Students in fourth grade Are studying the life cycles of animals.  In Burlington, we are fortunate to be able to enrich this classroom learning with the hands on experience of having an incubator of chick eggs in each classroom.  It is only one of the countless ways the Science Center supports our learning.  This week, we were able to watch a chick hatch live on our Touch It board!  Here is the video of Chick hatching for you to enjoy.

Fox Hill will be having an assembly on Friday that focuses on the concept of being the "One," based on a book that we have read in class for the past few years.  We have talked many times about what this means and looks like.  On Friday, we will be presenting our take on this idea to our schoolmates by singing a song to the tune of the popular song, "What Does the Fox Say?"  Below are the lyrics in case kids would like to practice at home!

What Does the Fox Say?

When we see

Someone alone

we invite him

to sing our song.

At recess

if we fight

we work out a compromise.

Kids say “hi”

and lend a hand

when a friend says “ow, ow, ow”

But there’s one sound

that we all know

What does the fox say?

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

What does the Fox say?

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

What does the Fox say?

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

What does the Fox say?

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

We say no

to bullies

and stand up

for each other.

In person

and online

we are careful to be kind.

To be the one

is sometimes hard.

Being a hero always is.

But if you need

a friendly voice

you can count on me

of Cour -or-or-or -orse, of cour-or-or-or-orse.

And I can count on you

of cour-or-or-or-orse.

What does the fox say?

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

What does the Fox say?

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

What does the Fox say?

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

What does the Fox say?

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

Be the one Be the one, Be Be Be the one  

 

Movie Makers In the Making

 

     During our class's Intervention/Extension block there are several options.  Some students receive help in content areas, some students meet with me to go over math or writing, and some students read independently.  Each month or so, I introduce optional projects in math and writing to extend their classroom learning during this block of time.  Last month, to coincide with our lessons on story structure and writing fiction stories, students had an opportunity to write scripts.

    This was a long process for students.  They first needed to plan the script with a very clear problem, series of events, and a solution.  Next, they wrote a rough draft of their script complete with stage directions and props.  I conferred with authors and gave suggestions where needed  Once approved, students were finally allowed to produce their script using IMovie on their ipads.  Only three groups of students made it through the entire process.  Below are their final products. 

    We have viewed these as a class and continue to learn about how to hold the ipad so that the screen stays steady and oriented, how editing affects the storyline, and how what seems like a lot of written material does not translate into a long movie.  My hope is that this process has made students more appreciative of the movies they see and more motivated to write, direct, and produce.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bundle up for recess!!

 Please be advised that we will go out for recess during the winter whenever the temperature allows.  PLEASE make sure your child comes to school every day with a warm coat, hat, and gloves.

 

If there is snow on the ground, children will have to stay on the hard top unless they have snow boots.  (Snow pants are also encouraged to avoid spending the remainder of the day with wet pants!)

 

Warm regards,

The 4^th grade teachers

 

The Great Suitcase Race is coming to Room 19!

 

Room 19 will celebrate Halloween this year with a Suitcase Race, an extra snack, a movie, and a rocket launch!  The Suitcase Race is a relay race where teams have to put on all of the clothing in a suitcase and run with the case to their partners at the other end of the line.  They then take off the clothes and have their partner put them on, who then runs back to the first side.  It goes back and forth until everyone in the team has “dressed up” and run in the suitcase clothing.

 

To celebrate, we would love it if kids could do the following:

 

1.      Send in an article of clothing from home for the race.  It should be quite big (adult size might be good), and you should know that it could possibly be ripped during the race.  No hats, shoes, or underwear but anything else is fine-- shorts, skirts, dresses, shirts, gloves, scarves, etc. 

 

Please send clothes by Tuesday, 10/29/13

 

2.    We need two suitcases on or before 10/30/13, if that’s possible for someone to send in or drop off.  Please email me or call if you can send one in: hwood@bpsk12.org

 

3.    On 10/31/13, kids should bring in their own, extra snack to have during our party.  We can’t have anyone bring in food for the whole class.

 

Homework Clarification

I wanted to clarify the weekly writing assignment that has been coming home. 

Our grammar book goes home on Monday; vocab on Tuesday.  Both books are due on Friday.  Both books have in them a writing assignment.  Rather than doing both writing assignments, I have combined them into one writing piece, due on Friday.  It works on the skill we are practicing in grammar, using the words we are learning in vocab. 

The idea is that they practice the grammar skill and work with the words all week in their books, then complete the writing piece later in the week.  We talked about this in class, but I don’t think they are always remembering, or passing it on!  From here on out, I will send the writing piece home on Tuesday, when they get their vocab words. 

I would still recommend doing some of the grammar and vocab before writing, but I don’t want to wait longer to send the assignment home as some children need the extra time to write.

Also, I am going to start giving the kids a quiz on their vocab words each week.  I sent home blank templates for flash cards for the vocab words.  We’ve talked in class about using them to study.  I am not checking them or collecting them, but encourage kids to use them during the week.

Parents' Back to School Night

 

Tonight is Parents' Back to School Night at Fox Hill from 6:30pm-8pm.  This is a time for parents to learn what your child will be learning about this year in fourth grade.  There will be an opening session in the Cafeteria with Principal Mrs. Johnson followed by sessions in the classroom.  I will repeat the same information in both sessions, so please feel free to come to either one.  Because time is so limited and so many families typically come, there is not time to address individual concerns.  We can meet privately at another time if you need to talk with me about your particular child's needs.

 

I look forward to seeing you tonight!