Last Minute Reminders

Dear Class,

Just a few reminders and things...

1. Congratulations on the wonderful job you did with Mrs. Mitchell on Friday!  I was so proud of the way you listened and took notes on how to "Brain Purge" as a writing technique when you have a timed writing test. 

 

2. This will be a "fun-filled, faster than the speed of light" week.  There will only be one test and that will be all about the Declaration of Independence first thing on Friday.  Stay tuned for notes and class review all week.  Parents, look for important study guides in the Social Studies section of our notebooks.  Here's the youtube video we watched in class on Friday called, "Too Late to Apologize...a Declaration."  See you if you can pick out our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock.

 

3. Dr. Patterson has set the 2014 Oakland Elementary Holiday Reading Challenge to begin after school ends on Friday!  This is an important contest between all 4th grade classes to read as much as possible over the 17 days of Winter Break.  The winning class will earn "Pancakes with the Principals," a class trophy, and bragging rights for the rest of the 2014-15 school year.  My class has won the past two years and can do it again.  Don't let Mrs. Gault's class cloud your vision.  Read first thing in the morning, in the car on the way to all your holiday fun and before bed every night. Have your parents send pictures of you reading on Facebook or Twitter #OESRead and I'll do the same.

 

 

 

http://oaklandelemlibrary.blogspot.com/2014/08/resourceswebsites.html

Polar Express Pancake Breakfast...Did You Survive It?

Although the temperature wasn't freezing and the winds weren't blowing...it WAS raining! Lots of OES students and their parents hopped aboard the

Polar Express anyway.  Lots of pajama-clad children were greeted by a conductor, Frosty, and Santa Claus. Many thanks to  the P.T.A. and all the families for coming out to help raise money for our school.  I saw Connor, Sarah Reilly, and Chloe...but thank goodness they had really good waitresses. Poor Emily and Olivia had to put up with this one...

But, I learned that having a lot of back up support in the kitchen made my job a lot easier than I ever remembered my days as a waitress being!  Thanks to all the families that contributed further by also leaving me TIPS which will go towards our after Christmas classroom STEM projects.

Shine a Little Light on Socrates and Socratic Circles!




                                                   

                              Up Close & Personal



 This past week we learned about Socrates, a philosopher in Ancient Greece.  He loved to talk to people at the agora and ask them fundamental questions about their life.  He taught them to question everything. Socrates thought that if you were too busy you wouldn't have enough time to reflect on your life and what was important to you.  He has often been quoted as saying, "An unexamined life is not worth living."  Many people living in Athens at that time were very wealthy and thought that there was nothing more important than gathering money and things.  Socrates thought it was more important to do good deeds and think about your very existence. Many people did not like Socrates and, in fact, had him arrested for corrupting the youth and not believing in the gods.  Socrates convinced the court that the good of many was more important than the good of one man.  So, he agreed to be put to death.  In the end he inspired many people!

 

This coming week we will learn how to debate a topic in a Socratic Circle much like Socrates would have done.  In our current "Tread Lightly" PBL we have studied two points of view from people in the Pacific Northwest, the environmentalist and the loggers. We will prepare arguments and counter-arguments and see what happens. Monday look for homework to get ready for Wednesday's debate. Check back next week for pictures and maybe a video of our "Socratic Circle."

 

On Tuesday we will have a test on the 14 words from our Socrates article.  Be ready to match synonyms with the words and be able to use them in sentences. 

 

Friday we will have a "LIGHT" Science test.  We have been investigating reflection, refraction, absorption, translucent, transparent, and opaque. 

Check out some of our experiences! If you comment on any of the pictures by telling what you learned you can earn 5 extra points on your test on Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short Week/Fun Week!

Catch of the Week:

Social Studies-Road to the Revolution, investigate causes of the Am. Rev. and do a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activity Tuesday on designing an airtight tea bag crate. Which team can help the king prevent his tea from getting wet when those rambunctious patriots throw the crates of tea overboard in the Boston Harbor?

 

Reading- Continue reading articles on the 3 R's and focus on comprehension by looking for answers to who, what, when, where, why and how!

 

Language- One day to review the 5 rules for commas with a test Tuesday.

 

Math- take a peek into fractions while some students go to the EMERGENCY First-Aid Clinic for Long Division!

 

Science- Begin Light investigations (ROY G. BIV) and  Monday compete in a group STEM activity on who can build the sturdiest Thanksgiving Table (no hammer and nails allowed).

 

Surf's Up

 

 

Monday: Vocab TEST "Tread Lightly List #3"

Study your TIPS chart and your flashcards! Don't let your lack of study time pull your Reading grade down, down, down!

reduce, pollution, disintegrate, reuse, landfill, environment, waste, hazardous, emissions (know definitions and how to use them correctly in sentences)

Tuesday: Commas TEST

 

 

 Cooper says, "Don't let Mrs. Gault's class beat you in 100 BC!!!" Read 4 lines each day over Thanksgiving Break for a total of 20 lines.  You can do it.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
Safe Travels...my mom and dad are taking me Christmas Shopping in Chicago on the Magnificent Mile.  I know what you're thinking, and don't worry, dad's got my poop bags.

 

Annual Polar Express Pancake Breakfast!

On Saturday, Dec. 6th, OES's PTA is hosting a pancake breakfast at Applebee's in Boiling Springs from 7:30-10:00 am.  Tickets are on sale through November 25th.  Come experience being waited on by the worst waitress in SC...Mrs. Johnson!  If you survive it, you can take home a coupon for being able to "eat with a friend" back at school that next Monday.

 

 

Shining Stars in Long Division with a 4 Digit Dividend:

Donnell

Chloe

Olivia

Jonathan

Zachary

Keira

Connor

Ruvim

Jayden

Kara

S.R.

Nazarii

Emily

Pierce

 

Early Thanksgiving Feast!

On Wednesday, November 19th many of our Oakland families came together to celebrate the upcoming holiday. Seeing everyone together made me realize how grateful I am for a wonderful class and such helpful and supportive parents.  I wish all of you 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a safe and fun-filled holiday!

Doughnuts, Dominoes, and Those Dumb Taxes!

Doughnuts with our Dads is the best way to start out the morning.

 

 

 

 

Even though it looks like we are playing, don't be fooled! The assignment was to build a structure that has a drop, a loop, has continuous movement and all with non-verbal communication. The tough part comes when things don't go as planned and you have to re-build, re-design, while still keeping a positive attitude as the clock keeps ticking. Here are a few pics of some of the groups.

 

 

The Road to the Revolution started here with these actors.  The King was played by Nazarii, tax collectors played by Kara and Ruvim, disgruntled colonists played by Mrs. Johnson's class. 

 

 

 

 

 

Scene 1, Take 1: The king declares that the colonists will pay taxes on whatever he deems necessary, even if they are thousands of miles away in the new land.  They still must follow his rule! (The colonists were given 10 Skittles to stand for $$.) 

Anyone wearing glasses will be taxed...sneakers...bows in hair, underwear! No, that's the last straw!! The colonists scream, "These taxes are unfair!"

 

 

We are getting ready to celebrate!  Our class earned the most red tickets in the 4th grade for the first marking period.  Which means our behavior in the hallways, in the cafeteria, in the library, and special activities is exemplary.  We had a whole list of  prizes to pick from but "bring a stuffed animal to school" won the most votes!  We will celebrate on Friday, November 21st. Wear you pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed animal!

 

Surf’s Up! (Tests & Projects) mmm

Surf's Up!

(Projects & Tests)

Tuesday: Social Studies...Slavery/Indentured Servants, Triangular Trade, How Slaves were Treated and How Slaves Affected the Colonists TEST

 

Thursday: Reading...Non-Fiction Text Features TEST

 

Friday: Math...Long Division (1 digit divisor and 4 digit dividend)

Science: Distinct Environments TEST

Surf’s Up! (Tests & Projects) mmm

                                                                                                     

 

                                                  

Patriot or Loyalists?

On Thursday, November 6, 2014 our bus stopped at the edge of a clearing; we filed out excitedly.  Mrs. Johnson showed us the way down a tree-lined trail to what looked like a phone booth.  There was a dial inside where the phone would have been and she turned it until it read 1775.  She let her teacher assistant, Olivia, press the worn, red button next to the dial and before we could count to 10 we were transported to Colonel Bratton's plantation!  Check out what happened next:

 

Boys and girls help us finish the story about our travels by adding to it.  Remember to include your name so you can receive extra credit.  Parents, I was told that if you are having trouble commenting on our blog it might be that you don't have a gmail account.  If that's the case, just have your child respond on a piece of paper and bring to class before Friday to take advantage of the extra credit.

 

Catch of the Week

Social Studies– Road to the Revolution...we will be investigating the causes

Reading– Read articles on the 3 R’s (recycle, reduce, reuse) and begin taking notes

Language– Take a side on the logging issue and write an argument...planning sheet will come home Monday for homework.

Math–Begin practicing long division with remainders...there will be homework every night that needs to be signed by a parent after the work is checked!

Science– Research the 5 distinct environments; rainforests, deserts, swamps, polar regions (tundra), rivers & streams