Odes, Colonies & Valentine’s Day!

After examining several picture books and reading many examples of odes, students selected an every-day item to celebrate. Favorite foods, items of clothing, and technological devices were among the topics. Students were encouraged to speak directly to their item, to use repetition, to incorporate similes, and to try personification as they praised their item. The results are creative and clever! Each child also created an illustration to accompany their poem.

We also read three VERY exciting chapters in Three Times Lucky this week. Next week, we will finish the book and prepare for the author’s visit.

In social studies, students worked with partners on an activity about the 13 original colonies. They learned about when each colony was founded, the origin of its name, and which products and industries were associated with the colony.

They also read an article about the Southern colonies. Students learned a bit about the Lost Colony of Roanoke and Jamestown, as they practiced reading for information.

On Friday, 4th graders were excited to see Miss Wickes’s class perform their play, “The Not-So Mysterious Disappearance of Cinderella.” Each student wrote a piece of ‘fan mail’ to a member of the cast.

Of course, everyone was excited to decorate their Valentine bags and swap treats and cards with their classmates. Thank you to the parents for sending in the sweet and salty snacks for the party. Kids in 4E were so busy with their treats, we didn’t have time to play the Minute-to-Win-It games I had planned. We’ll have to do those next week!