These are the Phases of the Moon.........

In Science, we have really been enjoying ourselves learning about the phases of the Moon. During the month of March, students have been observing the Moon each night outside their window and recording it's changing appearance, allowing them to see and experience our Moon's 29 day cycle.

Mr. Lee's Moon Rap video has also been a wonderful reference for us in class- check it out HERE.

We have learned that the Moon has phases because it orbits Earth, which causes the portion we see illuminated to change. The Moon takes about 27 days to orbit Earth, but the lunar phase cycle (from new Moon to new Moon) lasts about 29 days. The Moon spends the extra 2 days "catching up" because Earth travels about 45 million miles around the Sun during the time the Moon completes one orbit around Earth.

As we have studied the Moon's phases,we have also made booklets to help us learn what each phase is called. In doing this, our classes have identified several phases as being landmark phases. These are:

1) New Moon (the first (1)and last (29) day in our booklets )
At the new Moon phase, the Moon is so close to the Sun in the sky that none of the side facing Earth is illuminated. In other words, the Moon is between Earth and Sun.

2) First Quarter Moon (Day 8 in our booklet)
ONE QUARTER (the RIGHT quarter that we see) is lit....here, the moon is highest in the sky at sunset, then sets about six hours later.

3) Full Moon (Day 15 in our booklet- the middle day in the 29 day cycle)
On this day, the Moon is behind Earth in space with respect to the Sun. As the Sun sets, the Moon rises with the side that faces Earth fully exposed to sunlight. We are able to see the entire illuminated half of the moon! (Did you know that only one half of our Moon is always illuminated by our Sun, and that we NEVER see the other half from Earth??!!).

4) Last Quarter Moon (Day 21 in our booklet) ONE QUARTER (the LEFT quarter that we see) is lit.... (opposite of the First Quarter Moon).

Other terms students need to be famaliar with help to explain other phases that fall between these landmark phases are Waxing, Waning, Crescent and Gibbous. Refer to your child's Moon Phase booklet and accompanying lab sheet for more specifics.

Be sure to also ask your child about other labs we are participating in on the Moon's Phases. You can also reference our science textbook HERE for more study information.

Don't forget to visit GIZMOS to review the virtual lab we worked on in class!!

You can also click HERE to see a simple, quick time-lapsed video of the Moon Phase Cycle.

New Read Aloud!!

Visit the author's website at http://gracelin.com/ to learn more about our new read aloud, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

100th Day of School

Yesterday we celebrated the 100th Day of our school year together. To show our spirit, many of our students either brought 100 items to school or dressed as though they were 100 years old. It was a lot of fun to see all of the creative ideas from our classmates. Below are two slideshows, one for the Red Team and one for the Blue Team. Enjoy each one, and then be sure to leave a comment giving your VOTE for one person from each class (two votes total) for the award of "Best 100 Day School Spirit". Be sure to leave your first name at the end of your comment.

Phillips' 100 Day Spirit Team on PhotoPeach



Nash's 100 Day Spirit Team on PhotoPeach

Inspiration for FCAT Writes!

Limo Day on PhotoPeach



Our 4th Grade classes were just visited by some very special former 4th graders (and a very special former 4th Grade teacher) so that we could learn some tips and strategies for doing our very best on the upcoming FCAT Writes Assessment, which will be on February 28th! The students who visited our room all earned a Perfect 6 score on the FCAT Writes last year when they were in 4th Grade. Mrs. Phillips and Mr. Pinchot are especially proud of these students because all three of them were in their Math and Science class last year! Two of these students read their "perfect 6" papers and all three shared important tips on how to prepare, approach, and accomplish this very important test. We were also able to ask our "expert" panel questions, and many of our students did just that! Here are some of the tips we learned from our special guests:

*Planning is important- spend about 5 minutes doing this and jot down lots of details and examples as you think of ideas
*Be sure to stay on topic as you write
*Don't give up if you can't immediately connect with the prompt- reread it and keep jotting down ideas...they will come to you!
*Use the whole 45 minutes that you are given to write
*Include strategies and author's crafts that you have learned about in Writing: making comparisons, using sizzling vocabulary, painting a picture in the reader's mind, using subtle humor, finding places to add dialogue
*Have an open mind....what COULD happen??? Possibilities are endless!

We all noticed that their writing was very structured and organized. They used a lot of imagery. Each had clear and concise closings. Transition phrases were clever and unique. Our guests also offered us another very important tip that we will always remember: READ, READ, READ! The more we read, the more we learn author's crafts, ideas for writing, and meaning of vocabulary!

After their very special visit to our classroom, we celebrated their departure from the school by cheering them off as they went to a very special lunch in a limousine with our Principal and their families to continue their celebration.

You will have an opportunity to see how your writing scores this week.  On Wednesday, we will all take a practice writing prompt, just like the FCAT Writes.  Afterwards, Mrs. Nash and Mrs. Montero will score every piece.  This time, we will send your SCORED writing home with you to share with your parents, along with more information and reminders about how we can make our writing better every time we write.

Also coming up in February, Mrs. Montero and Mrs. Nash will send home practice writing prompts for those of you who are interested in doing everything they can to secure their own seat in next year's limo.    Your parents can set a timer for 45 minutes, and get in a little at home training for the big event!

We were so excited for the awesome writers we met this week.  Hearing their writing, listening to them speak, and watching them parade down the red carpet in true celebrity style inspired us to follow in their footsteps! Who will be next to earn a "perfect 6"? :-)

Leave a comment to share the BEST PIECE OF ADVICE you gained from our expert panel of visitors. We can't wait to read them!

Favorite Holiday Stories

For many of us, one of our favorite ways to spend time during the holiday season is curling up with one of our favorite holiday books.  Over the years, the Chets Creek December Book of the Month has often been a holiday themed selection.  This year, because good readers sometimes choose to reread books we know we love, we spent time together remembering and enjoying many holiday books, some old and some new, some silly and some sad.

One of the oldest and most beautiful stories, The Little Match Girl, was written by Hans Christian Anderson and first published in 1845.  It takes place on the wintry evening streets from long, long ago.  As with many fairy tales and traditional tales, the story of this poor, lonely girl has been told and retold many times throughout the years.  In some versions, it is New Year's Eve.  In others, it is Christmas Eve.  In some, it is just any winter night.

As with some of Hans Christian Andersen's other popular stories The Little Mermaid and Thumbelina, for instance, this beautiful story has been made into short films many times in history.  Perhaps the most beautiful version of this story is told entirely without words.  Take a few moments to watch Disney's version of this timeless classic and read Hans Christian Andersen's story.  Make sure to have your tissues handy!




Do you think consider this a happy or sad ending?
What do you think the theme of this story is?
Does this story remind you of any other books you've read?

St. Augustine

Our recent field study to St. Augustine was fantastic! Not only did we validate so much of the knowledge that we already have learned in Social Studies and Readers Workshop, but we also learned a few new interesting facts.
Did you know that it took 23 years to build the Castillo de San Marcos and that the Spanish kept their livestock in the moat around the fort when they were being attacked by their enemies? We also learned that in addition to the bell tower in one corner of the fort, that there are also 3 other corner towers with the purpose of acting as lightning rods! We also got to meet the oldest living member of St. Augustine, Old Senator, a huge tree that is over 600 years old and STILL GROWING!! His trunk is 33 feet around in circumference! We loved our fort tour and the trolley tour around the city. It was a beautiful day where all that we have learned in school really became personal for us as we got to experience it all up close. What was your favorite part of our trip? Leave a comment to earn some Behavior Bucks. Oh, and enjoy the slideshow!
St. Augustine on PhotoPeach

Stuck on Reading

Principal Phillips sure wowed us recently when she got STUCK on the wall in the front foyer! She convinced us that it is rewarding and exciting to get stuck on great books! She was reading a whole pile of them when we visited her! I am sure every one of our Young Supers is working hard to meet the 2nd 9 Week Book Goal so that they can participate in our upcoming midyear reading celebration! What book are you currently "stuck" on, Young Supers? Leave a comment and tell us all about it!