Reagan, Volume 30: April 7, 2015

Sometimes discovery means looking at something familiar in a completely new way. Above Reagan and Olga examine an artifact and deeply wonder about it.

Overall, this week has been fabulous and hysterical! Our study into artifacts has challenged the way we think, organize the world, and express ourselves. A big debate was had over whether or not a living thing, such as a human being, is an artifact. We determined it is not, and added the idea that something that is naturally happening in the world/nature is usually not an artifact. Eventually, we defined an artifact as something made by a person or people. When we return from March break, we will be visiting a local pottery museum! It will be a fantastic follow-up to Ms. Shahknoza's sharing of Uzbek pottery and ceramics today. We will be seeing actual potters in Samarkand as well!

Our study of place value and number sense will culminate this Friday in the form of a glorious test! Students have worked hard practicing and digging deeply into how our base 10 number system works and how to manipulate it. When we come back from March break, we will be begin a new math unit in patterns and functions. I can't wait!

We had a super fun time as a grade 4 community sharing and reading our weather myths. Past and present teachers, administrators, and teachers from the school came to our rooms and experienced our weather myths for themselves. They even left fantastic comments- ones that we hope to share later during Student-Led Conferences. Have a great week and safe March break!

April is reading month. Ms. Sayyora has posted on our community blog. Check it out!

Owl: Reagan

Homework:
Monday: No School
Tuesday: Grammar activity
Wednesday: IXL Math Grade 4 H.1Input/output tables with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division You only need to get 80% accuracy. Also, L.1Geometric growth patterns. Have fun!
Thursday: Read because it is ridiculously nice outside. Then play.
Friday: Read a book!

 Exploring artifacts to determine the five attributes:

Physical Features, Value, Construction, Design, Function.

 Books can help use learning vocabulary about Artifacts as well!

 We created our very own artifact museum filled with drinking vessels:)

 Ms. Shahknoza came in to share Uzbek drinking vessels. Such a great long tradition and history.

Sometimes math word problems are a team effort and sometimes we tackle them on our own:)

 Here we are sharing our math thinking in a fish bowl activity!

 Reading each other's weather myths!

Ahhhhh! There's a monster in our room! It has eaten Anthony's hand!