m.3/2/2020 Week 26 4.8A Weather
Monday: TX History. We will watch a video about Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Chief Quanah Parker/Comanche Indians.
Students will write a letter about either of these lives and how it affected them.
The rest of the week we'll continue our unit on Weather.
Friday: Spring Fling Party!
2/18/2020 Week 24 4.8A Weather
We begin our unit on Weather this week! Students will be learning to predict the weather based on cold/warm fronts, types of clouds, etc. We have been looking at weather maps that I bring in from The Star Telegram all year, so they are already familiar with fronts and high/low pressure systems. I have a "small" weather station set up outside the backdoor of our hall that we will be monitoring and collecting data from daily including: temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation.
1/27/2020 Week 21: 4.7C Earth's Resources
Monday: TEXAS History - begin "TX Statehood" Unit
Tues/Wed: Science MAP Testing
Thurs: Start 4.7C Resources; Engage activity "Red Bean/White Bean" and Explore Card Game
Fri: Students will complete the STEMScopes assignments online on the Chromebooks
1/21/2020 Week 20: 4.7B Changes to Land Test over 4.7B Changes to Land is Friday, January 24.
We will be watching the 2018 NOVA Documentary: Kilauea: Hawaii on Fire and finding examples of weathering/erosion/deposition in the video. We'll finish watching it on Wed. and students will complete a Science Video Report. Thursday we will review for the test and Friday we will be taking the test. The students that wanted a "challenge" are taking an open-ended response test - I will give them the 6 questions up front tomorrow, along with the vocabulary matching. I took the questions from the STEMScopedia (yellow book) reading passages for Changes to Land. We read it in class Friday and I have assigned it and several other things on STEMScopes, online, IF kids want to do them. Not homework, just extra if they want to.
I was excited to see about half the students in each class "took the challenge"!
1/13/2020 Week 19: 4.7B Changes to Land
Monday the students will put their Biography Box for The Alamo together and Tuesday, they will present their box to the class.
(Why did you chose the items you did to represent the person you picked from The Hero's of the Alamo)
Wednesday: Weathering & Erosion "Special" Lab today!!
Thurs. We'll finish the 4 Square for vocabulary that we started last week, read the STEMScopedia and watch Picture Vocabulary online - together and discuss the processes. Discovery Ed videos on the Forces of Nature;
Friday we'll watch the new Documentary about Kilauea: Hawaii on Fire and complete a Science Video Report (we'll also compare/contrast this documentary to the one made in 2009 about the eruptions on Kilauea from 1983-2008.
1/7/2020 Week 18: 4.7B Changes to Land
WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!
We are reading about new science discoveries shared in 2019 today. Wed and Thur we will do a couple hands on activities about weathering and erosion, study the vocabulary for the unit with a 4-Square, and see a couple short videos about the changing Earth. Friday we will get into The Alamo for TX History and again next Monday. Students will be asked to put together a "Biography Box" of about 5 items (that can be drawn/cut out from paper) for the "character" they choose that was at The Alamo. More on that later.
12/1/19 Week 15: Properties of Soil
Monday: TX History: Student groups will investigate one of the European Explorers and will share out with the class.
Tues-Fri: Properties of Soil: on Thursday we will Investigate the Properties of Soil in our "World Soil Day Cafe"!!! You are welcome to volunteer and help "serve" up the soil!!!! Just let me know if you can volunteer ( I could also use 6 plastic tableclothes - red would be great!)
11/18/19 Week 14: Force and Motion
This week we will continue with this unit, review on Tuesday, and the test over 4.6D is Wednesday.
Thursday Mrs. Mowrey will be in my room for her counseling lesson
Friday is Texas History this week. We will be using the Texas History Book to answer some questions about the early European explorers.
Have a great Thanksgiving Break!
11/11/19 Week 13: Force and Motion
We will continue experimenting with with types of forces. Students will design an experiment to test a force on cars/ramps then we will graph the results and discuss the results.
TX History: students/partners will be choose an European explorer to the Americas and present their findings next Monday
11/3/19 Week 12: Force and Motion
I hope all the kids enjoyed BAT WEEK as much as I did! They did a great job!
This week we will start our unit on 4.6D Forces: Pushes and Pulls - Friction, Gravity, etc.
Monday will be TX History: The first Europeans - the Four Journeys of Christopher Columbus.
10/28/19 Week 11: BAT WEEK!
Students will be watching Podcasts (for kids by kids) through bci.org (Bat Conservation International in Austin) this week, then choosing a bat to do a research project on. They will present on Thursday: they can make a tri-fold pamphlet, make a poster, or even create a comic strip about their bat. They will get details tomorrow and will have a chromebook to research/design on Tues/Wed. Thursday - presentations.
Friday: students will color their bat masks and, with the help of volunteers (I have one mom per class so far) to help them add GLITTER to their mask! Thanks, as always, for your help. If you are still cutting out masks, we'll need them by Thursday. THANK YOU!!!! Enjoy this beautiful Sunday!
10/21/19 Week 10:
BAT ALERT!!! NEXT WEEK IS BAT WEEK! I'll be asking for volunteers to help cut out the bat masks (printed on cardstock) and also to come in a help at the "glitter station" when students are decorating their masks. It's a lot of fun!
Hope you have all had a FANTASTIC fall break and are ready to get back in the school groove. I am! We are studying electricity this week and will be building circuits on Thursday. If you would like to volunteer in your child's class, or another one, let me know by email or facebook. I haven't posted it there yet, but will.
Monday will be our wrap up on Native American Indians in TX for TX History- students will learn to read Pictographs and will create their own story using pictographs.
Tues-Friday ELECTRICITY/conductors and insulators.
I have assigned STEMScopedia on STEMScopes to be read by Tuesday.
,STEMScopes Assigned: 4.6A STEMScopedia and Picture Vocabulary - due Tuesday
Monday: Design an Archaid boy or girl based on the information in the TX History Book
Tuesday: Begin making Forms of Energy Foldable (using unit vocabulary)
Wednesday: Counseling Lesson with Mrs. Mowrey - Circles; finish Foldable/Progress Monitoring Assessment
Thursday: Field Trip to Videogame Museum in Frisco
Friday: Review - then take 4.5A Forms of Energy Test
NEXT WEEK IS FALL BREAK!
9/30/19 Week 8:
Monday: Tx History
Tues-Fri Science: We are starting our unit on Forms of Energy and will spend this week and next studying all the types of energy.
9/23/19: Week 7
STEMScopes Stemscopedia was assigned yesterday 9/21, and students should have already completed the two assignments from last week. Students will receive a completion grade for these assignments. Test over this unit is Friday, 9/27/19.
** Please return your child's Field Trip Permission Slip BY WEDNESDAY 9/25/19
** Check with your child (pocket folder for Science) to see if they have not turned in their Science Video Report. I graded what has been turned in, but several are missing. They were due Wednesday.
** I have 3 volunteers for Wednesday's Lab in Hammons' Homeroom. If you would like to volunteer for Mayfield 8:30-9:30; Kempken 9:30-10:30, or Aguirre 1:30-2:30, please email or respond on our facebook page. I realize not everyone is on our facebook page, and wanted to give others an opportunity to volunteer if they can. THANKS to those of you have come to the last two labs! Thanks to those of you who volunteered to cut out pieces for the Extension Lab Wed. I'll send a stack home with your child tomorrow.
TX History this week will be learning about the first people in TX, the Paleoamericans.
In Science, we'll catch up on our Journals, then take a mid-unit assessment on Tuesday. Those that show mastery, will do an Extension on Wednesday, those that do not, will continue with the unit. Thursday, Mrs. Mowrey, our counselor, will be doing a lesson during my class for part of the time, then we'll review for the test on Friday. Friday, test over 4.5B Mixtures. Students may bring their journal home as a study guide (vocabulary) or review on STEMScopes online.
STEMSCopes Assignment posted today: Mixtures 4.5B Picture Vocabulary and Reading Science B. Both are due NEXT Saturday, 9/18/19. All students should have their login information in the Password Keeper page at the back of their Planner.
Thanks to all of you who donated to our Trail Mix Lab - there was so much, that I sent some home with kids that had their items marked, or remembered what they brought. Again, THANKS! And thanks to the moms who volunteered to help. I hope no one got sick!!!
TX History: It's Constitution Week, so students will be reading/learning the Bill of Rights and doing a couple of activities that go along with it. We, of course, must watch School House Rock about how Bills become Bills!
Tues and Wed we continue with Mixtures and Solutions. We'll watch a Brain Stew Video and complete a Science Video Report, play a match game with Mixture/Solution Cards, then a "Messing with Mixtures" lab on Wed. A couple of volunteers are welcome for each class. I'll post this on our facebook page as well - either sign up there or send me an email.
Thursday we'll be seeing many of you parents at our Conference Day.
9/9/19 Week 5:
We are finished with Properties of Matter Unit - I will put grades in for the test later today. Be aware that, it was "open-book", which means students could use their Science Journal on the test.
Monday we will be learning about Texas's resources, plants and animals, weather vs. climate. Students will use the TX History book to answer questions about the Google Slide Presentation they will watch first.
Tues-Wed: We will be learning about Changes from Heat - this unit was "taken out" of 4th grade, but is critical for their learning going into 5th grade, so will do a couple activities with this Tues/Wed.
Thurs-Fri. Our next unit is 4.5B Mixtures. Friday is the Trail Mix Lab and you will be getting a note home tomorrow with more information about this lab.
9/3/19 Week 4:
Tuesday and Wednesday we will be taking the Science MAP Test. Please help your child get to bed early and have a healthy breakfast. I know it's been a 3 day weekend, but we must forge ahead.
Thursday we'll be reviewing 4.5A Classify Matter for the test on Friday. All students should have their STEMScopes login information on the Password Keeper page at the back of their Planner. Most of the students were at ACA last year and probably have the website bookmarked. They are welcome to login, go the "Learning Resources" tab and do any of the activities/reading that are available there, if they want to review. Students may also take their Science Journal home to review vocabulary, which can also be accessed on STEMScopes. Next week we will start our unit on Mixtures.
8/26/19 Week 3:
TX History - we are doing a project using full sized state maps. Students are creating a map of 3 cities, using a legend, compass rose, highway names, etc. Many said they had never seen a PAPER state map before!
Science: We continue with Properties of Matter. We read the chapter in the Yellow Book and investigated Density. Ask them about the "density boxes" in my room and how we used them. Today we did a "sink/float" lab making predictions about various objects we put into a tub of water. We will do some STEMScopes assignments in class and take a mid unit assessment. On Friday, students will either do an extension or continue with the unit. The test over this chapter will be Friday, Sept. 6. Students can use their journals as a study guide, as that is where we are putting all our lab reports, vocab, etc.
8/19/19 Week 2: Lesson Plans PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN your child's Safety Contract on Monday. Thanks!
Monday: I am planning to do our TX History lesson on Mondays. We will start with "Where in the World is TX?" We'll use maps of various types and learn about latitude/longitude, map scales, and make a compass rose, as we explore Texas over the next couple of weeks.
This week we begin our first unit on 4.5A Classifying Matter. We'll start with setting up our Science Journal, then use the properties of matter in a few hands-on activities, along with watching STEMScopes Picture Vocabulary. I will be demonstrating how to use/read scientific tools like a triple beam balance, graduated cylinder, and a spring scale, using student helpers.
We'll read the first chapter together later in the week after we complete the Engage and Explore activities. By Friday, we will be going over some safety questions together.
8/13/19 Week 1: Lesson Plans
Tuesday - Friday: This week we will be getting to know each other, setting up our Journals, practicing/learning school wide expectations for various places in the building, Rules & Procedures for my classroom, co-pilot jobs, and of course, some games and "sciency" things!
Monday: TX History. We will watch a video about Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Chief Quanah Parker/Comanche Indians.
Students will write a letter about either of these lives and how it affected them.
The rest of the week we'll continue our unit on Weather.
Friday: Spring Fling Party!
2/18/2020 Week 24 4.8A Weather
We begin our unit on Weather this week! Students will be learning to predict the weather based on cold/warm fronts, types of clouds, etc. We have been looking at weather maps that I bring in from The Star Telegram all year, so they are already familiar with fronts and high/low pressure systems. I have a "small" weather station set up outside the backdoor of our hall that we will be monitoring and collecting data from daily including: temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation.
1/27/2020 Week 21: 4.7C Earth's Resources
Monday: TEXAS History - begin "TX Statehood" Unit
Tues/Wed: Science MAP Testing
Thurs: Start 4.7C Resources; Engage activity "Red Bean/White Bean" and Explore Card Game
Fri: Students will complete the STEMScopes assignments online on the Chromebooks
1/21/2020 Week 20: 4.7B Changes to Land Test over 4.7B Changes to Land is Friday, January 24.
We will be watching the 2018 NOVA Documentary: Kilauea: Hawaii on Fire and finding examples of weathering/erosion/deposition in the video. We'll finish watching it on Wed. and students will complete a Science Video Report. Thursday we will review for the test and Friday we will be taking the test. The students that wanted a "challenge" are taking an open-ended response test - I will give them the 6 questions up front tomorrow, along with the vocabulary matching. I took the questions from the STEMScopedia (yellow book) reading passages for Changes to Land. We read it in class Friday and I have assigned it and several other things on STEMScopes, online, IF kids want to do them. Not homework, just extra if they want to.
I was excited to see about half the students in each class "took the challenge"!
1/13/2020 Week 19: 4.7B Changes to Land
Monday the students will put their Biography Box for The Alamo together and Tuesday, they will present their box to the class.
(Why did you chose the items you did to represent the person you picked from The Hero's of the Alamo)
Wednesday: Weathering & Erosion "Special" Lab today!!
Thurs. We'll finish the 4 Square for vocabulary that we started last week, read the STEMScopedia and watch Picture Vocabulary online - together and discuss the processes. Discovery Ed videos on the Forces of Nature;
Friday we'll watch the new Documentary about Kilauea: Hawaii on Fire and complete a Science Video Report (we'll also compare/contrast this documentary to the one made in 2009 about the eruptions on Kilauea from 1983-2008.
1/7/2020 Week 18: 4.7B Changes to Land
WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!
We are reading about new science discoveries shared in 2019 today. Wed and Thur we will do a couple hands on activities about weathering and erosion, study the vocabulary for the unit with a 4-Square, and see a couple short videos about the changing Earth. Friday we will get into The Alamo for TX History and again next Monday. Students will be asked to put together a "Biography Box" of about 5 items (that can be drawn/cut out from paper) for the "character" they choose that was at The Alamo. More on that later.
12/1/19 Week 15: Properties of Soil
Monday: TX History: Student groups will investigate one of the European Explorers and will share out with the class.
Tues-Fri: Properties of Soil: on Thursday we will Investigate the Properties of Soil in our "World Soil Day Cafe"!!! You are welcome to volunteer and help "serve" up the soil!!!! Just let me know if you can volunteer ( I could also use 6 plastic tableclothes - red would be great!)
11/18/19 Week 14: Force and Motion
This week we will continue with this unit, review on Tuesday, and the test over 4.6D is Wednesday.
Thursday Mrs. Mowrey will be in my room for her counseling lesson
Friday is Texas History this week. We will be using the Texas History Book to answer some questions about the early European explorers.
Have a great Thanksgiving Break!
11/11/19 Week 13: Force and Motion
We will continue experimenting with with types of forces. Students will design an experiment to test a force on cars/ramps then we will graph the results and discuss the results.
TX History: students/partners will be choose an European explorer to the Americas and present their findings next Monday
11/3/19 Week 12: Force and Motion
I hope all the kids enjoyed BAT WEEK as much as I did! They did a great job!
This week we will start our unit on 4.6D Forces: Pushes and Pulls - Friction, Gravity, etc.
Monday will be TX History: The first Europeans - the Four Journeys of Christopher Columbus.
10/28/19 Week 11: BAT WEEK!
Students will be watching Podcasts (for kids by kids) through bci.org (Bat Conservation International in Austin) this week, then choosing a bat to do a research project on. They will present on Thursday: they can make a tri-fold pamphlet, make a poster, or even create a comic strip about their bat. They will get details tomorrow and will have a chromebook to research/design on Tues/Wed. Thursday - presentations.
Friday: students will color their bat masks and, with the help of volunteers (I have one mom per class so far) to help them add GLITTER to their mask! Thanks, as always, for your help. If you are still cutting out masks, we'll need them by Thursday. THANK YOU!!!! Enjoy this beautiful Sunday!
10/21/19 Week 10:
BAT ALERT!!! NEXT WEEK IS BAT WEEK! I'll be asking for volunteers to help cut out the bat masks (printed on cardstock) and also to come in a help at the "glitter station" when students are decorating their masks. It's a lot of fun!
Hope you have all had a FANTASTIC fall break and are ready to get back in the school groove. I am! We are studying electricity this week and will be building circuits on Thursday. If you would like to volunteer in your child's class, or another one, let me know by email or facebook. I haven't posted it there yet, but will.
Monday will be our wrap up on Native American Indians in TX for TX History- students will learn to read Pictographs and will create their own story using pictographs.
Tues-Friday ELECTRICITY/conductors and insulators.
I have assigned STEMScopedia on STEMScopes to be read by Tuesday.
,STEMScopes Assigned: 4.6A STEMScopedia and Picture Vocabulary - due Tuesday
Monday: Design an Archaid boy or girl based on the information in the TX History Book
Tuesday: Begin making Forms of Energy Foldable (using unit vocabulary)
Wednesday: Counseling Lesson with Mrs. Mowrey - Circles; finish Foldable/Progress Monitoring Assessment
Thursday: Field Trip to Videogame Museum in Frisco
Friday: Review - then take 4.5A Forms of Energy Test
NEXT WEEK IS FALL BREAK!
9/30/19 Week 8:
Monday: Tx History
Tues-Fri Science: We are starting our unit on Forms of Energy and will spend this week and next studying all the types of energy.
9/23/19: Week 7
STEMScopes Stemscopedia was assigned yesterday 9/21, and students should have already completed the two assignments from last week. Students will receive a completion grade for these assignments. Test over this unit is Friday, 9/27/19.
** Please return your child's Field Trip Permission Slip BY WEDNESDAY 9/25/19
** Check with your child (pocket folder for Science) to see if they have not turned in their Science Video Report. I graded what has been turned in, but several are missing. They were due Wednesday.
** I have 3 volunteers for Wednesday's Lab in Hammons' Homeroom. If you would like to volunteer for Mayfield 8:30-9:30; Kempken 9:30-10:30, or Aguirre 1:30-2:30, please email or respond on our facebook page. I realize not everyone is on our facebook page, and wanted to give others an opportunity to volunteer if they can. THANKS to those of you have come to the last two labs! Thanks to those of you who volunteered to cut out pieces for the Extension Lab Wed. I'll send a stack home with your child tomorrow.
TX History this week will be learning about the first people in TX, the Paleoamericans.
In Science, we'll catch up on our Journals, then take a mid-unit assessment on Tuesday. Those that show mastery, will do an Extension on Wednesday, those that do not, will continue with the unit. Thursday, Mrs. Mowrey, our counselor, will be doing a lesson during my class for part of the time, then we'll review for the test on Friday. Friday, test over 4.5B Mixtures. Students may bring their journal home as a study guide (vocabulary) or review on STEMScopes online.
STEMSCopes Assignment posted today: Mixtures 4.5B Picture Vocabulary and Reading Science B. Both are due NEXT Saturday, 9/18/19. All students should have their login information in the Password Keeper page at the back of their Planner.
Thanks to all of you who donated to our Trail Mix Lab - there was so much, that I sent some home with kids that had their items marked, or remembered what they brought. Again, THANKS! And thanks to the moms who volunteered to help. I hope no one got sick!!!
TX History: It's Constitution Week, so students will be reading/learning the Bill of Rights and doing a couple of activities that go along with it. We, of course, must watch School House Rock about how Bills become Bills!
Tues and Wed we continue with Mixtures and Solutions. We'll watch a Brain Stew Video and complete a Science Video Report, play a match game with Mixture/Solution Cards, then a "Messing with Mixtures" lab on Wed. A couple of volunteers are welcome for each class. I'll post this on our facebook page as well - either sign up there or send me an email.
Thursday we'll be seeing many of you parents at our Conference Day.
9/9/19 Week 5:
We are finished with Properties of Matter Unit - I will put grades in for the test later today. Be aware that, it was "open-book", which means students could use their Science Journal on the test.
Monday we will be learning about Texas's resources, plants and animals, weather vs. climate. Students will use the TX History book to answer questions about the Google Slide Presentation they will watch first.
Tues-Wed: We will be learning about Changes from Heat - this unit was "taken out" of 4th grade, but is critical for their learning going into 5th grade, so will do a couple activities with this Tues/Wed.
Thurs-Fri. Our next unit is 4.5B Mixtures. Friday is the Trail Mix Lab and you will be getting a note home tomorrow with more information about this lab.
9/3/19 Week 4:
Tuesday and Wednesday we will be taking the Science MAP Test. Please help your child get to bed early and have a healthy breakfast. I know it's been a 3 day weekend, but we must forge ahead.
Thursday we'll be reviewing 4.5A Classify Matter for the test on Friday. All students should have their STEMScopes login information on the Password Keeper page at the back of their Planner. Most of the students were at ACA last year and probably have the website bookmarked. They are welcome to login, go the "Learning Resources" tab and do any of the activities/reading that are available there, if they want to review. Students may also take their Science Journal home to review vocabulary, which can also be accessed on STEMScopes. Next week we will start our unit on Mixtures.
8/26/19 Week 3:
TX History - we are doing a project using full sized state maps. Students are creating a map of 3 cities, using a legend, compass rose, highway names, etc. Many said they had never seen a PAPER state map before!
Science: We continue with Properties of Matter. We read the chapter in the Yellow Book and investigated Density. Ask them about the "density boxes" in my room and how we used them. Today we did a "sink/float" lab making predictions about various objects we put into a tub of water. We will do some STEMScopes assignments in class and take a mid unit assessment. On Friday, students will either do an extension or continue with the unit. The test over this chapter will be Friday, Sept. 6. Students can use their journals as a study guide, as that is where we are putting all our lab reports, vocab, etc.
8/19/19 Week 2: Lesson Plans PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN your child's Safety Contract on Monday. Thanks!
Monday: I am planning to do our TX History lesson on Mondays. We will start with "Where in the World is TX?" We'll use maps of various types and learn about latitude/longitude, map scales, and make a compass rose, as we explore Texas over the next couple of weeks.
This week we begin our first unit on 4.5A Classifying Matter. We'll start with setting up our Science Journal, then use the properties of matter in a few hands-on activities, along with watching STEMScopes Picture Vocabulary. I will be demonstrating how to use/read scientific tools like a triple beam balance, graduated cylinder, and a spring scale, using student helpers.
We'll read the first chapter together later in the week after we complete the Engage and Explore activities. By Friday, we will be going over some safety questions together.
8/13/19 Week 1: Lesson Plans
Tuesday - Friday: This week we will be getting to know each other, setting up our Journals, practicing/learning school wide expectations for various places in the building, Rules & Procedures for my classroom, co-pilot jobs, and of course, some games and "sciency" things!