Fourth Grade Summer Reading List 2010
    Here are three books for the 2010 summer reading list. Students can log the minutes reading these

books for the Scholastic Reading Challenge goal. Students were given the book “Chasing Vermeer” by

Blue Baillet from my classroom library to borrow to read this summer. Students will be responsible for

getting copies of the other books to read.

Summer Reading List 2010
   Chasing Vermeer by Blue Baillet
   Macaroni Boy by Katherine Ayers
   Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia McLachlan

    Also if you are looking for other good reads, try a Rick Riordan Book (author of The Lightening Thief)

such as his new first Kane Chronicles book The Red Pyramid. You can also look at the list provided by

Scholastic Books for other suggested summer reads.
    When you return to school, there will be some fun activities about the above books on the summer

reading list. Check out the on line site for activities and games on Chasing Vermeer this summer:

http://www.scholastic.com/blueballiett/chasingvermeer.htm

School Supply List 2010-2011 - Fourth Grade
• 3 spiral bound notebooks, wide-ruled
• erasable pens in blue or black
• black or white (or any color) composition book for journal writing.
• 1 Yellow folder
• 1 Red folder
• 1 Homework folder
• Pencils
• A pencil bag to hold supplies
• A box of Kleenex
• Colored pencils, markers
• Black fine tip Sharpie marker
• A pack of wide-ruled loose leaf paper

     “Hold Your Head Up High” was
 beautifully sung by the character Ida,

 played by Monica, to her son Ugly, played

 by Sarah as one of the heart- felt messages

 of hope and perseverance in this year’s

 spring musical “Honk, Junior”. A cast made

 up of students in grades 3 through to 8

 performed in this Broadway Junior musical

 from Music Theatre International on May 13th

 and May 14th. This show is a contemporary

 retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's classic

 story of "The Ugly Duckling" and featured

 enjoyable music sung by a lively cast. The

 book and lyrics are by Anthony Drewe and

music is by George Stiles. The story featured Ugly who discovered his inner beauty after finding out that it is OK to be different. Ugly’s sweet but feisty mother Ida is very

protective of Ugly and all of her children or “ducklings” (played by fifth graders Melanie , Christin, Emily, and Maryl).

Drake (Matt) is Ida’s husband who "ducks" his fatherly responsibilities. Ida’s best friend Maureen (Bridget) can’t resist

good gossip. There was a gaggle of comical geese led by a military type called Greylag (Riley) and his sweet wife

Dot (Erica ), The sly Cat (Bridget ) who wants to befriend Ugly to turn him into dinner was the villain of the show.

A wisecracking Bullfrog (Gabriella) was a comedian who reminded everyone, “Out There Someone’s Gonna Love Ya”.

The rest of the cast played other fun barnyard characters who sang a great many "fowl" puns. Mrs. Cross, Director,

and Professor Coury, Musical Director, volunteered their time to practice with the student cast after school a

few days a week from February to May to get the cast ready for performances. Mrs. Heyl worked with the students to

make the background and gorgeous “hatchable” eggs. Through the creative efforts of the parents, the cast also

wore outstanding costumes. The production of “Honk, Junior” certainly proves that the many ways we are different can

come together in a wonderful way. Visit the School News Page for more photos from the show.

  
   The fourth grade students along with
 grades 5 through 8 acted as scientists
 aboard the “Riverquest” on their field
 trip April 14, 2010. This trip was possible
 due to the Target Field Trip Grant
 awarded to Mrs. Cross. The students
 traveled on the Ohio, Monongahela, and
 Allegheny Rivers where they observed
 wildlife, macro invertebrates, and
 plankton while gathering water samples
 to test. The trip started out with safety
 instructions. The fourth grade group
 discussed the Ohio River watershed with
 a model. They discovered that water
 temperature is important to the animals
 which live in the source or lower river.
    Chemistry tests were performed on water samples gathered by the students. It was found that the river had PH levels
 and turbidity in the normal range, and that our rivers are actually very clean to support life. They also learned how
 important it is to take care of our rivers. Microscopes were used to discover zooplankton and photo plankton in the water
 samples. It was amazing to discover how much life is found in a single drop of river water. Other highlights included
 observing birds that live along the river using binoculars and using scientific tools to gather actual samples to observe
 macro invertebrates. The Riverquest teachers were very informative and the students enjoyed all the sights that were
 observed along Pittsburgh’s three rivers.