Animaniacs - Nations of the World by Yakko

Animaniacs - Nations of the World by Yakko

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New Blog for 2009-2010

Click here for my new class blog.

Summer Vacation

Here's a slideshow of my trip to Maui, Hawaii.  My mom, sisters, aunt, and I had a fabulous time!  I hope everyone has enjoyed their summers!  See you soon...FIFTH GRADERS! :)

Why, Hello There Summer!

Hi everyone! I hope you are enjoying your summer break.

I started teaching my summer school class today. I'm teaching reading and writing to a group of 4th and 5th graders. We had a great first day today!

The day after summer school is over, I'll be going on a family vacation to Maui! I can't wait!!!

As I mentioned on the last day of school, I'll try to post as often as I can on our blog.

Have you been reading any good books? I just started reading Ruby Lu: Empress of Everything by Lenore Look.

Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

Definition and examples here.

Examples of prepositional phrases here.

Field Day & Pool Party!

Just a few reminders about this fun-filled day!

For Field Day(9:15-11:50)...

• Wear a bathing suit underneath your clothes because you will most likely get wet!
• Wear gym shoes since you will be running at some of the stations
• NO WHITE T-SHIRTS
• Bring sunscreen lotion so you won't get burnt.  You will be outside for 6 hours!!!
• Bring a water bottle clearly marked with your name on it.
• The snack station will include:  raisins, apples, Flav-R-Ice, and cookies.  Contact Ms. Csensich if you have any concerns.

For Camelot(11:50-3:00)...

• Bring a bag with a towel, sandals, and change of dry clothing
• You are allowed to bring water toys for the pool, but NO WATER GUNS!
• We will be walking to the pool after Field Day
• We will be picnicking outside -- bring a disposable lunch -- you may want to include an extra snack for later in the afternoon.  
• After lunch, we will have recess at Camelot Park.  You may bring sports equipment(frisbees, basketball, etc.), but it is your responsibility to carry them.  We will not be responsible for any lost items.

Remember that this day is a privilege and not a right.  We expect excellent behavior from each of you.  Please show off the Character Counts pillars.  We want our school to be represented well and invited back to Camelot next year!

Check Out These COOL Ocean Sites!

IMAX Under the Sea 3D -- Watch the Trailer!
Be sure to check out the games and webisodes, too.

The New England Aquarium -- Experience a Whale Watch!

Listen to whales squeak, warble, groan, whistle, and much more!!!

Play Ocean Games!

NOAA Ocean Service Education -- Fun and educational activities for you to enjoy! Click on the many links!

Living Sea Aquarium

I hope you enjoyed our in-school field trip today. Hopefully some of you will be able to visit the aquarium with your parents.

Did you know that you can visit the aquarium and watch them feed the sharks or stingrays?

Free shark and stingray feedings every Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Free stingray feedings every Monday - Friday at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Skyping Candace Fleming

We received GREAT news from Mrs. Polito today!  On Monday, we will be skyping Candace Fleming, author of Boxes for Katje.  We read her book as a kick-off to our service project, Operation Iraqi Children.  Click here for Candace Fleming's website.  Read her bio here.

Historical Reenactment Part 5

Historical Reenactment Part 4

Historical Reenactment Part 3

Historical Reenactment Part 2

Historical Reenactment Part 1

Reminders...

• The 5th graders are having a book sale tomorrow. We will get to "shop" at 10 a.m. so don't forget to bring your money!
• Spelling and grammar tests will be tomorrow, NOT Friday, due to our field trip.
• Historical Reenactment will be this Friday from 9:15-11:15. We will be outside the entire time, so dress appropriately for the weather, and remember to wear old shoes. It might be muddy out there!
  
• Don't forget to return the bottom portion of the green band form to Mr. Berry!
• Your extra credit historical fiction report is due FRIDAY!
  

The Gold Rush!

Click here for spelling, vocabulary, and other activities for this week.

What's Our Next Read Aloud Book?

We have one more chapter of Shakespeare's Secret left.


Click here to find out what we'll be reading next!

School House Rock Adjectives

School House Rock Adverbs

Thanks!!!

Thank you so much for the lovely flowers, gifts, and memory book.  You wrote such kind letters about what you enjoyed this year.  I was so touched to read them all!  I appreciate the time you took to draw or write your page for me.  I hope you all enjoy your weekend.  Remember to be extra sweet to your Mom and wish her a very Happy Mother's Day!  I think she'll LOVE your Mother's Day Poem!

Colonial Williamsburg

Check out this site on Colonial Williamsburg for kids!  Take a virtual tour, meet the people, and play some games!

Historical Reenactment Invitation

Click on the image below!

Another FREE Summer Science Opportunity!

The district is offering a Summer U class at no cost to parents!

This class is part of the Science Companion program, which came from the creators of Everyday Math. They have asked us to partner with them as they work to integrate 21st Century tools into their program.

Everyday Science: Motion.  Third and fourth graders will be participating in marble drops, sliding/sticking activities, and gravity activities.  They will also have some experience with model car racing and the concept of creating roller coasters!

Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. More information can be found in the letter that will be handed out tomorrow.

Click here to enroll in this amazing opportunity!!!

Cat's Cradle

Did you know that a favorite recreational activity among children during the colonial times was Cat's Cradle?  All you need is a piece of string or yarn!  

Click here for step-by-step instructions.

Watch another video here.

Colonial Life...Historical Reenactment - May 15

In order to prepare for the Historical Reenactment of life in colonial times, please click on the following websites!

Reenactor Personas Web page

PBS Site Liberty - The American Revolution

Activities, Quizzes and Yankee Doodle music

Prairie Fire - The Illinois Country Before 1818 - Check out Narrative in the side bar - Using Real Player you will hear an excellent explanation of Pay d'en Haut in the European Experience. There are other videos that provide information on fur trading, Marquette, LaSalle and Jesuits. 

District 25 Site on Historical Reenactment

Flu Prevention Fact Sheet from The Cook County Department of Public Health

Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs

Avoid close contact.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your

distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

Stay home when you are sick.

Stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. Keep sick children

at home. You will help prevent others from catching the illness.

Cover your mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Throw the

tissue in the trash after you use it.

Wash your hands often.

Washing your hands and the hands of your children often will help protect you

from germs.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated

with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Practice other good health habits.

Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of

fluids, and eat nutritious food.

There is no vaccine available at this time for the current outbreak of the Swine Flu virus, so it is important for

people living in the affected areas to take steps to prevent spreading the virus to others. If people are ill, they should

stay at home and limit contact with others, except to seek medical care. Healthy residents living in these areas

should take the everyday preventive actions listed above.

People who live in these areas who develop an illness with fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough and

runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, such as body aches, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, should contact their

health care provider. Their health care provider will determine whether influenza testing is needed.

Contact the Cook County Department of Public Health at 708-492-2000 if you have questions. For additional

information, visit the following web sites: www.cookcountypublichealth.org/swine_flu, www.idph.state.il.us, and

www.cdc.gov.

Science for the 21st Century

Dear Parents,

Please read the following from our district's Curriculum and Instruction department.  It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for our students!

A science class will be held June 22-26 at South Middle School from 10:30 -11:15 a.m.  This is for students in grades 3-5.  It will be taught by Dr. Rod Doran and Dr. Randy Yerrick, from the University of Buffalo.  This class is FREE!  

Parents are responsible for transportation to and from South Middle School.  

If interested, please email Diana Donovan in the Instruction department at ddonovan@sd25.org with the following information:  child's name, current grade level, & school name.  Emails will be accepted by May 8th.  

Parents will be notified if your child is selected.

Here's a short video the class viewed from the Instruction Department.

Monthly Reading Contract

This month, you read one of Roald Dahl's fantasy/humorous novels. On May 1(Friday), your book projects from your tic-tac-toe menu are due. Be prepared to share your projects with the class.

Click here for Roald Dahl's website.

MAP Test Schedule

Math MAP -- Thursday, 4/30 @ 1:30 p.m.
Reading MAP -- Friday, 5/1 @ 9:15 a.m.

I'm anxious to see how you've grown in these subject areas in fourth grade! Be sure to do your best, eat a good breakfast the morning of testing, and get enough sleep the night before. Good luck!

Colonial Billboards

Historical Reenactment

As you know, we'll be visiting OMS for a special field trip in May.  Various personas will be reenacting colonial life for us!  Please visit this website to learn more and prepare for the historical reenactment.  We'll be taking notes and writing questions we'd like to ask in class to prepare for this special event.  Click here to access the bios of the historians. Click here to go on a scavenger hunt!

Field Trip on Monday!

• Don't forget to bring your sack lunch!  
  
• Wear your color!  Black for the boys and either red or pink/purple for the girls.
• Art Institute website -- click here!

Roald Dahl Novels

This month we will be reading Roald Dahl novels and will complete some fun book projects on one of the following books:  James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The Twits, The BFG, and George's Marvelous Medicine.

Click here to visit the Roald Dahl Website!

April Fool's Day

Art Institute Field Trip Forms are Due TOMORROW! (MISSING #6, 11, 13, & 15) 

Yearbook Order forms are Due April 10!

Morning Work: DWP

Reading: Read for 20 minutes --APRIL Book assigned today.  Contract and projects due May 1.

Spelling: Finish p. 133

Grammar: Finish p. 131

Cursive: Week 26 - Wednesday

OTHER: Library Books due Thursday

Tuesday, March 31

Art Institute Field Trip Forms are Due THIS THURSDAY!

Yearbook Order forms are Due April 10!

Morning Work: DWP:  What is your least favorite movie?  Write a paragraph describing why you don't like it.

Reading: Read for 20 minutes -- March Reading Contract due TOMORROW!

Spelling: Finish p. 132

Grammar: Finish p. 130

Cursive: Week 26 - Tuesday

OTHER: Library Books due Thursday

Earth Movie

Here's a link to Disneynature EARTH, the film we'll be watching in April.  You can even watch the trailer for the movie, along with other video clips!

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!

Hi everyone!  I hope you are enjoying your first day of spring and your first day of spring break!  Let's hope we have a great week of warm weather.  

Tuesday, March 10

Please return your report card envelope by Friday!

Morning Work: DWP 

Reading: Read for 20 minutes -- March Reading Contract

Spelling: Finish p. 124

Grammar: Finish p. 122

Cursive: Week 24 - Tuesday

Science: Electricity Project Due Mar. 18

OTHER: Library Books due Thursday

LMC - Name Research Homework!!

Measurement Day!

A BIG thank you goes out to Mr. Byrne, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Topalis, Mrs. Pater, and Mrs. Zyck for helping us with our Measurement Day scavenger hunt!  We couldn't have done it without you!

Here are some measurement websites you can try at home!

Teaching Measurement

Animal Weigh In

Measure It!(in centimeters)

Measure It!(in inches)

More Measurement Links!!!

ISAT Practice

Are you wondering what to expect with ISAT testing next week?

Click here to access actual questions from the 2008 Grade 4 Reading, Math, and Science questions! You can take the tests online and they will be scored for you! This is just practice of course.:) For the reading tests, click on the blue title of the story to read the story before answering the questions.

If you come across questions or concepts you don't understand, please come see me and I'll gladly explain them to you. :)

Here is a GREAT website from the BBC that covers many fun activities in math, reading, and science!  Click here.

Thursday, February 26

Please bring in your March Conference slip by Tuesday, March 3rd!

Morning Work: DWP 

Reading: Practice packet p. 137; Read for 20 minutes -- February Reading Contract/Projects-- Continue reading your mystery novel. Due March 2.

Spelling: STUDY this week's words for tomorrow's test

Grammar: REVIEW this week's packet for tomorrow's test

Cursive: Week 22 - Monday

Science: Complete the last five questions in your SIJ(Science Inquiry Journal) -- Due Mon., 3/2.

OTHER: March Conference slips due Tuesday, Mar. 3!

*** ISATS are NEXT WEEK! ***

Please be sure to get enough restful sleep next week and eat a healthy breakfast!  

Here is our testing schedule:

Monday
1:30-2:35 Math I

Tuesday
10:45-12:15 Reading I

Wednesday
10:45-12:15 Reading II
1:30-2:25 Math II

Thursday
10:45-12:15 Reading III
1:30-2:35 Math III

Friday
10:45-12:15 Science I
1:30-2:35 Science II

Thursday, February 19

4th Graders, don't forget to bring in your school supplies(blunt-end scissors, box of 2-gallon sized Ziploc bags) for Operation Iraqi Children.

Morning Work: DWP - If you had to power your T.V. by riding a bike for one hour, would you still watch it?  Explain.

Reading: Practice packet p. 130-131; Read for 20 minutes -- February Reading Contract/Projects-- Continue reading your mystery novel. Due March 2.

Spelling: Study your 25 words for Friday's test

Grammar: Review your packet for Friday's test

Cursive: Week 21 - Thursday

Science: Complete the next three questions in your SIJ(Science Inquiry Journal) -- Due Mon., 2/23.

Adv. Math: Problem Solving Packet #7/ SL 6.10

OTHER: SIX FLAGS 6-HOUR READING FORMS ARE DUE THIS FRIDAY!!!

Wednesday, February 18

4th Graders, don't forget to bring in your school supplies(blunt-end scissors, box of 2-gallon sized Ziploc bags) for Operation Iraqi Children.

Morning Work: DWP - What makes oil so valuable yet so challenging?

Reading: Practice packet; Read for 20 minutes -- February Reading Contract/Projects-- Continue reading your mystery novel. Due March 2.

Spelling: P.112

Grammar: P. 110

Cursive: Week 21 - Wednesday

Science: Complete the next three questions in your SIJ(Science Inquiry Journal) -- Due Mon., 2/23.

Adv. Math: Problem Solving Packet #

OTHER: SIX FLAGS 6-HOUR READING FORMS ARE DUE THIS FRIDAY!!!

Tuesday, February 17

4th Graders, don't forget to bring in your school supplies(blunt-end scissors, box of 2-gallon sized Ziploc bags) for Operation Iraqi Children.

Morning Work: DWP - Does it matter what kind of energy we use and where we get it?  Why or why not?

Reading: Practice p. 126-7; Read for 20 minutes -- February Reading Contract/Projects-- Continue reading your mystery novel. Due March 2.

Spelling: P.111

Grammar: P. 109

Cursive: Week 21 - Monday and Tuesday

Science: Complete the next three questions in your SIJ(Science Inquiry Journal) -- Due Mon., 2/23.

Adv. Math: Problem Solving Packet #19

OTHER: SIX FLAGS 6-HOUR READING FORMS ARE DUE THIS FRIDAY!!!

Wednesday, February 11

4th Graders, don't forget to bring in your school supplies(blunt-end scissors, box of 2-gallon sized Ziploc bags) for Operation Iraqi Children.

Morning Work: DWP - Write about the most creative solution you have ever heard of.  Write it in the form of a magazine article.

Reading: Practice p. 123-4; Read for 20 minutes -- February Reading Contract/Projects-- Continue reading your mystery novel. Due March 2.

Spelling: P.107

Grammar: P. 105

Cursive: Week 20 - Wednesday

Science: Complete the next three questions in your SIJ(Science Inquiry Journal) -- Due Mon., 2/16.

Adv. Math: Solve the first two problems of your Extended Response packet.

OTHER: LMC iPod permission slips

Tuesday, February 10

Parents, please ask your child about the Valentine's Day Letter I passed out today.  I listed the treats that will be served at the party, along with information about the party.  Thanks in advance to our room reps. :)

Morning Work: DWP - Write about a problem that you think you have a creative solution for.  Explain your solution for this problem.

Reading: Practice p. 125; Read for 20 minutes -- February Reading Contract/Projects-- Continue reading your mystery novel. Due March 2.

Spelling: P.106

Grammar: P. 104

Cursive: Week 20 - Tuesday

Science: Complete the next three questions in your SIJ(Science Inquiry Journal) -- Due Mon., 2/16.

Adv. Math: Multiplication w/ Decimals WS

OTHER: LMC iPod permission slips

Monday, February 9

Students, start bringing in your loose change for our OIC Loose Change Drive!

Also, 4th graders are being asked to bring in a pair of blunt-end  scissors and/or a box of 2-gallon sized Ziploc bags.  

Morning Work: DWP - Write about some creative solutions you've seen for the visually impaired.

Reading: Practice p. 119-120; Read for 20 minutes -- February Reading Contract/Projects-- Continue reading your mystery novel. Due March 2.

Spelling: P.105

Grammar: P. 103

Cursive: Week 20 - Monday

Science: Complete the next three questions in your SIJ(Science Inquiry Journal) -- Due Mon., 2/16.

Adv. Math: SL 6.6

OTHER: LMC iPod permission slips

Thursday, February 5

Our school will be participating in a service project called the OIC(Operation Iraqi Children) by providing school supply kits, blankets, and shoes to those in need.  Look for more info. in the upcoming Friday Packets!

Morning Work: DWP - Write a letter to Mrs. LaRue giving her advice about Ike.

Reading: Practice p. 117; Read for 20 minutes -- February Reading Contract/Projects-- Continue reading your mystery novel. Due March 2.

Spelling: Review words for Friday's test

Grammar: Review packet on pronouns for Friday's test

Cursive: Week 19 - Thursday

Science: Complete the next three questions in your SIJ(Science Inquiry Journal) -- Due Mon., 2/9.

Adv. Math: SL 6.5/Enrichment 6.5

OTHER: LMC iPod permission slips

Wednesday, February 4

Parents:  We are in need of some empty gallon sized water or milk jugs.  Please send them with your children if you have any we could use.  Thank you!

Morning Work: DWP - Write a dialogue between a dog and a cat over who makes the better pet.

Reading: Practice p. 117; Read for 20 minutes -- February Reading Contract/Projects-- Continue reading your mystery novel.  Due March 2.

Spelling: P.100

Grammar: P. 99

Cursive: Week 19 - Wednesday

Science: Complete the next three questions in your SIJ(Science Inquiry Journal) -- Due Mon., 2/9.

Adv. Math: SL 6.4

OTHER: LMC iPod permission slips

Tuesday, February 3

Congratulations to Georgette for being our January STAR student!  

Morning Work: DWP - Write a journal entry from the point of view of a dog, and comment about the day in your life.

Reading: Practice p. 118; Read for 20 minutes -- February Reading Contract-- Start reading your mystery novel.

Spelling: P.99

Grammar: P. 98

Cursive: Week 19 - Tuesday

Science: Complete the next three questions in your SIJ(Science Inquiry Journal) -- Due Mon., 2/9.

Adv. Math: SL 6.3

OTHER: LMC iPod permission slips