Math
Last week in math, we launched unit 7 and 9. In both these units, students learn about fractions, decimals, percents and their uses. Students will learn how to find equivalent fractions; add and subtract fractions; multiply fractions by whole numbers; convert fractions to decimals and percents and learn how fractions are used in probability to express the chances that an event will occur. Check out our class website for fun fraction games and a link to Everyday Math Online, which also has wonderful fraction games.
Social Studies and Science
Our social studies unit, New Jersey: Exploration to Statehood, has concluded. One of our favorite activities during this unit was completing a weekly R.A.F.T. activity in our social studies notebook. Each week, students synthesized their learning about New Jersey history by choosing to write from the perspective of a person who lived in that time period. We called this activity R.A.F.T. because students chose the Role, Audience, Format and Topic for their writing. For example, a student might choose to write from the perspective of a Dutch Settler (role). This Dutch Settler might write to a letter (format) to his/her brother (audience) still living in the Netherlands about the English fleet that had recently took command their settlement (topic). Students loved being creative in their responses while showing what they had learned during that week’s social studies lessons.
Next week, we will launch our science unit, magnetism and electricity. We will investigate temporary and permanent magnets, build electric circuits powered by D-cell batteries and explore electromagnets. You can increase your child’s interest in magnetism and electricity by asking him or her to talk about the science investigations and experiments we complete in class. During this unit of study, we also discuss the importance of safety. Some safety rules are:
· Never put any object other than a certified plug into wall sockets.
· Do not open the case of an electrical appliance that is plugged in.
· Do not bring magnets near computers.
Reading and Writing Workshop
We completed our reading fantasy book club unit last week. Throughout this unit, students learned to compare and contrast character qualities, plot patterns and themes across texts. In their book club discussions, students learned strategies to build new ideas together with others about their reading. Students developed nuanced and sophisticated ideas about their reading during these rich book club conversations. Now, students are using one of the ideas they developed about their reading to write a literary essay in writing workshop. This literary essay is an introduction to the type of literary analysis students will engage in the upper grades and beyond. Students will learn how to craft a thesis about one or more of the books they read and prove that thesis through writing about examples and evidence from the text.
Upcoming Events and Dates
· Fourth graders will take the Performance Based Assessment PARCC test next week, March 9th – 13th. Testing will take place in the morning upon students’ arrival. Please be sure your child arrives to school on time, gets a good night’s rest and eats a healthy breakfast.
· Spring break is March 30th – April 6th.
· Follow our class on Twitter! @MsWorden_JP. Our class has begun to tweet about something we learned and enjoyed each day in school! You can also check out our Twitter feed at mswordensclass.weebly.com
Last week in math, we launched unit 7 and 9. In both these units, students learn about fractions, decimals, percents and their uses. Students will learn how to find equivalent fractions; add and subtract fractions; multiply fractions by whole numbers; convert fractions to decimals and percents and learn how fractions are used in probability to express the chances that an event will occur. Check out our class website for fun fraction games and a link to Everyday Math Online, which also has wonderful fraction games.
Social Studies and Science
Our social studies unit, New Jersey: Exploration to Statehood, has concluded. One of our favorite activities during this unit was completing a weekly R.A.F.T. activity in our social studies notebook. Each week, students synthesized their learning about New Jersey history by choosing to write from the perspective of a person who lived in that time period. We called this activity R.A.F.T. because students chose the Role, Audience, Format and Topic for their writing. For example, a student might choose to write from the perspective of a Dutch Settler (role). This Dutch Settler might write to a letter (format) to his/her brother (audience) still living in the Netherlands about the English fleet that had recently took command their settlement (topic). Students loved being creative in their responses while showing what they had learned during that week’s social studies lessons.
Next week, we will launch our science unit, magnetism and electricity. We will investigate temporary and permanent magnets, build electric circuits powered by D-cell batteries and explore electromagnets. You can increase your child’s interest in magnetism and electricity by asking him or her to talk about the science investigations and experiments we complete in class. During this unit of study, we also discuss the importance of safety. Some safety rules are:
· Never put any object other than a certified plug into wall sockets.
· Do not open the case of an electrical appliance that is plugged in.
· Do not bring magnets near computers.
Reading and Writing Workshop
We completed our reading fantasy book club unit last week. Throughout this unit, students learned to compare and contrast character qualities, plot patterns and themes across texts. In their book club discussions, students learned strategies to build new ideas together with others about their reading. Students developed nuanced and sophisticated ideas about their reading during these rich book club conversations. Now, students are using one of the ideas they developed about their reading to write a literary essay in writing workshop. This literary essay is an introduction to the type of literary analysis students will engage in the upper grades and beyond. Students will learn how to craft a thesis about one or more of the books they read and prove that thesis through writing about examples and evidence from the text.
Upcoming Events and Dates
· Fourth graders will take the Performance Based Assessment PARCC test next week, March 9th – 13th. Testing will take place in the morning upon students’ arrival. Please be sure your child arrives to school on time, gets a good night’s rest and eats a healthy breakfast.
· Spring break is March 30th – April 6th.
· Follow our class on Twitter! @MsWorden_JP. Our class has begun to tweet about something we learned and enjoyed each day in school! You can also check out our Twitter feed at mswordensclass.weebly.com