Mystery Skype #4, #5, and reconnecting with a class for #6, drafting our Realistic Fiction stories, YWP, and identifying minerals!

This month is almost done and we have done so many fun things!  Let's back up and start from the top.  Earlier in the month we connected with a class in Michigan!  During this Mystery Skype we each had our jobs!  Almost everyone was in a new job, but some of us repeated the jobs we have had to help train others.  During this Skype, we discussed the GRA-The 14th Goldfish! We asked questions about the characters, made predictions together and shared our favorite parts so far.  This week, or today, we actually had 2 Skypes.  Our first Skype was a Mystery Skype without any jobs, we gathered in front of the camera and gave clues about our state while listening to clues about the other class's state!  It turned out that we were Skyping with a class from Delaware.  We learned that Delaware was the 1st state and their town Lewis, was the first town in Delaware!  Delaware is a peninsula which means they are almost completely surrounded by water on all sides except one!  We guessed where they were calling from before they guessed where we were!  We are getting efficient with our mapping skills and our clues narrow us down to VT, but don't give it away!  At the end of this skype we also discusses The 14th Goldfish!  Our 2nd Skype was a reconnect with a 3rd Grade class in Chicago!  Together we discussed The 14th Goldfish and our Guest Scientists, Albert Einstein (Abbie and Logan) and Marie Curie (Tess) shared their history and successes with all of us!

Now, for the rest of the happenings in Endeavor 4th Grade!  

Today we learned about UNICEF!  We watched these two videos and talked together about how we can help children all over the world!

Video about Nirmala

Video about the need for clean water!

In math class we are working on multiplication and using arrays and quick sketches to accurately and efficiently solve 2 digit by 1 digit multiplication problems!  We also took a Number Corner Check up and persevered in doing some really hard math!  We took our math fluency quiz and most of us improved our score by 3 to 4 facts, one of us even got 8 more facts in the minute!  Our data shows that studying our facts at school and at night will help us become fluent and will lead them to be part of our long term memory!  Way to go Endeavor!  

In Writing, we have been working on our realistic fiction stories, making our characters come alive and writing to show what's happening, not just telling!

In Reading we have been buried in Nonfiction about Geology!  We have been focused on finding the structure of text and using graphic organizers to record our new learning about the types of rocks, the rock cycle, minerals, rocks and mineral uses and more!  We also used BrainPop to listen closely to information about mountains and plate tectonics while filling in graphic organizers to keep track of our notes!  Ask your child about Pangea!  Lastly, we read 2 short pieces about the Mantis Shrimp and practiced taking notes based on one question "How does the Mantis Shrimp protect itself!  We then used our notes to draft a quick and messy paragraph answering the question. 

Oh yeah!  Here are some pictures form our Mix It Up time with Ms. Elias's class of Kindergarteners!

We hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!  On Monday we welcome Kylee to our class!   

Written by Albert Einstein 1 and 2, Marie Curie and Vasanthi