tries to catch a "giant devilfish" or octopus, but is gives her a lot of trouble.  It almost drowns her dog and it leaves Karana with many cuts and bruises.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 635-636.
     3.  Have you ever been fishing?  If you have, describe your experience.  If you haven't, imagine what it would be like and write a story about it.

Editing and Revising: CHOPS & ARMS

Fourth graders are learning to improve their writing by editing and revising drafts.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 585-586.
     3.  Rewrite and improve one of your drafts.

Close Reading

Fourth grader are learning to read texts closely for a variety of purposes.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 617-618.
     3.  What are three things you have never done, but you would like to?  Explain.

Happiness

What makes you happy?

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 597-598.
     3.  What are the most important things you need to be happy?  Explain.

Benchmark Fractions

It is often helpful to compare a fraction with a simple well known fraction - a benchmark fraction!

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 525-526.
     3.  What is the best mathplayground.com game?  Describe the game and explain what makes it the best.

Revising Your Writing

When you revise and edit your writing think of ARMS (see the poster above.)

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 519-520.
     3.  Rewrite and improve your draft.

Fort Ross

In our study of California history we are learning about Fort Ross.  This fort in northern California was settled by Russian fur trappers and traders in 1812.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 521-522.
     3.  What would life on other planets be like?

Simplifying Fractions

We have already learned about equivalent fractions, fractions with different numbers for the numerators and denominators, but which are of equal value.  For example, 2/4 and 1/2 mean the same amount.  The equivalent fraction with the smallest possible numerator and denominator is called the simplest form.  Finding the simplest form for a fraction is called reducing it.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 515-516
     3.  If you could be any animal, what would it be.  Explain.

Comparing Fractions: Like Denominators and Like Numerators

It is easy to compare fractions if they have the same denominator.  It is als easy to compare fractions if they have like numerators.  Look at the chart above!

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 509-510.
     3.  If you were a toy, what toy would you be?  Explain.

Cross Multiply

An easy way to compare fractions is to cross multiply, like in the picture above.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 507-508.
     3.  If you could choose to live on a different planet, which one would you choose?  Explain why.

Equivalent Fractions

Modeling equivalent fractions

Multiply the numerator and the denominator by the same number

Two ways to figure out equivalents fractions:

     *  Make a model and compare fractions.
     *  Multiply the numerator and denominator by the same number.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: p. 503-504.
     3.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?  Explain.

Fractions

Fractions are an extremely useful concept.  Fourth graders are learning to identify, classify, and perform operations with fractions.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Equivalent fractions worksheet.
     3. What is the best job in the world?  Explain.

Favorite Song

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 493-495.
     3. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which song would you choose?  Explain why.

Field Trip

We had a great field trip to the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center yesterday.  Thank you to all the parent volunteers.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 487-488.
     3. Write a description of our trip to the park.  What was your favorite part?

Tessellations

"A tessellation is created when a shape is repeated over and over again covering a plane without any gaps or overlaps."    From mathforum.org

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Make lists of things that do or and do not tessellate.
     3. What is your favorite historical period?  Explain.

What If?

What if you could speak another language?   Wouldn't that be cool!


Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 489-490.
     3.  If you could speak any other language (besides English) which language would you like to speak?

Empathy

As children grow to adulthood, it is important to develop empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.  One of the reasons we read stories is to develop empathy for the characters.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: no homework.
     3.  If you could be another person for a day, who would you be?  Why?  What do you think it would be like?

Harlem Hopscotch

Fourth graders are learning about poetry.  Here is poem by one of my favorite poets, Maya Angelou.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math: equivalent fractions worksheet.
     3.  Describe you bedroom, but write your description as a poem.

What Is a Poem?

Fourth graders are supposed to learn about different genres of writing, including poetry.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 477-478.
     3.  What makes something a poem?  Explain in detail.

Make a Prediction

Ramo and his fishing spear from Island of the Blue Dolphins

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 457-458.
     3.  What will happen next in the Island of the Blue Dolphins story?

Order of Operations

Sometimes math expressions and equations have more than one operation.  (The basic operations are add, subtract, multiply and divide.)  When there is more than one operation in a problem, you must decide what to do first.  The rules for deciding this are called The Order of Operations.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 453-454.
     3.  Describe a time when someone helped you.

Channel Islands

Anacapa Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park

 

Abalone shell fishing hook, with fishing line and stone sinker.

Today Ranger Liz from The Channel Islands National Park visited our class and shared Chumash artifacts.

Today's homework:

     1.  Read for half an hour.

     2.  Math p. 455-456.

     3.  Describe three of the artifacts we saw today.  What were they made of and how were they used?

Sea Otters

In Island of the Blue Dolphins, Aleut hunters come to hunt sea otters.  Otters have the thickest fur in the world.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 429-430.
     3.  Summarize the beginning of Island of the Blue Dolphins.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 417-418.
     3.  No writing assignment today.  Happy Valentine's Day!

Electronic Devices

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 407-408.
     3.  What is your favorite electronic device?  Why?