Persuasive Essays

HOMEWORK
4th Grade Math, Dream House project: Some students have completed their house, others have just a room or two to go.  
Dream House Project - This assignment is worked on in class and taken home each day. The students have the project guide with timeline and details.  Each night for homework students should focus on continuing their effort from class.  

Dream House Project

Furnishings page examples and grid paper

5th Grade Math:  1 page and play leftovers from 100.

Writing: By the Great Horn Spoon, the missing chapter!  If you have more to do.

Reading for 20 minutes (read chapters 12 & 13 in By the Great Horn Spoon, by Friday)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Math Night, Wednesday, March 5, 6:00-7:30pm
• Puberty Education info. event, Monday, March 10, 7:00-8:00pm
• Conferences, Thursday and Friday, March 13 & 14

Today in Strawberry:  In writing we are currently in the prewriting stage of a persuasive essay project.  Before the break students selected topics to explore to write an argument for or against.  This week the students have been sharing their ideas and getting feedback to help develop their argument.  Issues being taken up include:  gum chewing at school, littering, homework, best pets, smoking, and conservation of trees.  We will continue working on this project for the next few weeks along with the fictional character stories the students began a while back.

HOMEWORK
4th Grade Math, Dream House project: Some students have completed their house, others have just a room or two to go.  
Dream House Project - This assignment is worked on in class and taken home each day. The students have the project guide with timeline and details.  Each night for homework students should focus on continuing their effort from class.  

Dream House Project

Furnishings page examples and grid paper

5th Grade Math:  2 pages in packet.

Writing: By the Great Horn Spoon, the missing chapter!  Due Thursday.

Reading for 20 minutes (read chapters 12 & 13 in By the Great Horn Spoon, by Friday)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Math Night, Wednesday, March 5, 6:00-7:30pm
• Puberty Education info. event, Monday, March 10, 7:00-8:00pm
• Conferences, Thursday and Friday, March 13 & 14

HOMEWORK
4th Grade Math, Dream House project: Tonight focus on adding a new room to use more of your budget.  Strive for using upwards of $180,000 total.
Dream House Project - This assignment is worked on in class and taken home each day. The students have the project guide with timeline and details.  Each night for homework students should focus on continuing their effort from class.  
Please note: The students are using a game board pawn with the base diameter a little less than a dime and about 4 grid squares tall to help plan the size of their rooms.  They were encouraged to keep one in their folder to take home.  

Dream House Project

Furnishings page examples and grid paper

5th Grade Math:  2 pages in packet.

Writing: By the Great Horn Spoon, the missing chapter!  Due Thursday.

Reading for 20 minutes

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Math Night, Wednesday, March 5, 6:00-7:30pm
• Puberty Education info. event, Monday, March 10, 7:00-8:00pm
• Conferences, Thursday and Friday, March 13 & 14

What is density?

HOMEWORK
4th Grade Math, Dream House project: Tonight focus on adding a new room to use more of your budget.  Strive for using upwards of $180,000 total.
Dream House Project - This assignment is worked on in class and taken home each day. The students have the project guide with timeline and details.  Each night for homework students should focus on continuing their effort from class.  
Please note: The students are using a game board pawn with the base diameter a little less than a dime and about 4 grid squares tall to help plan the size of their rooms.  They were encouraged to keep one in their folder to take home.  

Dream House Project

Furnishings page examples and grid paper

5th Grade Math:  2 pages in packet.

Finish Gold Rush skit reflection sheet.

Reading for 20 minutes

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Math Night, Wednesday, March 5, 6:00-7:30pm
• Puberty Education info. event, Monday, March 10, 7:00-8:00pm
• Conferences, Thursday and Friday, March 13 & 14

Today in Strawberry:  Wrapping up our Gold Rush unit included taking notes during a lecture format lesson followed by students planning and presenting skits about conditions in mining communities.  The simulation "game" will conclude this week.

This afternoon we explored the question, "What is density?"  Students learned to measure for volume and mass to then calculate density.  See photos below.

 Entertainment:  Traveling opera singers and other forms of entertainment in mining towns.

 Prices of goods skyrocketed!  A barrel of flour for $800.00?  

Eggs for $3.00 each!

 Death from accidents, malnutrition and disease were all too common.

 Entertainment:  Gambling, drinking and betting on races and other competitions.

Conditions in the mining camps were harsh. 

 Examining the density cubes.

The cubes:  copper, brass, steel, aluminum, wood, acrylic . . . 

 We measured volume and mass.

Using a triple beam balance.

 We recorded data about the cube and made calculations for density.

 Calculating density.

Lastly, the students predicted whether the cube would sink or float.

We noticed that cubes with a density greater than 1 gram per cubic centimeter always sank.  Those with less float.  One student surmised that meant that water has a density of 1 gram per cubic centimeter.

Valentine's Day (school version) tomorrow

Homework

4th Grade Math: 
Dream House Project - This assignment is worked on in class and taken home each day.  The students have the project guide with timeline and details.  Each night for homework students should focus on continuing their effort from class.  If they make it early to the requirements for Thursday (see due date page on back of student booklet - 3rd of attached) they will need to be checked off in class before moving to the next step.  We will continue on this project after the February break.
Please note: The students are using a game board pawn with the base diameter a little less than a dime and about 4 grid squares tall to help plan the size of their rooms.  They were encouraged to keep one in their folder to take home.  

Dream House Project

Furnishings page examples and grid paper

5th Grade Math: See Cerrito blog

By the Great Horn Spoon, book group assignments due tomorrow:  Students have their next job and assigned reading.

Reading:  20 minutes/night ( By the Great Horn Spoon as needed)


Reminders:
Friendship Week:  Strawberry will be celebrating friendship week with an activity called "secret pals."  Since we have already had "secret Santas" and the appreciation card project, this activity will look a bit different.  The students will be assigned a classmate on Monday, and a new classmate on Wednesday.  In the classroom we will have a card making station.  The kids do not need to make items at home, but are welcome to.  There are no gifts or candy in this activity, just friendly cards and thoughtful gestures during the day.

Valentines' Day in Strawberry - Thursday,  February 13:  We will exchange Valentine Cards in Strawberry on Thursday.  This is an optional activity.  If your child decides to participate he or she must give a card to every Strawberry student.  At TBS, candy may not be part of a Valentine.  Thanks for understanding.

4th Grade Dream House Project

Homework

4th Grade Math: 
Dream House Project - This assignment is worked on in class and taken home each day.  The students have the project guide with timeline and details.  Each night for homework students should focus on continuing their effort from class.  If they make it early to the requirements for Thursday (see due date page on back of student booklet - 3rd of attached) they will need to be checked off in class before moving to the next step.  We will continue on this project after the February break.
Please note: The students are using a game board pawn with the base diameter a little less than a dime and about 4 grid squares tall to help plan the size of their rooms.  They were encouraged to keep one in their folder to take home.  

Dream House Project

Furnishings page examples and grid paper


5th Grade Math: See Cerrito blog

By the Great Horn Spoon, book group assignments:  Students have their next job and assigned reading.

Reading:  20 minutes/night ( By the Great Horn Spoon as needed)


Reminders:
Friendship Week:  Strawberry will be celebrating friendship week with an activity called "secret pals."  Since we have already had "secret Santas" and the appreciation card project, this activity will look a bit different.  The students will be assigned a classmate on Monday, and a new classmate on Wednesday.  In the classroom we will have a card making station.  The kids do not need to make items at home, but are welcome to.  There are no gifts or candy in this activity, just friendly cards and thoughtful gestures during the day.

Valentines' Day in Strawberry - Thursday,  February 13:  We will exchange Valentine Cards in Strawberry on Thursday.  This is an optional activity.  If your child decides to participate he or she must give a card to every Strawberry student.  At TBS, candy may not be part of a Valentine.  Thanks for understanding.

Don't forget, Friday there is no school.

Friendship Week & Fish bowl discussion

Homework

4th Grade Math: No assignment tonight.  We are beginning a big project this week designing a "dream house."  This assignment will go home each night to continue on.

5th Grade Math: Mon. Class and Mon. Homework (2 pages)

Cultural Studies & Reading:  Write responses to the 5 questions about the Story of Nancy Gooch and the Monroes.  Write answers in sentence form, and be sure to check capitalization and spelling of names.

Reading:  20 minutes/night (Nancy Gooch reading qualifies)


Reminders:
Friendship Week:  Strawberry will be celebrating friendship week with an activity called "secret pals."  Since we have already had "secret Santas" and the appreciation card project, this activity will look a bit different.  The students will be assigned a classmate on Monday, and a new classmate on Wednesday.  In the classroom we will have a card making station.  The kids do not need to make items at home, but are welcome to.  There are no gifts or candy in this activity, just friendly cards and thoughtful gestures during the day.

Valentines' Day in Strawberry - Thursday,  February 13:  We will exchange Valentine Cards in Strawberry on Thursday.  This is an optional activity.  If your child decides to participate he or she must give a card to every Strawberry student.  At TBS, candy may not be part of a Valentine.  Thanks for understanding.

Don't forget, Friday there is no school.

Today in Strawberry:  Today we began friendship week.  Each student has a secret pal they are creating cards for and making friendly gestures.  

Fish Bowl: During Reading Workshop we held a fish bowl discussion.  One reading group met and held a discussion about By the Great Horn Spoon while the other students observed in a horseshoe shape.  After the discussion the audience shared about what they noticed, gave appreciations and ideas to help with discussions in the future.

New Strawberry!

New Student:  Strawberry Creek will have a new student next week.  Please help welcome him and his family to our community.

Also next week:

Friendship Week:  Strawberry will be celebrating friendship week with an activity called "secret pals."  Since we have already had "secret Santas" and the appreciation card project, this activity will look a bit different.  The students will be assigned a classmate on Monday, and a new classmate on Wednesday.  In the classroom we will have a card making station.  The kids do not need to make items at home, but are welcome to.  There are no gifts or candy in this activity, just friendly cards and thoughtful gestures during the day.

Valentines' Day in Strawberry - Thursday,  February 13:  We will exchange Valentine Cards in Strawberry on Thursday.  This is an optional activity.  If your child decides to participate he or she must give a card to every Strawberry student.  At TBS, candy may not be part of a Valentine.  Thanks for understanding.

Don't forget, Friday there is no school.

Photos from the Field Trip

Homework
4th Grade Math:  2nd page of packet is due on THURSDAY.
Weekly Packet (option 1), Challenge problems (option 2)
Please note there are errors on due dates in the packet.  Due dates are as follows:  1st page (both sides) due Tuesday, 2nd page (both sides) due Thursday, and Final page (both sides) due Friday.  We do not have math class on Wednesday due to a field trip.

5th Grade Math: Pages 40 & 41, POW and answer questions.

Science: Some students need to complete their  How to Make a Model of an Atom assignment.  

Reading:  20 minutes (By the Great Horn Spoon, chapters 5 & 6 and job by Friday)

Yesterday's Field Trip:  A sampling of photos.

 The start of our day with the Golden Gate Recreation Area leaders.

 Redwood Creek watershed model.

 Demonstration of how to use the hori hori (digging tool) to dig and plant.

 The area we planted in had been a levy and road.  Lots of rocks!  The fabric was laid out to prevent erosion until the plants take hold.

 The dirt was scooped out onto paper plates to keep if from being lost in the burlap mesh.

 We put in plants of all sizes and types, from fern to grasses to sage.

 Preparing the hole.

 Piles of sticks around us were to protect some new plants from the voracious deer.

 Finished!

 After lunch we crossed the bridge to the beach, and discussed the importance of the creek to the ecosystem.

 Web.  Each student represented an aspect of nature, the web demonstrating how each element is connected.

Aw.  A relaxing time at the beach after all the work.

Field Trip Tomorrow & Kapla Kraze

Homework
4th Grade Math:  2nd page of packet is due on THURSDAY.
Weekly Packet (option 1), Challenge problems (option 2)
Please note there are errors on due dates in the packet.  Due dates are as follows:  1st page (both sides) due Tuesday, 2nd page (both sides) due Thursday, and Final page (both sides) due Friday.  We do not have math class on Wednesday due to a field trip.

5th Grade Math:  page 38 & 39 due on Thursday

Science:  How to Make a Model of an Atom, due tomorrow.  The kids made three models today, so the information should be fresh in their minds.  Typing is okay.  The model they write about is just like the ones they made that they have in their Science Journal (not the bead model from class today).

Reading:  20 minutes (By the Great Horn Spoon, chapters 5 & 6 and job by Friday)


Tomorrow's Field Trip:  Muir Beach & Redwood Creek restoration project.  

• Bring:  Snack, Lunch & Water bottle (extra water or drink)
• What to wear for the work:  Long pants, closed toe shoes (boots etc.)
• Rain:  Bring a raincoat (20% chance of rain)
• Warmth:  layers, jacket, knit hat (it is cold out!)
• Beach Play:  Wear shorts or swimsuit under clothes.  Only students with shorts or swim suits (and clothes to change into) may go in the water.  Don't forget a TOWEL!
• Other/optional items:  sunscreen, book, sketch book and pencil, frisbee, ball etc.

Water play:  The kids will be able to wade in the water to their knees, but no further.  Weather will also determine our beach play agenda.

Today in Strawberry:  Our main event today was learning the structure of an atom.  We used Brianpop videos to enhance our understanding of the history of the atom and structure.  The students made three models:  2D with stickers, 2D as a drawing, and a 3D model with beads.  

 Two dimensional models - smiley stickers to make a Carbon atom and hand drawn to build Nitrogen.

We used beads and pipe cleaners to build three dimensional versions of Nitrogen.

 The students found the number of neutrons, protons and electrons needed by referencing the Periodic Table of the Elements.

 Nucleus ball to the left, electron shells (rings) in progress.

Bringing the parts together!

The Kapla blocks have been popular during free moments in the past few weeks.   Here are some creations and their creators:

Periodic Eggs

Homework
4th Grade Math:  Weekly Packet (option 1), Challenge problems (option 2)
Please note there are errors on due dates in the packet.  Due dates are as follows:  1st page (both sides) due Tuesday, 2nd page (both sides) due Thursday, and Final page (both sides) due Friday.  We do not have math class on Wednesday due to a field trip.

5th Grade Math:  2nd page of packet.

Cultural Studies:  "Have You Seen the Elephant?"  Historical reading and multiple choice questions, due tomorrow.

Reading:  20 minutes (the Cultural Studies assignment may count as reading time too).

Field Trip:  Wednesday, February 5, Muir Beach & Redwood Creek restoration project.  
Bring:  Snack, Lunch & Water bottle
What to wear for the work:  Long pants, closed toe shoes (boots etc.)
Warmth:  layers, jacket
Beach Play:  Wear shorts or swimsuit under clothes.  Only students with extra clothes for the beach may go in the water.


Today in Strawberry:  Periodic Eggs?  During Science today the students were introduced to the Periodic Table of the Elements in a lesson identifying patterns in images of decorative "eggs."  After exploring different ways to sort the "eggs" the groups identified the egg with the least number of "jewels" and "bands."  This egg formed the basis for the final sort on a grid going by row and column to simulate ways in which the periodic table is organized.  Mystery eggs were added after the sort was completed, requiring the students to think beyond the boundary of the 4x4 grid used for the primary eggs.  Similar to the evolution of the real periodic table, there were gaps that needed to be filled in by blank eggs as place holders. 

 Discovering possible sorting patterns.

 Using rules to sort the eggs horizontally and vertically to complete a pattern.

 Identifying patterns within the arrangement of periodic eggs.

Poetry Elf sharing a poem at the end of the day.