September Projects

September 11th

Today in class, in honor of 9/11, we discussed, "Who is your hero?"  The students each wrote a little note to their hero to tell he or she why they are a hero.  I am sending home a Scholastic News magazine today which discusses September 11th. We did not read it in class, however, you can choose if you would like to share the information with your child.  As adults, we will never forget...

Back to School Night

Tuesday, September 9th

6:00-6:15 Mr. Magnuson and PTA 

6:15-7:00 - first presentation

7:00-7:45 - second presention

7:45-8:00 BSI meeting

Scholastic Orders

The September Scholastic Book Orders were sent home today with your child.  There are two forms, "4th Grade" and "Arrow".  You can fill out the order form and either send in cash or a check made out to "Scholastic". You can also order online - this is how it works:

• use the information below to access the Scholastic Book Clubs Web site
• browse the titles and place your order with your credit card
• your order comes to me, and your credit card payment goes directly to Scholastic - no need to send $ to school

web address:  https://www.scholastic.com/bookclubs

activation code: GTGQX

Scholastic Book Clubs are an easy and affordable way to find books kids love.  

Every time you place an order, we receive free books for our classroom library!

If you have any questions, please contact me!  

hdowd@oxfordcentral.org 

Setting up the classroom..

Hello Fourth Graders!

I have been in school this past week getting the classroom ready for our new school year. I have changed the desk arrangements a few times, but I think I have found a great set up for us! Check out the classroom - remember, it is still a work in progress, and will look neater when you arrive on September 2nd!

Enjoying your time off?

End of the year :-(

First, I want to apologize for taking so long to post lately. There were changes to passwords and log-in names that took some time to sort through. It has been an incredibly fast ending to the year; and I am so proud of how the students have "FINISHED STRONG!!" (our class motto for the end of the year) I posted all of the Biography Projects and Pictures from the LSC Field Trip!!

Last, thank you all for the kind wishes! I completely plan on having a full recovery from the torn acl and meniscus.

Last few weeks

I hope you are all working hard during your last few weeks of 4th grade.   

You are probably learning about MARE kelp forest/eel grass now in Science...Here is a really cool website to show some info about the kelp forest:

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I will do my best to stop by before the end of the year.  Until then, here is a little video of Wyatt - he is 6 weeks old!

Wyatt Christopher Dowd

Baby Wyatt arrived Sunday, April 21st at 3:07pm.

He was 7 pounds 4 ounces and 19 inches long.

Here are a few pictures of him!

Wyatt - one week old - April 28, 2013 at 3:07pm

so happy to be home

Our first family picture - Wyatt Christopher -
April 21, 2013 ~3:07pm
7 pounds 4 ounces ~ 19 inches long

Science review for the test!

Here are some links to help with the science material for the test on Tuesday. Sorry for the confusion with the date! I accidentally combined two different dates!

Watch this video before you play the games

http://www.eschooltoday.com/energy/kinds-of-energy/heat-transfer-by-conduction.html
http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/heat-energy-games/heat-energy-matchit.html
http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/heat-energy-games/heat-cardflip.html
http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/heat-energy-games/heat-energy-word-o-rama.html

One week...

Can you believe it has been a week since I saw all of you?  So far, baby is still staying put.  I'll update everyone as soon as he arrives :)
Hope you are all doing your best work!
:)
Mrs. Dowd

States of Matter Game

Report Cards

Report Cards were sent home today - I'm very impressed with the excellent grades!  We did not receive the honor roll or high honor roll information before they were sent home today, so certificates will be sent home after spring break.

States of Matter video

Recycled bottles

This week, we discussed recycling in Science.  The students brought in plastic water bottles and we made spring flowers out of the bottles!

Read Across America

Mrs. Nyman read to us Friday

Mayor Ort came in today

Measuring with Angles

Brainpop Civil War movie

Respect

We have been discussing the character trait "respect" over the past 2 weeks. As a journal writing activity today, the students responded to the following question.  Check out their answers:

Names hurt your feelings and make people sad. 

Names do hurt people. They can affect your heart. Bad names are not nice and you should never use them.

You can call someone a name and they can get their feelings hurt.

I think that’s a lie! Words that aren’t nice do hurt.

Words can stick with you forever.

Name calling can hurt your feelings inside. 

Sticks and stones can hurt you, but your feelings can get hurt by names and words.

If people say ‘shut up’ or ‘you’re a jerk’ it does hurt.

Hearing people say unkind words and names can put you in a bad mood.

Sticks and stones can hurt you in a physical way. Names can hurt your heart.

You should never call people names – treat people the way you want to be treated.

Names do hurt. They are like poison or someone losing an arm. Some people will just try to ignore it but you can only ignore so much.

If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Sticks and stones can break your bones but names can hurt even more. 

Canal Projects - NJ Transportation Unit

January Book Review Puppets

The students read biography reports, then created a puppet that looked like their famous person...

Martin Luther King, Jr,

BrainPop movie on MLK

Watch a shortened version of the "I Have a Dream" Speech

Tornado Video

Watch the tornado video, then play the weather games from January 3rd.

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Happy New Year!

Enjoy your winter break

Mitten Sewing

We are looking forward to our annual Mitten Sewing on Monday!  Students will get to sew on two buttons and learn the whip stitch.  They will bring home 18 little items that I will 'stuff' into their mittens.  The mitten and their little 'trinkets' will be sent home on Friday.

Weather Report &Prediction Game

Report and predict the weather with this fun game!

Latitude and Longitude practice

Hurricane Sandy Before and After

In Science we have been discussing ecosystems and how they are changed by people and natural disasters.  Click on the link below to see before and after pictures of Hurricane Sandy's destruction in New Jersey.

Hurricane Sandy

I'm Thankful

We are thankful for:

• Mom's pumpkin pie
• Dad's gravy
• Grandmom's apple crisp
• my dog
• getting to see my cousins
• spending time with family
• seeing the Thanksgiving Day parade
• going shopping at 5am with my parents

Veterans Day

Today the students watched a short video and read a poem about Veterans Day.  They worked with a small group to create Veterans poems.  Here are the poems they wrote:






Very brave
Eon was a brave soldier
Trustworthy
Empathetic
Respected
Always working
Nervous
Soldiers
~written by Ian, Jacob, & Zachary Ro.

Veterans Day
Explains
That
Everyone
Represents
All
National guards and armed forces
Some schools are closed on this day
~written by Nathan, Gavin, & Cayle

Vietnam
Everyone
Thought
Eventually we'll win
Rights
Afghanistan
Non-stop fighting
Soldiers
~written by Natania, Megan, & Morgan

Vietnam was a war
Environments are safer
Troops who serve our country
Education for us & the troops
Running for freedom!
Awesome weapons
No more war!!!
Soldiers serve for our country
~written by Kara, Jaiden, & Stephanie

Vietnam
Earned
Tough
Effort
Reliable
Achievement
Navy
Sacrifice
~written by Brianna, Danielle, & Carley

Veterans
Empathy
Thoughtful
Excellent
Ranks high and low
All matter
Never give up
Serve our country
~written by Zach Re. & Carter

Victories and losing
Equipment such as guns
Tanks in war
Endure against all odds
Remembering them in the
Army
Not forgetting their
Sacrifices
~written by Avery

Hats Off for the Shore!

We had "hat day" today, with all donations going towards the Hurricane Sandy natural disaster.  The kids in our class brought in $20.25 and I matched their donation.  4D was able to donate $40.50 towards the cause.  Awesome job!

WE VOTED!

Today we read about the Presidential candidates and discussed their views on education, the economy, and health care.  We discussed 'the voting booth' and that 'your vote is your own private, personal choice'.  After reading the facts about Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, the students had a chance to vote for President.  They went behind the 'voting booth curtain', checked off their vote for President, and placed their ballot in the 'ballot basket'.  I counted up the students votes:  Mitt Romney 9 and Barack Obama 8.  We will find out soon who will be our new President!

I hope you are safe...UPDATED...

We finally have power back in the Dowd house... I hope you do too...

If we are back in school Mon.-Wed., we will have 1/2 day schedules with a 1pm dismissal time for students.  Parent/teacher conferences will be held as planned.  If you are unable to attend your conference, please send in a note with your child and we can try to reschedule another date/time.  We WILL be in school Thursday, Nov.8 and Friday, Nov.9th!

Lunch Schedule
Mon: Mac and Cheese
Tues: Pizza
Wed: Chicken Nuggets
Thurs: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
Fri: Twin Tacos

As for tests/quizzes, we will make them up towards the end of the week, which will give the kids time to get back in the swing of things.  The Science Ecosystem project due date will be extended and should be turned in by Monday, November 12th.  If it is already completed, feel free to send it in early.

I hope you are able to stay safe and warm, and have food and clean water to drink.  

See you soon,

Mrs. Heather Dowd