Curriculum Updates:
Math:
We are continuing our work on fractions and will now move into equivalent fractions as well as practicing our math multiplication facts. All students should have all facts 0-10 memorized in order to be successful in our math studies this year. I am asking that all students 'show what they know' on the Math Magician web site. This web site is on my helpful websites link on the 4th grade home page. All students must show mastery of the multiplication facts by the end of the second nine weeks of school. Please have your child work on this web page each day and if they can master 100% of a fact family in l a minute or less please have them print the certificate of completion or parents may sign the form that has been put in the back of their planner. Again, all 4th graders must master 0 to 10 multiplication facts by the end of the second quarter. If we meet this goal we will have a MULTIPLICATION CELEBRATION party!
Reading Language Arts:
Shiloh is almost half way finished and we are really working hard on active reading strategies to help with our comprehension of this novel. The theme we are focused on is good vs. evil as well as moral values. The line between right and wrong is sometimes very thin and the students are grappling with the main character Marty's lying in order to save a dog that legally does not belong to him—big stuff for our 4th graders to analyze. We typically read one chapter in class and then one at home and have a quiz the following day. We will have spelling one week and vocabulary the next with test on Fridays. Please make sure they are studying for those vocabulary tests as they are difficult. Also, we are working on our grammar and our language mechanics each day with a quiz check on Fridays as well.
Science:
Our cell studies are over and we are moving into ecosystems. We had great hands on project with our group ecosystems in class. I loved seeing the kids gather biotic and abiotic factors to put into the terrariums and then observe and record how the creatures interacted with their surroundings. This was a great scientific opportunity. Over the next weeks we will continue with our life science unit.
Social Studies:
We have been learning about primary and secondary sources of information and how people use these sources to learn about history. Next, we will move into Tennessee symbols, state motto, and learn our state song! After we learn a little about our state, we will head into learning about the first peoples in this part of the country. This will be a very interesting and informative unit on the Native Americans of East Tennessee as well as the native tribes of Central America.
College Friends and High School Friends:
We loved having college students from the ETSU science department come into class and teach and design plant and animal cells with our kids. This lesson was fantastic! Students built models of cells using food products. What an awesome way to learn all the organelles of the plant and animal cells. Yummy too!
Our high school sophomores have been coming to our class and teaching us about fairy tales. We have learned elements of fairy tales and we are now in the middle of writing a fractured fairy tale . It is so much fun to see the 4th graders working with their high school partners. As a final activity we will all go to Reel to Reel and watch the fairy tale movie, 'Mirror Mirror. ' The date has not been set yet, but I will let you know soon. The cost of the field trip will include the bus ride, admission, as well as popcorn and a drink. I will let you know the total cost and date soon. Students will not be allowed to bring money to make any purchases.
Items to Remember:
COOKIE DOUGH SALE IS OVER TOMORROW PLEASE TURN IN ALL YOUR FORMS.
Bring in BOX TOPS!
Check the University School Web page often as well as the class electronic grade-book to stay informed about the important events and your child's academic progress.
Math Magician web page must be worked on at home as often as possible! I would bookmark the 4th grade web page as we will be using this page a lot!
University School will always post school delays or closings on the University School web page. Also, we do follow the Johnson City Schools closing or delay schedule. We also follow ETSU closing or delays if in fact that were to occur.
Have a great week!