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And thanks to Mr. Waring for this recording as well:

A fun memory from fourth grade…

Feb Factor Valentine’s Party 2017

58 new photos · Album by Christian Howd

Our Feb Factor Valentine’s party was so good, it was scary, literally! We passed out our cards and ate sloppy joes, crackers, fruit and veggies.

Feb Factor games included sticking conversation hearts, slurping jello, munching cranberry jelly, passing love notes, tossing bouncy balls and sticking conversation hearts!

Thanks to everyone who donated food and supplies; we had more than enough! A big thanks to all the family members that helped with serving food, cleanup and games!

Spelling: None today.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays. This week’s assignment will be due Tuesday.

Reading: Today was a reading skills and AR practice day.

Writing: We finished notes about core democratic values today and started to think about ideas for a persuasive letter about improving our country. Here are parts to a persuasive essay that we’ll be working on next week:

1. Introduction describing a public policy problem in America (vaccines, fighting ISIS, body cameras for police officers, healthy foods for schools, etc.).
2. Their opinion about a solution to the problem.
3. Some kind of data to support their opinion.
4. At least one core democratic value to support their opinion.
5. A conclusion restating their data and opinion.

A persuasive Letter to the Editor (guidelines) about a public policy issue facing the US will be due Friday, March 3.

Resources:

• Persuasive Letter Guidelines
• CNN Student News
• Pollingreport.com
• Debate.org
• Petitions.whitehouse.gov
• annenbergclassroom.org/speakouts

Math: None today due to our party. Homework is to practice math for at least 15 minutes using MobyMax Math or Khan Academy.

Here are some skills that should be leveled up at this point:

• Dividing Decimals 1
• Dividing Decimals 2
• Dividing Decimals 3
• Dividing Decimals 4
• Dividing Decimals 5
• Dividing Decimals 6
• Dividing Decimals 7
• Dividing Decimals 8
• MobyMax Math Decimals skill

Science: Students used paper DNA strips to model how traits are blindly passed from parents to offspring.

Social Studies: None today.

Notes:

• Our class will be performing a class play in March. Here are the after school class practice and performance times. Hopefully getting the schedule early will allow everyone to work out scheduling conflicts.
• Have you set a Daily Homework Time for your student? Consider 15 minutes of math, 15 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of something else to make a brain smarter!
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.

Fiesta Mexicana 2016

26 new photos · Album by Christian Howd

Today was our Mexican Fiesta! We started by making farolitos (little lanterns) out of paper and reading a book called El Regalo de Navidad (The Gift of Christmas). 

We then started our own Las Posadas. We went to the cafeteria and the office, and they wouldn’t let us in for shelter, but the family members in our class finally gave us shelter and we started our fiesta! We sang Cascabel and El Burrito de Belen (the Little Donkey of Bethlehem).

Then we all took a whack at the piñata. It lasted long enough for almost everyone to take a swing! Then we headed back to the room to eat. The menu included:

• Mexican-style tacos on corn tostada shells;
• Spicy shredded chicken eaten with torn flour tortillas;
• Nopalitos (prickly pear cactus!);
• Pepinos (cucumbers with lemon juice and salt);
• Mexican hot chocolate (hot chocolate with cinnamon); and,
• Buñelos (fried flour tortillas with cinnamon and sugar).

Later, we played Toma Todo, a Mexican top game much like the Jewish dreidel. In this game, students start with ten beans, then take or put in beans as the top says. The person with the winning amount of beans could select a Mexican pop.

A grande-sized thanks to the family members who helped prepare and serve food today at the fiesta, and for all the generous donations–we had more than enough food and everyone had their fill!

Feliz Navidad!

Hawaiian Beach Bash 2016

95 new photos · Album by Christian Howd