Students used the Amazing Race Across Texas challenge cards to conduct research and gather evidence to support the claim above. By working their way through all of the cards, they learned about the culture, geography and economy of Texas!
Friday, September 30, 2016
The Amazing Race Across Texas!
Claim: The state of Texas is the most unique and interesting state in all of the United States of America.
Students used the Amazing Race Across Texas challenge cards to conduct research and gather evidence to support the claim above. By working their way through all of the cards, they learned about the culture, geography and economy of Texas!
Students used the Amazing Race Across Texas challenge cards to conduct research and gather evidence to support the claim above. By working their way through all of the cards, they learned about the culture, geography and economy of Texas!
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Comparing Decimals can be a challenge. Imagine the number 3.14 and the number 3.3. A common misconception among fourth graders who are learning about decimals for the first time is that three tenths is smaller than thirteen hundredths. They sometimes think this because the whole number thirteen is larger than three. Don't worry though, with enough exposure, correction, and practice a true understanding of place value will develop. It helps to think of everyday examples to solidify this. For example, first adding a zero into the hundredths place of 3.3 so that it is 3.30 and then thinking of the numbers as money amounts. $3.14 vs $3.30. It's amazing what a difference a dollar sign and a zero can make. Here are some pictures of a game that our scholars played where they created and compared decimals. Our goal was to practice the skill and make it a little interesting.
Words Their Way Spelling
Scholars have begun the Word Their Way Spelling program. Here's our weekly schedule:
- Monday
- Scholars sort words into categories by spelling pattern and receive their spelling lists.
- The practice lists are posted on the SpellingCity App and to http://www.spellingcity.com/lambert4th/ .
- Spelling words are homework.
- Scholars should use SpellingCity at home to practice their assigned words with games or by taking a practice test.
- Thursday
- Tests include 10 words from the practice list and 4 "mystery" words that follow that week's pattern.
- Scholars use SpellingCity to take their tests.
- They have the option to either type or write their words on notebook paper.
- Students then write the words into categories based on their spelling pattern.
Monday, September 26, 2016
TEKS Check Review
If you want to see the Kahoot! That your scholars did in class today and review it with them, click HERE! Please have your scholar bring their science notebook back to class tomorrow! Happy studying!
This Week's Learning Objectives
Math- I can identify numbers on a number line to the nearest hundredth. I can compare and order decimals down to the hundredths place value.
Science- Test and Review - matter and energy
Social Studies- I can research what makes Texas a unique and interesting state. I can identify, locate, and compare the geographic regions of Texas.
Reading- I can make inferences and summarize texts.
Writing- I can write about an important personal experience. I can revise my narrative writing.
Science- Test and Review - matter and energy
Social Studies- I can research what makes Texas a unique and interesting state. I can identify, locate, and compare the geographic regions of Texas.
Reading- I can make inferences and summarize texts.
Writing- I can write about an important personal experience. I can revise my narrative writing.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Watts Going on in Fourth Grade
Week of September 26-30
Last week was an exciting week as scholars got to dive into design challenges and other exciting learning opportunities. Thank you to all the scholars and families that donated water bottles to help make the water filter design challange possible. Even the fourth grade teachers got a chance to learn some new instructional strategies thanks to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History!
There are a few reminders that we want to make sure you are aware of this week. First, our scholars have the exciting opportunity to visit the Grapevine water treatment plant next week on October 4th. A permission slip was sent home last week. If you have not seen one, have your scholar ask their homeroom teacher to provide them with another one. Second, your scholars have their first TEKS check (test) in Science this Tuesday, September 27th. More details about this can be found below. Third, students will be coming home with Words Their Way spelling list this week. Each student has been assigned to a color group so that they will be assigned a spelling list that best meets their needs as a speller.
Science TEKS checks
If you have been in GCISD in the past, you know what TEKS checks are. For those scholars and parents who are new, they are the tests given at the end of a Science unit. They are written by the district and a valuable way to assess your scholar on what they have learned throughout the unit. In the past, some teachers have sent home study guides. This year, I sent home their Science Notebooks. We put valuable information into these on almost a daily basis. Everything they need to know to be successful can be found in their notebook. If you want to see a breakdown of what your child is expected to know, you can find that HERE.
Attendance
Cannon has started a school wide effort to increase attendance and decrease the number of tardies. Each classroom is working on setting up a reward system to encourage scholars to make it to school and to be on time. We value the time we get with our scholars and want them to miss as little as possible. Ask your scholar about what they are doing in their classroom!
Choir Mini-Performances Scheduled
Choir practice is in full swing and Mr. Lollis has scheduled some mini-performances for the choirs at upcoming Friday assemblies. The choirs will only perform one song (2-3 minutes long) during these assemblies, but it provides a great opportunity for the choir students to sing in front of an audience and the rest of our Cannon Cubs always love to be entertained by our Cannon choirs!
Cannon Cub Choir (3rd-5th graders) will be doing a mini-performance at the Friday Assembly scheduled for September 30th at 7:40 am. Students will be performing one song called The Spider and The Fly, which can be found in the Google Classroom.
Ositos Choir (1st & 2nd graders) will do their mini-performance at the Friday Assembly scheduled for October 7th at 7:40 am.
Members of these choirs should plan to wear their choir shirts, jeans, and sneakers on and be at the gym no later than 7:30 am on the date of their scheduled mini-performance.
Parents are welcome to attend!
Designing Water Filters
As we dive into and finish our unit on mixtures and solutions, scholars got the chance to dive into their first multi-day design challange in Science. After talking about the properties that help us separate mixtures and solutions, they were given a scenario. First they were told a story about a girl from India who was concerned about the water in the Ganges river. You can find a short version of the story HERE. Then scholars watched a video talking about the importance of water and how not everyone has access to clean/safe drinking water. We discussed how lucky we are that we don't have to walk six hours every day to get drinking water and then fear that it might be unsafe to drink.
This lead us to our challange. Your scholars were challenged to create a hand held water filter that could be easily carried long distances and would get the water as clean as possible. Scholars researched and tested different materials they might use to create their filters. After days of researching, testing and planning, scholars were finally about to create and test their designs. I was impressed by how clean they were able to get the water. Check out some before and after pictures below!
This lead us to our challange. Your scholars were challenged to create a hand held water filter that could be easily carried long distances and would get the water as clean as possible. Scholars researched and tested different materials they might use to create their filters. After days of researching, testing and planning, scholars were finally about to create and test their designs. I was impressed by how clean they were able to get the water. Check out some before and after pictures below!
Monday, September 19, 2016
Recently we have begun to learn about decimals. It has been clear to us that our scholars are so excited to begin learning about something so new. A 'point'er (ha ha) to help your scholar. Try reading decimals 'correctly' with place value names. For example when you see 6.97, instead of saying "six-point-nine-seven," instead try saying " six and ninety-seven hundredths." To a Fourth grader who is just learning about decimals and will be expected to recognize the word form of a decimal, this will be invaluable.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
This Weeks Learning Objectives
Math- I can compare and order decimals down to the hundredths place value.
Science- I can compare and contrast a variety of mixtures and solutions.
Social Studies- I can research what makes Texas a unique and interesting state. I can identify, locate, and compare the geographic regions of Texas.
Reading- I can make inferences and summarize texts.
Writing- I can write about an important personal experience. I can spell Doubling sight words.
Watts Going on in Fourth
Week of September 19-23
If you did not hear, we had visitors from our sister city of West Lothian Scotland. Check out the Cannon Facebook page to see pictures of their visit!
Be looking for permission forms coming home this week about an upcoming field trip and see below about how you can help support us in our next design challange!
Be looking for permission forms coming home this week about an upcoming field trip and see below about how you can help support us in our next design challange!
Design Challenge! We need YOUR Help!
Starting this week, our scholars will be diving into their next design challenge. In order for it to be a success, we need around 50 empty water bottles! It does not matter the brand, we will take any you are willing to donate! Have your scholar bring them to Ms. Jacobson's room! Thank you for your help and support!
North Texas Giving Day Is Thursday, 9/22!
Each year generous supporters, like our GCISD parents, participate in the annual North Texas Giving Day, to make donations to Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Education Foundation. This year, this online event is scheduled for Thursday, September 22, from 6 a.m. to midnight.
Your generous support makes a meaningful difference to the students and teachers of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Education Foundation is changing lives every day by generating and providing resources to GCISD students and teachers in our quest to “Build Excellent Schools Together.”
All gifts you make to the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Education Foundation on September 22nd will increase their impact by allowing them to grant more funds to teachers and for district programs as “Team GCISD” continues working to Build Excellent Schools Together for ALL students to have the BEST future possible.
Please remember that 100% of ALL donations stay in GCISD to support ALL students and teachers!
Follow the GC Education Foundation on Facebook so you can share in the excitement of a day of giving on September 22!
Each year generous supporters, like our GCISD parents, participate in the annual North Texas Giving Day, to make donations to Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Education Foundation. This year, this online event is scheduled for Thursday, September 22, from 6 a.m. to midnight.
Your generous support makes a meaningful difference to the students and teachers of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Education Foundation is changing lives every day by generating and providing resources to GCISD students and teachers in our quest to “Build Excellent Schools Together.”
All gifts you make to the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Education Foundation on September 22nd will increase their impact by allowing them to grant more funds to teachers and for district programs as “Team GCISD” continues working to Build Excellent Schools Together for ALL students to have the BEST future possible.
Please remember that 100% of ALL donations stay in GCISD to support ALL students and teachers!
Follow the GC Education Foundation on Facebook so you can share in the excitement of a day of giving on September 22!
Choir Mini-Performances Scheduled
Choir practice is in full swing and Mr. Lollis has scheduled some mini-performances for the choirs at upcoming Friday assemblies. The choirs will only perform one song (2-3 minutes long) during these assemblies, but it provides a great opportunity for the choir students to sing in front of an audience and the rest of our Cannon Cubs always love to be entertained by our Cannon choirs!
Cannon Cub Choir (3rd-5th graders) will be doing a mini-performance at the Friday Assembly scheduled for September 30th at 7:40 am. Students will be performing one song called The Spider and The Fly, which can be found in the Google Classroom.
Ositos Choir (1st & 2nd graders) will do their mini-performance at the Friday Assembly scheduled for October 7th at 7:40 am.
Members of these choirs should plan to wear their choir shirts, jeans, and sneakers on and be at the gym no later than 7:30 am on the date of their scheduled mini-performance.
Parents are welcome to attend!
Watch D.O.G.S. at Cannon
Calling all Dads! Please consider becoming a Watch D.O.G. (Dads of Great Students) at Cannon Elementary. WATCH D.O.G.S. is a one-of-a-kind, school-based father involvement program that works to support education and safety
Come learn how YOU can become a WatchDOG at the Kickoff Rally, scheduled on Monday, 9/19 from 6:00-7:00 pm. Free pizza will be available for dads & kids, while our Top Dog dads share information about the program!
Literacy Symposium Invitation for GCISD Parents
Reflections 2016-2017 Chair Position Open!
Are you looking for a creative way to contribute to our school? Please consider accepting the PTA Reflections Chair position. The PTA Reflections Chair is responsible for promoting the Reflections program at Cannon, picking a due date in October, collecting entries, arranging for judging of entries.
This year's theme for the Reflections contest is: "What is Your Story?" Students in preschool through grade 12 may create and submit works of art in six categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts For more information visit http://www.txpta.org/programs/reflections/
Responsibilities for this chair position include:
- August – October: Distribute program rules, guidelines and entry forms.
- End of October/Early November: Collect entries. (the Chair determines actual date)
- November – December: Host the judging event (chair determines date) and advance your entries to the next level of judging (Council level).
- December – May: Recognize the students who participated and promote any future plans for the program. During this time, you may also introduce the next theme.
Are you looking for a creative way to contribute to our school? Please consider accepting the PTA Reflections Chair position. The PTA Reflections Chair is responsible for promoting the Reflections program at Cannon, picking a due date in October, collecting entries, arranging for judging of entries.
This year's theme for the Reflections contest is: "What is Your Story?" Students in preschool through grade 12 may create and submit works of art in six categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts For more information visit http://www.txpta.org/programs/reflections/
Responsibilities for this chair position include:
- August – October: Distribute program rules, guidelines and entry forms.
- End of October/Early November: Collect entries. (the Chair determines actual date)
- November – December: Host the judging event (chair determines date) and advance your entries to the next level of judging (Council level).
- December – May: Recognize the students who participated and promote any future plans for the program. During this time, you may also introduce the next theme.
This Week in Science
As we wrapped up the week talking about changes in Matter, students got to extend their learning by making a stop motion video about how the particles of matter move and how that changed when heat is added or taken away.
Then we started exploring mixtures. Scholars got the chance to make mixtures and explore how to separate them based on their physical properties. Our struggle is figuring out how to get that salt out of the water. That comes this week!
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