Week of November 3rd

Reading:  We will continue on the topic of deforestation, focusing on nonfiction text features while we read War of the Woods. Students will be finding evidence for both sides of the argument- loggers vs. environmentalists.

Writing/Language:   We will be talking about how to make more interesting sentences by using conjunctions. We will  also begin an argumentative paragraph defending the side of environmentalists or loggers in the debate of deforestation!

Math: We will begin looking at basic division problems early in the week, then start looking at strategies for larger division problems later in the week.

Science/Social Studies: In science we’ll continue our animal unit with how organisms positively and negatively affect their environment. In social studies we will begin discussing slavery and indentured servitude.   Anchor Down these Assessments/Due Dates Text Features test- Friday PBL Vocab set #2- next Wednesday Conjunctions test- next Wednesday   100 Book Challenge Goals: Good- 132 steps Better- 240 steps Captain of the Week:              Our Captain of the Week is Nate Webber!! Nate always tries his best and gets along with others! He displays the character traits of: respect, initiative,             cooperation, and responsibility.  To find out what Nate learns throughout this week, follow us on Twitter @glay_jessica  Reminders from the Marina: -NO SCHOOL Tuesday due to Election Day!!! -Historic Brattonsville field trip THURSDAY!! We will be outside ALL day- rain or shine! Wear tennis shoes and dress appropriate for the weather. Get to school @ 7am and come straight to the 4th grade hall! -A note went home last week about the PTA fundraiser. Please send it back if your child would like to participate. -Veteran’s Day program- Tuesday, November 11th- invite any veterans you know!

Come to the 13 Colonies!

Students wrote persuasive paragraphs trying to convince me to come to either the New England, Middle, or Southern colonies. They had to use evidence from their government, religion, lifestyle, and economy. Here is what they came up with:

Who would convince you?!

Tread Lightly PBL Kickoff!

Last week we kicked off our second PBL, "Tread Lightly" where we will be investigating the question: Why is it important to tread lightly on our Earth?!

We started by brainstorming ways that humans disrespect our Earth. To help get the point across, I had the poster taped to the ground so that students walked on it, spilled water on it, ripped it, etc. as they entered the classroom. 

We then started our study on text features. We made this anchor chart identifying different types of text features we see in nonfiction texts:

Then, we started reading War of the Woods: The Pacific Northwest Logging Argument to find text features and see how it helps us understand the text. We will soon be gathering evidence for both sides of the argument- loggers and environmentalists- and supporting our opinion with evidence from the text. 

 

Finally, on Friday, we heard the story of Freddy the Fish who started off in a clean stream that gave him all the resources he needs to survive. Then, he starts swimming downstream and encounters many kinds of pollution: litter, fertilizer, chemicals, etc. This not only affected Freddy's life, but also his home and his food! 

Clean, happy Freddy!

Goodbye, Freddy! :(

We are looking forward to more fun activities in our "Tread Lightly" PBL and learning about ways we can make our impact on the Earth a little more positive!! 

Our 13 Colony PicCollages!

We made PicCollages to help us learn about the 13 Colonies! Below is pictures of us working and our final products! Enjoy!

Upstate Watershed Visit

Last week, the Upstate Watershed came to visit us and help teach us about distinct environments and the animals that live in them! We had so much fun and learned so much! This was a perfect introduction to what we will be talking about in science and in our PBL soon! Below is what we learned and some pictures!

I learned that a Leopard Gecko holds water in its tail. And I learned that a dung beetle tools up poop in balls. And also flies lay worms in Caribou. 

-Devin

I learned that nose bat flies go in a nose of a moose. Also a beetle that lives in Africa and eats it. Also I learned that snakes have scales to be moist. 

-Edward

I learned that all animals need natural resources. I there runs out of it they have to move or find other food. They can't survive without it.

-Trenton

I lean red that trees don't grow in tundra because the roots are ice. I also learned that the desert doesn't get much rain. One other thing I learned is cactus and camel store water.

-Mason

I learned that a bullfrog can flatten itself to scare enemies. I also learned there are 2 types of deserts. Finally I learned salamanders store water in their tail. 

-Lucas

I learned that there are 2 types of forests. There is a plain forest that is in our backyard. There is a tropical forest like at a tropical place.

-Graham

I learned that distinct means different. I learned that some animals can't survive in different habitats. I learned adaptations help animals survive.

-Ben

I learned in the grasslands in Africa there is a beetle called a dung beetle. It cleans up manure. If they did not have the dung beetle it would be stinky.

-Bodey

The most important thing I learned is about how animals survive in the wild. It is pretty amazing.

-Matthew

The most important thing I learned was every animal has an environment and we shouldn't mess with their environment. And don't destroy their home unless you want them to destroy your home!

-Kyle

I found out that we have to take care of our Earth. And how animals blend in with their environment. And learning about how animals hunt their food.

-Joe

I learned that every animal lives in the habitat that it needs to survive. Like lions can only live in the grasslands only. That is what I learned.

-Ethan

I learned that not all animals can live in the same climate. Animals have different needs to survive.

-Jaxson

I learned that distinct environments are environments that are different for each animal. For example, a jellyfish lives in whiter when a mole lives in dirt.

-Hayden

The deer population was big. Groups of animals start out as one animal then it gets where it is a daily, then a community, and finally a really big group.

-Hunter

I learned that their are 6 habitats. I learned that animals that live in the rainforest are only bright colors. 

-Nate

I learned that animals live in habitats like scorpions live in the desert. And sharks live in the ocean.

-Dmitriy

I learned that there are 2 different forests. I also learned that annuals always depend on their resources. The last thing I learned was that tundra animals change color. 

-Brandon

I learned that nose bot flies go up animals nose and lay their eggs. I learned that an ostrich egg is as big as a football. I learned that the bullfrog likes to eat meat.

-Colby