Tree-planting in Indian Valley with help from Merrill and Ring and Sitkum Tree Service last week gave first hand experience to our fourth graders with one of the areas major and historical resources and commercial enterprises. Some teams of two and three students planted as many as 32 trees and learned to distinguish between Western Red Cedar and Douglas Fir trees.

Today is "Poem In Your Pocket" day.

Try Again

'Tis a lesson you should heed,
Try, try, try again;
If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try, try again.
Once or twice though you should fail
Try again;
If you would at last prevail,
Try again.
If we strive, 'tis no disgrace
Though we may not win the race;
What should you do in that case?
Try again.
If you find your task is hard,
Try again;
Time will bring you your reward,
Try again.
All that other folks can do,
With your patience should not you?
Only keep this rule in view—
Try again.

On Friday, April 18th, our class will travel by bus to Indian Valley to plant trees with help from Merrill and Ring, the Department of Natural Resources, and Sitkum Tree Service. Two field trips in one week! (Today was the short trek to the bridge for the opening ceremony with our kindergarten buddies.)

We are looking forward to a memorable trip although the weather is, as usual, unpredictable and good shoes and rain coats or slickers are strongly advised.

No need to pack a lunch for this field trip since we will return to Franklin by 11 AM

The fourth graders are learning to convert improper fractions to mixed numbers this week. For example, 9/4 (nine fourths) converts to 2 and 1/4 (two and one fourth). Using the pizza example, you can think of two pizzas with each divided into four parts, or slices. If you have nine slices, then that is one more slice than eight slices, or two whole pizzas with one more slice. In other words, nine fourths equals two and one fourth.
Tomorrow the fourth graders will read one of their friendly letters about what one should expect in fourth grade to their kindergarten buddies. Then they will help them write their own friendly letter, which will likely be the first letter the kindergarteners have ever written, at least in school.

The Family History Reports are in and on the bulletin board for Room 17. As expected, they are some of the best reports in many years.

At this time the students are finishing their oral presentations where each student reads one of the anecdotes within their report that was shared by a relative.

Later this week we hope to receive our pen pal letters from Sierra Leone. This time each of our fourth graders will write to a specific student from the other class, and we are considering including a self-portrait drawn with oil pastels. In fact, today the fourth graders helped their kindergarten buddies draw and color self-portraits.

More on Family History Reports

Interviews

Take notes about your family members (at least three people). Ask where they were born, lived, went to school and worked. What were things like when they were your age? What hobbies do they have? Finally, and most importantly, ask for an anecdote form their life. In other words, ask your relative to share a story from their life. It can be just about anything, but this is always the most interesting part of the Family History Report to read during the oral presentation to the other fourth-graders.

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.

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.