Thursday, December 19, 2013



More on Family History Reports

Introduction

I am writing this report about my family history. It is a project for Mr. Burnett’s fourth grade class, but I plan to keep it for a long time. Maybe some of my relatives will be interested and want to read it. I have learned many interesting things about some of them during the interviews. I am glad they were willing to share anecdotes from their lives with me. I am very proud of my family, and I hope you enjoy reading my report.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Family History Report

This week the fourth graders in Room 17 will be give the Family History Report project assignment. Yesterday's lesson on interviewing will likely result in requests for interviews of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and possibly other extended family members. Although the report is not due until the end of January, this is the time of year when many relatives gather for the holidays providing an opportune time to conduct the interviews. The other parts of the report can be completed after the holidays, so students need not spend two weeks doing major homework! Here, however, is the complete assignment:
Family History Report
 
1. Interview family members. Take notes on notecards.                     
 
2. Take notes about your family members:                                      
          a. traditions
          b. background/childhood
          c. jobs
          d. hobbies
          e. anecdotes/stories
 
3. Write paragraphs from your notes. Add an introduction and
     conclusion to your report.  (rough draft)                                              
 
4. Proofread your report. Revise and make corrections. Write final
    draft.                                                                                            
 
5. Indicate on the maps (U.S. and World) where your family and
    relatives have come from.                                                            
 
6. Include Family Tree.                                                                    
 
7. Include a self-portraits and/or family photos.                              
 
8. Make an attractive cover for your report.                                     
 
9. Copy a favorite family recipe for your report.                             
 
10.Present your report orally in class.                                               
 
11.Make a bibliography for your report.                                         
 
 
 
 
 

 

Monday, December 9, 2013

This week the fourth-graders are working on an opinion essay about "Dear Mr. Winston," a story from our Reading book. Mr. Winston is a librarian who is scared stiff of snakes, even those featured in library books favored by a young girl who brings a real snake into the library one day. Mr. Winston is traumatized and winds up in the hospital. The girl's parents make her write an apology letter to Mr. Winston, but her remorse is questionable. Our fourth-graders are now asked to decide if they sympathize with Mr. Winston and feel sorry for him, or if they find him a rather silly character. In this essay they must give reasons for either opinion. Stay tuned for upcoming Writing examples.

For the record, the answer to the Science test question, "In which state of matter is ice?" is not 'Alaska!'
The correct answer is 'solid.'