Weekly Newsletter : December 17th - December 21st

Language Arts
This week, the class will be finishing up the review of The Tiger Rising. They have been examining how the characters have changed throughout the story, examining the main themes as well as pondering what could happen next. In writing, students are completing the draft of their stories and are beginning to edit. They will focus on reading others’ work and giving constructive feedback on how their realistic fiction writing can be improved.


Math
This week the students are continuing their work on measurement. They are working on converting units for length, mass, and capacity. The students will also be finishing this week by solving word problems based upon this unit. They will be taking the Unit 3 Assessment this week.


Science
This week in science students will continue to learn about the design cycle through solving a real-life problem for their final project. Through brainstorming, modeling, questioning, and testing, the students will be able to design and improve their prototype machines. Students will also start to learn about failure, and how it is an important part of the design process!


Announcements

• December 21st - Last day of first semester: Please be sure to inform the school and your classroom teacher if you plan on leaving for the holiday before that date. 
• ES Dress Up Days - plan your days in advance click HERE for dates. 
• Water Bottles & Hats - Please check that your child comes to school with their water bottles and hats every morning. Recently, many students seem to be forgetting them at home.

Resources

Grade 4 Camp-In Resources

Camp-In Information Presentation https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1q9z0mHsWOHI76Dq5aZkAzNr3HLdmyV2AN4GarYEK9W4/edit


Camp-In Permission Form - completed by Friday 21 December https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP8pXGZV9w5H3QmDfxpeNhCwTA6M0EbahaKO3hDGC4k_W_6A/viewform


Camp-In Packing List https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vQj5uinxjxuh9aAvspJ_GF_JhDU57-ZV0zkRcj6_NUI/edit

Weekly Newsletter: December 10th - December 14th

Language Arts
This week, the class will be finishing up the read aloud, The Tiger Rising. Throughout the reading of this book, the children have been reinforcing their skills in growing ideas about characters and understanding how the character really is the heart of the story. In writing, students are continuing to draft and will focus on developing more details for the 'scenes' in their realistic fiction stories.


Math

This week the students are continuing their work on measurement. They are working on converting units for length, mass, and capacity. The students will also be finishing up this week by solving word problems based upon this unit.


Science

This week in science students will continue to learn about the design cycle through solving a real-life problem for their final project. Through brainstorming, modeling, questioning, and testing, the students will be able to design and improve their prototype machines. Students will also start to learn about failure, and how it is an important part of the design process!


Announcements

• December 13th - Christmas Around the World: The fourth graders will have the opportunity to learn about various Christmas traditions from around the world (2:00-2:45). Feel free to join us if you have the time. (Be sure to tell the bussing office if you will be taking your child home afterwards.) Wear red or green in celebration of the event.
• December 14th - Math Games Celebration/Share: During this sharing time, students will teach you some of the games that they have been using this semester.
• December 21st - Last day of first semester: Please be sure to inform the school and your classroom teacher if you plan on leaving for the holiday before that date. 
• ES Dress Up Days - plan your days in advance click HERE for dates. 
• Water Bottles & Hats - Please check that your child comes to school with their water bottles and hats every morning. Recently, many students seem to be forgetting them at home.

Resources
Grade 4 Camp-In Resources:
Camp-In Information Presentation https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1q9z0mHsWOHI76Dq5aZkAzNr3HLdmyV2AN4GarYEK9W4/edit


Camp-In Permission Form - completed by Friday 21 December https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP8pXGZV9w5H3QmDfxpeNhCwTA6M0EbahaKO3hDGC4k_W_6A/viewform


Camp-In Packing List

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vQj5uinxjxuh9aAvspJ_GF_JhDU57-ZV0zkRcj6_NUI/edit

Weekly Newsletter: December 3rd - December 7th

Language Arts
In reading this week, students will be finishing up their first book club book and reflecting on the stories they have read. This week in writing, students will continue drafting their scenes, focusing on bringing the scenes to life through the strategy called Show, Don’t Tell.

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
Science this week see the students continue to learn about simple machines and how simple machines make work easier. Students will also start learning about compound machines and will be introduced to real-life problems where machines have provided solutions. Students will select a real-life scenario and will have to follow the design cycle to design, build, and reflect on a prototype machine that will solve a real-life problem. This project will take us to the end of the semester.

Announcements

• Dec. 4th - Parent “Camp-in” Informational Meeting: 8:15-9:15 am in MPR 2 & 3 on the 2nd floor, above the Panther Hut.
• ES Dress Up Days - plan your days in advance click HERE for dates. 
• Water Bottles & Hats - Please check that your child comes to school with their water bottles and hats every morning. Recently, many students seem to be forgetting them at home.
• The last day of the semester is Friday, Dec. 21: Please be sure to inform the school and class teacher if you plan on leaving for the holiday before that date.
• Math Games Celebration/ Share: An invitation to our grade 4 celebration share on Math Games will be sent home on Monday 3rd December, the event will take place on 14 December. Please let us know if you will be joining us for this share by returning the slip to your child’s class teacher. In this share students will teach you some of the games that they have been using this semester.

Resources

Below is the design cycle that we will be working through for the next few weeks in science. We start by asking questions: defining the problem and researching, then imagining a solution and planning, creating, reflecting and rebuilding etc.