NJ Day Video

Make sure that you take a look at the ESNTV NJ Day video...I saw a lot of you in there!
http://vp.telvue.com/player?height=300&id=T01509&noplaylistskin=1&video=159220&width=400

Summer Reading: Frindle

Book:Frindle
Author: Andrew Clements

I picked this book because Extra Credit was on the summer reading list. It was checked out but this is the same author. So I checked it out. I also picked this book because it is about a fifth grade boy and I am going into fifth grade.

In this book Nick makes up a word for pen to get the new word in the dictionary. His teacher is not happy because she really likes the way the dictionary is. One thing that surprised me about this book is that the teacher seems mean at the beginning but then she is nice. The ending is another thing that surprised me, but I won't tell you.

I think this book is for someone that wants to read a good story. It is a little bit funny and not too hard.

Paul Bunyan Day

Today, if you didn't know, is Paul Bunyan Day. Celebrate by reading a tall tale. Some we've read together  (along with some new ones):
Paul Bunyan
Pecos Bill
Slue Foot Sue
Old Stormalong
John Henry
Davy Crockett
Johnny Appleseed
Calamity Jane
Joe Magarac

Bored?

School ended one week ago, and as great as it is to be off, sometimes it's a little boring. Here are some sites that may help if you're looking for something to do:
NJ Kids on the Go
Summer Activities for Kids
Edison Library Children's Page - also click for information on the bookmobile and fun events!
Middlesex County Parks

Night Sky Activities

Warm summer nights are great for sitting outside and looking up! Here are some links to help you discover what you're looking at:
The full moon for this month is today/tomorrow. June's Full Moon is the called the Full Strawberry Moon.
Moon Phases Calendar - Draw what the moon looks like each night. If it's cloudy one night, don't worry! You'll probably be able to fill it in after you see the other nights around it.

Moon Phases Almanac - This can help you to know what phases we are in, even if it's cloudy.

Space Station - Find out who is on the Space Station right now and what they're doing. There's a link to video so that you can see them in action.

Space Station Spotter - Want to see the station for yourself? Type in the location where you are (or where you'll be) and find the times and directions for when and where you should look. It looks almost like a plane, but moves faster and doesn't have any blinking lights on it.

Happy Summer!

It's official...summer is here! We talked about the journey of Earth's yearly trip around the Sun, but here's some more information on the Summer Solstice:

Fact Monster

Talk to an Astronomer (not really)

NASA Kids site-cool pictures, games, etc.

Hunger Games book recommendation

The first recommendation came on the last day of school! Here it is:

 

The Hunger Games - Book 1

By: Susan Collins

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( Summary )

The book had many twists and turns that made my skin quiver. The setting was placed in what was left over of North America. It was in a place called Panem, where a strict capital orders all the districts in the nation ( 12 districts ) to send one boy and one girl to fight in a bone chilling battle with the rest of the districts. In a raffle, Peeta Mellark and Prim-Rose Everdeen get chosen to be in the Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen takes the place of her little sister. She had to look after her family after tragic things had happened to her.

District 12 is the underdog of all the districts. Could one of Peeta and Katniss win? After all, only one winner could be crowned.

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I liked how the book had so much vivid detail. You could clearly paint a picture in your head even though most people haven't been in an event like this.

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I would recommend it to people who love adventure and action because the Hunger Games is a bloody battle and half of me wanted to keep reading to see what happens, and the other urged me not to read on in fright.

Newseum

Want to know what's going on around the world? Traveling somewhere this summer and want to see what's happening there? Newseum has an amazing collection of today's front pages from around the United States and the world. Pick a new place each day and learn a little bit about it!

Geography Practice

World Map practice

United States Practice

Map Quizzes

Puzzle Map

National Geographic GoBee Challenge




NJ Landform and Water links
Landforms and water examples
Wikipedia landform index
Wikipedia water index

Math Games

Card Sharks probability game

Multiplication.com

Kakooma

Factorization Forest





Geometry Practice:
Sorts and games
Review transformations
Challenge transformations




It's in the Numbers information
Precipitation link

Summer Reading Circle

This summer, each time you finish a book, share your opinion with the class! Here's how it works:
-Read, read, read...
-When you finish a book, send an e-mail to me with the following information:
  Book title
  Author
  Short summary (like the blurb on the back of the book...use your own words but don't give away     the ending)
  What you liked/didn't like the book
  Would you recommend it? Why?

You can also create a word document with this information and load it onto SkyDrive. When I receive your work, I'll post it onto the blog. As other students read the book, they can share their opinions in the comments section. You can also write back, creating a book conversation.

Each time you enter a post or submit a meaningful comment, I'll add a Tiger Ticket for a special class-only drawing. Someone from our class will win a special prize in September and EVERYONE that meaningfully participates will earn a small prize.

Happy reading!