Classroom News December 8th

Dear Families,

Happy Monday!  We have a couple of busy weeks left before winter break. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we are going on another field trip! This time we are extending our Social Studies lessons with a trip to the Natural History Museum at the University of Oregon.  Please don't forget to pack a lunch for your child if you did not order one on the yellow field trip notification slip. 

In other news, students have started our second Art Block of the year. 4th and 5th grade students selected from the following classes:

GEOART~ Math and art have been integrated for thousands of years.  For this art block we will explore several basic mathematical concepts and apply them in complex ways.  You would be amazed what can be accomplished with a pencil, paper, and ruler once you can recognize and apply a pattern.  We will be sketching, painting, and using colored pencils to create our masterpieces.

Paint It Big! ~ Have you ever dreamed of painting a really big painting????  In this art block you will learn how to take any normal drawing and enlarge it!  You choose… dragons, nature, animals, space ships, cartoon characters, school mascots, and/or anything else you can dream up! When you have your subject you will explore gridding to create a large painting of your subject!  You can work alone or with friends to create your masterpiece. Let’s paint it BIG!

Creativity Unleashed! ~ It comes from the French verb coller, to glue.  Uses a variety of materials from paper, photographs, fabric, or paint….. to name just a few. Anything goes, you are the only one who will know. What is it you ask? Well, collage of course! Join us and explore like never before. Create and design a number of works, exploring color, patterns, line, composition, and flow and be up to your elbows in a creative mess & watch your imagination grow!

Clay Creations ~ Do you like to get your hands dirty? Are you curious about the world of pottery and ceramics?  This project will give you a chance to explore the world of clay through a variety of different formats.  Make a nameplate, form a pinch pot and design a hanging ornament for your favorite holiday.  This art block will challenge your patience and inspire your creative side.

Draw Squad ~ Do you think 3 dimensional drawing looks difficult, are you one of those kids who says I can’t draw. With a few simple tricks  like foreshortening and shading you can  create the illusion of three-dimensional drawing. If you like to draw, then come and join the Draw Squad.

Please ask your child what class they are in and find out how they are liking their current class selection! :)

HOMEWORK 

MATH ~ This week we will have math homework each night, M, Tu, W, and Th.  

READING ~ We have a reading log passed out on Friday, December 5th due Friday December 12th

WRITING ~ Please see the Autobiography assignment. This week your student must write a story about when they were a baby. They will need your help with this story. Our Autobiography assignment will continue each week well into January.

SPELLING ~ You  child can choose to study any of the 4 list choices. Students can practice online at http://spellingcity.com  The test will be in Friday, December 12th.  

If you have questions, feel free to email me at dubois_d@4j.lane.edu

Thanks,

~Donna