Dan Gardner's 4th Grade Blog

We are still using the blog to get to spelling, math, and eStudies – but other posts have fallen off. Why? With the discovery of Edmodo – we’ve not got a password protected site where we can post educational comments, quizzes, pictures, and more. So that means less here! Just thought I should say why.

http://www.quia.com/quiz/3512530.html

Please take this quiz today: FORCE AND MOTION QUIZ

At the end of the week we kicked of our American Revolution unit. Here are two videos that help build our understanding of why things happened they way they did. Also do some exploring on this website: www.libertyskids.com/. And just in case you want to get ahead on some of the things I plan to post, visit Mr. Stein’s site. Be sure to click back to older posts.

We kick off a new Social Studies unit today.  We will be talking about the end of the 1600′s and making our way towards the Revolutionary War.  Here’s a video we put together to help understand what life was like then:

These are the sites are to be used on 11/30 for math class.  Of course everyone is welcome to visit them at home too!

Multiplication X Factor Game
Multiplication – Sketcher Game
Multiplication – Cone Crazy
Multiplication – Fish Shop

The multiplication.com website has a lot of great games to practice multiplication facts.  A nice alternative to flash cards.

When we started talking about the solar system a few weeks ago we had a full moon.  It was waning away to what we have now – A NEW MOON!  Keep an eye on the indicator to the right.  We should have a waxing crescent soon.  Remember that the waxing crescent has the white reflection on the right and the waxing has it on the left.  Mrs. Wilhelm just shared with me one trick she heard about.  Look at the picture below.  When the waxing crescent begins after the new moon this of the moon being born.  Then after the full moon the waning crescent helps you write the word “death” before it becomes a new moon.

Wishing all of my students and their families a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  I hope that all your travel is safe,  all your bellies are full, and all your smiles are full strength.  See you all Monday!

Today we had a fantastic field trip to Jamestown, Virginia.  How amazing is it that we live just over an hour away to the start to our nation?  As you know Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement.  Then when the Patriots broke away from Britain in 1776, we made our very own United States of America.  Virginia really is so rich in our nation’s history.  Jamestown, the American Revolution, the Civil War, and then the many Virginian’s that shaped this state and nation.  History is so close, especially here in Richmond.  I hate that our school days are so limited and that we can’t hit more locations!  If you are looking for something to do one weekend, explore something from our fourth grade social studies curriculum!

Thanks to Mr. Shoval for this video of a musket being fired!