Grade 4 Weekly Newsletter
February 4 - 8
Curriculum
Reading:
This week students will continue reading and discussing their books with their historical fiction book clubs. Some groups are starting new books while others are finishing up their first books. Our mini-lessons will encourage students to delve deeper into their book’s historical time period. They will look at pictures and read primary texts to support their understanding of what their characters might be going through. Students will be encouraged to read nonfiction texts alongside their historical fiction books.The lessons for this week are:
Lesson 1: Turning to Primary Sources to Better Understand History
Lesson 2: Turning Reading into a Project: Add Background Information to Deepen Understanding
Lesson 3: Readers Learn History from Historical Narratives
Lesson 4 & 5: Reteach as needed
Essential Questions
How does history influence the characters, setting, and events in a story?
Who has power in the story?
How are the books we read in our groups related?
What makes our book club discussions meaningful?
Writing:
In this historical nonfiction writing unit, students learn that information texts are often conglomerates, containing a lot of other kinds of texts. These might include an all about chapter, a how to chapter, a diary, and/or an essay.
The lessons for this week are:
Lesson 1: Text Features: Popping Out the Important Information
Lesson 2: Quotations Accentuate Importance: Voices Chime In to Make a Point
Lesson 3: Using All We Know to Craft Essay and Narrative Sections
Lesson 4: The Other Side of the Story
Lesson 5: Self-Assessing and Goal Setting: Taking on New Challenges.
Essential Questions
How can historical events be incorporated into our nonfiction writing?
How can research help me write historical nonfiction?
Mathematics:
This week we will be beginning Module 5 - Fraction Equivalence, Ordering, and Operations.This module builds on students’ grade 3 work with unit fractions as they explore fraction equivalence and extend this understanding to mixed numbers. This leads to a comparison of fractions and mixed numbers and the representation of both in a variety of models. Benchmark fractions (ie. ½) play an important role when students reason about fraction and mixed number sizes. Students have the opportunity to apply what they know to be true to new situations and problems.
Essential Questions:
Why express quantities, measurements and fraction number relationships in different ways?
How can fraction number relationships be expressed in different ways?
The lessons for this week are:
Lesson 1: Use the area model and multiplication to show the equivalence of two fractions.
Lesson 2: Use the area model and multiplication to show the equivalence of two fractions.
Lesson 3: Use the area model and division to show the equivalence of two fractions.
Lesson 4: Use the area model and division to show the equivalence of two fractions.
Lesson 5: Explain fraction equivalence using a tape diagram and the number line, and relate that to the use of multiplication and division.
Here is the LINK to the Growth Mindset video (Jo Boaler). We suggest you watch it with your child and discuss what might create a positive math classroom at school. How can you build a positive math relationship with your child? What type of dialogue will you use? You might like the following sentence starters to help you!
Science: Where the Wind Blow
We continue to work on our unit on weather and weather forecasting. Students are placed in working groups, and each group has been given a city in a climatic zone. Students are tracking the weather data of their city on a computer spreadsheet. In the coming weeks, the students will use the data that they have collected and have informed discussions on their climatic zone. At the end of the unit, students will use their city’s weather data to make a weather forecast that will be filmed.
Essential Questions:We continue to work on our unit on weather and weather forecasting. Students are placed in working groups, and each group has been given a city in a climatic zone. Students are tracking the weather data of their city on a computer spreadsheet. In the coming weeks, the students will use the data that they have collected and have informed discussions on their climatic zone. At the end of the unit, students will use their city’s weather data to make a weather forecast that will be filmed.
Can weather be predicted accurately?
How does the temperature and precipitation determine the climate?
Week 3 Focus: Wind
Lesson 10: Students will discuss the wind in their climatic zone, looking at the
Lesson 11: Students will watch a video on air pressure and discuss their learning.
Lesson 12: Students will visit the wind tunnel in the HS to see the speed of wind in a wind tunnel.
Daily: Students will continue to work on collecting weather data from their city and put it down in their computer spreadsheet. Students will then discuss the trends.
Grade 4 Homework:
Grade 4 Guidance:
“ No way, cliques are not okay. Everyone can play!”
In Guidance, students are learning about healthy and unhealthy friendship groups. They are learning about “exclusion” and how to recognize the difference between cliques and a group of friends. We are discussing personal responsibility, integrity and the power of one to make a difference. Students will practice assertive statements for standing up for themselves and for others.
An Exclusive Clique
1. Members give up their uniqueness
An Exclusive Clique
1. Members give up their uniqueness
2. Unkindness is shown to others and there is an unwillingness to solve conflicts
3. A closed group - excludes others from joining and prevents its’ members from playing with people outside the clique
A Group of Friends
1. Each person feels he/she can be him/herself.
2. Shows kindness to others and a willingness to solve conflicts
3. An open group – anyone can join and friends feel free to play with others
Games develop fluency with math skills and problem-solving. Experience the fun of learning through games!
Our Family Math Night games are intended to help build fluency in math in a fun and engaging way.
You’ll find the rules and instructions for a wide range of math skills games using a variety of different resources, including playing cards and dice. We’ve assembled games for different skill levels ranging
from Grades Pre-K through 5, all with an educational math twist.
Did you know? The games are available to be checked out from the library after Family Math Night if you would like to play them again at home. Ask your child to talk with the librarians.
Locations: Grades 1-5 are in the ES Hall, KG in the Drama room and Pre K in their own room.
Kindly sign up through the google form (below) if interested! There is a google sign-up form for each grade. For siblings, please sign up each child in their respective grade order form.
The DEADLINE for orders will be on Tuesday, February 6th by 5:00 p.m. We kindly ask that parents drop off the money in a labelled envelope to the ES office (name, class code and order). Note the following grade level lunch times:
Pre-K will eat lunch at 11am,
KG to Grade 2 at 12:10pm and
Grades 3-5 at 12:30pm
3. A closed group - excludes others from joining and prevents its’ members from playing with people outside the clique
A Group of Friends
1. Each person feels he/she can be him/herself.
2. Shows kindness to others and a willingness to solve conflicts
3. An open group – anyone can join and friends feel free to play with others
Upcoming Events
· Tuesday, Feb. 6th - 4M assembly
· Wednesday, Feb. 7th - Family Math Night
· Thursday, Feb. 8th - Family Picnic (12:10-12:50)
· Wednesday, Feb. 7th - Family Math Night
Announcements
Family Math Night
Mark your calendars for Feb. 7, 4:15 pm to 5:15 pm. Come play math games with your child.Games develop fluency with math skills and problem-solving. Experience the fun of learning through games!
Our Family Math Night games are intended to help build fluency in math in a fun and engaging way.
You’ll find the rules and instructions for a wide range of math skills games using a variety of different resources, including playing cards and dice. We’ve assembled games for different skill levels ranging
from Grades Pre-K through 5, all with an educational math twist.
Did you know? The games are available to be checked out from the library after Family Math Night if you would like to play them again at home. Ask your child to talk with the librarians.
Locations: Grades 1-5 are in the ES Hall, KG in the Drama room and Pre K in their own room.
ES Family Picnic
Pre K: 11:00 am - 11:30 am; KGGr. 5: 12:10 pm - 12:50 pm
Due to popular demand, we will be having another BBQ for picnic day next Thursday, February 8.Kindly sign up through the google form (below) if interested! There is a google sign-up form for each grade. For siblings, please sign up each child in their respective grade order form.
The DEADLINE for orders will be on Tuesday, February 6th by 5:00 p.m. We kindly ask that parents drop off the money in a labelled envelope to the ES office (name, class code and order). Note the following grade level lunch times:
Pre-K will eat lunch at 11am,
KG to Grade 2 at 12:10pm and
Grades 3-5 at 12:30pm
IMPORTANT: Unfortunately we will not be able to take orders on the day of the BBQ and we will have to cancel orders that have not been paid by Tuesday the 6th.
We look forward to seeing you all!!
10:30 AM - 2:30 PM
The Service Learning office is planning a field trip to Stabl Antar Dreams School for Elementary School students to deliver Pass the Parcel donates. If you interested in the trip please email Mariam Hassan directly.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U28WOHJkWAkr2A1PfN33EeDl4C-1YA1DTOpu9XXPOow/edit?usp=sharing
Student Ambassador responsibilities include:
-Attending weekly or bi-weekly meeting (during recess)
-Communicating information to the ES via assembly announcements and CACN
-Sharing ideas for activities to build awareness about the race and its efforts
-Collaborating with MS Student Ambassadors
-Promoting the race to CAC community
-Assisting in pre-race and race day activities
Interested students are to create a brief statement (i.e. drawing, writing, persuasive speech, dance, or any other form of presentation they feel inclined to display) explaining why they would like to be a student ambassador for Race to Clean the Air.
A Field Trip to Stabl Antar Dreams School
Saturday, February 10th, 201810:30 AM - 2:30 PM
The Service Learning office is planning a field trip to Stabl Antar Dreams School for Elementary School students to deliver Pass the Parcel donates. If you interested in the trip please email Mariam Hassan directly.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U28WOHJkWAkr2A1PfN33EeDl4C-1YA1DTOpu9XXPOow/edit?usp=sharing
Race To Clean Air
This year the third annual Race to Clean the Air will be on Sunday, April 22nd, coinciding with Earth Day! Leading up to the event, we’re seeking one student ambassador for each grade level (grades 1-5) to communicate information to the elementary school public about current environmental concerns affecting us, ways we have and can make a positive impact, and specific activities connected with the race itself. Student Ambassador responsibilities include:
-Attending weekly or bi-weekly meeting (during recess)
-Communicating information to the ES via assembly announcements and CACN
-Sharing ideas for activities to build awareness about the race and its efforts
-Collaborating with MS Student Ambassadors
-Promoting the race to CAC community
-Assisting in pre-race and race day activities
Interested students are to create a brief statement (i.e. drawing, writing, persuasive speech, dance, or any other form of presentation they feel inclined to display) explaining why they would like to be a student ambassador for Race to Clean the Air.
Submissions are to be turned in to Chelsea Hicks (3H, ES Room 202) by Thursday, February 8th.
Core Value of the Month
During the month of February, we will focus on the Core Value of Creativity.
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