Area and Perimeter House Project

We wanted to apply our knowledge of area and perimeter to real life so students got to design a house.  The house had to contain a living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a laundry room.  It also had to be between 1200-1500 square feet.  Groups had to design their house on graph paper and calculate the area and perimeter of each room.  When their plans were finished they could design a 3D model of their house on the computer.  They also had to research ways to make their house energy efficient, like adding solar panels or extra windows for natural light.

96.3 School Spirit Contest

Please vote for Coverdell in the NOW 96.3 FM School Spirit Contest.  Coverdell can win $5000 to fund service learning projects for our school.  We are currently in 7th place.  The top ten schools move on to round 2.  Every vote counts!

http://www.now963.com/spirit

Fall Break and Reminders

Thank you to all of the parents that came to conferences.  I enjoyed speaking with you about your children.
Over the long weekend students only need to read and have their reading log signed one time.  I encourage you to read more, but you only need one signature on your log.
PTO party money is due ASAP.  $3 covers all three of our parties!
Fall Festival is next Friday, October 13.  Please plan to attend this awesome event.

Weldon Spring Field Trip

Our field trip to Weldon Spring was a huge success.  We learned about food chains and types of soil.  It was a beautiful day so we also got to hike to the top of the disposal cell.  While at the top we filmed a video for Channel One News.  Fingers crossed we get picked for their morning news segment.  Here's some pictures from our trip.

Fall Festival and PTO Party Money and Field Trip Reminder

Green papers were sent home earlier this week from PTO.

One is a permission slip for Fall Festival.  It will be held on October 13.  It is a FREE event, but all participants need a signed permission slip.

The other note was about party money.  PTO asks that every student turn in $3 to cover the cost of class parties.  This is just $1 per party!  Please send in money before October 4 or bring to parent/teacher conferences.

Our field trip to Weldon Spring is tomorrow.  We are leaving around 9:30am.  We will be eating while on the field trip.  Don't forget to bring a lunch, unless you ordered one from the cafeteria.  Also, part of the field trip will be outside so make sure to wear walking shoes and a jacket if needed.

Crider Center Guest Speaker

Ms. Lori from the Crider Center came to speak to our class the past two weeks.  She focused on bullying and how to deal with bullying situations in and out of school. Everyone had a chance to participate in role playing and discussions about bullies. A copy of this flyer is getting sent home with everyone today.

Weekly Homework

This week's homework is pages 56, 58, 60, 62.

On page 58, question 1 asks you to use fraction circles.  DO NOT ANSWER THIS QUESTION!  We don't use fraction circles until unit 3.  Sorry for any confusion.

Book Fair Spirit Week

We will have a Scholastic Book Fair at Coverdell next week.  To get everyone excited and to raise money for free books, we are having a spirit week this week.  See the flyer below for more info.

Animal Tales Assembly

Animal Tales visited Coverdell on Monday.  Students got an up close and personal look at a falcon, coral snake. timber wolf and chinchilla.  The trainer gave lots of interesting facts about how these animals survive in the wild.

Science Night TONIGHT!

Join us for science night tonight from 6:00-7:30.  Our event is sponsored by the St. Louis Science Center this year.  There will be several hands on STEM activities as well as a Lego Robotics presentation.  This event is FREE!  Hope to see  you there.

Constitution Day

We recognized Constitution Day at school today by completing a Webquest.  Students learned facts about the Constitutional Convention, Founding Fathers and states that ratified the document.  Here is the link to the website we used to find our facts.

https://bensguide.gpo.gov/

Field Trip

We are going on a field trip to the Weldon Spring Interpretive Science Center on September 29.  Permission slips were sent home last week.  The cost is $2.  We will be gone from 9:00-1:00 which means we will have to eat lunch there.  Please let me know by Wednesday, September 20  if your child needs to order a lunch from the cafeteria so they can plan accordingly.
Here is the link to the Weldon Spring Site for more information.  We will be doing hands on science activities about habitats and food chains.
Weldon Spring Interpretive Site

Social Studies Regions Projects

We have been learning about the characteristics of the five regions of the United States.  Each group was assigned a region to research on their chrome books.  Information that they had to find included: major landforms, cultural activities unique to the region, average price of gas and housing and the weather and climate.
Once the group finishes their research they have to make a poster and a Google Slide presentation.  Here's some pictures of our progress.  Final products will be posted when we finish.

Reminders

Grandparent's breakfast is this Friday, September 8 from 6:30-7:45 in the cafeteria. 

Parent/Teacher Conference Forms are being sent home today.  Please return by September 12 to ensure you get a time that works for you.

Picture Day is September 13.  Forms will be sent home shortly.

Science Night is September 19 from 6:00-7:30 pm.  Please join us for some fun science activities.

Homework reminder

Because we did not have school on Monday, this week's homework will be due on FRIDAY!

Prodigy

Our class loves an online math game called Prodigy.  It practices all 4th grade level math skills.  Students can battle other students in 4th grade when they answer questions correctly.  The more questions you get correct the stronger your attack will be.  The questions are leveled to help each student work at their own level.  Helpful hints and tutorials are available when the questions get tricky.  This is a great resource for our class and it's highly motivational. Prodigy can be played at home as well.
* Memberships can be purchased for additional member benefits, but this is NOT required for participation at school.

Reminders

Week 2 of homework is due tomorrow - math journal pages 12, 15, 18 and 20.  I hope that everyone has theirs completed in the morning so we can earn a class reward.

Highlights magazine forms are being sent home today.  Please return to school by Friday, August 25.

Grandparents breakfast forms need  to be returned by September 1.

Green spirit wear order forms need to be returned by August 29.

If you have not returned health updates, emergency cards or handbook contracts, please send back ASAP.  Extra copies were sent home yesterday.  If your child didn't receive a new copy, everything is turned in :)

Solar Eclipse

We enjoyed the solar eclipse on Monday.  Everyone wore their glasses and got to watch the eclipse in the field behind school.  Even though we were not in the path of totality, what we got to see was quite incredible.

Homework Reminder

Our first week of homework is due tomorrow.  Math boxes 1.1-1.4 in the student math journal need to be completed before coming to school.  Homework will be checked for completion in the morning.  Anyone who doesn't have all of the pages completed will have to owe recess.  Please do your homework!  And don't forget to get your reading log signed!

Headphones

        4^th graders use Chrome Books for many learning activities throughout the day.  We have a set of headphones for each student to use at school.  However, some students are more comfortable with their own ear buds or headphones.  If your child would like to bring their own headphones or ear buds from home to use during the school year please send them to school next week. This is completely optional.  

Welcome to 4th grade

Welcome to 4th grade.  I'm excited to start a new year of learning, projects and activities.  We will use this blog as a means of communication of upcoming events, special reminders and updates on activities in our classroom.  Please check back often.