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Spelling: We reviewed common spellings for the /or/ sound: or and ore, and also practiced homophones. The unit 10 worksheets are available here.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words are due each Friday.

Reading: Today was a reading day in Literature Circles. Some groups worked on visualizing. 

Writing: Today was the final work day for the “I-search” PowerPoint presentations. This project will be presented tomorrow, Tuesday, May 1.

Math: We reviewed for the division math test tomorrow.

Science: We reviewed for the sound science test on Wednesday.

Social Studies: We started learning about the War of 1812, in which England attacked American and tried to take over Michigan.

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Thank you, volunteers! Come to our Volunteer Appreciation Lunch on Thursday, May 3, from 11:20-1:20 in the McGrath library.
• Juice Volunteers for Friday, May 4: Joshua W. and Alex S. Click here for a list of volunteers.
• Thank you to the nine chaperones who have volunteered for the Mackinaw trip. At this point, we have no more availability for additional chaperones. Spaces may open up as the trip gets closer.
• We are looking for donations of medium and long cardboard tubes (have plenty of short ones, thanks!) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!

Kids’ Inquiry Conference

Today was Kids’ Inquiry Conference at the University of Michigan-Flint. We had a wonderful start with a keynote address by Dr. Gebler from the Chemistry Department. He showed kids the wonders of science by freezing a rose in liquid nitrogen, igniting a hydrogen balloon, and making a liquid oxygen cannon! The audience was amazed at how cool science can be!

Following the keynote address, students moved to the Michigan Rooms for two presentation sessions on topics including flight, magnets, electricity, chemistry, bridges and boats. Students also visited the hands-on display gallery to do their own experiments guided by student scientists.

We had lunch in the University Center, and the day wrapped up with a presentation on environmental science and a tour of the chemistry facilities.

Thank you to UM-F for their donation of the Michigan Rooms, and providing drinks and cookies for us. It was a wonderful day! 

Notes:

• Thank you, volunteers! Come to our Volunteer Appreciation Lunch on Thursday, May 3, from 11:20-1:20 in the McGrath library. 
• Juice Volunteers for Friday, May 4: Joshua W. and Alex S. Click here for a list of volunteers.
• Thank you to the nine chaperones who have volunteered for the Mackinaw trip. At this point, we have no more availability for additional chaperones. Spaces may open up as the trip gets closer.
• We are looking for donations of medium and long cardboard tubes (have plenty of short ones, thanks!) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!

Spelling: We learned that the common spellings for the /or/ sound is or and ore. The unit 10 worksheets are available here.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words are due each Friday.

Reading: Students received their new Literature Circles books and then planned their readnig assignments for the next Literature Circles cycle.

Writing: Students worked on their “I-search” PowerPoint presentations. This project will be presented on Tuesday, May 1.

Math: Students learned how to convert a remainder into a fraction. Homework is to complete Journal pp. 156-158.

Science: None today due to final preparations for Kids’ Inquiry Conference.

Social Studies: We played Jeopardy using the questions students wrote from yesterday’s assignment.

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Would you like to be a moderator for KIC? We are looking for parents will to moderate student presentations for Kids’ Inquiry Conference on April 27. The moderators will introduce students and start the discussion after the presentation by asking questions and asking for student questions. Contact me if you are interested.
• Thank you, volunteers! Come to our Volunteer Appreciation Lunch on Thursday, May 3, from 11:20-1:20 in the McGrath library. RSVP here by Wednesday, April 25.
• Juice Volunteers for Friday, May 4: Joshua W. and Alex S. Click here for a list of volunteers.
• Thank you to the nine chaperones who have volunteered for the Mackinaw trip. At this point, we have no more availability for additional chaperones. Spaces may open up as the trip gets closer.
• We are looking for donations of medium and long cardboard tubes (have plenty of short ones, thanks!) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!

Spelling: Students made a Words to Learn list by correcting words missed on the last spelling test. The unit 9 worksheets were also due today. The unit 10 worksheets are available here.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words are due each Friday.

Reading: Students previewed and selected books for the next Literature Circles cycle. This cycle’s theme is “dogs,” including the following books:

• Because of Winn-Dixie
• Sounder
• Old Yeller
• Dog Watch: Trouble in Pembrook
• Shiloh

Writing: Students worked on their “I-search” PowerPoint presentations. This project will be presented on Tuesday, May 1.

Math: We practiced multiplication and division number stories. Homework is to complete Journal pp. 150, 151, 153, and 154.

Science: None today due to art.

Social Studies: We learned that the Native Americans attacked pioneers coming into the Michigan area, but were defeated by an American army. After Ohio became a state, Michigan became its own territory. Homework is to complete a Jeopardy worksheet about making questions to match important ideas from what we learned about today.

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Would you like to be a moderator for KIC? We are looking for parents will to moderate student presentations for Kids’ Inquiry Conference on April 27. The moderators will introduce students and start the discussion after the presentation by asking questions and asking for student questions. Contact me if you are interested.
• Thank you, volunteers! Come to our Volunteer Appreciation Lunch on Thursday, May 3, from 11:20-1:20 in the McGrath library. RSVP here by Wednesday, April 25.
• Juice Volunteers for Friday, May 4: Joshua W. and Alex S. Click here for a list of volunteers.
• Thank you to the nine chaperones who have volunteered for the Mackinaw trip. At this point, we have no more availability for additional chaperones. Spaces may open up as the trip gets closer.
• We are looking for donations of medium and long cardboard tubes (have plenty of short ones, thanks!) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!
• Upcoming Events:

Spelling: None today due to making invitations for the Volunteer Appreciation Lunch, which will be on Thursday, May 3, from 11:20-1:20 in the McGrath library. The unit 9 worksheets will be due on Tuesday. The unit 10 worksheets are available here.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words are due each Friday.

Reading: None today due to extra work time for I-search presentations.

Writing: Students worked on their “I-search” PowerPoint presentation. This project will be presented on Tuesday, May 1.

Math: We reviewed division by playing a math game. Homework is to complete five division problems, checked and signed by a parent.

Science: We reviewed the recent pitch experiments and found out that the tighter the object, the higher the pitch, and the looser the object, the lower the pitch. We also took notes in our sound mini-books. Homework is to complete a response sheet.

Social Studies: We made new “Americans Come to Michigan” mini-books, and started learning about the territory Michigan was in after the American Revolution.

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Would you like to be a moderator for KIC? We are looking for parents will to moderate student presentations for Kids’ Inquiry Conference on April 27. The moderators will introduce students and start the discussion after the presentation by asking questions and asking for student questions. Contact me if you are interested.
• Thank you, volunteers! Come to our Volunteer Appreciation Lunch on Thursday, May 3, from 11:20-1:20 in the McGrath library. RSVP here by Wednesday, April 25.
• Juice Volunteers for Friday, May 4: Joshua W. and Alex S. Click here for a list of volunteers.
• Thank you to the nine chaperones who have volunteered for the Mackinaw trip. At this point, we have no more availability for additional chaperones. Spaces may open up as the trip gets closer.
• Upcoming Events:
• We are looking for donations of medium and long cardboard tubes (have plenty of short ones, thanks!) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!