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.