Engaging in Short Research

The class is engaging in a short research project.  Each child has asked a questions they would like to learn more about and have researched their answers.  I will be posting what they have learned on our class blog.  Some are already posted and more will be posted next week, so come back often!

Which volcanoes are most active? by Maggie

I learned that the most active volcanoes are Kilauea in Hawaii. After that is Etna in in Italy and then Piton de la Fournaise on La R éunion Island. There is also Stromboli in Italy, Merapi in Indonesia, Erta Ale in Africa,  Unzen in Japan, Yasur in Tanna Island, Vahautu, Ambrym, and  Pacaya in Guatemala. I could even go on!  A fact about Kilauea is it has it's own magma plumbing system. The volcano that caused most damage was Yellowstone Super volcano. Yellowstone erupts roughly every 600,000 years. Yellowstone is in Wyoming, Canada. The Yellowstone is known as ''Super Volcano'' because it deposited more than 240 square cubic miles of ash and lava. The last eruption was 640,000 years ago."

Can dormant volcanoes become active volcanoes? by Lilly

I learned a lot about dormant and regular volcanoes!  I learned there really is no such thing as a dormant volcano!  A volcano can always erupt as long as it stays in the same place.  When the magma chamber cools down it can easily reheat again!  It can even erupt faster than it would have!  It can do this in three easy stages!

1. When new hot magma rises from below the chamber it melts the molten magma in the chamber.

2. The freshly not molten magma go's through the chamber.

3. The heat makes all the magma move a lot faster.

Geologists think that no volcano can ever not erupt. So a dormant volcano is always an active one that is just not erupting at the time, but can erupt again.  Now I know what your wondering, how does a volcano become dormant?  Well once in awhile a magma chamber cools down.  As you learned before, it can reheat  again in three easy steps. If a volcano does not erupt for 10,000 years than it can be officially dormant.  A volcano may have had a really big eruption that blew all or most of the volcano away.  There can also be plate movement and the volcano will move and the magma source can't move with it!  That is all I learned about volcanoes!  I hope you learned a lot

!

How long does it take for volcano to form? by Ava

My question was long does it take for a volcano to form? I found out that it takes 10,000-500,000 years. Then I started to wonder, why does it take so long for volcanoes to form? First, I needed to know how volcanoes are formed then I would understand. First, they are formed by the movement of  tectonic plates. Next, a tectonic plate will sink into the mantle an become very hot. Next, the molten rock will make its way through the cracks.Then, as it makes its way through the cracks. Then, as it makes its way to Earth's surface we call it lava. Lastly, layer upon layer lava builds up and a volcano is formed. Then I knew there was a lot to do and it takes a long time. That is what I have learned!

Which volcanoes are the most active? by Macy

I learned that Kilauea volcano on Hawaii is the world's most active volcano, followed by Etna in Italy. Pacaya volcano first erupted roughly 23,000 years ago, and was fairly active until around 1865. Then she blew her lid 100 years ago and has been consistently flaring ever since: to that end there are now several lava rivers flowing through the surrounding hills. Stromboli volcano off the west coast of southern Italy has been erupting nearly continously  for over 2,000 years. On average 50 to 70 volcanoes erupt every year. I learned that one fateful day in a pleasant city beneath a dormant volcano was completely destroyed. This city was Pompeii, Italy. The British museum decided to explore the Roman family life in the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneam  and the  destruction by a volcanic explosion on Thursday, on August 24, 1979 Mount Vesuvius literally blew its top, spewing tons of molten ash, pumice, and sulfuric gas miles into the atmosphere destroying Pompeii, Herculaneam, and Stabiae.

American Indians- Migration and Settlement

This week we learned about how the American Indians migrated and settled in different areas in North and South America.  In Chapter 3, the students will be learning about specific tribes and how they settled and survived in different environments throughout North and South America.

Volcano Optional Project

I assigned the volcano optional project today.  Your child can work with a partner or group of three to research a specific volcano in the world and create a model to share with the class.  They can create a short presentation about their volcano to share with their volcano.  Please look over the assignment carefully.  Volcanoes are due Wednesday, November 20th.  This is not required, but is offered as extra enrichment.

Halloween Part Thank You

Halloween Party Thank You!

I just wanted to thank all the parents who donated items and their time to make our Halloween Party such a success.  We had a wonderful time!  I hope everyone had a wonderful time trick or treating between the rain drops.  (:

Plate Tectonic Presentation

Dr. Schultz, a Dryden parent, came and shared with all the fourth grade students about plate tectonics.  It was extremely meaningful and the students learned a lot.  Students learned about plate tectonics, how volcanoes are formed, Pangea and more.  Here are some pictures and and actual clip from the presentation.  Thank you Dr. Schultz for helping our students have such an enriching experience!

Say Cheese (again)!

Picture retakes are Thursday.  If you are interested in having your child retake his/her photo, please send the pictures back by Thursday and they will be retaken.  Thanks!

REMINDERS

Please send back your field trip slips and conference forms as soon as you can.  Thanks!

Halloween Treats and Going Home for Lunch on Halloween

Please send in the ingredients for any items that will be consumed during the Halloween Party to me by Monday.  Please remember that all snacks need to be peanut and tree nut free.  I will get the ingredient list out as soon as I have all the information from all the parents.

Also, if you are planning to take your child home for lunch on Halloween, please let me know.  Have a great weekend!

BEAR FOLDER

Your child has a new BEAR folder.  They need to read their standard 100 minutes per week.  In addition, the genre this month will be Biography or Autobiography.  Your child needs to find a biography or autobiography book to read.  They should go to the Memorial Library to select a title.  The library can make many recommendations to your child at their reading level to help find just the right book.  Titles will be due on Monday, November 4th.  I will then go over the project your child will need to complete.  Happy reading!

Our Dynamic Earth

This week we studied how glaciers have affected our Earth and how they have shaped the land.  We also learned about the inside of our Earth.  We learned about the Earth's layers.

BEAR FOLDER- Novel Project- REMINDER

Once your child is finished reading their Award Winning Novel they need to complete two things:

1.  They need to write a summary about the book and submit it on Edmodo.  It needs to be at least ten sentences describing the beginning, middle and end of the story.

2.  They need to complete the project.  For this novel, they need to research about the award that the novel they selected one.  They need to identify what qualities a novel needs in order to win this specific award and then decide if they think their should have won this award and why.  There is a form in the back of their BEAR folder for them to fill out.

BEAR folders and projects are due Thursday, October 24th.