October 5th, 2018

 This week the students chose a Native American tribe to write a personal narrative as a child of the tribe. Each student worked on writing a beginning to the narrative starting with a hook (interesting first sentence to draw the reader in) and using character description, setting description and laying the foundation for the story. I am amazed by the enthusiasm and interest in researching all aspects of life as a Native American in Oregon. Included in the Friday Folder this weekend is the field trip form for our trip to the Portland Art Museum at the end of this month. We will be touring the art collection of the Native people of Oregon lead by a docent. Please let me you can chaperone and drive.

Researching together

Sharing information

Choosing the best work space

Learning together

In preparation to write the personal narrative, the students have been reading many mentor texts to see how great writers write. As a class, we are reading Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. Students are listening to me read and reading silently using comprehension strategies to wonder, connect and ask questions. Then they meet in small book club groups to discuss questions each has written on post-it notes. As I walk around to the groups, I hear deep, thoughtful questions and rich discussions.

 

The Fourth Graders have started this years science studies focusing on Earth's Place in the Universe by first studying the Rock Cycle. Together, we have created a poster explaining the complex process of the creation and breaking down of rocks, visited the science lab and experimented with the concepts of weathering, erosion and rock formation. This next week we will be wrapping up the Rock Cycle study with a final project of creating a comic strip demonstrating detailed knowledge of the Rock Cycle.

Volcano lava lab

How do mountains break down? lab

Recording observations

Sedimentary Rock

Applying pressure to create Sedimentary Rock

Pressure and heat create Metamorphic Rocks

Creating magma

Recording observations

Ms. Yuhas helps create Igneous Rocks

Cooled magma creates Igneous Rocks.

Tuesday this week was day one of the Cardboard Challenge. The Fourth Graders worked in groups in the Library to create arcade games. It was so much fun! Mrs. Chambers and I witnessed the engineering process in real time. Students were trying out ideas, encountering challenges, discussing solutions and then trying something new. The Fourth Graders created a Flipgrid video reflecting on the challenges his/her group faced on Day One of building. Please take a moment to look at the Flipgrid with the login paper your Fourth Grader has in his/her planner. Each group made great progress and will have one more day to put finishing touches on the game. Wednesday morning recess will be the debut of arcade games to first K, 1 & 2, then to 3 & 5.

The entire Madeleine School gathered outside the Parish Hall on Thursday afternoon for the
Blessing of the Pets in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. It was a beautiful day filled with love for our
pets and chocolate chip cookies.

Blessings,
Jenn Langhus