Learning Updates

Here's what we've been up to these last days of January...

Math

• Using full and half circle protractors to measure angles
• Learning/practicing the partial quotients method of division
• Reviewing latitude, longitude, using a map scale, and using coordinate grids
• Taking 6-11 test on Monday

Writing

• Exploring the genre of essay writing
• Students came up with a thesis & 3 supporting bullet points and set up file folders with these on the outside. Ask what your child's thesis and supporting points are.
• Began writing "mini-stories" or anecdotes that are angled to support their bullet points (topic sentences)

Reading

• Discussing and reading about Martin Luther King Jr., slavery and civil rights
• Read Henry's Freedom Box and had Book-It All Over assembly. The cast spent an hour later in the day with our class writing and performing a play. 
• Read Aloud--Where the Red Fern Grows. We're nearing the end. Be sure to ask about the coon hunting competition

Social Studies

• Wrapped up Lewis & Clark/explorers unit. Ask what where your child's least/most favorite and most challenging jobs during the simulation. Why?
• Discussing, reading and studying about Washington State Government before we tour the Capitol Monday 2/7.

Global Reading Challenge. Thursday we watched 7 predominantly 4th grade teams of students compete in our school challenge. The winning team will represent our school at the District level. More pictures here.

Book-It All Over session in our classroom. Students warmed up their bodies and imaginations, and then wrote and performed a play. More pictures here.

Branches of Government pictorial. Have your student explain this to you. Also, did you know you can click on these pictures to view a larger version?

WA State Timeline Student Resources

REMEMBER: On any website, if you type in events sometimes what you are looking for comes right up and at other times you have to scroll to find exactly what you want. 

This site has a lot of information!

 http://historylink.org/

Try this next:

http://stories.washingtonhistory.org/

Here are some others that may have some information but not for everyone:

http://columbia.washingtonhistory.org/kids/spring2010/default.aspx

http://www.washington.edu/uwired/outreach/cspn/Website/Classroom%20Materials/Pacific%20Northwest%20History/Course%20Index.html

http://www.washington.edu/uwired/outreach/cspn/Website/Classroom%20Materials/Curriculum%20Packets/Curriculum%20Packets.html

http://50states.pppst.com/washington.html

Class News

Dear Families,


We had another great week, despite the early release & late start due to snow. Here's what we've been up to:

Social Studies

• Students ventured further in their teams (corps) on the Lewis & Clark simulation expedition
• Captains calculated mileage, determined latitude/longitude, assigned roles in their corps and assisted others
• Journal writers took notes on their corps ideas about the daily dilemma, researched what Lewis & Clark's actual decision was to that exact dilemma, and wrote a journal entry with all that information
• Interpreters researched a native American tribe, near their corps' location and wrote/illustrated a detailed post card to the president--Thomas Jefferson about this and other details
• Privates completed a variety of tasks including making beaded bracelets, rainmakers, researching Fort Mandan or Clatsop and creating drawings/models, plus much more
• Example Daily Dilemmas: should your corp trade weapons for 20 horses? After a boat tipped over on the river--should your corp try to salvage what they can? Should your corp agree to take along a man named Toussaint Charbonneau, and his pregnant wife? (ask your student what their corp decided to do about each of these dilemmas)

Math

• Took unit 5 assessment, received graded assessment back. Thank you for your additional support at home in helping practice the types of problems that were problematic for your child.
• Started unit 6. Please see the Family Letter Here
• Just introduced the partial quotients division algorithm

Reading

• In honor of MLK Day we read a couple books relating to slavery the underground railroad: A Place Called Freedom and Aboard the Underground Railroad
• Read about/discussed the Civil War, Emancipation Proclamation, and Civil Rights movement from our Washington Adventure Textbook
• Watched a Youtube video of the Martin Luther King I have a Dream Speech

Writing

• Practiced writing more essays and stretching a train of thought by using discussion prompts

Art Docent

• Thank you to Lynne Varner, Leigh Karvasek and Karla Olson for a great Art Docent Lesson last week (see below)

Picasso Art Docent Lesson. Students paint a self-portrait, emulating Picasso's rose and blue periods. More pictures here.

School News 1/16/11

After School Movies

- Each movie is open to all Grand Ridge students (K-5).
- "Despicable Me" (PG) will be show on both Wed. Jan. 12th and Wed. Jan. 19th immediately after school.
- Parents should only register for one of the January dates.
- Permission slips can be found on the Grand Ridge website (http://www.grandridge.issaquah.wednet.edu/) and at the PTSA bulletin board at Grand Ridge.
- Permission slips must be completely filled out and returned with $10 admission per student by no later than 4pm on the Friday prior to the event.
- Students will be dismissed and met in their wing at 1:10pm the afternoon of the movie and escorted to the Commons by Grand Ridge volunteers.
- Students should bring coats, backpacks, lunch boxes, etc. with them when they are dismissed to the movie.
- A nut-free snack and bottle of water will be provided to students during the movie.
- Parents will pick their students up in the Commons at 3:45pm the day of event and must show photo ID in order to sign them out.

Learning Updates

Dear Families,

We've had a busy start to 2011. Thank you so much to everyone who donated supplies for our Lewis & Clark simulation. The students are absolutely loving putting them to use on their "Private's Tasks." Be sure to ask about your student about Private's Tasks. Also, please keep sending in your empty cardboard paper towel tubes for the time being.

Here's some of what we've been up to:

Social Studies

• Went over rules and expectations of our Lewis and Clark simulation
• Looked over student samples and talked about grading
• Students completed the first day of the expedition
• Ask what the Daily Dilemma was and how that works
• What job were you? Tell me about the job and duties of a captain, interpreter, journal writer and private.

Math

• Learned about "big numbers" and how to compare them
• Did a brief intro into powers of ten and exponents
• Worked on rounding large numbers
• Practiced partial products, lattice, and traditional algorithms (methods of) multiplication
• Reviewed for Unit 5 math test (test is on Monday)

Reading

• Worked on reading for a purpose
• Finding the heart of what an author is trying to say, and repeatedly coming back to that
• Added a new choice to Daily 5--Work on Word Work
• Ask your student about Mountain Language and how it works
• This is a program that helps students practice a variety of important word and grammar skills, with the goal that these skills will transfer to students' writing
• Read Aloud (Where the Red Fern Grows): What was the predicament that Old Dan got in to? Also, what sort of danger did Little Ann get in to? How did Billy solve this problem?

Mountain Language Board. The cards get changed each week, but the worksheet and concepts stay the same.

Students work in small groups to figure out the answers to the second half of the board. Soon they'll complete Mountain Language individually each week and then we'll review the answers as a class.

More Mountain Language. This is our Word Work choice during Daily 5

Writing

• What was the New Year's Resolution you wrote? Also, what sort of baby steps did you write in your plan in order to reach your goal?
• Started a new writing unit and genre--Essay Writing
• Tell me about an essay you've written so far
• What's a strategy for generating an essay topic?

Students share and receive feedback on their New Year's Resolutions