My Christmas Memory 2011

My Favorite Christmas 2011

More PowerPoint presentations from Gary Nelson

Our Trip to Cranbrook

Turkey in Disguise - 2011

This week we held the annual 4th grade 'Turkey in Disguise' contest.  We were given blank turkey cartoons that had to be dressed up or decorated to hide them from hungry predators (like me and you.)  This year we had a side variety of non-turkey turkeys including a snake, a Christmas wreath, a peacock and Elvis!  The teachers, the fifth graders (last year's contestants) and our class voted for our favorites.  Congratulations to Carter, Leah and Skylar for their winning entries of Santa, a bunny and a cruise ship.  Each winner received a packet of origami paper as a prize.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Trip to Lansing

In October, our class went to Lansing to visit the Capitol, the Judicial Learning Center, and the Michigan Historical Museum.  Some of us have been waiting years for this trip and weren’t disappointed.  It was amazing! We had fun at all three places and had learned lots of good stuff too!

At the Historical Museum, we saw what life was like in Michigan from prehistoric Indians through the 1960’s.  We saw many cool old artifacts, went into copper mine, sat in a one-room schoolhouse, saw a huge picture of people making war planes for World War II, and saw rooms with stuff in it when our grandparents were kids. We took lots of pictures, had lunch, swarmed the gift shop to buy things then walked to the Capitol.

 In the Capitol building we laid down on the glass floor and looked up to the very top of the dome, which was painted gold and blue with shiny stars.  It was very beautiful. We saw the House of Representatives work, met our own representative, Mr. McMillen, saw the Governor’s office.  Did you know it took two months to clean the ceiling with cotton balls and Q-tips?! We saw paintings of many other governors and climbed lots of stairs.

While at the Judicial Learning Center we learned about the courts, the laws and even who does what during a trial.  We held up signs and read what our job was.  Then we got to push a lot of buttons on computers and played games and answered a lot of questions about the law.
It was a great trip. But it sure made us tired!!

By Abby M, Natalie, Emily A, Anna W, Emma, Aidan, Paul, Madelyn, Molley,  and Anna M

BRAINS!!

To start off our science unit on human body systems, and because it is Halloween, Mr. Nelson treated us to some brain food. We dug right in! BRAINS - YUM!!

All About Signature Bugs

This week we were working on signature bugs! We wrote our name twice on a piece of paper, once the right way and once a mirror image, to disguised it as a bug or alien. Afterward we colored them and drew in a background behind them. We have a lot of fun in 4th grade and learn so much!
- by Natalie

Longhouse Project 2011

All of us built long houses during school last week. We did an awesome job! It took a long time to get it done but we in fourth grade can handle it! - Joslynn

Wow, what a mess but it was fun! Lots of fun stuff. Some people put real nature stuff in there like dirt, grass, moss and even a worm! Thank you to all the parents for getting you child the supplies they needed. We all had fun! - Molley

We made longhouses out of things from nature. They all turned out really, really cool I think they are the best longhouses . . .EVER! - Emma

Fourth graders made long houses last week. First we had to collect natural resources. On Thursday we had 2 hours to work. We collected leaves, rocks, twigs and sticks. When we finished, we put them into the hallway so everybody could see them! - Anna M

End of Week 2

This week we met our new teachers in PE, Music, and computers. We are also happy to see Miss Bailey back as our art teacher. We are busy working on some clean water posters for a contest from the Oakland County Water Commissioners office and will soon be working on our Art to Remember Projects. Our Moms and Dads came to visit last night (Thursday) to learn about our class and MR. N taught them our 5 Classroom Rules! We ended the day today learning about the victims and the heros of the events of September 11, 2001. We know MANY people LET THEIR LIGHT SHINE during that day and for many days later. May God give us all the ability to SHINE for Him with our gifts and abilities today.

Near the end of the week . . .

We have learned the 5 classroom rules which are:
#1 - Follow directions quickly
#2 - Raise your hand for permission to speak.
#3 - Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.
#4 - Make smart choices
#5 - Make your dear teacher happy! :)

We recite them in class and have been practicing these every day. We have also started with a few classes including religion, reading, math and social studies. The girls are working hard on jump roping while the boys are chucking balls at each other at recess. It's a good start. We are looking forward to a GREAT year!

A New Year, A New Adventure - Welcome to 4th Grade (2011-12)

We start school on Monday. There will be lots to do, new rules to learn, desks, supplies, lockers, textbooks, workbooks and much much more in the days ahead. We will regularly post the things we do, learn, and experience here on this blog. Stay tuned. The adventure has just begun.

- Mr. N.

TAFFY!

On Wednesday Mr. Nelson made the class chocolate taffy! It was a part of our chocolate week. It was chocolate week because that week we studied all about chocolate and went to a chocolate factory! At first Mr. Nelson added too much water and so did not have enough sugar, so he went to the lunch lady’s office borrow some. When he got back we were able to make the taffy, it took a looong time for it to cook and cool, and stretch, but it was worth waiting for! - By Ryan G.

Our Trip to Morley Chocolate Factory

By Issac

Last Tuesday we went to the Morley Chocolate factory. First we watched a movie about how to grow, harvest and make chocolate. We then tasted a delicious piece of chocolate; it had chocolate inside and out. It was super chocolately! Next we went on the factory tour. You could see the workers make the chocolate! Finally we went to the candy store! They had ice cream, jellybeans, and other types of candy. There was so much to chose with so little time! Finally we left with bags full of candy, totally satisfied.

OWL PELLETS!