Pretty Little Snow People

 We made these to go with stories we're writing about our snowmen coming to life.
These 3 girls did an amazing job on their happy little snow people. :)

GRACE

EMELY

ELENA

I'll share some of the stories soon, they just need to be polished up a bit first. ;) 

The Old Phone

Recently we learned about the invention of the telephone and I mentioned to my students that Alexander Graham Bell would be very surprised at how far his invention has come. They were shocked to learned about how the first phone looked many of them thought it was the "Big chunky one with an antenna" (aka the first Satellite/cell phones) or "the one with the wheel" (rotary phones) , so I had to bring in the antique phone that used to reside in my great grandparents' farmhouse in Canada.  It weighs about 40 lbs (that's without the batteries!) My phone was a slightly newer version of this one, it had a regular handset.

The children were curious as to how it worked. Instead of telling them right away I made them guess. Here are some of the best responses. (I used the phone pictured above, as it was older than mine, for their directions.)

"I believe that you spin the handle and pick up the piece to listen with. On the other end someone will ask you who you want to call. Then they hook you up with that person. Then you can be talking with the person you wish to call. When you talk you have to talk through the thing in the middle of it. You still need to keep the phone handle spinning while you talk to the person. That is how you work an 1877 phone, or at least how I think you use it." ~Emily L.

"How to use the telephones push down on the pumpymijiger (in the middle of the phone) as many time for the phone number you need. After each number take a break so the phone knows when to put a spec in the number. When you are done with phone number you twist the crank and it would call the person that you want to call, but you have to have a phone number in first!" ~Kaylee


"Here's how to work one of these...
1. Plug it into the wall.
2. The little thing on the side is twisted around  and the bells ring and it makes energy.
3. The phone is on the left side but the phone is like a smoke garden. Speak on the top and then put it to the ear to hear what they are saying.
4. The very last part is the board that sticks out , it is to write something on like an address or something else. You can put a pencil & paper there.
5. I forgot to say, the thing sticking out of the center is where you speak.
You can open it too!"

~Nick

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for all my wonderful students, past & present, and for people like this girl, who quickly became a hero to my students.  Learning of her story they realized how thankful they were for the ability to go to school and get an education, something denied to many children around the world, especially girls.

If you haven't heard of Malala Yousafzai yet, watch this video.

Here's some writing my students did in reaction to the article we read & the video above.
They inspire me!


Dear Malala,
       How are you doing? I really admire how you are trying to help girls go to school. If I was in Pakistan I would have stayed with you every second. If I was on that school bus I would have taken the bullet by saying that I was Malala so you could still be in Pakistan helping girls go to school. I am all with you Malala.
                   From, Emily

"I think Malala Yousafzai is so brave she deserves the name "World's Bravest Girl." She stands up for girls go to school around the world. I admire her with my whole heart. She needs every girl and boy, adult and child to support her effort. Now everyone can help Malala. Now she has the word out she needs all the help she can get." ~ By Kaylee

Dear Malala,
      Thanks for your help letting girls go to school. Also, you're my bravest hero in the world. I am feeling so mad about what the Taliban did to you. You're still my hero. The only thing is that the Taliban are really jerks, they should not do that to a girl. I am glad you are ok. Also, when the Taliban shot you they thought their bullets were going to silence you, but they did not. You keep going and going. I liked your speech in New York City, "One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world."
             Your Friend, Nicholas

"Girls should go to school because everyone needs to be taught. She said, 'One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.' She is working hard for that. She's a brave teen. I am also Malala. She is a great person. She is the pride of the world. She's the greatest hero in the world."

Want to learn more about Malala? You can order her book "I am Malala" from Amazon.com. It's also available for e-readers like Kindle.

Inspired by her story? You can donate to her cause here at her website: www.malalafund.org

Dreams Do Come True.

The whole school knows how much Miss Jaster loves Josh Groban

(about as much as she hates bananas)

Over fall break she got to see him in concert for the 10th time, 

not only that, but before the show she got to meet him backstage

and have her photo taken with him.

Yes, that happened. :) 

So did this...

Josh answered Miss Jaster's question on stage,

in front of like 30,000 people.

You can see it at the beginning of this video.

 Moral of the story: Never give up on your dreams! :)

CSI: Crime Scene Inferencing

On Family Reading Night last week the 4th grade classes hosted Crime Scene investigation activities.

Using inferencing skills students were challenged to solve the four mysteries by reading a short story and viewing the clues. The activity was a hit with parents and students alike. Here are some photos of our "Crime Scenes"

The "crimes" were all silly & non violent. The suspects were all teachers/ staff at the school. 

One crime was : Who drew mustaches all over Miss Jaster's Josh Groban scrapbook?

The culprit was Mr. Hansen, who was jealous of Josh's curly hair. ; )

Another case involved Miss Reidhead brining a bunch of cows to school as a joke.

Then there was crazy Miss Jaster who stole the Winslow Bulldog mascot.

Mr. Ferguson was also a criminal. He stole all the school's toilet paper to decorate for his birthday party. 

Mr. Ferguson also made these funny "Law & Order"

style disclaimers. :) 

Pig House Project

Every year we read the "Three Little Cyberpigs" & challenge our 4th graders to create their own home for the 3 pigs. Here are some of this year's pig houses...

Johnny chose to make his house edible with 

marshmallow bricks, a jellybean tree, and coconut grass!

Kaylee decided to scare her wolf away with 

Halloween decorations.

Elena's Electric house was decorated inside & out!

Aren't Emely's marshmallow piggies the cutest!?

Emily's house may look flimsy,

but it had a few tricks up its sleeve.

Dustin & Dominick used Lego bricks to build their houses.

A police force kept the Lego wolf at bay.

Eli's pigs enjoyed sunbathing on the roof of his futuristic looking house.

Kaitlyn made her own clay to create her piggy!

King's pig house was camouflaged to match the desert surroundings.

Nizhonni's two story house was built of some very pretty "bricks"

Isaiah's 30 second teepee looks like the Wigwam Motel.

Tanisha used straws to built her fence, and spoons for her palm trees.

Trevaughn made his home out of Marshmallows & toothpicks.

Here's our little pig house neighborhood. : )

Thanks to all who participated in this extra credit project!

Long Division Style!

Here's the video we watched in class today. Maybe it will help you remember the steps to long division! :) I know the class is interested in doing our own math song. We just need to find an acceptable sone we can change the words to now, bring your suggestions to Miss Jaster!