PRIDE

Our classroom takes PRIDE in our schoolwork!

Each day, Miss Liefer checks homework during our "morning check".
If everyone in the whole class completed the assigned work, then we randomly draw a Pride letter.
The letters spell the word PRIDE in five different colors.
We display these letters on a class chart.

When we spell the word Pride in the same color - we earn a gum day in the classroom.
When we fill the whole chart - we have a class party.

Today (Friday Sept. 27) we pulled the last letter in blue!  

So - Monday (Sept. 30)  is a "gum day" in the classroom. 

Which means students may chew gum in the classroom!  

(Students who cannot chew gum (if you have braces, for example) can choose to suck on hard candy instead - or we can make other special arrangements) 

We already discussed how to be respectful of our school while chewing gum.

We know what we should and shouldn't do with this privilege - and we'll review these rules on Monday.

So pack a piece of gum or two, and be ready to celebrate our Bulldog responsible student behavior!

Thank you for taking PRIDE in your schoolwork.  

Four Classrooms from Gardner Elementary on KSDK Salutes!

Sept. 24- Ms. Garrett's fifth graders: http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2688759571001

Sept. 25- Mrs. Eugea's fifth graders: http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2695594522001

Sept. 26- Mrs. Madden's fourth graders: http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2698208367001I

Mrs. Huffman's fourth graders are supposed to be on soon!
Be sure to tune in to channel 5

Addition Algorithms- U.S. Traditional Addition

 Addition - all three methods, same answer

 
 5714+5789 (traditional method)

 
 4343+526 (traditional method)

 
 905+496 (traditional method)

 
 2553+6424 (traditional method)

 
 3766+9469 (traditional method)

Addition Algorithms- Column Addition

 508+1848 (using column addition)

 
 481+239 (using column addition)

 
 634+86 (using column addition)

 
 746+827 (using column addition)

Addition Algorithms- Partial Sums Addition

Everyday Math has Algorithm Animations to watch how-to do the different addition methods.

We created our own how-to videos!  Watch us explain...PARTIAL SUMS ADDITION


67+85 (using partial sums)


1672+3221 (using partial sums)

 
4614+6058 (using partial sums) 


227+386 (using partial sums) 


439+71 using partial sums

Technology

Computers, iPads, Chromebooks...oh my!

a future teacher?

writing class

typing a narrative in the Google Drive

busy thinking

working hard on an online quiz

humm... I have to read this one carefully

students concentrating during literacy class

I'm so thankful we were able to borrow 15 Chromebooks today so everyone could get their hands on a piece of technology in our classroom.
(On a regular day we share 6 computers  (5 student/1 teacher) and 6 iPads (5 student/1 teacher).
We look forward to the next time we get to use them!  We're learning so much!

BoxTops Party

Our class earned the second level of BoxTop collection rewards!

Our class collected 1,000 BoxTops = ICECREAM PARTY!

Thanks for supporting our school and clipping the BoxTops!

Our next class goal is to collect 1500 = Popcorn Party

Interested in learning about other ways to help Gardner raise money by doing things you may already be doing?

Do you shop at Target or eat at Campbell's Soup?  

Check out this link: http://gardnerelementary.weebly.com/fundraising.html

Pirates

September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day!

In math we practice our multiples (skip counting).
To make it more "fun" we often say the numbers in a creative way.
We like say them like a volcano, or with a British accent, or while doing an exercise.
Today we said our multiples 'pirates speak'.... saying "Aaarrrgh" after each number.

Give it a try...

3 "Aaarrrgh"
6 "Aaarrrgh"
9 "Aaarrrgh"
12 "Aaarrrgh"
15 "Aaarrrgh"
18 "Aaarrrgh"
21 "Aaarrrgh"
24 "Aaarrrgh"
27 "Aaarrrgh"
30 "Aaarrrgh"
33 "Aaarrrgh"
36 "Aaarrrgh"

and, of course, Tim and Moby have a BrainPop video about Pirates - it's the featured movie of the day :)
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/culture/pirates/

Student Council

We have a tough competition this year.  

Eleven great students want to represent our class!

Good luck to you all! 

Constitution Day

We the People 
of the United States, 
in Order to form 
a more perfect Union, 
establish Justice, 
insure domestic Tranquility, 
provide for the common defense, 
promote the general Welfare, 
and 
secure the Blessings of Liberty 
to ourselves and our Posterity, 
do ordain and establish 
this Constitution 
for the United States of America.

Happy Constitution Day!
On this date in 1787, 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document that today is the oldest Constitution still in use by ANY government.
Check out the excellent video available at this website explaining all about our government:
http://constitutioncenter.org/constitution-day/

Here's a few fun questions to quiz your governmental knowledge....

QUESTION: The word "democracy" appears in article 1 of the Constitution.
ANSWER: False
(The word democracy doesn't appear anywhere in the document.  If you want to learn more about democracy.) BrainPop has a video about it...
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/democracy/preview.weml


QUESTION:  Benjamin Franklin was the oldest person to sign the constitution.
ANSWER: TRUE
(He was 81 years old)
Today's featured video on BrainPop is about the U.S. Constitution...
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/usconstitution/


QUESTION: The two future U.S. Presidents who signed the constitution were George Washington and ____.
ANSWER:  James Madison
(Madison is also called the "Father oft he Constitution" because he contributed so much to it.)
Want to learn more about this founding father?  BrainPop has a video about him too...
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/jamesmadison/preview.weml


QUESTION: Since the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791, how many additional amendments have been added to the Constitution? 
ANSWER: 17
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights.  To learn more watch this BrainPop...
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/billofrights/preview.weml


QUESTION: Which branch of the US Government is mentioned first in the Constitution?
ANSWER: Legislative
(This is the branch that includes the House of Representatives and Senate and is charged with making the laws that govern our country.)
To learn more about the Branches of Government, watch this BrainPOP...
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/branchesofgovernment/


QUESTION:  Where can you find the original copy of the constitution?
ANSWER: the National Archives
(Located in Washington, DC.  To preserve the quality of the document, it is kept at 67 degrees and 40% humidity.  Miss Liefer got the chance to see this on a family vacation years go to Washington, D.C. - however I can't find any pictures to share.  I recommend if you ever get a chance, visit it!  If you've seen the movie "National Treasure" this is a big part of the film and where the Declaration of Independence is also.  The Archives are really interesting!)


QUESTION:  In what city was the US Constitution signed?
ANSWER: Philadelphia
(Here's where it all started... maybe the most important room in our country's history.  )

When it comes to our Independence, this room is literally the birthplace of our United States.  Here's Miss Liefer, her brother, and dad (mom was taking the picture) standing in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

 Notice the fireplace, chairs, candles, and feather pens? In this room (the assembly room) in Independence Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence and 11 years later in this exact SAME room, the Constitutional Convention created the supreme law of the land--the Constitution of the United States.

Just imagine what it would have been like to sit in here and listen to the debates about the future of our nation. (This is an OLD photo from that family vacation of Miss Liefer and her brother.  If you ever get a chance, visit Philadelphia!)

Science - Classify Animals By What They Eat!

Food Chains, Producers, Consumers, Decomposers, Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores, Predators, Prey...
these are some of the vocabulary terms you hear in our science classroom this week!

This website is one that practices these topics:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/gamesforkids.htm

Can you identify herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores?
What about producers and consumers?
How skilled are you at building food chains?

You can find many other animal websites at the "science" tab at the top of the blog.

Student Council

Next week (Sept 16-20) is Student Council Election Week!

The student council is a group of students who are elected by their classmates to represent them (like a student government).  Members attend monthly business meetings where they discuss and plan activities, which improve our school and community.  It is a great way to meet other students while doing something worthwhile for your school.

We will have speeches and vote on Thursday, September 19.

There is a stapled informational packet available to all students interested in running.  Please read over all the pages carefully.  Only decide to run if you are ready to work hard, attend all the meetings, and participate in all the activities.

We will elect 2 representatives from each fourth and fifth grade classroom.  

For ideas for your poster, look at some of these:
http://missliefer.blogspot.com/2010/11/student-council-elections.html 

After the monthly meetings you must report back to the class what happened. 
Here is a sample video of how you can report back to the class:
http://missliefer.blogspot.com/2010/12/student-council-december-meeting.html 

For more about student council search the "student council" label on our blog.  (There you can view more posts from previous years' representatives).

Poetry Corner

Happy Birthday from Your Loving Brother:

The Creature in the Classroom:

The Runners:

Patriot Day

Check out this helpful and informative BrainPop about Sept 11
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/september11th/

Wearing our RED, WHITE, and BLUE

Parents, CNN Student News is a 10 minute commercial-free news broadcast made for students, but personally I watch it daily to catch up on the current events of our nation and world.  
I recommend watching it, especially today's beginning segment about Sept. 11.  
(Note - they do archive the daily newscast, so you can watch older videos if you miss a day)
http://www.cnn.com/studentnews/

In the computer lab...

We now have our MobyMax usernames and passwords!

(Check the front of your agenda if you've forgotten)

www.runmoby.com/il1796 

At this site we can practice our math concepts

We can also practice our math facts

The more lessons you do - the more "game time" you can earn!

The MobyMax site remembers where you left off and the next time you login, you pick right up where you left off!

Miss Liefer can monitor your progress!  The MobyMax site not only practices math, but also reading, language, writing and vocabulary!  It is a TERRIFIC way to practice skills at home if you have the internet!  Visit it often!

Pizza!

Wondering what to eat tomorrow?
Make it a pizza night!  woo hoo! Everybody loves pizza!

Gardner Elementary will have Papa John's day/night tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept.11th!

You can order anytime all day and Gardner will receive up to 25% of the total order.
Call 939-9600

Please remember to mention that your order is for Gardner Elementary, and if ordering online ( www.papajohns.com )  

**Remember to turn in the orange paper to the cashier or delivery driver in order for our school to get credit**

Extra incentive...the teacher with the highest class total will receive a pizza party!

Unit 1 Math TEST is WEDNESDAY!

We have been busy reviewing skills from unit 1: Geometry
Be sure to review the problems on the study guide.
Also check out the papers in your math folder and pages in your journal.  

Quadrangles, Parallelograms, Polygons, Concave, Convex...Do you know the difference?

Learning how to use a new tool - a compass!  

Using the compass to copy a line segment.

How is a line segment different from a line?

How is a line segment different from a ray?

Can you identify parallel lines?

Social Studies Chapter 2 TEST is TUESDAY!

Be sure to review all the concepts listed on your Chapter 2 studyguide!

Also look through the papers in your folder.

Here we are playing a chapter 2 review game

thinking hard

Do you remember your map skills?

Studying can be fun!

Taking a break to smile for a quick picture.

The competition is back on!

Yes!  I think I remember....

Do you know...

We know our social studies!

Can you name the...

Good luck - study hard!