Mark your calendars! This year’s Open House is taking place on Wednesday, May 22nd from 6:30-7:30 PM. We’ll have photo slideshows, work on the walls, and loads of fun! See you soon!
As part of our final Star of the Week board, I am asking that every student bring in ONE photograph of themselves as a baby or toddler. On Open House, students and parents will have the opportunity to guess which fourth grader is which! Please bring in your photograph no later than Tuesday, May 21st. Remember to have a name on the back so they can be easily returned to their owners. Thank you!
We’re feeling the summertime vibe while we review the different types of figurative language we learned this trimester: simile, metaphor, alliteration, onomatopoeia, idiom, hyperbole, and personification!
Due Date: Monday, May 20th
For extra science points, students may create a model of the earth’s layers.
Anything goes as long as your sphere displays each of the four layers proportionally!
Possible Methods: Paper mache, clay, wood, edible items (cake, peanut butter, crumbs – be creative!), etc.
Our class has begun our biography projects! Years ago, we were fortunate enough to have a collection of the “Who Was _____?” biography series donated to our classroom via DonorsChoose. Last Friday, each student chose and began reading one these biographies. Students should finish reading their books and taking their notes by this Thursday. For this project, students will read their biography, take notes on the cardstock bookmarks provided (see below if you need another), write three full paragraphs, draw a portrait of their subject, and create a poster with all of the above information. These criteria are outlined in the letter below that was sent home on April 26th.
I will provide the necessary materials as well as some time in class to complete the project. Some reading, note taking, and paragraph editing will be done at home. Please give your child support and guidance. Remind them to take many notes in order to facilitate the writing of their paragraphs! The due date will be May 17th (Please note the old due date, if you look at the letter link below. The bright green copy you signed is correct — May 17th). Please contact me if you have any questions. Some examples from past years can be seen here.
Biography Report Parent Letter
Biography Outline — Early Life
Hello, all! As you know, Wilson students are in the process of preparing for the California Department of Education’s STAR Tests, beginning on May 6th. In fourth grade, we’re required to take both an English-Language Arts exam, as well as one for Math. The students have done a great job so far (we already took the writing portion of our test back in March)! Please make sure your child has plenty of rest each night and a healthy breakfast each morning. If you’d like to sample the style of these tests (not that you haven’t seen all the prep come home already, 
), feel free to visit http://www.starsamplequestions.org.
In honor of Earth Day, our language arts class took a walk around every inch of our campus. We gathered up all the trash we could find, enjoyed our garden space, and helped make the school a healthier place! What are you doing at home to celebrate Earth and keep our planet safe? Let us know by commenting on this post!
Reminder: Spring Picture Day will take place on Thursday, April 25th. If you would like photos, please be sure that you send money with your child. Only prepaid orders will be taken! There will be no make-ups or re-takes.
Language Arts: Figurative Language, Making Predictions, Following Multiple-Step Instructions
Mathematics: Order of Operations (PEMDAS), Coordinate Graphing, Number Lines + Review of Degrees/Turns
Social Studies: Chapter Four – Mexican Rule in California
Science: Chapter Three – Rocks and Minerals (just begun)
During PE, the children have been informed of Growing Healthy Children, a free walk/run at Bidwell Park on Saturday, April 20, 2013. The purpose of this 7th annual event is to “address the current epidemic of obesity by heightening the community’s awareness of the need for good nutrition and physical activity as a part of a healthy lifestyle.” There were over 1,200 participants last year who were able to taste new foods at various booths, see school garden projects, and learn about a variety of exercises that can be done at home without expensive equipment. Click here to register for the event and provide your child with an opportunity for fun, food, and good health!
This Wednesday, April 10th, Rooms 36 and 32 will attend a field trip to the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. Please be sure to wear long pants and comfortable closed-toed shoes! This is very important! Students should also bring a snack that can fit in their pockets (apple, small bag of crackers, etc.) and a water bottle. Buses will leave promptly at 8:30 AM. Please arrive early; this is a minimum day and time is of the essence! Let’s get outside! 
Our current Accelerated Reading goal is 22.5 points. Our Accelerated Math goal is 36 objectives. 15.8 AR points and 25 AM objectives are required for a passing grade. If your child is behind, time will be given during recess and/or lunch to attain this week's goal. 
