Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Living History Day Update!

We had a very successful Living History Day last week! Students started the day by using their knowledge of fractions to bake homemade cornbread. We also decorated sticks and learned an old Native American stick game. We continued our morning by making butter. We were pleasantly surprised when Tom started playing Twist & Shout so we could 'Shake it Up' to a good tune. Some would argue it was not very 1850's, but it sure was fun!
Later the students made yarn people, whirligigs, clothespin dolls, ice cream, and learned to play marbles! Student brought their lunch into the classroom where we ate our cornbread & butter while watching the first episode of Little House on the Prairie. We wrapped up our day with an hour of bartering. Studnets made many trades of old items they no longer wanted, and some even brought pioneer snacks to sell for bever pelts! I imagine this is a 4th grade day the students will remember for a long time! Thank you to all the parents who donated supplies and who volunteered during the event! Happy Trails!!

~Ms. D.
Here is a Video of our class shaking it up to make butter!!!

Homework Due June 1st!

Literacy ~ Speeches are due June 1st!! This week at home students need to practice their speeches 5 times during the week. This will give them confidence, so they will not be near as nervous when they perform! Each student has signed up for a performance time. I can't wait to turn the class over to them so they can be the experts in the room! Students also have a reading log to fill out this week.

Math ~ Please write 10 math problems Patrick can use for a 'student made' math minute. Be sure to solve you problems on a separate sheet of paper. The problems can be story problems or computation problems. Have fun! :-)

Have a great week!
~Ms. D

Arts Block 3 Begins!

Art Block 3 is going strong!

The 4th and 5th graders have started their final rotation of the year! It is hard to believe this is the ninth and final rotation. It certainly has been an amazing year for everyone. Below are descriptions of the Art Block choices given to 4th & 5th grade students this rotation. I had more than one student say, "It is so hard to decide!" I agree with them. If you are wondering where Ms. DuBois is, I traded students with Susan Gusinow. So I am teaching a first grade art block, and she is teaching a 4/5 art block. Also, we have a 4/5 class teaming with a 2nd grade class this rotation! The flexibility of trading grade levels, and/or teachers teaming up students to enhance learning are just a couple of 'Perks' our dynamic program at Camas Ridge Community School offers!

Masks Around the World ~ Cindy & Melissa

In this project students will explore mask making using different medians. Also, students will learn about various uses for masks throughout history and in cultures from around the world. i.e. HOW masks are made, WHY a culture creates a mask, the uses of masks, WHAT holidays, in different cultures, do people wear masks. Come discover, create, imagine, and enjoy!


Twelfth Night ~David

Ever wanted to be in a Shakespeare play? Well here’s your chance! This project will work towards a performance the evening of Wednesday, June 2nd for friends and family. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s classic comedies involving mistaken identity, twins, a long lost sibling and, of course, a fool who is smarter than everyone else.

Hot Air Balloons ~ Up, Up, and Away! Chris & Eric

Team up with a 2nd grade buddy to design, build, and launch a beautiful tissuepaper hot air balloon. Come join us we weave functional art with a study of the principles of flight through writing, science, math and hands on experimentation. We’ll look at a variety of flying machines, devices, and animals. Our project culminates by constructing, and launching, a beautiful, giant, hot air balloon. This class will partner with room #11 during balloon building and select other activities.


Exploring in Color ~ Susan

What colors combine to make black? If you said "none", you'd be right because black is the absence of color. There really is no color 'out there.' Color is merely certain nanometers of electromagnetic energy that our eyes can register as color. In this project, we will explore all aspects of color. We'll learn about primary and secondary colors, see how famous artists use color in their work, and culminate the unit by designing our own tie-dye t-shirts.

Murals Part 2 ~ Lucien & Terri

In this art project, students will continue to work on the process of designing and painting a mural on one of the walls of our school. The last project group worked really hard designing images and icons that represent what we do at Camas Ridge. Participants in this portion of the process will be cooperating with other students and adults to paint images on the wall that the mural project students have decided represent our school. If you love working on large-scale projects, working with paint, and cooperating and negotiating with others, than this is the project for you.


Tuesday, May 11, 2010

LIVING HISTORY DAY ~ Wed. May 19th

Hi Everyone!

I am settling back in after my trip to Washington D.C. It was a very exciting trip! It was almost as exciting as what is going on here at school this month! As a culminating event to our Oregon Trail Literature Study, we are celebrating with an 1850's living history day!

Living History Day, Wednesday, May 19th
We need volunteers to come and help us celebrate Oregon Heritage with a living history day! Students are encouraged to dress up, helping us recreate the 1850's in Oregon. Everyone is encouraged to come and participate. Our Day will consist of pioneer crafts, chores, food, and games. We will eat lunch together, and wrap up our day with a bartering/trading activity.

This is how you can get involved:

VOLUNTEER IN CLASS~
8:30 - 9:30 Corn Bread Making in Math Class
10:15-11:45 Crafts/Arts/Games Rotation

DONATIONS ~
Cornmeal (for corn bread)
Milk
Sugar
Heavy Whipping Cream (for butter)
Beef Jerky
Paper Plates
Plastic Forks

COSTUMES:
Jeans, Boots, Bandanas, Cowboy Hats, Vests, etc..
Dresses, Bonnets, Aprons, etc…

BARTERING:
At the end of the day students will have the opportunity to trade unwanted items from home with other students. Please do not send anything for bartering you wish returned to your home. Things students use during bartering could be old books, used toys, posters, pencils, arts and crafts, or anything else a student would use to barter. Please also bring a blanket or beach towel to sit on during bartering, and a grocery bag to carry items home in.


Hope to see you there!
~Ms. D

Demonstration Speech Assignment (Part 1)

Demonstration Speech Assignment
Get ready to become a teacher! You are going to demonstrate how to do something to the class! Every 4th grade student must complete a formal speech, and this year we are going to do demonstration speeches. Speeches will be performed the first week of June. Please read the guidelines below, and have your parent sign this form!

* A demonstration speech is a type of informative speech.
* Your goal with any demonstration speech is to teach your audience about a topic.
* In most cases, you will be teaching your audience members a process that will allow them to complete a task.
A demonstration speech has a built-in visual aid - the demonstration of the topic itself.
WRITING A SPEECH IS AS EASY AS 1,2,3!!!

FIRST: This week please pick a topic with a parent. My demonstration speech will be how to _________________________________________________________.

SECOND: These are the items I will need to bring to school to complete my demonstration.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

PARENT SIGNATURE______________________________________________

THIRD: On the back of this sheet write the steps necessary to complete your demonstration!

Homework Due May 18th

Here is a long awaited homework update! All homework is due Tuesday May 18th.

Math ~ Everyday Fractions Assignment

This week students need to find 5 items in their home with Fractions printed on them. It might be a measuring cup, fractions in a printed article, or on food items. They need to list the items they find. Also, Students are to bring a recipe to school using fractions. We are going to compile a 'Fraction Recipe Book'. Recipes need to be simple to follow, and something a child would enjoy making/eating.

Literacy ~

Reading Log (As usual)

Demonstration Speech Assignment ~ Students will be giving demonstration speeches the first week in June. Please look over this assignment, and sign it. This is the first phase of composing an informational demonstration speech whereby the students will become the teacher for 3-5 minutes in June!! Be creative with your ideas, and have fun!

Social Studies ~

Create a Heritage Day Costume!
Boys ~ Jeans, Boots, Bandanas, Cowboy Hats, Vests, etc..
Girls ~ Dresses, Bonnets, Aprons, etc…

Project Block 6 is finising up this week!

Here are descriptions of the projects the 4th & 5th graders are finishing up this week!

Bridge Design & Construction
Calling all architects, engineers and carpenters. The community of Camas Ridge needs a new traffic bridge and we need your help! The community would like a sturdy bridge that can handle a lot of weight but is also nice to look at. Did I mention they are on a budget? Are you up for the challenge to create a bridge that is easy on the eyes, sturdy and doesn’t break the bank? Partners will design and create a model out of toothpicks to showcase their bridge.


The Forces Around Us
Ever wonder how a roller coaster stays on its track while upside-down? Or how an airplane stays in the air? Learn the physics of motion and how forces interact to make things move. You’ll get a chance to explore objects, movement and even build your own roller coasters and paper airplanes!


Designing a Camas Ridge Mural.
In this project students will design a mural for Camas Ridge. We will look at the history of murals around the world and then work with other adults to design one for our school. We will work in both small and large committees to plan and submit a design. If you are willing to work on a group project with a communal outcome this is a project for you.

Voyage of the Mimi,
Join Captain Granvill and his grandson C.T. and the crew of the Mimi on a journey in the Atlantic Ocean to study the humpback whales.