Classroom News for the Week of Feb. 11th

Upcoming Events:

* 4th Grade Field Trip to Rancho Santa Ana on Thursday, February14th

Missing trip slips from Malia, Sonia, Renato, Judah, Matthew, Ryan

Students will need to bring a snack and sack lunch.

* 5th Grade Field Trip to Rancho Santa Ana on Thursday, February 21st 

Trip slips will be sent home this week.

* Save the Date: Grade 5 Invention Convention February 28th

Timeline:

Now - If your invention has been approved, you may begin building your prototype. You should use it and document your use if possible. If you were sent back to the drawing board, please submit your new idea on Monday 2/11.

2/20 - We will have a lesson on how to make your display boards and on presentations skills. You will receive a tri-fold board to use for your display. Please do not begin making your display until we have completed this lesson on 2/20.

2/26 - Projects due at school.

2/28 - Invention Convention, MPR, 8:30-12:00.

* February 14th is Valentines' Day

The 4th grade will have a field trip on 2/14. Fifth graders will remain at school and work with Ms. Lowery on Science, Invention Convention, and more. It is my plan to reunite at school at 2pm and have time to pass out Valentines. If we are too late, we may need to wait until Friday morning. If your child is bringing valentines, please make sure s/he has them for all students.
* Small candies on valentines are fine, but please do not send extra sweets (cupcakes, cookies, etc.) on this day.

Student Names:

1. Sameer
2. Carpenter
3. Malia
4. Etta
5. Sonia
6. Rafael
7. Renato
8. Maya
9. Nicole M.
10. Emilie
11. Alexander
12. Judah
13. Elijah
14. Matthew
15. Ethan
16. Vinca
17. Ryan
18. Grace
19. Kayla
20. Paulina
21. Madeline
22. Janna
23. Devin
24. Eamonn
25. Imani
26. Nicole L.
27. Marco
28. Mason
29. Hannah
30. Thomas
31. Isabella

* Donors Choose

Please use this link Donors Choose - Ms. Convey  to visit my page and read about the materials I am requesting for our class. Once there, you will find a link to donate to the project if you like. Over $200 has already been funded thanks to Lisa :)!

* Friday 2/15 is a shortened day. School lets out at 12:50.

What's Going On In Class:

Math:

Grade 4: Topic 14 - Undertstanding Integers

Grade 5: Topic 13 Area of Quadrilaterals and Triangles cont. 

* Quiz on Topics 13 and 14 will be on Friday.

Both Grades: Accelerated Math; Daily Fact Practice; Chinese Tangram puzzles

Writing:

Writing with prepositions; Revising Stories for our hard-bound book.

Writing Homework:  

This week you will be revising your three-paragraph invention paper. You will receive last week's work with my notes on Monday. Revision and corrections along with your first draft are due Friday, 2/15.

Reading:

Grade 4: By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischmann

Grade 5: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Art:

Sewing Valentines' Day pillows

Science:

2/12 Astronomy Assembly

Grade 4: Electricity and Magnetism. Science assessment Wednesday 2/13.

Grade 5:  Friday.  Science assessment Thursday 2/14.

Social Studies: 

Grade 4: Unit 3: Women in California History; The Gold Rush Poster Project

Grade 5: Unit 3: Native American and European Conflict in the New World.

Health:

Grades 4 &5: Personal Health and Physical Activities

Genre Blackout:

Here are the new reading categories for the 2nd trimester. To become well-rounded readers, students should try to read at least one book from each of the following categories:

• Biography or Autobigraphy
• Non-fiction Science
• Non-fiction Social Studies/History ( i.e. a book about the Gold Rush)
• Science Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Realistic Fiction
• Newbery Award winning book