Monday, March 3rd

Hurricanes are huge storms that can be up to 600 miles across, have strong winds at speeds of 75 to 200 mph and usually last for over a week. Hurricanes start over a warm ocean where they get energy from the quickly evaporating water. Spiraling storm winds move the hurricanes around an "eye". The eye is fairly calm, with light winds and mild weather. Hurricanes lose energy and eventually stop over land although they cause much damage before they stop.

What reason do hurricanes stop when they come over land?

Reading POTD

Visual Information (RI 4.7) Guided notes: Visual information includes charts, graphs, time lines,

diagrams, and web animations. Such information is useful for connecting key ideas in a text and explaining complex topics. Graphs, for example, can help you understand a large amount of information much more quickly, and sometimes more effectively, than written text alone.

Line Graph: A line graph is a good way to show how something changes over time. Points on the graph are connected by lines that make it easy to tell whether the occurrences of something increased or decreased as time passed.

Charts: A table is a kind of chart that uses rows and columns to provide data about a topic so the information can easily be compared

TW guide students through lesson on : http://macmillanmh.com/ccssreading/imagineit/grade4/ccslh_g4_ri_2_3a.html

Interpret and Explain Visual InformationPractice: Graph

Read the passage. Then look at the accompanying visual information and answer the questions. When you are finished, print the page.Earth and the moon are not the only objects revolving around the sun. Other planets do too. A planet is a large, round object that revolves around a star. A solar system is made up of a star and all the things that revolve around it. At the center of our solar system is the sun, a star. Eight planets, their moons, asteroids, dwarf planets, and comets revolve around the sun. The planets in our solar system are all different in size and distance from the sun. Some are made mostly of rock. Others are made mostly of gases. Each planet rotates as it revolves. The sun rotates too. Everything moves in space!

1. How far is Earth from the sun?2. Which planet is closest to the sun?3. How does the graph help you better

understand the passage?

Independent PracticeStudents can use Ipads

Independent PracticePractice: DiagramRead the passage. Then look at the accompanying visual

information and answer the questions. When you are finished, print the page.

How to Make an Ant FarmMaterials: large jar, cardboard tube, soil, sand, ants, cloth, rubber band,

and bits of foodStep 1: Place a cardboard tube inside a large jar. The tube makes

the ants tunnel near the side of the jar so that you can see them.Step 2: Fill the jar with soil and sand.Step 3: Find an ant colony in your yard or a park. Catch at least

20 ants from the same colony to put in your farm.Step 4: Try to find a queen ant. Queen ants are usually larger

than the other ants. Some queen ants have wings.Step 5: After you place the ants in the jar, cover the top with

cloth. Use a rubber band to hold the cloth in place.Step 6: Feed the ants once a week. Ants can eat tiny bits of food.1. What is the purpose of the cardboard tube in the jar?2. What is the purpose of the cloth that is stretched over the

opening of the jar?3. How does the diagram help you better understand the

instructions?

**HW - SN: National Parks

Vocabulary

Teacher introduce vocabulary with video “Home Movies”

http://www.flocabulary.com/5-home-movies/

Vocabulary words: annual / content / contribute / entire / fragile / heroic / indicate / permit / precious / reduce 

**HW – Complete the definition

Writing Women's History Month is an annual declared month

worldwide that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8.

You will do a research paper on a woman of your choice. Today you will pick the woman and begin your research. Today’s research will focus on early life events atleast 5 events from their early life are mentioned (like birthdates, where

born, parents, siblings, schooling, early jobs, etc.).  Watch video clip on how to research information.   http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/outlines/  Let’s take a look at the rubric to see what’s expected.  Now lets start our outline.  Students will begin research

We will have six days in class to complete research!

Workshop Contract Work:

Students will complete the following:

1.   Biography : Dr. Seuss Passage

2.  Scholastic News: Dollar Diagram

3.  Prepositional Phases : Study Island

Small Group

Reading POTD

The heaviest land animals in North America are the bison, which are often called buffaloes. Bison are about five to six feet tall at their shoulders and can weigh over a ton. Despite their size, bison can run very quickly, up to 40 miles per hour (faster than some racehorses). Bison once covered the Great Plains and much of North America, and were important to the Plains Indians, who used the animal for meat, clothing, homes, tools and more.

What reason is it surprising that bison can run quickly?

Tuesday, March 4th

HW Review Review National Park

Tonight’s HW: SN: Titanic Timeline

TW continue to guide students through lesson on : http://macmillanmh.com/ccssreading/imagineit/grade4/ccslh_g4_ri_2_3a.html

Guided notes: Time lines: A time line is a visual way to show a sequence of

events in a period of time. Events that happened during that time period are placed on the time line in the order in which they happened.

Diagram: A diagram is a drawing or series of drawings that explains an idea, a process, or how something works. It sometimes includes words as labels or descriptions. It may also include arrows or numbers to show the order in which things happen.

Animations and Interactive Elements on Web Pages: You can learn information about a topic by reading words on a web page. However, viewing animations, visuals, or interactive elements along with the text will increase your understanding of the topic and make learning more enjoyable. Often visuals, animations, or interactive elements will explain a process or show how something works.

Visual Information RI 4.7

Independent Practice Practice: Chart

Read the passage. Then look at the accompanying visual information and answer

the questions. When you are finished, print the page.How much water is in the Great Lakes? The surface area of the Great Lakes is bigger than the states of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire combined. Not only are the lakes wide, but they are deep too. If you spread them out, the lakes would submerge the United States under nine and a half feet of water. They contain about 20 percent of all the fresh water in the world. It is estimated that the lakes hold 95 percent of fresh surface water in North America. Scientists estimate that the Great Lakes contain six quadrillion gallons of water. (That’s 6,000,000,000,000,000 gallons!)

1. Which of the Great Lakes is the deepest?2. Which if the Great lakes has the most people using its

water?3. How does the table help you better understand the

passage?

Vocabulary

Annual (adj) Happening every year. We have our annual family reunion each June.

Content (noun) 1. The meaning or subject of.

Tizzy’s got a great voice, but her songs don’t really have any positive content. 2. (often contents) An amount that is held or contained

Gary poured the contents of his bag all over the bed. Contribute (verb) To give effort, money, or items for a cause.

I contributed a lot to our school’s yearbook this year, putting in lots of extra time after school. Entire (adj) Having nothing left out; whole; complete.

I know you were hungry but I can’t believe you ate the entire pie!

Fragile (adj) Easily broken or damaged. I accidentally broke my mom’s favorite vase; I didn’t know it was so fragile!

Heroic (adj) Brave or involving extreme effort. The climbers made a heroic effort to reach the top of the mountain.

Indicate (verb) 1. To point to. The flight attendant indicated where the exits were. 2. To be a sign of. A rumbling stomach indicates that you’re hungry.

Permit (verb) To allow. At the baseball game it was not permitted to bring in outside food.

Precious (adj) Very valuable. My mom keeps her most precious jewelry in a box on her dresser.

Reduce (verb) To make or become smaller or less. Keenan usually made his chocolate milk too strong, so he tried reducing the amount of chocolate powder

Go over definitions

HW: complete Synonyms and Connections

Writing Research : Middle life / Known for

Students will watch video clip on citing resources. http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/citingsources/

Teacher will revisit outline with students.

Students will research At least 4 events from their middle life are mentioned

(like marriage, children, what they did of importance, etc.).

Workshop Contract Work

Students will complete the following:

1. Scholastic News : National Parks

2.  Modal Auxiliaries: Study Island

3.  Theme Story 1

Small Group

Reading POTD

Japan is made up of 4,000 islands, so it is an archipelago (a group of islands). This country can be found in Asia, near North Korea and China. Japan has four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Most of Japan is covered by mountains. The Japanese Alps run down the center of the largest island, Honshu. The highest peak in Japan is Mount Fuji, which is a cone-shaped volcano. Mt. Fuji is considered sacred by many Japanese.

Give proof that Japan is truly an archipelago.

Wednesday, March 5th

HW ReviewSN: Titanic Timeline

***Tonight’s HW:Nutritional Label: Oreo

Visual Information RI 4.7 Learnzillion lesson RI 4.7 (photographs) 2:52

http://learnzillion.com/lessons/1770-interpret-pictures-and-photographs-in-an-informational-text

TW guide students through The Experience of a Lifetime and Mesoamerica Before the Spanish

http://teacherweb.com/ON/StBenedictCatholicSecondarySchool/STrowbridge/dailreadingcomprehension-6--.pdf

Independent Practice

Nutrition Labels http://

www.nscsd.org/webpages/ahysick/files/nutrition%20label%20worksheet.pdf

VocabularySynonyms: Circle the word on the right that matches the meaning of the word or phrase on the left. 1. brave fragile annual heroic 2. very valuable precious entire fragile 3. to give something to a cause indicate reduce contribute 4. to point to reduce indicate permit 5. to allow indicate permit contribute Connections : Each sentence has a strong connection with one of the words from the unit. Write the correct word on the line below. 1. The brave fireman ran into the burning building to save the baby. 2. Our whole family has a big party once a year. 3. Darren keeps his comic books in a safe because they are very valuable. 4. When I asked Karen where the monster was hiding, she pointed to the closet. 5. I didn’t know that lamp could break so easily—all I did was throw a baseball at it!

Go over Synonyms and Connections

**HW: Complete Reading passage: Weird Festivals

Writing

Research : End of their life  Teacher will revisit outline with students.  Teacher will revisit the rubric with students.  Students will research At least 2-3 events from their later life are mentioned

(like date of death, burial site, honors received after they died, what are they doing now, etc.).

Workshop

Contract Work

Students will complete the following:

Grade Level Passage:   A Man Ahead of His

Time

Small Group

Reading POTD

A wildfire is called by many names such as a wild land fire, forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, or hill fire. Wildfires are uncontrolled fires often occurring in natural areas, but can also affect houses or agriculture. Common causes of wildfires include lightning, human carelessness and arson (intentional setting). Heat waves, droughts, and climate changes can also cause wildfires but most wildfires (4 out of 5) are caused by people.

What did the author claim was the most common cause of wildfires?

Thursday, March 6th

HW ReviewNutritional Label: Oreo

Tonight’s HW – Nutritional Label: Whopper

Scholastic News: The Cold Facts

Guided TW review skills using

Scholastic News: The Cold Facts

http://sni.scholastic.com/SN4/03_03_14_SN4

Independent PracticeSW complete 1. Quiz Whiz 2. Prove It (RI 4.8)3. Inside a Volcano (RI 4.7

VocabularyWeird Festivals From Around the World

A festival is a type of party to which everyone is invited. For thousands of years, people have thrown festivals. Many of these festivals are connected to religious holidays. For example, Mardi Gras (pronounced: Mar-dee Graw) is a famous annual festival in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras happens the week before Lent, a Christian holiday.

During Lent, people give up certain things, like eating their favorite foods, for a few weeks. Mardi Gras is their last hance to do the things they enjoy before Lent. People are permitted to eat and drink whatever they want during the week of Mardi Gras. They have parades in the streets. The entire city contributes to the fun.

Many festivals are much stranger than Mardi Gras. In one city in Spain, there is a baby-jumping festival! During this festival, people set their newborn babies down on the ground, and men dressed as devils jump over them! It is believed that the devils take the evil out of the babies.

Some festivals don’t have anything to do with religion. In Finland, they have a wife-carrying festival. Hundreds of years ago, men would sometimes steal the wives of men from other towns. People don’t do that anymore, so today they celebrate this tradition in a much sillier way: Men have to carry their wives through an obstacle course. The fastest racer wins!

Some festivals center around food. In Gilroy, California, there is a Garlic Festival. People at the garlic festival eat garlic ice cream, drink garlic soft drinks, and suck on garlic lollipops! In New Zealand, they have a festival of strange foods. There, you can eat such tasty treats as cricket stew, slug spaghetti, and boiled sheep’s eyes. If you plan to go to this festival, you’d better have a heroic stomach!

1. What is a festival? 2. What do people do during Mardi Gras? 3. Why do people jump over babies in Spain? 4. What do men do during the wife-carrying festival? 5. What are some foods you could eat at the Garlic Festival?

Go over Weird Festivals

HW: Study for quiz

Writing Language Standard Students interactive with power point presentation

“confused words.” Students will take detailed notes.

Workshop

Contract Work Students will

complete the following:

Jury Duty Passage : POV review

Scholastic News : Woman of Power

Small Group

Reading POTD

It's important to be prepared before an earthquake strikes. First, find a sturdy piece of furniture to get under so nothing can fall on you. Practice DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON! This means to drop under something sturdy, hold on, and protect your eyes by pressing your face against your arm. If you live in an earthquake area, you should prepare a first aid kit for your home. By preparing before a disaster strikes, you have a much greater chance of staying safe.

What reason did the author give for preparing ahead of time?

Friday, March 7th

HW ReviewNutritional Label: Whopper

Assessments

1. Common Assessment RI 4.7 & RI 4.82. Vocabulary

Writing Language Standard: Teacher will review confused word strategies.

Workshop

Contract Work

Students will complete the following:

1. Language Standard Quiz

2. Text Structure 10

All assignments are due!

Small group