What's Going on in Petunia's Classroom?

Our class has been studying lots of interesting things lately!
In our science class, we've been working on rocks and minerals.  We'll be doing certain tests to figure out different types of minerals based on their properties.  In social studies, we've been working on using an atlas.  The students LOVE atlas work!
 We're working on adding and subtracting large numbers with regrouping in math.  Today, we found the difference in height between the Citigroup  Center and the Empire State Building.  In case you were wondering, the Empire State Building is taller by 335 feet!
Roald Dahl has made his magical way into fourth grade again this year.  Last week we read The Twits with partners.  This week, we're reading George's Marvelous Medicine.  While reading aloud, students are practicing reading with voice and then answering comprehension questions that correspond with the chapters read.  In addition, Mrs. Stone has been reading a book called, Nickel Bay Nick.  It's a Great Stone Face Nominee.  The kids are really enjoying being with their peers from Mr. Wetmore's class while listening to Mrs. Stone.
On a different note, the PTO supported the purchase of a voice amplification system for our class.  Boy, has it made a HUGE difference!  Students are able to better listen and better hear my voice.  In addition, we've been able to take the amplifier on the road!  We've brought it with us to the Kilton Library, The Hatchery, and various visitors to our classroom as well as students have been able to use the tool.  Thanks to the PTO - this was MONEY WELL SPENT!!!
Our last day of school is December 19th.  Enjoy the two week break.  Happy Holidays!

Homework

HOMEWORK LINK IS TO THE RIGHT --------------------------------------------->>>>>>>>

Student Survey

Today, students in Ms. Allen's class took a survey on school.  Ask your child about it today!

Over the River and Through the Woods....

to Grandmother's house we go!
Only a few days before American families will be celebrating Thanksgiving!  We have two days of school this week!  We have some exciting activities planned for this short week including ornament making for the tree at the Enfield Shaker Museum!  Stay tuned for pictures!

Welcome to our HOUSE PARTY!

      Welcome to our classroom!  It's Open House night (and the night before Halloween)!  We have studied many things so far this year.  We have learned about monarch butterflies and their life cycle.  Visitors should check out our Work in Progress folders to see our pre-published butterfly books.
     In addition to studying butterflies, we have begun our study on the layers of the earth.  There are 4 layers that we study.  The inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust.
In social studies, we have learned about maps.  We started by reading Me on the Map and made our very own Me on the Map books! After that, we pulled out small globes. These are models of the big model!  The students have reviewed the continents and oceans.  In addition, they worked on mini maps and globes books where they learned about the Tropic of Capricorn, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, and lines of latitude and longitude.
   Math has been a whole new experience for us!  The district adopted Envision Math last spring and our fourth graders love it!  W'eve studied place value, rounding, multiplication, and number patterns.     Today we finished reading The Saturday Boy  by David Fleming.  The students are working on a journal entry about the story.  We've also been working on reading articles in Time for Kids and StoryWorks.  In Time for Kids we read about coding computers and in StoryWorks we read about the Lochness Monster.
   We hope you enjoy exploring our classroom.  Please be sure to sign in using the dry erase markers.  Thanks for coming by!

Wacky Wednesday!

Hello dear followers!  Today is Wednesday, October 29th and boy, has it been wacky!  We made layers of the Earth models this morning.  You'll get to see them tomorrow night at Open House.  Remember Open House is from 6-7 at Mount Leb!  Hope to see you there.
We had an all fourth grade meeting today with Officer Partham. He talked with us about using threatening language and threatening behavior.  He reminded us of the language we should and shouldn't use when working with peers and adults in our school.
Halloween is on Friday.  Mount Leb. will celebrate by having a Halloween masquerade parade at 2 on Friday.  We'll have a lunch party at 12:20 as well.

Funny Feet

One of the loveliest things about being a student at Mount Lebanon School is that you get to be in chorus AND it's part of your academic day!  All students in third and fourth grade get to participate in singing with friends AND they don't have to give up recess to do it!  Mrs. Greenough, our MOST AMAZING music teacher has been working hard putting together her next program.  The students learned a new song today called "Funny Feet."  Guess what!?  There's a dance to go along with this GREAT song.  Here's the link for all of my student followers to help them get their groove on! Funny Feet