Morning Message 3/15/10

Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Tiger Day: S
Day 120 of School, 60 days left

It’s the day before St. Patrick’s Day-- a day when we celebrate Irish and Irish-American culture and many people wear green.... Will you wear green tomorrow?

REMINDER: Today is the first day of music rehearsal in the gym. We’ll go there instead of to our regular Encore class.

This Morning:

• We’ll do a little practice with our homophones from last night. Did you find another homophone that didn’t have a match? Can you think of what that match might be? Also, is there a pair of homophones that could become a trio? We’ll see if we can add two more words to our collections.
• Then we’ll talk about the NASA’s Apollo missions... Anyone know what those were?

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack!
2. Take out your Word Study notebook. Find a partner to play the “homophone game” with. That’s the game where the “speller” spells the word on the “guesser’s” back or arm... Then the “guesser” has to use the word in a sentence that explains the meaning. The “speller” tells the “guesser” if they’ve used the correct version of the homophone. Then you switch!

Morning Message 3/15/10

Good Morning! Today is the day after Thomas D.’s Birthday!
It is Monday, March 15, 2010.
Tiger Day: R
Day 119 of School, 61 days left

Spring showers are definitely here!

Quick Question: What is daylight savings and why do we have it? Also, why does daylight savings happen at this time of year? Does it happen any other time of year?

This Morning:

• We’ll recite a little poetry before we pull out all our readers’ theater materials.
• We’ll be practicing our Readers’ Theater with props. Tomorrow, we need to lend our laminated props to Ms. Hocutt’s class... But we’ll get them back before Thursday when we perform! Today, we’ll concentrate on how to act out the different systems-- epicycles are the most challenging!

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack!
2. Be sure to turn in any important papers (such as picture orders) to the “Notes for Ms. Bragg” box. Then return your empty Friday Folder to its mailbox.
3. Wish Thomas a “Happy Belated Birthday!”
4. Take out your red Language Arts spiral notebook and practice poetry with a friend until after announcements.

Morning Message 3/12/10

NOTE: Several days didn't get posted... Sorry about that! Just going to move-on from here on out. Thanks!

Good Morning and Happy Friday! Today is March 12, 2010.
Tiger Day: E
Day 118 of School, 62 days left

REMINDERS:
Have you thought about your book report? How far along are you in your book? It’s important to make a plan to complete the book and still leave yourself enough time to work on the book jacket. We’ll talk more about this, this afternoon.

This Morning:

• Before announcements, practice reciting poetry!
• Then we’ll finish up Virginia Studies Weekly, which was due yesterday. Please have your VA Studies Weekly out so that we can get right to it after announcements.
• Next, we’ll be working on our Readers’ Theater pieces. We’ll incorporate the props that Ms. Bragg made and you’ll need to make some additional ones too!

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack!
2. Wish at least 2 colleagues a “Happy Friday!”
3. Take out your red Language Arts spiral notebook and practice poetry with a friend until after announcements.

Computer Lab Assignment 3/11/10

Hey 4th Graders!

Do you remember those special words for this morning's lesson? Here are the definitions... Do you remember the words that go with each?

• the two times of year when day and night everywhere on Earth are approximately the same length.
• either the shortest day of the year or the longest.

Your first assignment today is to study this BrainPop video and see if you can make connections to this morning's lesson. (username: tjelem and password: tiger) When you are done, complete the REVIEW quiz: BrainPOP- Solstice and Equinox.

Study the video and complete the REVIEW quiz: BrainPOP- Moon

Do you recognize this guy from Readers' Theater? Study this video to learn more about him, then complete the REVIEW quiz: BrainPOP- Galileo Galilei

With the remainder of your time, you may play Study Island, VA Studies. Remember: Your password is your lunch number and your username follows this format-- FirstnameLastinitial@TJ (example: CindyC@TJ).

Have fun and stretch your brain!
-Ms. Bragg

Computer Lab Assignment 3/3/10

Hi 4th Graders!

I miss you today! But I'm feeling a little better already. I'm hoping to be back with you tomorrow. Here is your assignment for the computer lab today...


PART I: You'll need to visit the following links, which are also on portaportal. This is the most important part of your assignment and you must finish it before moving on.

• This first one has video/animation elements and interactive elements. You'll need to listen VERY closely to understand and to be able to complete the activities that follow. Be sure that you notice the "continue" and "replay" buttons in the lower right-hand corner. In the end, ask yourself this question: What is the reason for the seasons?
• Astronomy Connections: Earth in Motion
• Next, watch this video clip about the Moon. Answer this question: Why are there such extreme temperatures on the moon?
• Extreme Temperatures on the Moon
• Another, cool short video clip with footage from the Moon. Try to answer this question: Why do the feather and the hammer hit the ground at the same time? Why does this seem so strange to us here on Earth?
• Galileo On the Moon 
• The penultimate: Carefully watch and listen to the following animation. Then play the game at the end.
• Phases of the Moon 
• Finally, study this really cool video clip about Solar Eclipses. Answer these questions: Why do the sun and the moon appear to be about the same size in the sky? Why do only some people on Earth see a solar eclipse? Why do some people see a partial solar eclipse, while others see a full solar eclipse?
• Solar Eclipses
• With your remaining time, you may explore any of the links, videos, and games listed under the Science>Solar System folder.

PART II: Spend about 20 minutes playing Virginia Studies arcade games on Study Island. REMEMBER: Remember: Your password is your lunch number and your username follows this format-- FirstnameLastinitial@TJ (example: BraggC@TJ).

PART III: Spend about 15 minutes working on your typing skills on Type to Learn.

Have fun and expand your brains!
--Ms. Bragg

Morning Message 3/2/10 (posted 1 day late)

Good Morning and Happy Wacky Hair Day! Today is Tuesday, March 02, 2010.
Tiger Day: I
Day 110 of School, 70 days left

This week is National Foreign Language Week!  As part of the activities for this week, a student will say "hello" in his or her native language as part of the daily announcements in the morning. It is each class' task to see if they can identify the language being spoken each morning. The possibilities for Tuesday's "mystery language" are: 1 - German, 2 - Russian, 3 - Spanish, 4 - Italian. Which do you think it will be? Listen carefully!

REMINDERS: This is Count-Down-to-March-Madness Spirit Week! Tomorrow is Wear Your Favorite Team’s Jersey. Thursday is pajama day! Friday is wear your school colors day!

This Morning:

• Revolutionary Figures-- finish up our research! Questions?
• The Moon!

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack!
2. Take out your Revolutionary Figures research packet and your Week 18 issue of VA Studies Weekly (“Founding Fathers: What it Means”). Use Week 18 to make some final notes in your research packet.

Morning Message 3/1/10 (posted 2 days late)

Good Morning! Today is Monday, March 01, 2010.
Tiger Day: T
Day 109 of School, 71 days left

REMINDER:

• Content ends at 9:25am and Math begins at 9:30am.

This Morning:

• Poetry practice! Reciting poetry improves your reading and enhances your understanding of beautiful/meaningful language. For the best performance, be sure to recite your poetry with emotion!
• As you practice reciting, Ms. Bragg will be setting up for another research session on important figures from the American Revolution. We’ll complete our charts today.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack!
2. Return your EMPTY Friday Folder to its mailbox. Be sure to turn in any important papers to the “Notes for Ms. Bragg box.
3. Take out your red Language Arts notebook. Practice reciting poetry with a friend-- see if you can earn a star on the chart.