Week of 4/7/14 - 4/11/14

Highlights for the Week of 4/7/14

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - More VCV Words
This week's spelling list will again focus on the VCV (vowel-consonant-vowel) pattern. The final test on this lesson will be given on Friday, 4/11. The workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - Pourquoi Tales
For the next two weeks, we will be studying "pourquoi" tales.  A pourquoi tale ("pourquoi" means "why" in French),  is a fictional narrative that explains why something is the way it is, for example why a snake has no legs, or why a tiger has stripes. Many legends and folk tales are pourquoi stories. We will begin by looking at characteristics of different tales, and then students will write their own pourquoi tale.

Here are some pictures of students finishing their poetry projects, using the Chrome Book computers in our classroom:

English - Explanatory Writing

We will be taking a break from the English textbook to study explanatory writing. During this unit we will study the different components of an explanatory/informational essay, practice together, and eventually write a 4 paragraph essay. This week we will focus on how to brainstorm and organize ideas.




Social Studies - The Southwest
We will finish our study of the Southwest with a look at the economy of the region. Oil and technology play a large role in the Southwest. The chapter 10 TEST is scheduled for Thursday, 4/10. On Friday, we will have a SW fiesta - Ole!

Science -  / Invention Convention
We have been busy in our laboratory, studying how to create electrical circuits.  Here are some pictures of our scientists in action...

This week, we will study how magnets work, and how they relate to electricity.  Students will take an open note/book QUIZ on lesson 2 of chapter 15 on Friday, 4/11. Students should continue to work on their inventions, which are due on April 29th.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 8 - Fractions
Simplest form, comparing and ordering fractions and mixed numbers are the topics we will focus on after Spring Break.  We will also review the problem solving strategy of "Use Logical Reasoning".

Don't Forget...

March 31 - Spring Break begins
April 7 - Classes Resume after Spring Break
April 17 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
April 18 - NO SCHOOL
May 1 - Prairieview Open House - 6:30-8:00 p.m.


Mrs. Karen Bell 

Week of 3/24/14 - 3/28/14

Highlights for the Week of 3/24/13

 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - The VCV Pattern
This week's spelling list will focus on the VCV (vowel - consonant - vowel) pattern. The final test on this lesson will be given on Friday, 3/28. The workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading -  I Can Understand the Elements of Poetry & Use Figurative Language
We will continue working on the poetry project by studying, and writing the following types of poems: Color poetry, Concrete poetry, Five Senses poetry, and 5 "Ws" poetry.  Students will finish and print their books on Friday.


English- Verbs
We will finish our study of verbs with a look at the special verb "be", and contractions with "not". The verbs TEST is scheduled for Thursday, 3/27. Challenge work will also be collected that day. If your child is looking for extra practice to prepare for the test, be sure to check out pages 125-135 in the textbook.

Social Studies - The Southwest - A Land of Canyons

The Southwest map QUIZ is scheduled for Tuesday, 3/25. Students will be given a word bank for the quiz.  The first lesson in chapter 10 focuses on the land of the southwest, with emphasis on the Grand Canyon. We will also look at the climate of the southwest to finish the week.




Science -  Electricity / Invention Convention

Series and parallel circuits, and conductors and insulators will be the focus in the science lab this week.  The chapter 15 / lesson 1 QUIZ is scheduled for Friday, 3/28. The quiz will be open note/book.

We will also begin working on our "Invention Convention" project. The students will be asked to identify a problem in their lives and to create an invention that helps to solve this problem. Think simply...this does not need to be a complex invention. An informational letter, project time line/calendar, rubric and contract will be handed out in science class on Monday, March 24th. All students will participate in this assignment. The contract, or plan, for the invention is due in class on Thursday, March 27th. I will then review each contract to make sure they are on the right track. Once I confirm that they are moving in the right direction, students will be free to begin constructing their inventions. Inventions aren't due until after spring break, and the construction of the invention will be done at home. We will not be giving time in school to work on the project.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 8 - Fractions

The QUIZ on lessons 1-2 of unit 8 is scheduled for Tuesday, 3/25. Equivalent fractions and simplest form will be the concepts that we will focus on for the rest of the week.







Don't Forget...

March 31 - April 4 - Spring Break

April 17 - Early Dismissal

April 18 - No School

May 1 - Open House

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 3/17/14 - 3/21/14

Highlights for the Week of 3/17/14

in Mrs. O'Bell's Classroom

O'Spelling 
Due to the three day week, there will be no spelling lesson. 



O'Reading - I Can Understand the Elements of Poetry & Use Figurative Language
We will continue working on the poetry project by studying, and writing the following types of poems: Cinquain and Five Senses. We will also take a look at hyperbole and onomatopoeia.


O'English- Verb Tense Project
This week we will be reviewing what we have learned about verb tenses by creating a project called, "Tomorrow, Today will be Yesterday". Students will write three paragraphs about the same topic, but using three different verb tenses.  The final project will be collected on Friday, 3/21.

O'Social Studies - Midwest Presentations / The Southwest
We will finish the Midwest slide presentations on Wednesday. The next stop on our journey across the U.S. will be the Southwest region. We will begin our regional study by creating a map. Look for the SW map quiz to be scheduled during the week of 3/24.

O'Science - Electricity

Students will investigate how to create a complete circuit using a battery, a wire and a light bulb. Then, they will collaborate in small groups to create a poster showing the different ways to light a bulb. Please check out the pictures from the in-school Simple Machines lab at the end of the blog - we had a ton of fun! A huge THANK YOU to the parents who were able to come in and chaperone this activity.

O'Mrs. Bell 's Math Class 
Fractions is the next unit that we wills study in math. We will begin with a look at factors, multiples, and prime & composite numbers.  Solid skills with these concepts will build the foundation for success with finding equivalent fractions and simplest form. 

Don't Forget...
March 17 - No School
March 18 - No School - Teachers' Institute

Wheels + Levers + Pulleys = Fun, fun, fun!

Mrs. Karen O'Bell 

Week of 3/10/14-3/14/14

Highlights for the Week of 3/10/14

in Mrs. Bell 's Classroom

Spelling - Changing the Final "y" to "i"
The final test for this week's lesson will be on Friday, 3/14.  Cursive & workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.


Reading - I Can Understand the Elements of Poetry & Use Figurative Language

The Reading Response Web project for Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing will be collected on Monday, 3/10. In reading this week, our target genre will be poetry as we focus on the different elements of poetry. This will include figurative language such as similes, metaphors, personification, and alliteration. We will begin writing our poetry books, which will consist of 9 poems, each of a different format. Students will be creating their poetry book using Google Docs. Work on the poetry book will be done in school, and at home.

English - Verbs
Verb tenses (past, present & future) will be our focus this week.  We will also review spelling rules for the different verb tenses.




Social Studies - The Midwest Presentations
Students will complete their work on the Midwest slide presentations on Monday and Tuesday. Oral speeches are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday.  The next region that we will travel to in Social Studies is the Southwest.

Science - Electricity
We will begin the electricity unit with a look at the requirements for a complete circuit. Students will have "hands on" experience working with batteries, light bulbs and wires to discover different ways to light a bulb. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 7 
We will finish Unit 7 this week with a look at Order of Operations (a favorite of mine!), and Equations with Multiple Operations.  Students will take a QUIZ on lessons 5-7 on Tuesday, 3/11. The Unit 7 TEST is scheduled for Friday, 3/14. Fractions will be the next topic in math.

Don't Forget...
March 13 - Wheels, Levers & Pulleys Learning Lab
March 31-April 4 - Spring Break
April 17 - Early Dismissal
April 18 - No School

ISAT testing continues this week. Science tests will be given on Monday and Tuesday. Please make sure your child gets plenty of sleep and eats a healthy breakfast each day before coming to school!


Mrs. Karen Bell