Homework

Monday- Finish study guides. Write a poem about your favorite part of winter. Remember your elements. You pick the topic. Tuesday- TAKS prep page 338-9; study for grammar quiz. No spelling test this week!

Study Guides

Science- Due Monday
Social Studies- Due Tuesday
Grammar- Due Tuesday

Homework next week. Dec. 12
Monday: Complete Grammar and Social Studies Study Guide. Write a poem about your favorite part of winter. (You choose the style.)

We are studying poetry right now. We read the poem Twas the Night Before Christmas and looked at all the elments within the poem. Then we re-wrote each stanza into a literary story. Enjoy!

Christmas Eve

It was the night before Christmas. No one was moving throughout the house, not even a tiny mouse. We were hoping that St. Nicholas would come to their house soon. So they had nicely hung all their stockings near the fireplace.

The children were sleeping and dreaming of happy things such as sugar plums dancing. Mamma and I had on our night hats and had just gotten into bed for a start of a good nights sleep.

All of a sudden there was a loud noise out on the lawn. I jumped out of bed and threw open the shutters to see what was happening. I opened the window quickly.

The moon was glistening off of the snow, giving light outside. Suddenly a small sleigh with eight tiny reindeer appeared.

And in that sleigh was a lively driver and I knew at that moment it was St. Nick. He came very fast and started shouting out his reindeers’ names.

He called out, “Dacher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixon then Coment, Cupid, and Doner and Blitzen. They flew all the way to the roof of the house. I could hear him shouting “Dash Away All” at the top of his lungs.

When they flew up to the top of the house, the wind was whipping around. They were carrying an entire sleigh full of toys and St. Nick also.

Suddenly I heard something on the roof. It sounded like reindeer dancing. Then Santa came tumbling down the chimney and landed with a thump.

He was dressed up in a fur coat as furry as a polar bear from head to toe. His clothes were ripped and covered with ashes. He had put packages of toys on his back like a robber taking out his stuff he had stolen.

Santa had cute little dimples and eyes that twinkled. He had a red nose and cheeks. He was smiling with a very white beard.

He held a stump of a pipe tight in his teeth. The smoke was circling his head like a wreath. He had a round belly and a broad face.

He was a chubby guy and I laughed when I saw him. When he winked and twisted his head, I knew I had nothing to fear.

Santa was silent but went right to work. He counted five candies and placed one in each stocking. He turned around, put a finger up to his nose, and gave a nod. His feet jerked off the ground and he flew up the chimney.

He jumped into his sleigh, gave his reindeer a sharp whistle and his sleigh flew away into the night. When he left I heard him yell, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

Down, Set, Hutt!

Down, Set, Hutt!

By: Samuel Andrade

          Every Sunday, my family watches football together. After watching all those games, I have learned to like football.

          Playing football is a great way to have exercise.  When you’re running to the end-zone, throwing the ball to another teammate, or kicking for a field goal, you don’t stop moving. When you’re running from here to there, it is your mission to run as fast as you can and zoom past other opponents. While you’re waiting to throw the ball, you have to dodge people trying to take you down like a predator catching his/her prey. Then you bend your arm and let go. When you’re kicking, you swing your leg back and then you punt it all the way to the field goal.  Football is a good sport to help build muscles and have a strong body. When I’m outside jogging up and down the street with my ball between my hands, my legs are pumping, and sweat is dripping down my face, I already know that I’ve done a good part of exercising. When it comes to playing football, I exercise more than I usually do to give me what I’ve always wanted, a strong and healthy body. Playing football is a nonstop way for exercising.

Football includes working together. Teamwork is something important that you need while you’re playing football. It’s impossible to run for a pass or score a touchdown without a team. There are many things you can’t do without friends in football. When I’m playing by myself, the only things I get to do are throwing the ball in the air and then chasing it. With someone there to play with me, I have more fun. When my friends and I work together, we build a bond or a friendship. It’s so boring just to play by yourself. You always need someone there to play too.

          Playing football is something I like to do if I want to exercise or work together. For now, I can’t stop touching the ball.

S- Yellow

E- Blue

M- Green

C- Gray

Library Lounge by Ella

A sea of books and shelves of magazines can only be at one place the library. It fills my heart with joy. When I close my eyes I think about my favorite place and the library is my top pick. I am like a banker the library is my bank books are as valuable as money.

          Here, there, and everywhere. Books are all over the place, but that does not mean that it’s hard to find the book I want. If I want a non-fiction book I go to the non-fiction section. The fantasy books are labeled a-z for easy access. If I need to find a long lost book I go to the computers and look it up. I don’t have to go thru random isles searching for a perfect book. Signs guide me through the building. Without them the library would be a maze. Wherever I look I see signs that say graphic novels on the left and mysteries on the right. There are even signs for computers and games. Colorful stickers sit on the end of the books so a 5^th grader won’t take a junie b. Jones book an a 1^st grader won’t take a dictionary. When I was 3 and went to the library for the first time I was shocked at how amazing every thing was organized. All I had to do was blink and the book I wanted was there. Finding a book is a breeze in the library.

          I will never forget all the times I have gone to the library. I can have fun by playing on the computer or by checking out books.

The Ice Cream Shop

Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, all of those flavors I can try with just a simple trip to the ice cream shop.  The gigantic room filled with mouth watering poster and jaw dropping flavors is like a buffet because without a doubt I can try every single flavor that I want.

There’s always so many flavors that I can chose from but if I can’t make up my mind I can always go and get the sample spoon.  There, I can try all of the flavors in the world!  No matter what I can always rush in and dig into the sweet sensation of  cherry or caramel without paying a cent.  The very first time I went to the ice cream shop was when I had the worst craving for ice cream.  My mind was completely  stuck on ice cream and that’s when I step into the huge room filled with it.  My mouth watered as I grabbed the sample spoon and started to dig in.  Ever since than I thank the person who created free samples at ice cream shops.

My favorite place to be is not the arcade or an amusement park but it is the ice cream shop!

By: SteVonte’

More Examples Written With The Class

Show Time!

Lights! Camera! Action! There is no place like it. Isles of people scarfing down popcorn, children laughing their heads off and a big screen can all be found at one place, AMC Movie Theater. When I close my eyes and think of my favorite place, it is without a doubt a movie theater.

            The lights go out and the fun begins. The movie theater is my favorite place for no other reason than the big screen. It is here where my favorite movies come to life. Harry Potter or Diary of a Wimpy Kid were great books but to see them spread out across an entire wall of projection is breath taking.  Sitting in those rows of chairs you can see everything from a small ant to a large tree. There is no way to miss an important scene. It does not matter if you sit on the front row or the very very back because you can still see it. It feels like you are IN the movie interacting with the characters. The last movie I saw was The Polar Express. As I strolled in to find my seat it was like ants in an ant hill in the theater. After finding the perfect spot, what seems like hours, when actually it is only minutes, the lights begin to flicker. Show Time! The screen filled with images, my heart sank and I knew I had found my happy place. That is why I love to go to the movies. The big screen is like sweet chocolate cream pie.

            SeaWorld may be fun. The neighborhood pool is a blast, but my place of all places is the movie theater. Whether to see a good book come to life, have a good laugh with your friends, or just enjoy the treats, the AMC  Movie Theater is my favorite place to be.

S- Yellow
E- Blue
M- Green
C- Gray

Spelling Words 11/28

argue
cart
aware
march
rare
carpet
charge
stare
declare
pardon
arch
alarm
harness
tardy
spare
smart
charm
glare
snare
spark

Mrs. Clark's Fourth Grade Class: Narrative VS. Expository

Mrs. Clark's Fourth Grade Class: Narrative VS. Expository

This Week...

This week we are wrapping up our unit on Expository Writing and Reading. Students will write their final Expository paper for 2011. :) We will spend the next 2 weeks studying poetry.

In reading, students will review Main Idea and Summary and apply what they already know to Informational Text. We will also review how text is organized, context clues, elements of informational text, and making inferences.

In math, we are beginning our unit on Geometry. Students will have the opportunity to extend their learning through hands on menu activities. It is important that students are studying the vocabulary at home. A huge part of Geometry is Vocabulary!

In Science, we are beginning matter.

In Social Studies, we are wrapping up on unit on Texas Revolution. Students will share what they have learned from each battle and share it with the class.

Happy Turkey Day!

I hope you all are having a wonderful Thanksgiving! Go Aggies!! :)

Batter Up- Expository

Batter Up!

Minute Maid Park is the place for me. Whether to get examples from players or watch a baseball game, I feel at home in the stadium.

Professionals are professionals. At Minute Maid Park, my heart is filled with joy. Here I can learn from the best. At each game, the players take turns at bat. Sitting up in the stands, you can sit back, relax, and take notes. When the first star player enters the batters box, I watch in amazement. They will spread their legs shoulder length apart and even bend there knees. It may be hard to see from way up top, but usually you can look at the big screen to see a closer look. With the bat over his shoulders, I can watch him prepare to swing. The ball will soar and he will throw his shoulders forward and swing with all his might. The first time I saw Craig Biggio at bat, my heart pounded. I took notes like a college student in chemistry class. At my next baseball game, you should have seen me hit the ball. 

Minute Maid Park is without a doubt the place for me. As soon as I a walk through the doors, I feel overwhelmed with joy. It is special to me because there in the park I learned to be the athlete I am today.

Another Expository Paper...Written together by Mrs. Clark's Class

Home of the Fighting Texas Aggies

Whoop! A sea of endless Maroon and people shouting  “howdy” is no other than the great Aggie Land. When I close my eyes and think of one place that has changed my life, College Station, home to the Fighting Texas Aggies, comes to mind.

            Down! Set! Hut! The best part about Aggie Land is Kyle Field. When you enter the stadium on game day, instantly you feel at home. People will stand in lines to get their cokes, hot dogs, and prepare for kick off. The stadium is a roar of laughter and hollering fans cheering on their team. You can feel the spirit as soon as you enter the gates. At every Aggie Football game the fans can be found standing on their feel screaming, “Gig em Aggies!” I remember my very first football game. It was my freshman year of college. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. After I found my seat, or should I say bench there is no sitting at Aggie games, my heart dropped.

            Whether to attend a game of the Fighting Texas Aggies, be welcomed by all the friendly residents or hear the core band play, Aggie Land is truly my special place. When I’m lost, sad, or just plain bored, I know I can load up my car and head to College Station for a good time.

The last of them. :)

And more!

Here are some more! :)

Electricity Pictures

Narrative VS. Expository

NARRATIVE: (A moment with that person.)

Write about a person that is important to you!

Trash Day!

I hurry and drop it into the container. Three bags full this week. I pinch my nose in disgust. Luckily it was coming today.
I stormed down to the end of my driveway with the cans trailing behind me. The truck was creeping around the corner, sure to stop at each house. It was only yards away. I felt relieved that I remembered early this morning that it was Tuesday, trash day. The bucket with my neighbors’ trash clanged together as the load dumped into the truck. Men were hanging on to the back by only a large bar. This gave them quick access to grab the cans. 
At each stop they pounced off with an immense amount of energy. They’re like the energizer bunny that keeps going….and going… This simple occasion happens twice a week. While it seems routine and normal to me….I ask myself what if? My mind drifts off to a world without garbage men. A world where my car would be forced to stay parked in the driveway for the trash would take over. I imagine the streets with empty soda cans, old food from yesterday’s dinner, dirty diapers, old furniture, and more cluttering the boulevards.  The putrid smell would be unruly interfering with life’s everyday events. It would be a life of chaos. I snap back to reality as the last can of my trash is lifted into the truck. 
While my family and friends are an important part of my life, it is the everyday people that make the world go round. I am thankful for garbage men for keep my planet clean.  When I stop and reflect, I quickly realize the importance of their career. 

Expository: (Explaining Who and Why)

Write about a person that is important to you. Describe who and why they are important!

A Trash Man! Can’t Live Without Em’!

Trash is unavoidable. It is everywhere you turn. I eat lunch, I have trash. I go grocery shopping, I have trash. I do my homework, I have trash. A world without a trash man is a world of chaos, disgust, and clutter.

          A clean planet is a happy planet. A trash man matters to me like milk to a baby. He keeps the planet clean. Twice a week the trash man comes to pick up my trash. He delivers it to one landfill. It isn’t scattered around or left where animals can get it. When the trash is picked up, my neighborhood is left smelling fresh and clean, like a clean load of laundry. Each week, I step outside with the trash trailing behind me. I think about a world without a trash man. It would be a world of mush covering the highways, slim in the grass, and bacteria everywhere. Trash would take over. Thank goodness I have a trash man.

          Organization is very important to me. Without a trash man, my house would be in ruins. Cooking dinner would mean throwing empty cans into my living room or old meat containers out into the backyard. Having a trash man keeps my house together. He allows me to put everything into a white bag. This bag is then placed into a large plastic container. Those few days a week I push the container out to the curb, and it waits to be carried off to its next destination, the landfill. My world with a trash man is a world of peace and harmony. It keeps my house clean and free of clutter.

          Whether it means keeping a tidy house, clean planet, or a fresh fragrant home, a trash man is important for many reasons. When I picture someone who affects my life in a positive way, I think of the trash man. He keeps my world in check.      

Informational Text Features

Students should be able to identify and explain the purpose/importance of informational text features.

Informational Text Features	Importance
Labels	Helps the reader identify a picture or photograph and its parts.
Photographs	Helps the reader understand exactly what something looks like.
Captions	Gives a little information about the photograph to better understand it.
Maps	Helps the reader to understand where something is.
Different Types of Text (bold, italics, etc)	Helps the reader signal “Look at me! I’m important!”
Table of Contents	Helps the reader identify key topics.
Index	Alphabetical list of everything covered in the text with page #’s.
Glossary	Helps to identify key words.
Subtitles	Helps the reader to know what that section is about.

Grammar Review

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Commas- Grammar Review

The three grammar rules that will be tested this week all have to do with commas:

Using commas in a list or series- if a list or series three items or more are in a sentence, the items need to be separated by commas. (Ex. Rover got a bath, went for walk, and burried a bone.)

Using commas with dependent clauses- A dependent clause does not express a complete thought. When found at the begining of a sentence, it needs to be separated by a comma. (ex. As the marching band went by, we cheered and yelled.)

Using commas with appositives- An appositive is a word or phrase that is another way to say the noun or pronoun in front of it and needs to be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. (ex. Mrs. Tomlinson, our science teacher, says that animals have adaptations to help them survive.)