Hi,
Our class created some amazing science fair projects. Our class also did well in the FCE science fair. Robert, Sammi, Savanna, and Grace won third place ribbons, Ethan won a second place ribbon, and Morgan won a first place ribbon and will move onto the regional science fair! Congratulations to everyone who entered the fair. Be sure to enter the science fair next year in fifth grade! We began our presentations today. We learned that lemon juice helps bubbles last longer,that more lengths of wire will make the electromagnetic energy stronger, that rap music will typically increase your heart rate compared to classic music, and that light rays can bend. Did you know that baking soda and vinegar will form a gas and inflate a balloon or that cold water is better when trying to keep flowers alive? We also learned that many frogs are losing their habitats or being harmed by people and that we should try to "Save the Frogs". We saw a demonstration of how combining robotics and magnetics can help people pick up things that were dropped. Incredible projects!
We will be continuing our presentations on Monday and maybe Tuesday. If your child took home his/her project after the fair, please have them bring it back for the class presentations next week.
Book Fair is this coming week. We will be previewing on Monday and will have extended hours on Thursday from 4:30-7:30. The author, Heather Hepler, who wrote The Cupcake Queen will be here autographing her book. It is available for $7.99 in paperback. She will also be doing some readings. Our Relay for Life team (Team HOWL) will be selling cupcakes also. Come buy some books, met an author, and eat some cupcakes!
Valentine's Day Party is coming up!-Everyone needs to decorate a box or large bag (at home) for the Valentine's Day party. The kids can bring the boxes or bags to school on Tuesday, February 14 to use to collect Valentines. Giving Valentines is optional, however, if your child would like to give Valentines to the class, he/she MUST give one to every student. Please don't leave friends out. Below is a list of the first names of the students in our class. We have 22 students. Don't forget to make a Valentine for your pen pal. We will be seeing them on Valentine's Day!
Dominic, Mabree, Madi, Grace, Rylee, Robert, Tyler, Corey, Sophie, Brooks, Jeffrey, Marissa, Cayge, Sammi, Ethan, Morgan, Rachel, Savanna, Sarah, Taylor, Sebastian, Aden
Feel free to use hand-made Valentines. Be creative and enjoy! More details about the party will be coming later.
Reading: We have been reading persuasive articles and learning about strategies that authors use to try to persuade their readers. We read several articles, analyzed an article in depth, and then are creating our own persuasive posters. Next week we will be reading expository text and looking closely at text structure and how that helps our comprehension.
Writing: We have been learning about Bessie Coleman and Barbara Jordan for Social Studies and chose one of these incredible women to write an essay for the RRISD Black History Month Contest. We planned, drafted, revised, typed, edited and print out our essays. We stressed the fact that essays need to have a central idea, supporting details, and a conclusion that pulls it all together. Next week we will be writing more personal narratives.
Math-We are still reviewing and practice concepts with fractions, decimals, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction in problem solving situations and are beginning to learn more about geometry. We've learned vocabulary such as parallel, perpendicular, intersecting, right angle, obtuse angle, acute angle, polygon, quadrilateral, square, rectangle, triangle, rhombus, trapezoid, hexagon, and octagon. We will continue to practice concepts with two dimensional figures and begin learning about three dimensional figures as well as transformations (translations-slide, rotation-turn, reflection-flip which are used to determine if figures are congruent-same size, same shape) We will also be experimenting with symmetry, tangrams, geoboards, 3d figures,and pattern blocks to have more concrete practice of these concepts. Look for things around your home, stores, neighborhoods, etc... to try to find examples of all of these concepts. I am excited about this fun and interesting part of our math!
If you are able to this weekend, encourage your child to notice geometric shapes, angles, lines, etc... and take photos of them. You will be amazed when you begin observing, how many cool designs and shapes you will see in everyday things. I will give your child extra credit for any photos that are emailed to me. We will compile some of them into a slide show or photo story or something. Have fun and be creative!
Science-Resources can be classified into three categories; renewable (trees, fresh water, plants, animals,soil, etc...) nonrenewable (oil, gas, coal), and inexhaustible (air, water, sunlight, wind). We are learning about ways to protect and conserve our natural resources and use more sustainable energy. We will continue with these concepts next week and complete our Scienc Project presentations.
Dates to Remember:
Saturday, February 4, 2012-Service Club to volunteer at Round Rock Serving Center from 10 am-11 am- Are all welcome!
Monday, February 6-Friday, February 10-Book Fair in the Library
Tuesday, February 7, 2012-Math Club afterschool 2:45-3:45
Thursday, February 9, 2012-Writing Club in ART room 2:45-4:00 All are welcome!
Author Visit & Extended Hours for Book fair-4:30-7:30
Tuesday, February 14, 2012-Pen Pal Visit to Glaze bowls at 1:00 pm in art room, Valentine's Day Party at 2:00 in classroom
By the way.... I was nominated by the teachers of our school as Forest Creek's Teacher of the Year along with several other hard-working, dedicated, talented teachers from our school. The teachers all voted and I WON!!!!! Mrs. Arnold made me a beautiful crown with a glittering star on it. Ask the kids about it. Now I get to go to a dinner with Mrs. Lehnick and the other Teacher of the Years from the other RRISD schools and get presented with an award. At that dinner, they announce the elementary and secondary District Teachers of the Year. Anyway, thank you all for sharing your children with me. They make my days so enjoyable and fun and I feel like we are having a very great year!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Pam Bartholomew
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