Tuesday, February 28, 2017

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.

Monday, February 27, 2017

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.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

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?

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

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.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

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?


Thursday, February 16, 2017

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.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

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!

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Electronic Devices



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

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Island of the Blue Dolphins



Fourth graders are starting to read their next book:  Island of the Blue Dolphins, a classic work of historical fiction set in early 19th century California, on an island off the coast.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 401-402
     3.  Which is a better book, Wringer or The Cay?  Explain.


Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Organizing an Essay

























The key to a good essay is organization.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 397-398.
     3.  Who are your heroes?  Explain.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Happy Groundhog Day





Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 385-386.
     3.  Of all the things you are learning, what do you think will be the most useful when you are an adult?

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Patterns in Nature




















Many patterns in nature are based on simple number patterns.

Today's homework:
     1.  Read for half an hour.
     2.  Math p. 383-384.
     3.  What’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever heard?