Weekly Update March 11-15

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

March 11 - March 15, 2019

Language Arts

This week we will be examining author’s perspectives in non fictions texts. Students will review their main idea statement based on the perspective of their chosen texts. They will continue to put their ordered notes into paragraphs while also identifying ‘gaps’ in their research. They will do this through looking back at what has been done and what still needs to be done in order to move forward in the research process.

Math

This week in math the students will begin to decompose fractions by using connecting blocks, the area model as well a number line. The students will be adding fractions with like denominators. They will be using models to help cement their ideas with the addition.

Science

This week students consider data and inferences they can make about fossils, and help construct a scientific argument about what the environment of Desert Rocks National Park was like in the past. They use data from fossils found in the area to help construct their arguments. Students then use what they discussed in their Evidence Circles to write a scientific argument, which serves as a Critical Juncture through which students demonstrate their understanding of the chapter’s content. At the end of the lesson, the whole class briefly reflects on the Chapter 2 Question: What was the environment of Desert Rocks National Park like in the past?

Announcements

• March 11th - March 15th: ES Library Book Week!
• March 13th: Book Swap - Students bring in their coupons to choose new/used books                         (10 coupons maximum)
• March 15th: Red Hat Book Character Dress Up Day
• March 15th: Author visit-Matt Smith (Comic book illustrator and ISKL Alumni!)
• March 18th: NO SCHOOL - ISKL Faculty Inservice
• March 25th -March 29th: NO SCHOOL - March Break
• ES Dress Up Days: plan your days in advance click HERE for dates and details.

Resources

• Here is a video and a game to reinforce how to decompose fractions:

Video:

https://learnzillion.com/lesson_plans/8474-decompose-fractions-into-unit-fractions/

Game: https://www.classk12.com/grade-4-math/fractions-operations-nf/decomposing-a-fraction-using-visual-fraction-models-eg-38-18-28-2-18-1-1-18/4055

• To further support our exploration of non-fiction text log on to Newsela, which is an online news website that has the capability of breaking down the text into different reading levels that all readers can access.  https://newsela.com/ (focus on Science)