How Santa Got His Job

Today, in Daily 5, we read the book How Santa Got His Job written by Stephen Krensky and illustrated by S.D. Schindler.  Then, we wrote quick writes to the following prompt:  "If I were Santa..."
Here are some highlights:

• I'd have to have a larger stomach as well as a bigger digestive system and bigger bladder (I'd be eating too much and would have to wait 24 hours to go to the bathroom) 
• A SUGGESTION FROM ANOTHER CHILD - make a pit stop at a house! Or, wear a diaper!
• I would help the elves make the toys because I am good at making toys, especially a pin ball machine out of Legos
• If I were Santa I'd make it rain chocolate
• I'd go caroling with children and make new words for the Christmas songs
• I'd wrap all the gifts - I also look good in red
• I would drink all the eggnog and hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies
• I'd ride around on my sleigh when I'm not reading mail, sleeping, or helping the elves
• I would have special presents that you'd throw down the chimney that would change into what the kids would want
• I'd help feed the reindeer and wrap the toys
• I'd pay the elves $1,000.00 per minute
• The elves and I would fight the Grinch from stealing Christmas
• It does not matter about the cookies or the getting, it's about making people feel good and being happy!
• I'd sprinkle world peace like fairy dust all over the world.
• There'd be Christmas magic at each house!  All bad things would be forgotten for a day.  

Snowmen at Night

It's a flurry of fun in Petunia's classroom and the students have been working hard to bring on the snow!  Check out their snow people!

 To kick off the project, read the books Making a Friend by Mark Rosenthal and Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner.  If you haven't read these books, get to it!  Want to see the snowmen pictures in REAL life? C'mon on by!  

Last Friday, the 13th (!), we went over to New Hampton fish hatchery.  We stripped male brook trout of milt and female brook trout of eggs.  Did you know that a female brook trout produces 400 - 600 eggs per year? The hatchery has 1.3 million eggs incubating at any one time.  The eggs have an 85% chance of survival.
In addition, we climbed a mountain with Mr. Wetmore and discussed the watershed.  Did you know that there are many factors that contribute to the health of a river?  Human impact, erosion, and farming are a few examples.
With Ms. Allen (Petunia), we made river art to demonstrate out knowledge of the riffle, the run, and the pool.  The riparian zone is the area that surrounds the river. It prevents the banks from eroding, protects the river from trash, and keeps the water shaded and cool.

Mrs. O'Leary's Cow

Today we learned a song about the Great Chicago Fire.  Legend tells us that Mrs. O' Leary's cow kicked a lantern over at 9:30 PM on the evening of  October 8, 1871 and ignited the city of Chicago in flames.  After over a hundred years, in 1997, the story was extinguished and Mrs. O'Leary's name was cleared. We used this example of history to discuss rumors and fire safety.
Here's the song we sang today about Mrs. O'Leary's cow:

Late one night, when we were all in bed,
Old Mother Leary left a lantern in the shed,
And when the cow kicked it over, she winked her eye and said,
"There'll be a HOT time on the old town tonight."
FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!

Untitled

Today we read a book called Turtle in the Sea by Jim Arnosky. We also watched a video on sea turtles from Time for Kids online. Then, Petunia led us through a lesson on drawing sea turtles. Take a look at the bale of turtles below:

 

 

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Sundaes

We've earned sundaes!  Tomorrow we are going to have an ice cream sundae party.  This was something we had to earn as a team.  We had to work together to get 12 paper sundaes. After the 12, we get REAL sundaes!

In science, we've been studying rocks and minerals.  Today we learned about the streak test.  You can learn about the test here.

In math we took a test on unit 2.  We focused on patterns in this unit.

Social studies has had us exploring the globe!  We've used student-sized globes to learn about the continents and we've been working with atlases to find out about different features in a map.

Daily 5 has been pretty exciting!  We've been using ipads to read and check our comprehension.  We've also been reading a really interesting article on Alcatraz.  This has prompted us to write a summary.  Did you know Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers escaped Alcatraz?  Supposedly they are out there somewhere...Ask your fourth grader about the article tonight!

Mathematician Kurtz Came for a Visit today!

Mrs. Kurtz, our math title I teacher came to visit today. She taught us a lesson on patterns. Here's a picture:

 

 

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Awesome Day!

Today in class we learned about fact families, globes, and rocks and minerals.  It is PEACE day.  Peace day was established in 1981 and observed in 1982.  Happy Peace day!

Painting Portraits

One of my favorite projects of the school year is the one in which the kids make self-portraits. Finally, all of the portraits are done and the installment is almost finished - come and see it at Open House.

In other news, students have been working hard at getting homework done and their LION books signed.  In fourth grade, students are expected to read 30 minutes every night. Typically, there's a mad minute and some piece of math that was started in class earlier in the day. Spelling words come home weekly. Homework should take no longer than 40 minutes. If it does, please write me a note to let me know and we'll figure out a way to complete the assignments. In additon, if you have a family emergency and your child is/was unable to do their homework, jot me a note.

Four Winds starts Monday morning, September 28th at 8:15. Be sure to ask your child about their experiences. We'll post photos of the lesson soon.

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Homework is online!

Take a look to the right.  There's the homework!

Welcome Back to School

Here's the first letter of the 2015 - 2016 school year:
Dear Vacationers,

Welcome back to school!  It’s been a lovely summer hasn’t it?  I had a GRAND time with my family.  Here’s a picture of Larkin and Silas building a dam in Prince Edward Island, Canada:

This year, we are very lucky to have Mrs. Green with us in our learning adventure!  

We’ve got a very busy day today.  Please take a look at the schedule to the right.   →

We’ll enjoy the following activities throughout the day:

• a scavenger hunt
• morning meeting
• a hopes and dreams activity
• a quick write about your summer vacation
• extended name tag making
• guided discovery
• read aloud
• closing circle
• and other things!

Snack, (because I know you want to know about this) will happen at 9:40.  

Have a superb day,

Love,

Petunia

Mount Rushmore

Here's the second postcard from a former student... Did you know 800 MILLION pounds of stone was REMOVED from Mount Rushmore during its construction? The monument was started in 1927 and finished in 1941. That's one LONNNGGG art project!!

Dear Ms. Allen,
I got to see Mount Rushmore and I got a pin of Mount Rushmore. Have a great year! Sincerely, Your Student

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Gateway Arch Postcard

One of my students has moved and on his way he's sent postcards...here's the first one! Did you know this structure can SWAY up to 8 inches?

Dear Ms. Allen,

Today I got to go to the top of the Gateway Arch! Sincerely, Your Student

 

 

 

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Last Day of School

A great book....soooo true!

 

 

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We're going to miss this guy!

 

 

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Bottom of the Barrel

Crossing off the days until summer vacation! Only three days left including today!

 

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No Romeo, but Juliet

One of our student's baby sister came for a visit today.

 

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End of Year Memories

Today, I had the students write memory letters. Here are a few highlights...

"What I enjoyed about the year was the million art projects we did and how you made all the art projects fit in with what we were studying."

"...P.S. I love your flashy clothes and I'll miss it."

"I think next year you should keep all your laughter and happiness...I appreciate all the work you do for us...this truly was the best year ever..."

"My heart is going in two different ways; one part says "Boo" and the other says, "Yay!"

The Dungeon

The kids who read the book The Tale of Desperaux are watching the movie while completing a Venn diagram.

 

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It's Symmetric!

Today, we started our math unit on lines, shapes, and angles.  Using vocabulary cards provided online from Envision and with a suggestion from Ms. Skiffington, students used vocabulary cards and definition cards to "find their mate." Then, we reviewed the vocabulary and definitions by adding them to a collective easel page.  Did you know that a unit angle is an angle that cuts off 1/360 of a circle and measures 1 degree?

Chick Sitter

I had the grand responsiblity of chick sitting today....

 

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Plato the dog comes for a visit!

 

 

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Testing 1-2-3

Today we started our SBAC testing. The kids are doing great and taking their job seriously. They even got to use these nifty new headphones!

 

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BMI- Benthic Macro Invertebrates

Today we studied Benthic Macro Invertebrates. Here are pictures of the kids making their own BMI.

 

 

 

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Chorus Concert on Monday the 18th!

Can you hear those angels singing?
On Monday the 18th of May, your little angels will be having a dress rehearsal for their chorus concert.  The actual performance is that very evening.  Here's the letter from Mrs. Greenough:

Dear 3rd and 4th Grade Parents and Guardians,

The Third and Fourth Grade Choruses will be performing at the Lebanon Opera House on Monday, May 18th at 6:30 p.m.  Please arrive at 6:15 (no earlier).  They will be performing with the 3rd and 4th grade chorus members from Hanover Street School.  They have been working hard, and are looking forward to performing for you!  All students in the 3rd and 4th grades are involved.  Concert Dress is black pants and white collared shirts for boys (polo or button down), white top and black skirt or pants for girls (a black and white dress is also fine).  

There will be a reception in the lobby following the performance.  If you wish to contribute juice or cookies, please return the form at the bottom.  Also, we are looking for a few parents to serve the refreshments.  Feel free to email me or leave me a message at school if you would like to help out.   

Every voice counts! Please let me know ahead of time if your child cannot be there for any reason.

Please fill out and return the accompanying slip that allows your child to ride the bus to the dress rehearsal at LOH on the morning of the 18th.  Thank you!

Christine Greenough

Music Teacher, K-4

Mt. Lebanon School, 298-8202

cgreenough@sau88.net

Mrs. Spitzer's Garden

 

 

 

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Simon Brooks Tells Us A Story

Simon told us the story of the princess who wanted to marry....the sun....the cloud...the wind....the mountain...a RAT.....(yuck!)

Here he is yelling, "Daddy!"

We had a grand time full of a googol of giggles!

 

 

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For the fun of it - read!

Scholastic books gave us mustaches with bookmarks today. A fun way to come back from vacation!

 

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