August 4th, 2011
Dear 4th-5th Grade Explorer Families:
Greetings from your teacher team: Edie McDowell, Daniel Manget, and Ben Yanes! We are all very excited to undertake a new journey in learning at Odyssey Community School. We hope that you share our sense of adventure! Here are some thoughts to beckon you to join our caravan.
Fourth and Fifth Grade students are called Explorers for a reason! Having learned about the Hero’s Journey in Kindergarten and First Grade, and Natural World Explorations in Second and Third Grade, 4/5students are well-prepared to embark upon a quest for knowledge in the real world. Explorers practice the Essential Learning Skills across all subject areas on a daily basis. Multi-sensory centers afford 4th– 5th graders the opportunity to tackle complex tasks, based on challenging questions and problems. These learning centers integrate the Multiple Intelligences and require students to work both independently and collaboratively. Each student is involved in the processes of: problem-solving, decision-making, designing, and implementing investigation activities, from research to scientific inquiry.
The Explorers’ curriculum is designed to help students use critical and creative thinking skills to make connections across the disciplines. Students write in Math, Science, and Literature Journals daily. They use charts, graphs, and measuring tools to record statistical information (temperature, precipitation, etc.) each school day. This yearlong collection of data serves as a basis for research and analysis.
Special interdisciplinary projects centered in Science and Social Studies challenge students to do the work of real Scientists and Social Scientists. Students learn about geography, history, and archaeology in their explorations of the world continents and cultures. We create passport-folios in which to record our observations and notes about the natural and cultural history of each new region we explore. We use this research for analysis of facts as well as for creative projects sparked by imagination and curiosity. These travels offer a window to the world, through which we look, not only at indigenous plants and animals; we also learn about the distinct habitats and contemporary environmental ecological concerns. Students learn to literally find their own place in the world, as all our travels require directional knowledge in the use of a magnetic compass.
We will begin the year’s adventure with an Explorer Orientation. Students will learn to navigate within our school and classroom environments, establish a schedule, create a map, and collaborate in the process of setting up systems to manage our time and energy positively and effectively. We will be connecting this orientation with lessons in geography, reading, writing, math, science, and the arts. During this three-week orientation, we will be conducting some informal assessments to establish a sense of each child’s individual needs, aptitudes, and interests across a 2grade spectrum. Our collaboration this year affords us the unique opportunity for vertical lift and optimal growth so that each child is appropriately challenged and supported according to his or her individual needs.
In preparation for some of our earliest experiences together, we’d like to request that students come prepared for the first day of school with a special stone. Most children collect rocks, or are at least appreciative of the natural beauty of rocks and minerals. We will be using stones in our daily centering practice to create a collaborative sculpture that stands as a testament to our collective and individual presence in body, mind, and spirit. Please bring a special stone with you for the first day of school!
The Explorers will be investigating our universe with an emphasis on North Carolina, North America, the Immigrant Experience, and the Mediterranean for the 2011-2012 academic year. We invite all families to participate in areas of expertise, offering talents in music, art, theater, literature, first hand experiences, photography, science, dance, travel, language study, cooking, festivities, research, and imagination to make this study magical and diverse. We’ll have a sign up sheet available at all times, but please let us know ASAP if there are ways you’d like to contribute to or share in this investigation. Our first official get-together is detailed below.
Meet your classmates and teachers at the pool: Tuesday, August 23rd, from 4:00-5:30 pm.
Attached, please find the requested supply list for our class. Please RSVP that you have received this email and note any changes that need to be made in your contact information.
Best regards,
Edie, Daniel, and Ben
Explorer Supply List
Pencils (at least 12)
Pink eraser
Ink Pens (blue or black, erasable or not)
Scissors
Ruler
Glue
Gluestick Pack of 3
Portable pencil sharpener
Supply Box (to carry pencils, erasers, etc.)
Loose Leaf paper
Composition books 4 different colors (if possible)
2 single subject notebooks
Sketch book, 8X11 (blank paper, preferably spiral bound, at least 100 sheets or more)
3 ring binder for Odyssey Portfolio (largest size possible)
Plastic shoe box or Tupperware box for your child’s Explorer Tool Kit
Clipboard
3 folders (sturdy ones your child will recognize)
4x6 in. index cards (2 packs)
Crayola colored pencils
Crayola Markers (whatever you would like to contribute)
Dry erase markers (fine point)
Water bottle
One bottle of hand-sanitizer
One box tissues
Flash-drive for file-saving and Explorer Publishing Projects and PassPortFolios
One large handkerchief (any color, at least 18x18”)
Additional requests for supplies to support classroom projects:
Oil pastels
Poster board
Yarn
Buttons
Muffin tins
Magnetic compass
Binoculars
Measuring cups, spoons
Fabric
Vintage neckties
Sewing materials (needles, thread, etc.)
Tissue paper
Masking tape
Magazines with great photography (National Geographic, etc.)
Previously emailed summer reading follows:
Dear 4th-5th Grade Explorer Students and Parents:
Summer reading is very important in developing life-long reading habits, in maintaining literacy skills and in promoting reading for pleasure. Studies have repeatedly shown that children who continue to read during the summer months perform better when school resumes in the fall. To that end, I have created a Summer Reading List from which our rising 4th-5th grade students are expected to select and read at least two books, one fiction and one nonfiction. These books were selected for their interest, diversity and reading level.
Students in grades 4 and 5 are to complete 2 simple self-directed projects, which should be brought to school in early fall. The suggested projects are based on the English Language Arts Objectives in the NC Standard Course of Study for grades 4-5 and are designed to reinforce concepts and skills taught in our classes. (Suggestions follow the reading lists below.) Note: Please scroll WAY DOWN to the end of this message to find some suggestions! I’ve also attached the 2009 book list in case the recommendations for this year were not enticing enough.
Research has shown that when parents are actively involved in learning at home,
their children become more successful in and out of school. Your family “book
discussions” will help your children reach an understanding about people, places,
and events that they would never reach otherwise. Reading
Finally, the Asheville-Buncombe Library System offers an incentive program for summer reading. This supplies a book list for recording weekly selections, a schedule of special interest programs at each branch library, and the reward of an earned book to keep at the end of the summer. Visit your local library to register, or check out the link at:
(Last summer, Ellie, Emma and I enjoyed meeting and learning about 50 snakes, lizards, and other reptiles at the North Asheville Library. We got to help hoist a python.)
I hope that this list helps identify some high interest, age appropriate reads for the various skill levels of our current students. Don’t hesitate to email questions, ideas, and inspirations to me over the summer.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy summer of books and fun!
Edie
PS Please see project guide following the recommended reading lists for grades 4-5!
May 29, 2011
Dear 4th-5th Grade Explorers and Parents:
Summer reading is very important in developing life-long reading habits, in maintaining literacy skills and in promoting reading for pleasure. Studies have repeatedly shown that children who continue to read during the summer months perform better when school resumes in the fall. To that end, I have created a Summer Reading List from which our rising 4th-5th grade students are expected to select and read at least two books, one fiction and one nonfiction. These books were selected for their interest, diversity and reading level.
Students in grades 4 and 5 are to complete 2 simple self-directed projects, which should be brought to school in early fall. The suggested projects are based on the English Language Arts Objectives in the NC Standard Course of Study for grades 4-5 and are designed to reinforce concepts and skills taught in our classes. (Suggestions follow the reading lists below.)
Research has shown that when parents are actively involved in learning at home,
their children become more successful in and out of school. Your family “book
discussions” will help your children reach an understanding about people, places,
and events that they would never reach otherwise. Reading
Finally, the Asheville-Buncombe Library System offers an incentive program for summer reading. This supplies a book list for recording weekly selections, a schedule of special interest programs at each branch library, and the reward of an earned book to keep at the end of the summer. Visit your local library to register, or check out the link at:
(A couple of summers ago, Ellie, Emma and I enjoyed meeting and learning about 50 snakes, lizards, and other reptiles at the North Asheville Library. We got to help hoist a python. Last summer we got to traipse through the swampy bird sanctuary near the North Asheville Library to collect, identify, document, and release insects with a local entomologist.)
I hope that this list helps identify some high interest, age appropriate reads for the various skill levels of our current students. Don’t hesitate to email questions, ideas, and inspirations to me over the summer.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy summer of books and fun!
Edie
PS Please see project guide following the recommended reading lists for grades 4-5!
Summer Reading Book List: 2011
Note: The reading level for each book follows its title and author.
_____ From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, - Konigsburg, 4.7
_____ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis, 5.7
_____ The Great Brain – J. Fitzgerald, 5.2
_____ The Penderwicks – J. Birdsall, 4.7
_____ Listening for Lions – G. Whelan, 5.7
_____ Bud, Not Buddy – Christopher Paul Curtis, 5.0
_____ The Trouble with Tuck – Theodore Taylor, 5.5
_____ The Lightning Thief – R. Riordan, 4.7
_____ Abel’s Island – William Steig, 5.9
_____ Hardy Boy mysteries (series)
_____ Nancy Drew mysteries (series)
_____ The City of Embers – J. DuPrau, 5.0
_____ Baby – Patricia McLachlan, 4.0
_____ Socks – Beverly Cleary, 5.0
_____ The Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney, 5.2
_____ Return of the Homerun Kid – Matt Christopher, 4.7
_____ On the Banks of Plum Creek – Laura Ingalls Wilder, 4.6
_____ Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder, 5.2
_____ Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague – Marguerite Henry, 4.8
_____ The Toothpaste Millionaire – Jean Merrill, 5.0
_____ The Hero’s Trail – T.A. Barron, 6.2
Also recommended newest titles (see complete article at the following link): http://www.education.com/magazine/article/fourth-grade-summer-reading-list/“Kids entering the fourth grade are on a roll with reading, and it's important to keep that momentum going over the summer months. Looking for a solid gold reading list to kick off the summer? Look no further. We've combed the shelves for new titles that have what it takes to engage fourth grade readers all summer long.”
2011 Summer Reading List
The Candymakers by Wendy Mass. For kids curious about how candy is made, this book wraps up the answers in a story as colorful, wacky and engrossing as eating a piece of saltwater taffy. At the surface it's about four kids competing for the glory of making a brand new candy, but below that you can find more in the mix. It's a smart, fun read for parents with their kids, and sheds light on the fact that baking and candy making are real-world applications of science! (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, $9.13) 
Mal and Chad by Stephen McCranie. Boy genius Mal crash-lands his homemade time machine into the Jurassic world after his (talking) dog Chad suggests he pay a visit to get a leg up on a school assignment. A comedy of errors ensues with a great cast of characters, from hostile dinos to Mal's smug science fair nemesis. Mal and Chad is a quick-witted and utterly charming read that will please fans of comic books and adventure stories. (Philomel, $9.99) 
The Worst Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Everest by David Borgenicht and Bill Doyle. Scaling Mount Everest is an adventure that’s defeated scores of seasoned climbers: are you ready to take on the ultimate challenge? In this thrilling read, you are part of the youngest team ever to attempt to climb Everest, but you’ll have to make all the right decisions to achieve your goal. A choose-your-own-adventure format lends itself well to this harrowing journey of high-altitude adventure! (Chronicle Books, $12.99) 
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. Times are tough for Minli’s family. Enraptured by the stories her father weaves each night about a dissatisfied dragon and the Old Man in the Moon, Minli sets off to change their fate. Her adventures are full of greedy monkeys, grouchy spirits, and evils to be cheekily outwitted. Stunning illustrations, colorful characters, and a beautiful underlying message make this one of the most enchanting books we’ve picked up all year. (Little Brown, $7.99) NOTE: We will be using this book in class this year!
Johnny Swanson by Eleanor Updale. When Johnny’s mom is suspected of a crime she did not commit, it's up to him to save her! A gripping adventure, set in 1929 England during a massive tuberculosis epidemic, this regular kid without a scrap of magical powers will keep kids turning pages as they wait for the mad climax. (David Fickling Books, $16.99) Our 2010 Fourth Grade Summer Reading Picks
Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve. This coming-of-age tale is served a la Wizard of Oz, with flavors reminiscent of Roald Dahl and Norton Juster. Eleven-year-old Polly lives on her family farm, but it's not like any other farm. The rhubarb tastes like chocolate, the bugs can communicate, and it rains at exactly the same time every single day. Then, one day, the rain stops, her brother falls deathly ill, and Polly must use her unique relationship with the farm to bring back the rain and save her brother's life. A well-crafted fantasy, with a message about the magic of nature that is perfect for the summer months. (Dial Books for Young Readers, $11.55) 
100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson. Looking for a heart-pounding but well-written series to keep kids flipping pages frantically all summer long? This page-turner, the first in a three book series, may be just the ticket. Like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or A Wrinkle in Time, this book features a regular child who unlocks a portal to another world. In this case, it's Henry York, a 12-year-old boy sent to live on his aunt and uncle's farm when his parents go missing. When strange noises are heard behind his bedroom wall, Henry scratches off the plaster to find ninety-nine mysterious cupboards, each of which leads to another world. But when his cousin goes missing, can Henry figure out how to get her back? This sometimes spooky, sometimes scary, and ultimately pitch-perfect adventure will leave kids biting their nails and begging for more. And good news: the next two installments have already hit the shelves! (Random House, $6.99) 
A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup Imagine The Matrix, with sock puppets, and you'll get the gist of this madcap adventure, full of secret government agents, "three attractive, polite, relatively odor-free children" and their mad scientist father. On the run from the corporate and government suits who would steal their most inventive device, The Cheeseman family must shield their identities as they remain on the lam. Narrated by the bizarre and verbose Dr. Cuthbert Soup, head of the National Center for Unsolicited Advice, this extremely quirky book will keep kids turning pages all summer! A silly, tongue-in-cheek pleasure of a read. (Bloomsbury, $11.55) 
The Dreamer by Paul Munoz Ryan. This book sketches the childhood of beloved poet Pablo Neruda in lyrical and heartfelt prose, interspersed with poetry and woven together with the uniquely stippled illustrations of Peter Sis. His harsh and overbearing father rejects his pensive walks in the woods, his lively imagination, and his collection of artifacts--the things that make him who he is. As young Neruda grows up, he learns about the plight of the indigenous Mapuche of his Chilean homeland, and realizes that while injustice may be a fact of life, it is something that he can fight...with words. This book grapples with serious themes, artistically handled, and is a celebration of the dreamer in all of us. (Scholastic, $12.23) 
Once by Morris Gleitzman. It's 1942 in war-torn Poland, in a cold and crowded orphanage, and 10-year-old Felix has just found a whole carrot in his soup. He takes it as a sign, and embarks on a harrowing journey across Poland to find his parents. Along the way, he encounters Nazis, an orphan named Zelda, and the horrors of war. Narrated by Felix himself, Once gives readers a chance to view a horrific time in history through the eyes of a child. This beautiful story touches on some heavy themes surrounding the Holocaust--death, displacement, starvation--but it does so in a way that is at once gentle and profound. Through and through, a fantastic read. (Henry Holt and Company, $11.23) Suggested Projects
Students may choose any of the following suggested projects, or may opt to design their own project. One project should be completed for the fiction selection and one project should be completed for the nonfiction selection.
Projects may be turned in to the school during the first week of the 2007 fall semester.
• Make a picture book of your favorite characters.
• Make a sock puppet for two of the main characters.
• Make a time-line of events. (plot sequence and number line practice)
• Create and write a new ending for the story.
• Write a summary of the story.
• Write a few pages in a diary as if you were the main character.
• Write a song about the story.
• Prepare a book jacket for your story.
• Write a letter of appreciation to the author, asking questions and sharing thoughts.
• Draw a picture of your favorite part of the book.
• Make a peep-box of an important scene or event.
• Create a cartoon strip based on the main character.
• Prepare a list of the most unusual, difficult, or exciting words and their meanings.
• Complete a story map of the main events. (plot sequence)
• Create paper dolls of the main characters. Make a backdrop and paste the dolls to the backdrop. (character and setting)
SUMMER MATH:
5th Graders: Know the multiplication tables through 12 before you begin 5th grade. Memorize your home address, phone number, birth date, and full name!
4th Graders: Know fact families for addition and subtraction up to 100. Know multiplication tables for 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s.
Calling world travelers! Hop on board for Buncombe County Public Libraries’ summer reading program 2011, “One World, Many Stories.” Readers of all ages will celebrate stories from around the world with folktales, crafts, music and more! Stay tuned for the details on our upcoming summer fun.
Summer Reading Events
Summer Library Fest on June 16
Start the summer right at the annual kick-off party for our summer reading program, the Summer Library Fest. This year at the Fest, children of all ages will enjoy sonnets, hip-hop verses, songs and stories from local poet and storyteller Allan Wolf. Join us at the Smith McDowell House on Thursday, June 16 for two free shows at 10am and 11:30am.
Event Schedules
See you at the library!
And there's more! Pick one of the above photos and write three questions about what you WONDER about that photograph. Use your powers of observation and your imagination to answer the questions you asked. Be ready to share which picture you picked and some of your Questions and Answers when we meet for the first week of school.
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the picture of a tree looks like a face.
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