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?

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.

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.

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?

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?