Week of 4/14/14 - 4/18/14

Highlights for the Week of 4/14/14

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Homophones
This week's spelling list will focus on homophones. The final test on this lesson will be given on THURSDAY, 4/17. The workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Write a Pourquoi Tale

Did you know that your child can speak French?  Ask him/her about the meaning of the word "pourquoi". We have studied the characteristics of a Pourquoi tale, and your child has had the opportunity to write his or her own tale that explains how something in nature was created.  This week, students will type their final copies & create an interesting cover page for their stories. 



English- Explanatory Writing
"What Would You Have a Robot Do?" - this is the prompt that students will respond to this week while writing an explanatory essay. Students will work with partners to brainstorm and organize ideas, and to write and edit the essay. The following week, they will begin writing an individual explanatory essay about their personal hero.




Social Studies - The Southwest
We will be completing the Southwest portion of the U.S. map at the beginning of the week.  On Wednesday, I will introduce the writing project that coincides with this region, which is a travel brochure. Students will conduct research to collect information for the brochure, and create their document using Google Docs. 
Work on the brochure will be completed at home and at school.

Science -  What are Some Sources of Electricity? / Inventions
Don't forget that inventions are due on 4/29! In class, we will be studying different sources of electricity, including hydro-electrical power and geothermal energy.  We will also take a look at the difference between potential and kinetic energy.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 8 / Fractions
Mixed numbers and improper fractions are the last two topics that we will cover in Unit 8 this week. The Unit 8 TEST is scheduled for Thursday, 4/17.

Don't Forget...
April 17 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
April 18 - No School
May 1 - Prairieview Open House - 6:30-8:00 p.m.



All fourth grade students will be taking the OLSAT (Otis Lennon School Ability Test) test this week. Our homeroom will be taking the test on Wednesday, 4/16. The OLSAT test is an assessment of ability, and students cannot prepare for it, other than coming to school well rested & having eaten a healthy breakfast.

Mrs. Karen Bell