Curriculum February 29th - March 4th

Reading - We are wrapping up our unit on poetry. This week the students focused on Greek Myths and the elements of poetry. Students worked on summarizing texts and finding the theme in both myths and poems as well as determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text. Next, students will be working on the elements of a play and taking the pretest for the next reading topic which will focus on interpretation of text.

Writing/Social Studies - Fourth graders are still working on their informational writing unit on westward expansion. The students have finished writing chapter 1 and putting their final copy onto StoryJumper where they are starting to look like real books as they are using pictures and captions as well as other text features to bring the information to life. Students started researching the beginning of chapter 2 for their books that focuses on their specific westward expansion topic. The 4th graders were able to read books on their topic and make note cards organizing the information they found. Next, students will be drafting their writing for chapter 2 and entering it into StoryJumper.

Math - We are wrapping up our unit on Topic 12 this week and will take the test. Students will be tested on their ability to decompose fractions into sub fractions with the same denominator, adding and subtracting mixed numbers with like denominators, and solving word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators. Students will be taking the pretest for Topic 13 next week.

Science - Students are working hard on their science fair projects. This week the students have picked their science fair topics and have started to work on the steps in the scientific method. Students are identifying testable questions and forming a hypothesis for their project and will start to gather materials and work on the procedures they need to follow. Students will bring home a materials list today.  Please have all materials to school by March 11th!  There are only a few short weeks until these projects will be completed.  Projects will be set up on April 5th.  Science fair open house is on April 6th and 7th.