Dear Parents and Students,

Happy Spring! March 20th marks the official first day of spring. However, I feel the students had an extra spring of energy in them this week with the sunshine and warmer weather. I hope it will continue on our off-track break.

Students were excited for their upcoming off-track adventures, including vacations, sleeping in, visiting the new Herriman Recreation Center, and of coarse their "Wax Museum Reports." I reminded students to use their time off to have fun and get a head start on their report:D. I hope you will continue to encourage your students to read each day they are off track to keep things fresh.

On Friday, students participated in the school's "Monster Math" contest. I was proud each student's determination to perform their best. Student's demonstrated great team work and problem solving skills. Way to go Bobcats!

For those of you who may be seeking a head start on the Wax Museum's Report, the requirements are listed below.

Wax Museum Biography Report
DUE THURSDAY, MAY 26TH

Dear Parents and Students,

Throughout this year, 4th graders have been and are studying Utah history. There have been many people throughout Utah history that have made important changes, discoveries, inventions, and ideas in history. All 4th graders will be involved in researching, reading, and writing a biography about a person significant to Utah’s history. Students will participate in a wax museum for parents and the school student body to share their learning about the person they studied.
The requirements for this project include:

1. Read and research information about your person. Information can be found in nonfiction informational books found at the school or local library, biographies, encyclopedias, and on the Internet. Please make sure to work with a parent when looking information up on the Internet. Some helpful websites include:
http://www.onlineutah.com/famousutahns.shtml
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S0000133,shtml
http://thingstodo.com/states/UT/famous_people.htm
http://www.50states.com/bio/utah.htm

2. Write a biography report. Reports should be at least 200 words, typed or written in your very best cursive writing. They should be in YOUR OWN WORDS! Reports should be written with proper punctuation and spelling. Follow the “Biography Assignment outline”

3. Prepare an oral report to present during the wax museum. Oral reports should not exceed 3 minutes. Pick out some favorite information from your written biography report to share with the others during the wax museum. Practice the oral report several times before you give it aloud. Remember to use eye contact, and good vocal expression. Make your report interesting and fun! You will receive a grade on your oral presentation and another grade for your written report.

4. Wax Museum. On the day of your class’ wax museum presentations, please dress up like the person you studied. If it adds to your presentation, you may bring visual aides that can fit on a students’ desk.

I hope you will enjoy your time with our students on everyday adventures. See you soon!
Mrs. Yates

Wet and Wild Adventures!

Dear Parents and Students,

Spring is definitely making school wet and wild! Students are enjoying the warmer weather, despite its unpredictability. Just as the sun energizes the water cycle, I am finding it excites the students as well.

We have continued a study of geometry this week in investigating symmetry and transformations. Students enjoyed using pentominoes and their bodies to model the movements of slides, flips and turns. They now know these words are describes as transformation, rotation, and reflection. What fun it has been to explore shapes, symmetry and reflections. I am amazed at the students everyday connections, including the reflection of the words "race car," "mom," and "was saw." I hope you will encourage your students to continue their learning connections at home and in the car.

History has really come alive in our "Historical Fiction" genre study. Students have read books about the Civil Rights Movement in Abby Takes a Stand, immigrants at Ellis Island in Orphan of Ellis Island, Titanic sinking in SOS Titanic, Ireland's famine in Nory Ryan's Song, and Mexican Revolution in Esperanza Rising. It has been fun to see the students minds explore the exciting past and how it has effected our present day. Way to go Bobcats!

Our curriculum goals for the week include:

Reading: Water & Weather Nonfiction
Spelling: Long/Short Vowels, Accented Syllables, Prefixes/Suffixes
Writing: Wax Museum Introduction

Math: Geometry- circles, area, perimeter

Science: Weather Instruments
Social Studies: Pioneers

I love learning and growing with your students each day. Thank you for all your support through emails, phone calls, donations, and bright smiles.

Mrs. Yates

March Madness!

Dear Parents and Students,

"Oh the Places You'll Go" with 4th graders. What a week of fun with learning. Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” I think our class has shown this to be true this week.

Students transformed into drops of water in creating skits to show the steps in the water cycle. Our friend "Drippy" splashed and soaked his way through wet and wild water cycle. Watch out for examples of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation all around you this week.

We have begun a new math unit: Geometry. Students are exploring angles and lines: acute, obtuse, right, perpendicular, intersecting, and parallel. Our eyes have scavengered our classroom and playground for everyday examples. I hope you will encourage your students to continue their scavenger hunt at home and in the car.

Coyotes, minks, and BEAVERS oh my! In connection with our study of Utah trappers, students had an opportunity to meet a mountain man this week. He is the most famous mountain man - Etmo! Student loved hearing his courageous hunting adventures alongside famous Utah trappers. Thank you Etmo for your time and stories!

Our curriculum goals for the week include:

Reading: Historical Fiction Genre
Spelling: Long/Short Vowels, Accented Syllables, Prefixes/Suffixes
Writing: Creative Writing

Math: Geometry- angles, symmetry and transformations

Science: Water Cycle
Social Studies: Trappers and Traders

I love learning and growing with your students each day. Thank you for all your support through emails, phone calls, donations, and bright smiles.

Mrs. Yates