Virtual Math Manipulatives

Unit 4 in math uses base 10 to explore numbers.&nbsp; We will be writing numbers in standard and expanded form as well as adding and subtracting large numbers.&nbsp; Please encourage your student to <a href="http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/mathematics/ebook_assets/vmf/VMF-Interface.html">use this site to explore Base 10</a>.

Officer Adams Visits

Today Officer Doug Adams came and spoke with the fourth grade students about street safety.  He talked about bicycle safty.  <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/342504-bike-safety-rules-hand-signals/">Here is a link </a>to information about bicycle safety.  Officer Adams will be visiting with the fourth graders the first Wednesday of each month. 

Math Trailblazer's Letter

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Items

Hello!  Just a note about a few 4^th grade items.  We will have a test next week over weather instruments.  I have posted the study guide and a game students can play online to study.  These items can be found on our blog www.riceclassroom.blogspot.com.  You will have to scroll down to find the post from early this week.

We are going to be doing some projects in December and are needing a few supplies.  If you have anything on the list below you would like to donate please send it with your student.

·         Christmas wrapping paper (left over, please do not go buy new)

·         Birthday Candles (new)

·         Old candles

·         Old wax

·         Broken crayons

·         Envelopes (left over from bill paying are fine, they don’t need to be new)

·         Beads

We have collections starting in December for our community and beyond.  We are collecting items for soldiers away from their families during the holidays, paper goods for families in need in our community, and change for a project in Ethiopia.  Please see the West Words for more information about these projects.  If you would like to donate anything please send it to school with your student. 

December 1^st will start our classroom season of giving.  Attached is a note about this project. 

Lastly don’t forget to vote.  You can vote EVERYDAY until Dec. 9^th.  Thank you for sharing your children with me. 

Newspaper Drive

Newspaper Drive Results

West Elementary students recently participated in the county-wide newspaper recycling drive. West students were encouraged to collect newspapers at home, weigh them, and then bring them to school or take them to the Wamego recycling trailer where they would be recycled and sold with the profit going toward the Pottawatomie County recycling program. Students at West competed to see which class could collect the most newspapers with the winning class earning a popcorn party. The top individual recyclers received Pottawatomie Recycling T-shirts. Two classes were awarded the popcorn party. Miss Ickes’ class came in first place with 724 lbs. of newspaper. Mr. Eckart’s class came in a close second, collecting 682.6 lbs. The two top students were third grader Arik Schierkolk and fifth grader Jessie Fortin. Arik collected 352 lbs., and Jessie collected 262 lbs. Congratulations to Miss Ickes’ and Mr. Eckart’s classes and Arik and Jessie, and great job, West students. West collected a total of 813 lbs. of newspaper.

Math

We have been learning about factors, multiples, square, and prime numbers during math this month.&nbsp; Here are some video clips we watched today to review.&nbsp; Remember your student should be able to multiply single digit nubmers quickly (50 problems in 3 minutes).&nbsp; Please encourage practice of this skill at home.

<a href="http://pbskids.org/go/video/?category=Cyberchase&amp;pid=nykkJI6xosJkSqou3BlmzX7yBQU3WL91">Cyberchase: The Icky Factor</a>

<a href="http://videos.howstuffworks.com/wgbh-nova/2342-music-video-about-prime-numbers-video.htm">Nova:&nbsp; Prime Number Song</a>

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Classroom Gift of the Day

Parent(s),
    Starting December 1st until Christmas break .we will be opening a classroom "gift of the day" . 
    We are asking that each student bring one small gift for all 17 students in our class.  This gift can be something they make themselves or something small they have purchased.  Please keep the cost at a minimum.  The gift might be a cookie your child has made, a simple Christmas ornament, or a piece of candy.  If you prefer to buy something for the whole class we can always use puzzles, games, pencils, and books.  Students really enjoy opening a gift each day and it brings out the spirit of giving.
     Please do not send gifts before December 1st.


                                                                                                                 Mrs. Cowan

Classroom Projects

We are going to be doing some projects over this next nine weeks and are needing a few supplies.  If you have anything on the list below you would like to donate please send it with your student.

·         Christmas wrapping paper (left over, please do not go buy new)

·         Birthday Candles (new)

·         Old candles

·         Old wax

·         Broken crayons

·         Envelopes (left over from bill paying are fine, they don’t need to be new)

Civics Game

<p align='center'><code><iframe scrolling='no' src='http://classtools.net/widgets/quiz_4/u3C5A.htm?400?300' width='408' height='320' frameborder=0></iframe></code><p align='center'><a href='http://classtools.net/widgets/quiz_4/u3C5A.htm'>Click here for larger version</a></p>

Government Social Studies Test/ Friday, November 11th - Study Guide

Government

A. Rights of Citizens
      1. Freedom of speech.
      2. Freedom to worship as they choose.
      3.  The right to bear arms.
B.  Responsibilities of Citizens
      1.  Vote
      2. Following the laws of our country
C.  Constitution
      1.  The Constitution is the plan for our government.
      2.  The Constitution tells the duty of the three branches of government and balances the power of the three branches.
D. The Preamble to the Constitution.
      1.  This is the introduction to our Constitution.
      2.  It begins with the words, "We the People", which shows the unity of all people in the United States.
      3.  The Constitution works for the "common good" which means what is best for the largest number of people.
E.  Citizenship
      1.  To be a citizen you must:
            a.  be born in the United States
            b.  be born to United States citizens living in another country.
            c.  be born elsewhere, live legally in the U.S., and have passed a test on the Constitution and history of the United states. (This will make you a naturalized citizen).
            d.  be children of naturalized citizens who were under the age of eighteen when their parents became citizens.
      

Newspaper Drive

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Math News

We have started talking about multiplication.  Today we explored even, odd, square, and prime numbers.  We will be using this information throughout our multiplication unit.  Your student should be comfortable doing multiplication facts of single digit numbers.  If they need to practice, please set aside a few minutes each day for them to strengthen this skill.  Below is a video clip that explains what prime numbers are.

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Contest

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