Dear Families,
Next week the entire fourth grade class will be doing a Secret Snowflake activity. This activity is a fun way for students to show appreciation for one another through various acts of kindness. Each child will randomly be given the name of a classmate that they must keep a secret. Each night for homework their job is to create a simple but thoughtful project for their friend. The projects include: writing an acrostic poem, brainstorming a few compliments to share, making a card, and creating a craft. Each person’s Secret Snowflake will be revealed on Friday prior to Winterfest. The Secret Snowflake activity will replace our homework assignments for the week (except for reading). Students will receive a detailed assignment sheet on Monday, which gives them ample time to complete each activity. Just a reminder reminder that Winterfest in Friday, December 21st at 10:30. Students will be dismissed directly following Winterfest (around 12:00) to start our winter break. Below are a few curriculum highlights: Math
Language Arts
Social Studies
Below are a few photos of fourth graders in action! Warmly, Brigid Dear Families, One thing that we know about New England weather is that it is unpredictable. Fourth grade will continue to go outside for recess to get some fresh air as much as the weather allows. Please help your child be prepared for our varying conditions by sending them with a coat, boots, gloves, and a hat. You may also want to consider having them keep an extra of socks in their backpack as our playground can remain wet and muddy for a few days after we get rain. Winterfest will be on Friday Friday, December 21st at 10:30 in the Commons. We will have an early dismissal at 12:00 to start our winter break. Language Arts Fourth graders broke up into groups based on personal interest to form three book clubs. The books currently being read: Number the Stars, The Report Card, and Frindle. Each book club meet regularly to recall important story details, reflect on what has been read, and make predictions about what will happen. Below are a list of “discussion starters” that students will use to help guide their book talks:
We have practiced using these discussion starters for our new shared reading book Fish in a Tree. Math As mentioned in a previous newsletter, games are a wonderful way to strengthen mental math and problem solving skills. 24 has become a class favorite in fourth grade. Students are given four numbers and must multiply, divide, add, and/or subtract to get 24. There are three levels within the game which allows students to choose cards that will give them an appropriate challenge. Students are allowed to play against one another or work together to solve that problem. Below is an example. Can you solve it? (Ask your child for help!) Social Studies
We spent time this week using the online resource Culturegrams along with various books to learn about the sixteen southeastern states. We are also doing a number of activities to help students remember the states and capitals of this region. They will be quizzed on the states, capitals, and locations at the end of next week. Warmly, Brigid |
Welcome!Learn more about fourth grade happenings by reading this newsletter. Archives
May 2019
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