By Jeff Burns on 9/27/2007

The conference times request form goes home today.  Fill out your first and second choice and we'll do our best to accomodate you. 

We are finishing up with map skills next week.  We'll be learning about the "south central" states as part of our unit on America next.  Here's what we've been studying this week...

In social studies, we located the continents and major oceans on a map. We also watched a video on maps and globes and learned new vocabulary.

In science, we learned about the various types of clouds.  Then we used cotton balls to shape these clouds, glued them to construction paper, and labeled them.

We have a quiz on maps this Wednesday.  (The study guide is in their homework folders.)

By Jeff Burns on 9/21/2007

I want to thank all of the parents who attended Back to School Night this past Wednesday.  Also, if anyone is interested in organizing book orders, please let me know.  This week in theme we...

*  Learned about the basics of our Constitution.  (It was Constitution Day on Monday.)

*  On Thursday we finished a big map project.  We created our very own Treasure Island.  It consisted of a compass, legend, and landforms on the island.  We determined where the treasure was buried then wrote detailed instructions to find it.  Finally, our peers had to locate the treasure using our directions.

*  In science we studied the components of the "scientific method".  We'll use this method when we do future experiments.

By Jeff Burns on 9/14/2007

Just a reminder that this Wednesday is Back to School Night.  It all starts in the multi-purpose room at 6 pm. with some general information.  At 6:45 pm. it proceeds to your child's homeroom where I'll talk about the curriculum, homework policy, volunteer sign up, etc.  After about a half hour you'll visit their literacy teachers and math teachers.  It ends at 8:15 pm.  Hope to see you there. 

We are collecting pink Yoplait yogurt lids for cancer research. 

Individual pictures are this Friday, September 21.  Forms will go home in their weekly folders.

In social studies we...

*  Used a grid to locate places on a map

*  Studied symbols that represent various landforms

In science we...

*&nbs ... Read More »

By Jeff Burns on 9/9/2007

This week continued with our literacy and math assessments.  The students made a great effort to do their best during this busy week.  They will be placed in their needs based groups by early next week. 

In social studies we're studying map skills. We reviewed the intermediate directions of a compass rose.  We also worked on using a grid to locate features and cities on a Colorado map.  Finally, we created a map from detailed directions.

In science we're studying weather.  We learned about the various symbols on a weather map and watched an informative video about the weather.  We also explored the properties of air.  The students designed an invention that incorporated their learnings about air.  

In theme, we practiced and reviewed  the cursive alphabet ... Read More »

By Jeff Burns on 9/4/2007

Last week we completed the ERB assessment.  The ERB assessment will help track your child's progress through their years at Stargate.  We also took a vocabulary and analytical assessment to determine the "needs based" groups for literacy and math.  We will continue to do those assessments this week.  Thanks for continuing to sign their assignment sheet each night.  Mrs. Bustamante has more info about the homework folders on her blog, just click on "documents".

By Jeff Burns on 8/29/2007

Homework folders went home today.  Please sign the homework sheet each night and send the folder with them to school daily.  We discussed that it's their responsibility to ensure that you sign it each night. 

By Jeff Burns on 8/24/2007

Welcome back returning fourth graders and incoming third graders. I hope you and your families had a wonderful summer. I'm looking forward to a great year.   Mr. Burns