To begin our Storypath study of the early people of the Pacific Northwest Coast, students created a frieze showing the environment and natural resources found on the coast. This week we'll begin to investigate how people were able to live and thrive in this environment, and how the natural resources helped shape their culture. |
Save the date:
Our Native American Potlatch Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7 at 9:30 am in the multi-purpose room (families are invited … we need a patient and encouraging audience). Next week, you should receive an email from our room parents soliciting food/beverage donations and volunteers for this event.
Important Dates:
1/2/18 School Resumes
1/15 No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
1/16 4L & 4G Nature Vision
1/31 Camp Waskowitz Field Trip (all day)
2/1 Evening Family Field Trip to the Seattle Art Museum
2/7 4L & 4HB Potlatch, 9:30-10:15 in the MPR
2/19-2/23 No School - Midwinter Break
3/27 Fourth Grade Music Concert
4/9-4/13 No School - Spring Break
Monday Take Home Folders/Return to School every Tuesday:
Review and Keep at Home: Museo art prints, January Scholastic book order fliers, math practice pages
Sign and Return: January Reading Logs (in binders)
Goal for the Week: be a hard-working, patient, kind, cooperative group member.
Coming up this week in class: Continuing fractions learning in Walk-to-Math, planning a narrative, reading a fictional narrative called Lunch Money, analyzing character in reading, practicing Readers' Theater plays to build reading fluency, launching our January Newbery book report project, taking STAR reading and math tests to check up on growth and progress, learning about village and family life in our Storypath study of NW Coast Native Americans, and creating art inspired by Native American Traditions!
Family Field Trip suggestions:
We are fortunate to have two wonderful museums close by that complement our Social Studies curriculum. I hope you will consider taking a family field trip or gathering a few friends together for a special afternoon/evening of learning.
The first Thursday of every month is FREE at the Seattle Art Museum!!
Information on Visiting SAM
Highlights from the collection
The Seattle Art Museum has an amazing collection of Northwest Coast Native American artifacts. I will be in that exhibit room at SAM from 5:30 – 6:30 pm on Thursday, February 1. Won’t you bring some 4th graders to the museum and we can all enjoy it together? I’d love to see you there! All 4th graders welcome with a parent chaperone! Please RSVP (paper RSVP form coming home next week)!
Also, The Burke Museum on the University of Washington campus has a wonderful display of artifacts downstairs. Unfortunately, this museum does NOT offer free admission on first Thursdays, but it is well worth the cost of admission.
http://www.burkemuseum.org/exhibits/browse/pacific_voices
Needed: White buttons (any size) for our Native American button blanket craft; every button counts so even if you just find one, please send it in! If you're visiting a craft or sewing store, please consider buying a bag of white buttons to donate. The mystery word is longhouse. Thanks!
Valentine’s Day: will be celebrated on Wednesday, 2/14 in Room 14. All students will have a Valentine’s mail sack/bag made and decorated at school. Due to food allergies and dietary restrictions, no candy/gum/food will be distributed at school. Please respect the safety and health of our students. Cards only…..more info will be coming in next week’s newsletter. Thanks!
From the computer lab:
Typing Agent challenge for January and February
to earn 1 class of free choice each student individually must:
- Spend 15 minutes per week outside of school on Typing Agent. (Can be multiple sessions.)
- Complete all of the Unit Tests and be working toward completing Units 4-6
Reading: Lunch Money by Andrew Clements. Lessons are focused on:
- Using details to analyze story elements
- Analyzing characters
- Using text evidence to make inferences about characters
- Summarizing the text
- Examining descriptive details
- Describing characters in depth
- Analyzing word choices
- Using elements of a narrative to determine theme
Writing: Narrative writing with lessons focused on:
- Establishing a situation and developing a sequence of events
- Introducing a narrator and characters
- Using dialogue
- Using descriptive and sensory details
- Using transitional words, including sequence words
- Using meaningful figurative language (focus on simile)
Volunteer Opportunities: Thank you for your support! Our classroom calendar is here: http://signup.com/go/bKMtZZx and shows Spots for those who volunteered for recurring volunteer times for the year. I appreciate all the folks who volunteered for at-home correcting! Thanks, again, for all you do to support children, teachers and learning!
Please visit our 4th grade blog…. http://cves4.weebly.com/
Homework: Please check the binder reminder (located in the front of the binder) to support your child’s homework habits. It is also posted on our classroom blog daily.
In our partnership to ensure success for your child, good communication is critical. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at larsone@svsd410.org. I’d love to hear from you and look forward to working with you this year.
Happy New Year!!!
Emily Larson
4th Grade
Cascade View Elementary School
34816 SE Ridge Street
Snoqualmie, WA 98065
(425)-831-4100
[email protected]
http://cves4.weebly.com/