Classroom News for the Week of 9/8

News and Upcoming Events: 

* If you have not done so already, please send in your $45 donation to cover this year's field trips. Checks should be made payable to Mt. Washington Elementary. Thank you!

* 9/13 Pancake Breakfast

Reminders:

* Please check your child's Homework Log nightly and sign or initial after the work has been completed. Remind your child that completed homework and the HW log are due in class daily. 

* Finished and graded work will be sent home at the beginning of each week (large manila envelope). Please review your child's work with him/her, sign the envelope, and return the envelope to school no later than Wednesday each week.

What's Going On This Week In Class:

Design Challenge of the Month:

Design an NBS (never-before-seen) Shelter - Students will work in small groups to construct a shelter. Designs will need to satisfy the needs of a criteria chart. Students will present their designs to peers.

Math: 

Rounding Numbers Through the Ten Millions Place; Adding and Subtracting with Regrouping Review

Individualized Practice: Accelerated Math

Multiplication Madness (Fact Practice) 

Reading: 

Scholastic News: The Structure of Informational Text

We will continue reading Chapters 16-24 of Scott O'Dell's Newbery-Award winning classic, Island of the Blue Dolphins. This week our focus will be on separating main ideas from details and  summarizing. 

Writer's Workshop: Unit 1 Personal Narratives

This week's mini-lessons focus on using a place to develop story ideas and using a storyteller's voice (show vs. tell).

Greek and Latin Roots:

Prefixes: ant, anti = against; contra, counter = against; ex = out of, outside, from

Please study the meanings and spellings of these ten words. You will have a quiz on Friday. 

1. export
2. expel
3. exhale
4. extract
5. exempt
6. antiseptic
7. antibacterial
8. antonym
9. contradict
10.counterfeit

Social Studies/Science:

This year's units:

Science Grade 4: 

• Physical Science- Electricity and Magnetism
• Earth Science- Rocks and Minerals 
• Life Science - Habitats and Adaptations

Social Studies Grade 4 - History of California

• The Geography of Our State
• Native Californians
• The Mission System
• The Rancho Era
• Gold Rush and Statehood

Arts:

Theater: Performing Shakespearean Pantomimes; Collaboration