Good Morning! Today is Virginia Pizza Day!
It is also Tuesday (not Monday!), October 13, 2009.
Day 25 of School, 155 days left
Tiger Day: T
Schedule Change: Math won’t start until 10am today because we need time to finish our pizzas.
Today we will be making edible, raised-relief maps of the Commonwealth of Virginia, our great state! What is a raised-relief map, you ask? Well, it is a 3-D version of the topography of a place. We’ve already looked at topographic maps of our state. They are color-coded to show us the high and low elevations-- the Coastal Plain is close to sea level and colored dark green, whereas our highest peak, Mount Rogers, rises to 5,729 ft above sea level and is colored brown. A raised-relief doesn’t just show the topography with color... With a raised-relief map, you can actually feel changes in elevations. There is an example of a professionally made one at the front of the classroom. Check it out! It’s pretty cool... But ours will be even better because you will be able to eat ours-- they’re edible!
To-Do List:
1)Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack!
2)Return your empty Friday Folder to your mailbox.
3)If you have any dietary restrictions (don’t eat meat, pork, etc.), go talk to Ms. Bragg.
4)Wash your hands! We want our pizzas to be sanitary!
5)You’re going to have to use your time wisely! By 9am, you need to have the 5 regions of VA color-coded. Use a different colored pencil for each region. This one-dimensional paper map will help us create our three-dimensional pizza versions!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
What is an "exquisite corpse"?
Let's break it down... For starters, What is a "corpse"?
Now that other word, "exquisite"? Is something that is "exquisite" very ugly?
We're going to make an exquisite corpse with drawing first. It's easier to understand the name once you've done that. But it's also possible to make an exquisite corpse with words-- by writing pieces of a story. Author M.T. Anderson (who wrote "Whales on Stilts") explains it in these videos:
The Library of Congress has started an exquisite corpse with some of our very favorite authors: Jon Scieszka, Katherine Paterson, and Kate DiCamillo to name just a few. The first two "episodes" are already out and new ones will appear every 2 weeks. You can read them here:
Reading Rockets has created a writing contest for kids, based on the "Exquisite Corpse Adventure."
Now that other word, "exquisite"? Is something that is "exquisite" very ugly?
We're going to make an exquisite corpse with drawing first. It's easier to understand the name once you've done that. But it's also possible to make an exquisite corpse with words-- by writing pieces of a story. Author M.T. Anderson (who wrote "Whales on Stilts") explains it in these videos:
The Library of Congress has started an exquisite corpse with some of our very favorite authors: Jon Scieszka, Katherine Paterson, and Kate DiCamillo to name just a few. The first two "episodes" are already out and new ones will appear every 2 weeks. You can read them here:
Reading Rockets has created a writing contest for kids, based on the "Exquisite Corpse Adventure."
Friday, October 9, 2009
Friday Letter 10/9/09
October 9, 2009
Dear 4th Graders and 4th Grade Parents,
We had another packed week! And I am loving the class of 2010! I feel so lucky to have such a special group of kids in my classroom.
Inquiry: Virginia Studies (Regions) and Science (Natural Resources/Watershed)
This week, 4th graders followed the journey of a raindrop from the schoolyard through several watershed stops. This applet is available online (click here on the blog version of this letter) and should be shared with parents! We also worked together to create our own watersheds using wax paper. Lastly, we watched portions of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)/Weather Channel video about watersheds: “After the Storm” (also available and clickable online) and made connections to our own watershed, the Chesapeake Bay. The south-western part of Virginia is actually part of the Mississippi watershed, which drains into the Gulf and is discussed in detail in the video.
We took our first open-book test in Social Studies. As the 4th graders know, in real life there will be very few times when you won’t be permitted to look up an answer. For example, Ms. Bragg is allowed to use books and the internet in her teaching. It would be silly for her not too! In the end, the ability to accurately interpret a question and locate the answer is much more important than remembering isolated facts. Many years from now, Ms. Bragg’s former students may no longer remember the names of the 5 Regions of VA. But, they will have developed the know-how to locate that information-- this is the skill we are working on. Open-book test results will be available next week.
In preparation for Virginia Pizzas on Tuesday, we’ve continued our exploration of VA’s regions and landforms from East to West….
Questions for Parent-4th Grader Discussion:
Math
Classes are continuing to work on place value and comparing and ordering numbers and are moving towards addition and subtraction.
Questions for Parent-4th Grader Discussion:
Reading
We have just taken our first official open-magazine Scholastic News Quiz. (We did a practice one last week.) In this quiz, students must find proof for their answers inside their issue. But not for all questions... Some questions can be answered “on your own.” But we have to think carefully about which questions those are.
New this Week: We started our Poetry Collection and have already awarded several stars for poetry recitations. Congratulations to the poetry performers!
Questions for Parent-4th Grader Discussion:
Rewarding Ourselves: Friday Afternoon Club and Study Hall
On Friday Afternoons we reward ourselves for working hard all week, completing all our classwork and homework, and exhibiting respectful, caring behavior to others. We like to call the reward “Friday Afternoon Club,” or FAC for short. We always have a small snack (popcorn today!) a and fun activity: whether it’s going outside for a game, like freeze tag, or watching a short, quality cartoon, like Word Girl (Ms. Bragg’s favorite!). But FAC isn’t automatic… All work must be complete and our behavior must be good in order to earn this treat. We all get automatic “Study Hall” on Fridays, where we can complete unfinished work or additional assignments, unless we’ve earned FAC.
Jamestown
I’ve received most of the Jamestown field trip permission slips and money ($36)- thank you! Receipts are going home in Friday Folders.
If parents would like to come to Jamestown with us, they are very welcome! Unfortunately, we don’t have room on the bus. Some parents have already started discussing carpooling and following the buses. Parents: Please let me know if I can assist you with finding some carpooling buddies.
REMINDERS
Have a great long weekend! -- Ms. Bragg
PS: Thanks to all my proofreaders for helping me find and correct mistakes in this letter! Bravo for having a careful eye!
Dear 4th Graders and 4th Grade Parents,
We had another packed week! And I am loving the class of 2010! I feel so lucky to have such a special group of kids in my classroom.
Inquiry: Virginia Studies (Regions) and Science (Natural Resources/Watershed)
This week, 4th graders followed the journey of a raindrop from the schoolyard through several watershed stops. This applet is available online (click here on the blog version of this letter) and should be shared with parents! We also worked together to create our own watersheds using wax paper. Lastly, we watched portions of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)/Weather Channel video about watersheds: “After the Storm” (also available and clickable online) and made connections to our own watershed, the Chesapeake Bay. The south-western part of Virginia is actually part of the Mississippi watershed, which drains into the Gulf and is discussed in detail in the video.
We took our first open-book test in Social Studies. As the 4th graders know, in real life there will be very few times when you won’t be permitted to look up an answer. For example, Ms. Bragg is allowed to use books and the internet in her teaching. It would be silly for her not too! In the end, the ability to accurately interpret a question and locate the answer is much more important than remembering isolated facts. Many years from now, Ms. Bragg’s former students may no longer remember the names of the 5 Regions of VA. But, they will have developed the know-how to locate that information-- this is the skill we are working on. Open-book test results will be available next week.
In preparation for Virginia Pizzas on Tuesday, we’ve continued our exploration of VA’s regions and landforms from East to West….
- We examined this cool overview of VA’s regions made by kids (see below).
- We played with some of the fun interactive games on the VA Trekker’s site (clickable online), using our SmartBoard. 4th Graders: Why not see if your parents can complete the puzzles and answer the questions?
- We illustrated diagrams of land/water features found in VA, using our classroom Atlases as a guide.
- Finally, we’ve started our collection of VA Geography flashcards, which will help us study for the upcoming, NOT open-book test. Both kinds of tests are important!
Questions for Parent-4th Grader Discussion:
- What was the open-book test like? Was it difficult or easy? How did you go about finding the answers? What test-taking strategies did you use?
- How did you make a watershed using wax paper?
- How are watersheds divided?
- What does this sentence mean to you? “We all live downstream.”
- How would you draw a plateau?
- What is an estuary? How would you draw it?
- Why did cities develop along VA’s Fall Line?
- What is Northern VA’s population density like?
- Where does the name Piedmont come from?
- How would you draw a ridge?
- What larger range are the Blue Ridge Mountains a part of?
- How do you study with your flashcards?
Math
Classes are continuing to work on place value and comparing and ordering numbers and are moving towards addition and subtraction.
Questions for Parent-4th Grader Discussion:
- What is your method for comparing numbers?
- How do you differentiate between the greater than symbol and the less than symbol?
- What does the “in” in “inequalities” stand for? Why is the word “equal” in there?
Reading
We have just taken our first official open-magazine Scholastic News Quiz. (We did a practice one last week.) In this quiz, students must find proof for their answers inside their issue. But not for all questions... Some questions can be answered “on your own.” But we have to think carefully about which questions those are.
New this Week: We started our Poetry Collection and have already awarded several stars for poetry recitations. Congratulations to the poetry performers!
Questions for Parent-4th Grader Discussion:
- Do you answer all comprehension questions in the same way?
- What is a “Right There” question?
- What is a “Synthesis” question?
- What is an “On Your Own” question?
- Which part of the Poem of the Month did you illustrate?
- Could you recite some lines from your poetry collection?
Rewarding Ourselves: Friday Afternoon Club and Study Hall
On Friday Afternoons we reward ourselves for working hard all week, completing all our classwork and homework, and exhibiting respectful, caring behavior to others. We like to call the reward “Friday Afternoon Club,” or FAC for short. We always have a small snack (popcorn today!) a and fun activity: whether it’s going outside for a game, like freeze tag, or watching a short, quality cartoon, like Word Girl (Ms. Bragg’s favorite!). But FAC isn’t automatic… All work must be complete and our behavior must be good in order to earn this treat. We all get automatic “Study Hall” on Fridays, where we can complete unfinished work or additional assignments, unless we’ve earned FAC.
Jamestown
I’ve received most of the Jamestown field trip permission slips and money ($36)- thank you! Receipts are going home in Friday Folders.
If parents would like to come to Jamestown with us, they are very welcome! Unfortunately, we don’t have room on the bus. Some parents have already started discussing carpooling and following the buses. Parents: Please let me know if I can assist you with finding some carpooling buddies.
REMINDERS
- 10/12 – No School: Columbus Day
- 10/13 – Virginia Pizzas- volunteers and ingredients
- Check the attached Conference Schedule
- 10/29 - Pumpkin Math (Each child will need to bring in a pumpkin. More details TBA)
- 10/30 - Halloween Party, 2-3pm (No costumes. More details TBA)
- 11/6 - Jamestown Fieldtrip!
Have a great long weekend! -- Ms. Bragg
PS: Thanks to all my proofreaders for helping me find and correct mistakes in this letter! Bravo for having a careful eye!
Morning Message 10/9/08
Good Morning and Happy Friday!
Today is October 9, 2009.
Day 24 of School, 156 days left
Tiger Day: S
REMINDERS:
In the News:
NASA crashed a rocket the size of a bus into the Moon this morning. On purpose! Now why would they do that? They were trying to figure out weather there is water on the moon. We’ll be studying the Moon later in the year... So let’s watch an animation of how it was supposed to work this morning.
Today, we need to talk and read about the last two regions: The Valley and Ridge and The Appalachian Plateau. On Tuesday, we’ll be shaping our VA pizzas.
To-Do List:
Today is October 9, 2009.
Day 24 of School, 156 days left
Tiger Day: S
REMINDERS:
- We have pictures to take this morning. Our time slot is 9:15am.
- Math won’t start until 10am today and this coming Tuesday.
- Book Buddies has been rescheduled to today.
- No school on Monday: It’s Columbus Day!
In the News:
NASA crashed a rocket the size of a bus into the Moon this morning. On purpose! Now why would they do that? They were trying to figure out weather there is water on the moon. We’ll be studying the Moon later in the year... So let’s watch an animation of how it was supposed to work this morning.
Today, we need to talk and read about the last two regions: The Valley and Ridge and The Appalachian Plateau. On Tuesday, we’ll be shaping our VA pizzas.
To-Do List:
- Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack!
- Add color to your geographic term illustrations. REMEMBER: (A) Each term must be clearly printed and (B) You must show or write where this type of land-/water- form is found in VA.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Morning Message 10/8/09
Good Morning! Today is Thursday, October 8, 2009.
Day 23 of School, 157 days left
Tiger Day: R
REMINDER: Picture Day is tomorrow! So be sure to look snazzy! Even if you’re not buying prints, they’ll still take your picture for the yearbook.
Remember that we’re all striving to earn Friday Afternoon Club (FAC). Use your agenda and the Missing Work board to help you keep track of assignments. If your name is up on the Missing Work board, you want to turn in your work and get it erased. All assignments will need to be turned in by tomorrow morning and Reading Logs will need to be up to date in order to earn FAC. Students will automatically be in Study Hall unless they complete work.
Many poem illustrations did not have names. Check the board and see if yours is there.
Today we will be continuing our exploration of VA’s regions and we’ll start to compare them. What are their similarities/differences?
Schedule Change: Math won’t start until 10am today and for the next 2 school days.
To-Do List:
Day 23 of School, 157 days left
Tiger Day: R
REMINDER: Picture Day is tomorrow! So be sure to look snazzy! Even if you’re not buying prints, they’ll still take your picture for the yearbook.
Remember that we’re all striving to earn Friday Afternoon Club (FAC). Use your agenda and the Missing Work board to help you keep track of assignments. If your name is up on the Missing Work board, you want to turn in your work and get it erased. All assignments will need to be turned in by tomorrow morning and Reading Logs will need to be up to date in order to earn FAC. Students will automatically be in Study Hall unless they complete work.
Many poem illustrations did not have names. Check the board and see if yours is there.
Today we will be continuing our exploration of VA’s regions and we’ll start to compare them. What are their similarities/differences?
Schedule Change: Math won’t start until 10am today and for the next 2 school days.
To-Do List:
- Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack!
- Pull out you Work In Progress folder and continue working on the Blue Ridge Mountain Region graphic organizer/worksheet.
- When you are done with the WS, turn it into Ms. B’s box and grab the next poem to add to our collection. You can glue it in to your L.A. notebook and practice reciting the 2 we have so far.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Morning Message 10/7/09
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, October 7, 2009.
Day #22 of School, 158 days left
Tiger Day: E
Today is the first day our Morning Message will be posted on Ms. Bragg’s Blog so that your families can read it as well. Ms. Bragg’s Blog is also now a tab on Angel. We’ll check it out this morning.
So far, we’ve studied the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions… This morning we’re going to continue our journey west. Which region comes next? Also, brand new today: flashcards!
Finally, if everyone is here today, we will be eating lunch in the classroom… Congratulations on solving the puzzle and earning the reward!
A Few Reminders:
To-Do List:
Day #22 of School, 158 days left
Tiger Day: E
Today is the first day our Morning Message will be posted on Ms. Bragg’s Blog so that your families can read it as well. Ms. Bragg’s Blog is also now a tab on Angel. We’ll check it out this morning.
So far, we’ve studied the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions… This morning we’re going to continue our journey west. Which region comes next? Also, brand new today: flashcards!
Finally, if everyone is here today, we will be eating lunch in the classroom… Congratulations on solving the puzzle and earning the reward!
A Few Reminders:
- We want our pencils to live long, happy, productive lives before we retire them to our pencil graveyard. So let’s go easy on them. We need to conserve our classroom’s resources.
- We have bigger bodies in 4th Grade and a smaller classroom. This means that most of the time we won’t be able spread out as much as we would like to. When you’re sitting at your desk, your chair needs to be pulled under your desk so that people can move behind you.
To-Do List:
- Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack!
- Pull out your red notebooks and find a buddy. Take turns rehearsing the first poem in our collection. Remember the goal is to memorize the poem and then recite it in front of 2 friends, in order to earn a star.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Welcome to My Blog 4th Grade Class of 2010!
Hello 4th Graders and Parents!
I've decided to change or rather enhance the scope of my blog. Instead of just using it as a repository for cool videos, as I have in the past (see old posts in the archive on the right), I will post (a) our Morning Message, (b) the Friday letter, and (c) other interesting assignments/tidbits. My thinking is this:
Reason #1) Many parents (and other family members) are in front of a computer all day at work. These folks may be curious about what their 4th-grade friends are up to. The Morning Message usually contains important announcements and previews our schedule for the day/morning. Moreover, Friday letters often include links that are far easier to click on than to retype. I can make links simple for you to access! For example: Ms. Bragg's Portaportal site, where she keeps all the best links she comes across (links to fun games, intriguing videos, interactive applets, and informational sites).
Reason #2) Kids who are at home sick may want to log in to Angel to see what their classmates are up to. On Angel, they will have access to this blog, Ms. Bragg's Portaportal site, and to the classroom google calendar. (Look! I did that link thing again!) If they are feeling up to it, they will even be able to complete some assignments at home and therefore not get behind. For example, today kids who were home sick could have watched this EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)/Weather Channel video about watersheds:"After the Storm". Now parents can check out this link/video too and discuss it with their kids.
Does this sound like a pretty good idea? Let me know what you think. NOTE: I will continue to send home a paper copy of the Friday Letter in the Friday Folders. Our class reads these together before we depart for weekend adventures. They're my proofreaders! Everyone needs at least one-- I've got 22!
Finally, to top off this first post of 2009, I'd like to share with you some photos of my own weekend adventures that connect to our current Inquiry unit. 4th Graders: What signs of runoff can you see?
These were all taken right below Wilson Bridge at Jones Point Park on the waterfront in Alexandria. You can see National Harbor in the distance.
I've decided to change or rather enhance the scope of my blog. Instead of just using it as a repository for cool videos, as I have in the past (see old posts in the archive on the right), I will post (a) our Morning Message, (b) the Friday letter, and (c) other interesting assignments/tidbits. My thinking is this:
Reason #1) Many parents (and other family members) are in front of a computer all day at work. These folks may be curious about what their 4th-grade friends are up to. The Morning Message usually contains important announcements and previews our schedule for the day/morning. Moreover, Friday letters often include links that are far easier to click on than to retype. I can make links simple for you to access! For example: Ms. Bragg's Portaportal site, where she keeps all the best links she comes across (links to fun games, intriguing videos, interactive applets, and informational sites).
Reason #2) Kids who are at home sick may want to log in to Angel to see what their classmates are up to. On Angel, they will have access to this blog, Ms. Bragg's Portaportal site, and to the classroom google calendar. (Look! I did that link thing again!) If they are feeling up to it, they will even be able to complete some assignments at home and therefore not get behind. For example, today kids who were home sick could have watched this EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)/Weather Channel video about watersheds:"After the Storm". Now parents can check out this link/video too and discuss it with their kids.
Does this sound like a pretty good idea? Let me know what you think. NOTE: I will continue to send home a paper copy of the Friday Letter in the Friday Folders. Our class reads these together before we depart for weekend adventures. They're my proofreaders! Everyone needs at least one-- I've got 22!
Finally, to top off this first post of 2009, I'd like to share with you some photos of my own weekend adventures that connect to our current Inquiry unit. 4th Graders: What signs of runoff can you see?
These were all taken right below Wilson Bridge at Jones Point Park on the waterfront in Alexandria. You can see National Harbor in the distance.
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