Newsletter- Week of January 8th - January 12th

                                    

Newsletter Weekly Update: Jan. 8 - Jan. 12, 2017

Language Arts

After the break we will continue with our realistic fiction reading and writing units. Book clubs will continue as well and many children will begin a second book with their book club group. In writing, the focus will shift from planning to drafting and their stories will begin to take shape.

Math

Students will have the opportunity to recognize fractions using visual models. They will be introduced to vocabulary that they will need to know in order to understand fractions

Science/ Social Studies

Our Earth Changes unit will begin after camp.

Resources

December break is here!  Now is the time to support your child with... READING...Encourage your child to relax with a book during vacation.  SNAP A PHOTO of them reading on a beach, on a train, on a plane or even in their favorite spot at home!  Have them bring it in to share during class meetings in January. WRITING...Encourage your child to document their vacation.  Maybe they can keep a journal or collect items from travel such as plane tickets and photos.  They might even want to document their vacation on Google Slides!  Have them bring it in to share during class meetings in January.

Announcements

School resumes on January, 8th. Camp is coming on 10 and 11 January.  Please talk with your child about their thoughts and feelings.  This experience can create excitement and nervousness. Camp Information Presentation Camp Packing List

Celebrations

Please see your class blog or class website for individual class celebrations.

Newsletter- Week of Dec. 11th - Dec. 15th

            

Newsletter Weekly Update: Dec. 11 - Dec. 15, 2017

Language Arts

In reading this week, the children are busy working in their book club groups discussing important events, character traits and more in order to delve deeper into their stories. This week in writing, the children are working to develop their characters even further by creating internal and external traits that bring their character to life.

Math

We have completed our unit on measurement and will not begin equivalent fractions until January, so this week the students will be using what they have learned about measurement and apply it in science as they create their compound machine prototypes.

Science/ Social Studies

Grade 4 engineers are hard at work in the Makerspace! We are moving past the brainstorming and designing part of the Design Process, and will be creating, testing, and improving. Thank you for all the donated supplies. A grade level share of the designs will take place on

Resources

GRADE 4 CAMP RESOURCES Camp Information Presentation Camp Permission Form Camp Packing List

Announcements

No School - Dec. 11th - Monday Free Dress Day Dec. 15 - Friday Winter break begins Dec. 16 Submit your child’s camp permission form before Dec. 15th               Camp Permission Form Overnight Camp for all Grade 4 Students - Jan. 10- 11

Celebrations

Please see your class blog or class website for individual class celebrations.

Newsletter - Week of Dec. 4th - Dec 8th

                                       

Newsletter Weekly Update: Dec. 4 - Dec. 8, 2017

Language Arts

This week the students will be using the class read aloud to dig deeper into character traits, scene summaries and envisioning the text in order to read intensely. In writing, many children are ready to develop a believable character and plan the story arc with scenes for their story.

Math

We are continuing working with measurement and currently focusing on area and perimeter of an area. The students will also be given word problems involving measurement. We will begin reviewing for the final assessment, which will be given this week.

Science/ Social Studies

Students are starting to plan their compound machine to solve a real world problem. Through brainstorming, modeling, questioning, and testing, the students will be able to design and improve their compound machines. Please continue to bring in resources, we will be building our machines over the next two weeks: toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, spare pieces of wood, cereal boxes, wire, plastic water bottles and their caps, plastic containers (like yogurt) cardboard boxes (small enough to go on the bus), string, yarn, egg cartons, straws, plastic/styrofoam trays.

Resources

We are growing realistic fiction readers and writers in grade 4! They are doing this by thinking deeply about the characters.  These CHARACTER TRAITS are useful in describing the character based on their words, thoughts and actions. To support your child as a reader...GRAB THE BOOK YOUR CHILD IS READING and ASK to describe the character based on his/her thoughts, words, and actions. To support your child as a writer...ASK your child to explain about the character in the story they are going to write.

Announcements

Please donate the following resources by December 5th for our Science Designs/ Models: toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, spare pieces of wood, cereal boxes, wire, plastic water bottles and their caps, plastic containers (like yoghurt) cardboard boxes (small enough to go on the bus), string, yarn, egg cartons, straws, plastic/styrofoam trays. Christmas Around the World - Dec. 4th Red and Green Dress Up Day Mon Dec 4 ES Holiday Music Concert  - Dec. 7th at 7pm PE Swim Carnival Fri. Dec 8 , Parents welcome to attend and cheer the swimmers:  Swim Carnival Schedule

Celebrations

Please see your class blog or class website for individual class celebrations.

Newsletter: Week of November 26 - December 1st

                                     

Newsletter Weekly Update: Nov. 27 - Dec. 1, 2017

Language Arts

In reading this week, the children will be getting into book club groups and use discussions to deepen their understanding of the stories they are reading. In writing, the children will be choosing an idea they have generated and begin planning out their writing using a story arc.

Math

This week the students will be given the opportunity to express metric units in terms of smaller units. They will model and solve world problems involving metric units in length, mass and capacity.

Science/ Social Studies

Next week the students will begin designing a solution to a real world problem using their understanding of forces and simple machines. We need some materials to help the students create their designs! Please donate the following resources: toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, spare pieces of wood, cereal boxes, wire, plastic water bottles and their caps, plastic containers (like yogurt) cardboard boxes (small enough to go on the bus), string, yarn, egg cartons, straws, plastic/styrofoam trays.

Resources

In writing we are focusing on ideal generation. Below are some links to the story mountain that we can use to plan and also an anchor chart that helps with getting some ideas from, people, places etc. Maybe you could try to help your child generate some ideas at home? The story arc/ mountain helps us plan. An anchor chart that helps generate ideas for writing realistic fiction.

Announcements

Grade 4 Parent Coffee Morning Invite to share CAMP information : Nov. 30th, 8:15 am, Melawati Community Room Return the Christmas Ornaments before December 29th (make sure student grade name is on it . Ex: 4NJ) Christmas Around the World - Dec. 4th PE Swim Carnival Fri. Dec 8 , Parents welcome to attend and cheer the swimmers:  Swim Carnival Schedule

Celebrations

Please see your class blog or class website for individual class celebrations.

Newsletter- Week of November 20th - November 24th

                                      

Newsletter Weekly Update: Nov. 20 - Nov. 24, 2017

Language Arts

In reading, we will continue analyzing character traits and will use evidence from the text to prove our thinking. In writing, we will identify characteristics of realistic fiction through mentor texts and develop story ideas that stem from personal experiences.

Math

The students will be delving into measurement and using the metric system. They will be learning the names of the units for capacity, mass, and length. They will also be looking at real world situations which involve measurement. In addition, they will be given the opportunity to convert units of measurement.

Science/ Social Studies

In Science, we will continue to model and describe how applied forces impact motion. Classes will plan investigations by identifying dependent and independent variables.

Resources

This week in math we have been learning about metric measurement.  Here are the videos we shared with your kids. Watch, discuss and enjoy together!!! Measuring Length, Height and Distance Measuring Mass Measuring Volume Ever heard of Quizlet?  Check these out.  Online flashcards with games, custom made for our grade 4 learners! Science Force and Motion Quizlet Math Measurement Quizlet

Announcements

Grade 4 Parent Coffee Morning Invite to share CAMP information : Nov. 30th, 8:15 am, Melawati Community Room Staff Appreciation Breakfast, Thur Nov 23, 8:00 AM Melawati PE Swim Carnival Fri. Dec 8 , Parents welcome to attend and cheer the swimmers:  Swim Carnival Schedule

Celebrations

Please see your class blog or class website for individual class celebrations.

Newsletter - Week of Nov. 13th - Nov. 17th

                                       

Newsletter Weekly Update: Nov. 13 - Nov. 17, 2017

Language Arts

This week, we will begin our Realistic Fiction reading and writing units. In Reading, we’ll be reviewing expectations for independent reading and add onto our thinkmarks with a focus on character traits and change.

Math

Students finished up Unit 2 last week and took the unit assessment. The Unit 2 binder will be coming home this week, therefore you can review it with your child. This week we will start Unit 3, which is measurement. We will begin by focusing on the vocabulary which the students will need throughout the measurement unit.

Science/ Social Studies

Students will begin to investigate into simple machines (levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, wedges, inclined planes, screws, and gears) and how they make work easier. To support at home, help your child complete a simple machine scavenger hunt!

Resources

Remember how you enjoyed winning math games against your child during Gaming with Math? Well, you can find them on the Parent Connection page here.  Scroll to the bottom under Parent Resources... Gaming with Math 2017 Including the game 24 WANT MORE WINS? Check out the Gaming with Math 2016 games.

Announcements

Grade 4 Parent Coffee Morning Invite to share CAMP information : Nov. 30th, 8:15 am, Melawati Community Room Counselor Chat, Tues Nov 14, Community Room , 8:15 - 9:30 ES Math Fluency Workshop, Thur Nov 16, Community Room , 8:30-10:00

Celebrations

Newsletter - Week of November 6th - November 10th

                                  

Newsletter Weekly Update: Nov. 6 - Nov. 10, 2017

Language Arts

This week in reading, we will be developing skills in summarizing nonfiction texts and synthesizing information across texts. In writing, the children will be working on a final opinion piece of writing that will be used to assess their learning from the personal essay unit.

Math

During math this week, the students will need to determine the meaning of the remainder in a division word problem. They will be given several real world problems to solve and deciding if the remainder should use to ‘Round up’, ‘Drop it’ or ‘Share’.

Science/ Social Studies

We are starting off our Science unit by investigating a phenomena, and asking ourselves how do various forces impact the motion of objects? Our next step is to find out more about applied forces and how they create a balanced or unbalanced force.

Resources

We are now moving on to division in math and will be having discussions on what to do with the remainders.  Here are some links for  round up, drop it (ignore it) and share it.

Announcements

ES Melawati Flag Parade, Fri Nov 10 - students are encouraged to wear their national dress or colors of their flag. Remember, on Fridays we encourage NO TRASH lunches.

Celebrations

Please see your class blog or class website for individual class celebrations.