Dear Parents, 

     Before break we discussed accuracy when measuring and using the fractions 1/16, 1/8, ¼ and ½ when measuring with inches and 1/10 and ½ when measuring with centimeters.  We started to explore the idea of perimeter, the distance around a shape. We discussed measuring longer distances with miles and kilometers and we solved problems involving road maps.  This week we will start to discuss area, the amount of square units inside a shape.  We will also learn about capacity: gallons, quarts, pints, and cups. 

     Last week during writing workshop the students worked to see how much writing they could get done in one day.  A copy of what they were able to write on 3-23 will be sent home this week, with a self reflection that the students completed on 3-24.  At the end of the week, the students chose their favorite piece of writing to share for our next writing celebration.  The piece that they chose should have as many of the revision skills that we have learned as possible, at least 4.  The plan is that our Authors Celebration will be this Thursday.  However, we may move it to next week if the students need more time to revise and publish their work.

     In science the students used Equal Arm Balances to compare the weight of different objects.  This week the students will use their balances to put 6 objects in order from lightest to heaviest.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Passport Check:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>A new map is coming home with this week’s target: Korea.  The map also has the rest of the countries that the students have studied as a review. </li>
	<li>Thank you to Jaylynn’s brother who taught us about Korea before spring break!</li>
	<li>A sign up sheet for April presentations was sent home before break.  Thank you again to everyone who has already presented.</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Notes and Reminders: </span></strong>
<ul>
	<li><span style="font-size: small;font-family: Times New Roman">Ray School Festival is this Thursday, April 8<sup>th</sup>.</span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size: small;font-family: Times New Roman">There is no school this Friday, April 9<sup>th</sup>.</span></li>
	<li><span style="font-family: Symbol"><span><span>  </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">It’s hard to believe, but this week marks the end of the 3<sup>rd</sup> quarter!<span>  </span>Report Card Pick Up will be in a few weeks, on April 21<sup>st</sup>.<span>  </span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"></span></span><span>Are there any parents willing to sharpen some pencils at home?<span>  </span>We have hundreds of pencils, but none of them are sharpened.<span>  </span>Thanks. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;font-family: Wingdings"><span>J</span></span></li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Questions to ask at home:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>Practice measuring things around the house using inches and centimeters.</li>
	<li>What is the difference between area and perimeter?</li>
	<li>How many cups in a pint?  cups in a gallon?  cups in a quart? pints in a quart?</li>
	<li>What types of revising did you do to improve your story for the Authors Celebration? (a strong lead, dialogue, show not tell, a close in ending, writing flaps, taking away…)</li>
	<li>What are the two sounds that “c” makes at the beginning of a word? (carrot, cents) What are the two sounds that “g” makes?  (germ, gorilla)</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Homework</span></strong><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">: </span></strong>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="74" valign="top"> </td>
<td width="110"><strong>Monday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Tuesday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Wednesday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Thursday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Friday</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="74"><strong>Math</strong></td>
<td width="110">Home Link 9.7</td>
<td width="110">Home Link 9.8</td>
<td width="110">Home Link 9.6</td>
<td width="110">Math Boxes</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">(No School)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="74"><strong>Passport Check</strong></td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Study the target country</p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">→</p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">→</p>
</td>
<td width="110">
<p style="text-align: center">Passport Check Today</p>
</td>
<td width="110"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="74"><strong>Reading</strong><strong></strong></td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><span> </span></span></p>