Happy Friday fourth grade families!
Math: We started this week with a 3-Act Task. A 3-Act Task is a whole-group mathematics task consisting of three distinct parts: an engaging and perplexing Act One, an information and solution seeking Act Two, and a solution discussion and solution revealing Act Three. The students used their knowledge of comparing decimals to complete the task. We then began working in Chapter 5. We worked on rounding decimals and using models to add decimals. We will continue working with decimals next week with addition and subtraction.
ELA: This week we continued reading Night of the Spadefoot Toads (chapters 6-7) and explored the ways that our impressions of characters and actions described in the book are influenced by the narrator’s point of view. We also discussed how the plot centers on the main character as they are engaged in a conflict, and how this conflict is part of the rising action, which builds to the climax, or most exciting part of a story. In writing, we focused on narrative writing by rewriting a portion of the text in a third person limited point of view from a character’s perspective other than Ben. We discussed the importance of rereading what we worte, revising, and editing before submitting our work.
Social Studies: This week students began analyzing the Aztec Empire. Students learned about the government structure, social classes, arts, and their written language. Students used multiple sources to identify details about each characteristic and complete a written response question about the Aztecs. We will continue learning about the Aztec Empire next week.
Science: This week students continued our unit on energy. Students explored how energy is neither created nor destroyed but constantly changing forms. Students then learned how to write a scientific explanation with a claim, evidence, and reasoning to explain how energy is converted into different forms in their everyday lives. Next week, we will conclude our concept on energy and begin talking about electricity.
ParentVUE: Friendly reminder to please check ParentVUE regularly for updates on students’ academic progress. Please check assignment descriptions and individual assignment comments for feedback as well.
DOJO: Reminder to please check Dojo often, as we will be using this to communicate student behaviors throughout each day by giving students positives, warnings, and infractions based on their behavior.
Face Coverings at School: Friendly reminder that masks will continue to be mandatory next week, unless you have completed and turned the Opt-Out form into the front office.
Virtual Book Fair:The Scholastic book fair is ongoing and runs through September 5th. It is virtual only. The Vista Book Fair website is here. Books can be purchased online and then shipped directly to the student’s home. There is free shipping with $25 in book purchases, but other items are shipped separately and don’t count toward the shipping minimum. eWallet money that is unused at the end of the fair will stay in their Scholastic account and can still be used to purchase items, though the school will receive fewer or none of the proceeds after September 5th.
Looking Ahead:
August 30 – September 5 virtual Scholastic Book Fair
August 31: optional Scholastic book orders due (Class Code: Q98FV)
September 6- No school- Labor Day
September 8– Progress Reports
September 8– Early Release at 12:00pm
September 10– Student of the Month
Enjoy the long weekend!