Newsletter-Field trip on Friday

Hi,

We had another wonderful but busy week. Our pen pal visit on Friday was fun. We took them to our computer lab and wrote posts on our blog. Check them out! We also worked on a webquest about Antarctica. We read some books about Antarctica in reading class this week and learned even more using this cool site. Best of all, on Friday, we were able to explore with Proscopes which are very powerful microscopes that plug into a computer. We tried to look at ladybugs (they were very quick and active). We looked at our hair, skin, clothing, tissues, freckles, etc... up close! Very, very cool!!!!

We are going to visit our pen pals on Monday, May 2. We always look forward to seeing them again.

Friday was also an assembly during which we were entertained by a wonderful Jazz Band. Ask your child about it!

Reading: We read at least two books on the same topic, talked about them, and compared them. We used a lot of higher level thinking skills as we read and responded and worked on building up our reading stamina while reading non-fiction. We read about Antarctica and about the Depression. We will be continuing with this format this coming week and reading about zoos and about social situations. (getting along with others, new friends, etc...)

Writing: We finished our published books and they are being mailed on Tuesday. We also wrote interesting poems modeled after poems that we read. This week we will be learning about persuasive writing and will be writing a persuasive letter. I wonder if they will be able to convince YOU to do something after you read their letter!

Math: We have been reviewing lots of concepts like measurement, time, temperature, decimals, and place value. We had math words as vocabulary words last week and will continue to discuss math vocabulary. We will continue to play math games this week and review more with temperature, geometry, multiplication, and division.

Science and SS-We finished up learning about the moon, sun, and Earth's patterns and began some social studies. We will continue social studies this week and will have our field trip on Friday!

Rising Star- Everyone submitted either a poem or a story or both to be considered for publication in Rising Star. I was impressed that we had three of our pieces chosen for fourth grade! Congratulations to Mallory (wind poem), Jody (solo story), and Aaliyah (Mom's Closet story)! Our class is filled with awesome writers and poets. I'm so glad that three of them will be recognized in Rising Star!!!!!!

Field Trip on Friday, April 15-Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum-We are looking forward to a great day at the museum on Friday. Your child should try to wear a Forest Creek shirt or a purple or green shirt. (if possible) They will need to bring a lunch with a drink unless they ordered a sack lunch from the cafeteria. We will not be going to the gift shop so no money should be brought on the trip. We are going to see the movie The Star of Destiny and will be exploring the three floors of the museum. Each floor has a different theme-1st floor=Encounters on the Land shows the people native to Texas through European explorers, early missions, and early settlers. 2nd floor-Building the Lone Star Identity deals with the fight for independence, becoming part of the United States, then seceding to join the confederacy during the civil war. This floor continues with Juneteenth and the ways in which Texas presented itself and its identity during the 1936 World's Fair; only 100 years since its independence. 3rd floor-Creating Opportunity deals with how Texas oil impacted the state and also how Texas-led explorations in space, medicine, and technology have impacted the entire world. It is going to be a great day!

Dates to Remember:
Tuesday, April 12-PTA meeting 6:30 in library
Thursday, April 14-Poem in Your Pocket Day
Friday, April 15-Field trip to Bob Bullock Museum
Monday, April 18-Service Club Meeting after school
Monday, April 18-Thursday, April 21-Earth Week!!!!

· MONDAY 4/18- No Trash Lunch Day. On average, during one day of lunch for all grades, our students fill 15-16 large gray trash containers! That’s 75 trash bags in just 1 week! That’s a lot of trash….let’s see which classroom can create the least amount of lunchtime trash today! The top 2 classrooms in each grade will win Go Green prizes!

· TUESDAY 4/19- 3R’s (REDUSE, REUSE, RECYCLE) Day -Bring an item to school that Forest Creek currently recycles, place into appropriate bin, and keep it out of the earth’s landfills! (juice pouch, plastic water bottle, ink cartridge, cell phone, alkaline battery, aluminum can). Look for earth friendly Forest Creek reusable water bottles for sale this week!

· WEDNESDAY 4/20- Go Green…Got Plants? – Plant Sale today… .50cents per plant, receive small informative flyer on importance of plants/trees in our world. And, be sure to check out the gardens outside of Forest Creek!

· THURSDAY 4/21 Make that change day. Wear Green! How will YOU be better to the EARTH? Pass it on to a friend. (Fill out the small Green card located in envelope on the Go Green bulletin board and post it onto the bulletin board! -HOW WILL I HELP THE EARTH?)

· FRIDAY 4/22 (Holiday) EARTH DAY Turn It Off day –Try conserving electricity, water, and reducing carbon emissions around your house (turn off water while brushing your teeth, turn off your computer, room lights, fans, walk don’t drive!)

Have a great week! Let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Pam Bartholomew