10.30.09
News and Notes
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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
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Looks like we continue to have sick kids in 4th grade this week! Rather than gather worksheets, etc. and have you stop by to get their work, we have composed a list of online games and activities to support the classroom objectives we are covering. We have not played many of these games so you may need to weed out any that are too difficult for your child. For social studies – read and begin doing greenwork in Unit 4. We will cover the intro and lesson 1 this week. For science – we will catch you up when you return.
Math- Area and perimeter (calculate the area and/or perimeter of rectangles, can skip triangle, circles, etc. for area)
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/perimeter_and_area/index.html
http://www.mathplayground.com/area_perimeter.html
Math- Translation/Rotation/Reflection of shapes
http://www.mathplayground.com/patternblocks.html
http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/transformation-games.html
http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/nonmembers/gamesroom/transform/transform.html
Reading- Main Idea/Details/Summaries
http://www.gamequarium.com/readquarium/skillsi-p.html
http://www.readingquest.org/pdf/sumitup_dir.pdf
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/teachers/minilessons/wr/0,28171,1577469,00.html
Writing- topic and conclusion sentences
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/para.html
As always, there’s plenty of things to be found in internet4classrooms under 4th grade. Just have your child select a topic that we have been working on recently.
Language Arts: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skills_4th_lang_new.htm
Math: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skills_4th_math_new.htm
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Today the students recieved a project sheet explaining the at home social studies project and deadlines. We spent 30 minutes going over the sheet and details.
Idea sheet is due Friday, 10-16-09 (signed by parents and with a sketch attached)
Project is due Thurs, Nov. 12 (can be turned in Mon./Tues/or Thurs. that week only).
Parents (or other special guests) are invited to walk through our “Musuem” on Thurs. , Nov. 19 at 2:00-2:30pm.
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Welcome back! Here’s what we will be covering in quarter 2.
Math: Unit 3 place value, rounding, problem solving
Unit 4 angles, symmetry, area/perimeter, and other geometry ideas
Unit 5 multiplication of larger numbers
Science: Food Chemistry
Social Studies: Unit 3 Statehood, Unit 4 People
Word Study: Alternate between spelling and vocabulary lists
Reading: nonfiction books, steps to a research project,
summarizing, asking questions, diaries and journals
Writing: writing letters and research reports
Thinking skills: observation, comparing, evaluating, and problem solving
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Something new! We will be sending home a sheet of “Can Do’s” with the quarter 1 report card. We have borrowed an idea we saw at another year round school. Instead of an optional packet of practice work over track out, we have compiled a list of optional projects and extension activities. This is a completely optional and ungraded list of Can Do’s. These are “things your child CAN DO” to enhance learning and bridge the gap between quarters. We will be glad to let them share the projects when they return and will make a note of those who complete a project, but it will not be a grade or extra credit. We think you’ll enjoy this list! We welcome your feedback regarding this idea after track out or any suggestions you may have before we compile a list for quarter 2.
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We are finishing strong!
Reading: nonfiction book contract and a text features poster project are almost finished. We will continue to work on comprehension strategies for nonfiction books and reinforce the important role text features play.
Word Study: weekly contracts due Thursday. New lists and contracts come home on Fridays.
Math: finishing up unit 2 on geometry and heading into unit 3. We will work on unit 3 also in quarter 2. Practice those multiplication and division facts!
Social Studies: this week we took the unit 2 test. We will being working on timelines next week. Unit 3 and 4 will be covered in quarter 2. Feel free to read them over track out or start on the vocabulary words!
Science: this week we are working in student led lessons to wrap up the unit on rocks and minerals. Quarter 2 will cover food chemistry.
Writing: both classes are finishing up writing assignments and breathing a sigh of relief that the NC Writing Assessment is done for quarter 1. Students worked very hard on the 75 min. writing test.
Report Cards come home on track out day- September 4th. Remember to sign and return the envelope after track out.
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With interim reports out, we have passed the midway point! This school year is off to an amazing start! Here’s a look at where we are headed for the next few weeks.
Math:
This week we are reviewing and testing Unit 1. Prime numbers and composite numbers were a new concept to our 4th graders! Next we will hit Unit 2 and geometry. Be prepared to hear the “Line Lizard” song over and over! The test for Unit 2 math will likely be around Aug. 25th. We do not usually send home anything to “study” for a math test but suggest you skim over your child’s homework and talk about key vocabulary and concepts throughout the unit.
Writing:
We are finishing up a review of paragraphs and story beginnings. Both Mrs. Donaldson and Ms. Bell are doing different writing projects with the same objectives. We will be reviewing Revising, editing, and grammar the last 2 weeks of the quarter. The week of Aug. 24th (the 8th week of the quarter) we will be giving our first “on demand” writing prompt. The students will have about 75 minutes to take a prompt through the writing process and write a complete paper. We will probably send home a practice assignment the week before. In place of the “Grade 4 Writing Test” we now have 4 writing samples we are required to give each year. Again, the best way you can help your child to prepare is to give them a boost of self confidence for this adventure!
Social Studies:
We are into Unit 2 on the early settlers and history of North Carolina. We typically go over 2 lessons per week. The “green” work is due shortly afterwards for each lesson. Our test will be Aug. 26 (Donaldson) and Aug. 27 (Bell). Watch for a review sheet to come home the week before. Flashcards have already been given out last week. We will end our quarter by working on timelines based on Unit 2.
Science:
We will finish up the rocks and minerals unit with more hands on experiences and experiments. The kids LOVE science (except when it smells like vinegar!). The test for both classes will be Aug. 21st. Ask you child about how to test a rock for hardness.
Reading:
We are done with our first unit on fiction reading strategies. We will now take a look at nonfiction text and text features. To show our understanding of text features, each student will be creating an “all about me – text features poster” at school. They are welcome to bring in photos to illustrate their posters. We will be working on them for the next 2 weeks or so. We will be reading non fiction books and working on comprehension skills. Our quarter will end with a week of poetry and figurative language. Ms. Bell is our resident poet (a genuine published author!).
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Ask your child about Thinking Thursdays when we classify, analyze, and evaluate our way to higher thinking through fun activities and thinking problems. For some kids it will become their favorite part of the week!
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