Weekly Update April 29 - May 3

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

April 29 - May 3, 2019

Language Arts

In our Reading unit, students will be introduced to their Historical Fiction Book Clubs. Book Clubs assist students in developing interpretations in the company of their peers, which provides a sounding board for students to clarify their thinking. Students will begin to track the setting, character, mood and theme of their historical fiction text.

We will also examine, using our mentor text, Number the Stars, how character perspectives are shaped by their roles. Readers are encouraged to step into characters shoes and conclude that their thoughts and actions are shaped by both their roles and the times in which they lived. In our literary essay unit, students are discovering how to craft a thesis, honing their skills in discovering a big idea and determining what they really want to say. The students will learn to purposely angle their stories to highlight the way it supports and connects to their thesis.

Math

This week students will be showing equivalent decimals and fractions. They will be using the area model as well as number lines to decompose decimals and fractions to understand their the place value up to the hundredths place. The students will also use base ten blocks and place value mats to model their work.

Social Studies

This week students will continue their investigation into natural resources (renewable and non-renewable) and their connection to our physical environment, looking specifically at different landforms. If we have time, we may begin using some mapping skills to see where different natural resources are located.   

Announcements

• Monday, April 29th: MAPS Testing - Grade 4 students will begin taking their math test.
• ES Dress Up Days: Plan your days in advance click HERE for dates and details.

Resources

Below is a link to our ES Library page filled with incredible reading resources like Big Universe (electronic books with varying reading levels), BookFlix & Trueflix and TumbleBooks which can all support our Grade 4 exploration of historical fiction.

Note: your child’s ISKL username and password are required to access these external resources. Please email jgormley@iskl.edu.my to request your child’s login information.

https://iskl.follettdestiny.com/common/servlet/presenthomeform.do?l2m=Home&tm=Home&l2m=Home

Below is a link to Splash Math: Decimal Games for 4th Graders. There are a number of games to play to reinforce decimal concepts.

Note: a free login is required to play past the demo stage.

https://www.splashmath.com/decimal-games-for-4th-graders

https://www.splashmath.com/decimal-games-for-4th-graders

If you are interested in extending your understanding of how to think about and teach  fractions take a look at the link below:

http://www.therecoveringtraditionalist.com/teaching-fractions-with-understanding/?inf_contact_key=f45fd6a96cc126d51e93a9504988150bd18a532c4142cb79caf2b269de1401fa

Weekly Update April 22-26

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

April 22 - April 26, 2019

Language Arts

In Language Arts this week we continue to investigate historical fiction texts, paying particular attention to the mood and atmosphere of the places in which the stories are set. Students examine the blurb of their mentor text, Number the Stars, noting clues about where the story is set and the type of environment the characters are living in. Students will further research the key information taken from the blurb in small groups which will be collated to share with the rest of the class.

Students will also examine examples of literary essays, noting the important characteristics to be included within the introduction, body and conclusion. Student’s attention with be drawn to the ‘big ideas’ or theme of the text, noting the message or lesson that the author is trying to convey.

Math

This week in math, the students will be introduced to decimals. They will be working with the area model and base ten blocks to decompose numbers up to the hundredths place. The students will show a number using a model to explain what they know about that decimal. We will be exploring decimals in real life situations by blending the metric system into equations in which they will need to solve.

Social Studies

We are launching our unit on Trade and Resources this week.  The big ideas of this unit are: “Where you live impacts how you live” and “Resources impact the economy and trade in regions around the world”.  Student will begin the week tapping into their current knowledge of natural resources and how they connect with products and trade. We will then look more closely at different natural resources and their location.

Announcements

• Tuesday, April 23rd: Blue and Green Earth Day Dress Up  
• Thursday, April 25th: MAPS Testing Grade 4 students will begin taking their MAPS test.
• ES Dress Up Days: Plan your days in advance click HERE for dates and details.

Resources

Below is a link to our ES Library page filled with incredible reading resources like Big Universe (electronic books with varying reading levels), BookFlix & Trueflix and TumbleBooks which can all support our Grade 4 exploration of historical fiction.

Note: your child’s ISKL username and password are required to access these external resources. Please email jgormley@iskl.edu.my to request your child’s login information.

https://iskl.follettdestiny.com/common/servlet/presenthomeform.do?l2m=Home&tm=Home&l2m=Home

Below is a link to Splash Math: Decimal Games for 4th Graders. There are a number of games to play to reinforce decimal concepts.

Note: a free login is required to play past the demo stage.

https://www.splashmath.com/decimal-games-for-4th-graders

Weekly Update April 15-19

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

April 15 - April 19, 2019

Language Arts

In Language Arts this week we will be completing our pre-assessment for our new topic Literary Essays. After choosing a familiar text, students will write an initial opinion or argument essay whereby they state their opinion or claim, giving reasons why they feel this way. Students are encouraged to make claims about characters and themes using evidence from the text. The data gathered from this pre-assessment will allow for students needs to be determined for planning for the unit.

We will also start our unit on Historical Fiction. Students will begin by examining the introductions of familiar books in order to analyze the setting, taking note of when and where the story takes places and what this place feels like. Students will be encouraged to be alert for change within the text, identifying clues by the author.

Math

In math this week the students will be completing the unit on fractions and operations. They will be continuing to use the area model and number lines while multiplying fractions. This aids the students with their conceptual understanding of multiplication of fractions.

Science

Over the next two weeks, students will be in the science lab to investigate the question What affects the amount of rock that water can erode? Students will observe two stream tables as the Erosion Model. They will then summarize their understanding by completing two activities in the Earth’s Features Modeling Tool, one showing the effect of the speed of a river on erosion and one showing the effect of the amount of time a river has been flowing. Students also return to Rocky Wonders to read about how water can cause erosion as well as be a natural hazard. Next, students broaden their view, observing a world map to better understand patterns in Earth’s features. Students conclude the unit by returning to the Rocks and Fossils anticipatory chart to reflect on all they have learned. The purpose of this is for students to engage in argumentation as they apply their understanding of erosion.

Announcements

• School Start Time: School starts at 7:50 am. Many students arrive before then and are able to chat to their friends and play in the common area. At 7:50 am sharp classes hold their informative morning meetings. Please ensure that your child arrives in plenty of time to get to their classroom each morning ON TIME!
• ES Dress Up Days: Plan your days in advance click HERE for dates and details.  (The next Dress Up Day will be Friday, April 19th)
• MAPS Testing: Grade 4 students will begin taking their MAPS test Starting on April 25th.

Resources

Below is a link to our ES Library page filled with incredible reading resources like Big Universe (electronic books with varying reading levels), BookFlix & Trueflix and TumbleBooks which can all support our Grade 4 exploration of realistic fiction.

Note: your child’s ISKL username and password is required to access these external resources. Please email jgormley@iskl.edu.my to request your child’s login information.

https://iskl.follettdestiny.com/common/servlet/presenthomeform.do?l2m=Home&tm=Home&l2m=Home

Below is a link to Splash Math: Fraction Games for 4th Graders. There are a number of games to play to reinforce fraction concepts. A number of classes are in the process of reviewing fractions to prepare for an end of unit assessment.

Note: a free login is required to play past the demo stage.

https://www.splashmath.com/fraction-games-for-4th-graders

Weekly Update April 8-12

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

April 8 - April 12, 2019

Language Arts

In Language Arts, students will spend the next week  completing the end of unit assessment, combining all recent learnings in order to produce a new informational text. Students will choose a nonfiction topic, identify & locate relevant resources, make a plan and select text structures that are most relevant. They will select headings & subheadings, research, take notes and paraphrase key words and ideas within their report. Students will draft their writing and revise using ARMs And CUPs.

Math

This week in math the students will be using fraction word problems to solve addition and subtraction equations. The students will use visuals to add and subtract and their answer will be in improper fractions and mixed numbers. They will be using visual models to help represent and show their answers.

Science

This week we start our final chapter in science. Students are invited to consider how rock around the world is shaped, broken, worn down, and exposed.  The are introduced to a new question and phenomena: why Desert Rocks Canyon has so much more exposed rock than nearby Keller’s Canyon. They use the book, Rocky Wonders, to learn about how rock is weathered and eroded over time. Later in the week,  students use the Earth’s Features Sim to explore what factors can cause water to erode different amounts of rock. The purpose of these lessons is to begin to explore what factors affect how much rock a river can erode.

Announcements

• WIDA Testing: EAL students have been notified and will be taking the WIDA test this week with Mr. Balsamo.
• ES Dress Up Days: Plan your days in advance click HERE for dates and details.  (The next Dress Up Day will be Friday, April 19th)
• MAPS Testing: Grade 4 students will begin taking their MAPS test Starting on April 25th.

Resources

Here is a link to extend students curiosity about fossils: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/fossil/