Miss Liefer's 4th Grade Class

Friday, March 1, 2013

ISAT...Start Your Engines

Don't Forget....ISAT testing for our class will be next week.

Fourth grade students take the reading, math, and science tests.

Please encourage your child to:

-have sharp #2 pencils
-do their very best

-eat a good breakfast

-get a full night’s sleep

Here's some of us wearing our PJs so we can "rest up" for ISAT!

Week of March 5: ISAT TESTING COLOR THEMES

Mon-Green: "testers...start your engines"

Tues-Yellow: "caution slow...take your time"

Wed-Red: "don't stop...keep going strong"

Thurs-Black & White: "crossing the finish line"

Fri-Orange: "show your team Gardner spirit"

We are having a "racing" theme to help us strive for perfect attendance from all students this week.
There will be perfect attendance classroom and individual winners all week!

Mr. Ackerman

Mr. Hergenroeder

Today we read the book Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! it is the last book Dr. Seuss was writing when he died. Jack Prelutsky finished writing it for him and got it published. It is the PERFECT book to read before ISAT. It’s all about state testing and to relax because we taught you how to think.\
Here's a YouTube video link I found of the book if you want to listen to it again.

Take a deep breath

go with the flow

just do your best

show what you know.

~Miss Liefer

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

March 2 is Dr. Seuss's Birthday!
Schools all across America are getting ready to celebrate by reading his stories.

Check out this video of Miss Liefer's class reciting some of the most popular Dr. Seuss quotes!

These are some of Miss Liefer's favorite Dr. Seuss Quotes. What's your favorite?

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr. Seuss

"If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good." ~Dr. Seuss (One Fish, Two Fish)

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." ~Dr. Seuss (Happy Birthday to You!)

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go." ~Dr. Seuss (I Can Read with My Eyes Shut)

"Think left and think right think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think of if only you try." ~ Dr. Seuss

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not." ~Dr. Seuss (The Lorax)

"You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!" ~Dr. Seuss (Oh, The Places You'll Go)

"A person's a person, no matter how small." ~Dr. Seuss (Horton Hears a Who)

Want to try a new twist on green eggs and ham? Try this easy recipe:
Make deviled eggs and add green food coloring to the yolk filling!

Don't forget to check out Dr. Seuss's website!

http://www.seussville.com/

Here's two videos of us sharing some of our favorite parts of some of our favorite stories!

Mrs. Sherman even dressed up!

Mrs. Potoff reading The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss

The Sneetches

Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens

Mrs. Burton reading Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Mrs. Ivers reading Mary had a Little Lamp by Jack Lechner

Mrs. Ivers reading Are You a Horse? by Andy Rash

Officer Midkiff reading The Special One

A special thank you to all our guest readers who visited the classroom!

Thursday, February 28, 2013

How to Make Your Own Oobleck

Have you ever read Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss?

It's a story of where an ooey-gooey, green oobleck was not exactly what the king had in mind when he ordered something extra-special from his royal magicians.

Recipe for Oobleck

1/2 cup + 1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 cup warm tap water
green food coloring

Mix 1/2 cup of cornstarch and 1/4 cup water and green food coloring in a bowl until it all goes together (you may need to use your hands).
Add 1 extra teaspoon of cornstarch and mix until it is smooth again.

What's the science going on here?
The name that most scientists give to this mixture is non-Newtonian liquid. It has some properties of both the solid and liquid states. It has the unusual property of becoming more like a solid as you put more pressure on it. That is why when you press it into a ball it stays in a ball shape while you roll it, but as soon as you stop, it becomes runny and flows over your hand. The nature of the non-Newtonian liquid is complex. It is an effect of the water, flowing between the corn starch molecules, which changes when pressure is applied. The pressure drives the liquid water out of the spaces and temporarily solidifies the substance. This effect is the same as in quicksand, where an underground water source provides the water to mix among the sand particles, giving it properties similar to Oobleck's.

CLEAN UP!
Put any Oobleck into the garbage can. Caution: Do not put the Oobleck in the sink. It can plug drains. Roll up and toss in trash. Wash all containers and desk tops with soap and water.

PJ DAY

Don't forget to wear your PJ's tomorrow to "rest up for the ISAT test."
Bring $1.00 and wear your PJ's to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Edmodo

Don't forget about Edmodo!
On the main page, Miss Liefer posted two questions to respond to...
one about black history month and one about Dr. Seuss.

Remember this is a place to have discussions about literacy.
Also, I encourage you to post a question and respond to other people's questions about the books you are reading.

MATH FACTS, MATH FACTS, MATH FACTS!!

Remember to practice those facts!! They should be just as automatic as saying your name! A simple way to make your life SOOOO much easier in math class.