Cool News From Room A209
Ms. Wilkie’s 4th Grade Class
April 26, 2013
Wow, so much fantastic learning is going on in our classrooms right now! We are excited to complete the ELA and Math state assessments and move into some rigorous new units of study. Here’s a curriculum update, as well as lots of information about the special events in the remainder of the school year.
Reading and Writing:
We are traveling back in time in America in our new reading unit. We are meeting in our cross-grade-level groups four times a week now, and each group is reading a different historical fiction book. The titles are Pink and Say, A Jar of Dreams, Riding Freedom, Sign of the Beaver, and Journey to Nowhere. The reading skills that we will focus on include the impact of setting, character growth, making predictions, story elements, time lines, historical and domain-specific vocabulary, and multiple perspectives. Ask your child which book they are reading! Each story is unique, exciting, and rich with powerful emotional growth.
In Writing, next week we will engage in a mini-unit on Descriptive Writing. The students will use a photo that they have chosen to write about it, using sensory words, figurative language, and emotion to express what they see and feel in the picture. The purpose for this type of writing is expression, rather than entertainment or information, so we are learning techniques that beautifully convey the feeling of the picture to the audience. We will also take this writing through the editing process.
Math:
We are headed into Unit 6 of our Primary Mathematics program next week, which is introduction to the concept of decimals, including tenths, hundredths, and thousandths, as well as the relationship between decimals and fractions. Unit 7 will follow, which teaches the four operations of decimals (+, - , X, /), and the uses of decimals in word problems. We always like to connect decimals to money, so any opportunity you see to do so at home, please take it! The students will be back in the routine of nightly homework from their workbook. Thanks for supporting this good habit, and remind them to bring any questions to the teacher immediately the following morning.
Content: In Science with Ms. Wilkie, the students are deeply ensconced in Structures of Life unit...crayfish, plants, and soon, bess beetles! Beginning at the end of May, we'll examine human structures of life, including health lessons on growth and development.
(Curriculum note and permission form went home earlier this week). We will also do some media literacy studies. In Social Studies with Mrs. Lee, the students are moving forward into the new United States after the Revolutionary War, including the Erie Canal in New York and the Industrial Revolution.
In the Eckley Content class students are returning to Lab Science, which includes measurement “labs”, as well as an intense focus on a variety of topics, including life, earth, and physical science, using hands-on, text-based, and video-based lessons. New York State gives a 4th Grade Science Assessment, which consists of two parts, a Performance component, during which the students will complete short experiments and record their results. This will be given on May 22. The second component is a written test, which is made up of multiple choice and short-answer questions about various science topics from the 4th grade curriculum, and it will be given on June 3.
Library: Our Biography project continues. The students are reading and taking notes at various times during the week. They are also learning how to use various research tools and databases to find the information that is most useful to their specific topic. After taking notes, the students will begin to plan and write an organized first draft and edit for a well-developed final research paper. The final product will also include a visual presentation. The students will be able to choose their presentation mode that fits their personal learning style (poster, powerpoint, reader’s theater, etc.). They are finding out amazing things about these people who have positively impacted our world.
Field Trips: We are entering an exciting time of lots of amazing trips! Please see the dates below. Thank you to those of you who mentioned that you can join us on various trips, we look forward to it!
Upcoming Dates (through end of school!)
April 24-26: Math state assessment
April 29: ELA Scoring Date, no school for students grade 3-8
May 3: South Hill Shines, 8:00 am
May 10: Cinemapolis Movie Theater, walking field trip (half-day)
“The Adventures of Robin Hood” IPEI sponsored event (leave at 8:15)
May 14: Instrumental Music Concert @ 1:00 pm
May 16: KDT Buddy/ “Early America Day” at Fall Creek Elementary
May 22: New York State Science Performance Assessment
May 24-27: Memorial Day recess, no school for students and staff
May 28: Trout Release field trip at Lower Buttermilk Falls State Park
May 31: Eight Square Schoolhouse field trip
June 3: New York State Science Written Assessment
June 14: KDT Buddy Class Trip to Ithaca Swim Club
June 20: Cass Park, Last Day of School
Keep in touch! Leave a message at school, send a note in with your child, or email: jwilkie@icsd.k12.ny.us