Monday, November 30, 2015
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Curriculum Updates November 16-24
Compose Yourself - Congratulations to the 4th graders on an awesome musical performance! You were very entertaining to watch! Reading - Students worked hard this week to compare and contrast two different nonfiction texts on a similar subject. We not only compared information, but also thought about the lesson that we can learn from texts and compared that as well. Next week, students will be working on the ELA Acuity.
Writing - We are wrapping up their opinion writing this week and next. Fourth graders have worked hard to provide persuading evidence for their topic. We'll work on revising and editing and will have a final copy finished soon!
Science - Fourth graders learned how to measure force with a spring scale this week by conducting an experiment. After choosing 3 items of various weights, students pulled the objects on either the carpet or the smooth desktop to figure out which took more force. Students also took their force and motion test this week. Our next unit will be on mixtures and solutions.
Math - Your child has now learned 3 different ways to solve a 2 or 3 digit number multiplied by a 1 digit number. Ask them to show you how to break the numbers apart, solve the expanded algorithm, and the standard algorithm (the one you learned in school!) By teaching kids 3 strategies we're hoping that the students choose one that works best for them and that it helps them find accurate answers. Please practice multiplication facts! The faster kids are at their facts, the easier it is to learn to solve larger multiplication problems.
Friday, November 13, 2015
Curriculum Updates Nov 2-13
Reading- We have continued our study of non-fiction the last 2 weeks. Students have practiced finding the main idea and details several times. We also studied the text structures authors use to help readers better understand the information. For instance, sometimes authors use a problem solution structure to their writing, but other times the information might be in a sequence. Finally, we have begun to compare and contrast 2 texts on the same subject.
Writing - Students opinion essays are starting to really take off! We have used an outline to help keep their paragraphs organized. They have worked on their introduction and their reason paragraphs. Students are including both their personal experiences as well as an interview in each paragraph.
Math - Fourth graders are finishing up Topic 5; Number Sense: Multiplying by 1-Digit Numbers this week by taking their test. Results will come home next week. We reviewed breaking apart numbers to make them easier to add as well as rounding numbers to estimate. Finally, students worked on explaining whether an answer is reasonable or not by using estimation. Next week we'll begin Topic 6: Developing Fluency: Multiplying by 1-Digit Numbers. We'll teach the standard algorithm (like you probably learned in school) as well as another method.
Science - We are immersed in force and motion in fourth grade. Students have learned about Newton's 3 Laws of Motion, velocity, speed, three types of motion (straight, curved, & vibrations), as well as how gravity affects objects. To end our unit, students are participating in experiments to help them understand the concepts. Ask your child about the experiments. We'll wrap up our unit next week, review, and take our test. Our next unit will be Mixtures and Solutions.
Writing - Students opinion essays are starting to really take off! We have used an outline to help keep their paragraphs organized. They have worked on their introduction and their reason paragraphs. Students are including both their personal experiences as well as an interview in each paragraph.
Math - Fourth graders are finishing up Topic 5; Number Sense: Multiplying by 1-Digit Numbers this week by taking their test. Results will come home next week. We reviewed breaking apart numbers to make them easier to add as well as rounding numbers to estimate. Finally, students worked on explaining whether an answer is reasonable or not by using estimation. Next week we'll begin Topic 6: Developing Fluency: Multiplying by 1-Digit Numbers. We'll teach the standard algorithm (like you probably learned in school) as well as another method.
Science - We are immersed in force and motion in fourth grade. Students have learned about Newton's 3 Laws of Motion, velocity, speed, three types of motion (straight, curved, & vibrations), as well as how gravity affects objects. To end our unit, students are participating in experiments to help them understand the concepts. Ask your child about the experiments. We'll wrap up our unit next week, review, and take our test. Our next unit will be Mixtures and Solutions. Thursday, November 5, 2015
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Force and Motion
Check out the following website for ideas to learn more about the concepts in our force and motion unit.
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