Spring is in the Air!

With ELA and math testing behind us, we have started up some new projects in fourth grade, and have been working very hard! This is what we have been up to:

• We had a great trip to the Huyck Preserve yesterday! The kids caught crayfish in the creek, and marked them with nail polish. The researchers at the Huyck Preserve are studying an invasive species of crayfish, and use the kid's findings in their study. The class also had a presentation from a wildlife rehabilitation expert. The class got to see and learn about 2 different hawks, an owl, a weasel, a Snapping Turtle, and a Box Turtle. 
• Students have been working in groups on designing and building bridges made out of toothpicks. Each group has a $1,000 budget, and must plan their bridge accordingly. Groups must write checks, balance check books, and work together. The bridges are off to a great start!
• Last week we studied the Erie Canal in preparation for NYS Day, and our cruise on the Dutch Apple. Students learned about Dewitt Clinton, and the reasons why the canal was built. They also learned how the canal was built, and about inventions created to make building the canal easier. We studied some old photos of the canal and made inferences.
• We have been learning about simple machines in science. The class is also reviewing for our NYS science test which will be in June.
• We just started a new literature circle that is aligned the with the Industrial Revolution, which we will be studying in social studies. Students chose which book they preferred, and have been reading the books here at school either with a partner, or teacher. Then, the class has been summarizing what they have read in the form of a graphic novel (comic).
• In math, we have been learning about decimals. We spent time this week finding and placing decimals on the number line. We also spent time working in our bridge groups. We will continue working with decimals, and then will move on to measurement.

Thank you for checking in!

The Home Stretch!

As always, we have been very busy in 4th grade! I hope that everyone had a relaxing spring break!

• In ELA, we finished our Hoot literature circle. The end of the book offered us the opportunity to learn about descriptive writing, author's voice, author's purpose, and the mood/tone of the character's dialogue. The class viewed the Hoot movie, and we were able to compare and contrast the book and the film. We will be beginning new literature circles with 2 books from the Dear America series; "The Journal of Finn Reardon," and "The Diary of Angela Denoto." Students will choose which book they would like to read. The books coincide with the Industrial Revolution, which we will be studying in social studies. The class has been working on writing persuasive letters.
• Social Studies- The class learned about the Articles of Confederation, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights this week. Students also learned about the rise of cities in NYS, and how NYS came to get the nick-name, "The Empire State." Next week we will be learning about transportation in NYS during the 1800's.
• In math, we have just finished up our geometry unit. This week, the class learned how to classify triangles by their sides and angles. They also learned about different kinds of quadrilaterals. We have been reviewing for next week's state test, which will be Wednesday, April 30th-Friday May 2nd. Monday and Tuesday we will be reviewing more.
• Since the math state test is next week, please remember to send in any breakfast items that you signed up for. Thank you!

Thank you for your continued support. Have a great weekend!

Happy Spring! I hope everyone is doing well. Here is what we are up to in fourth grade:

• In science, the class has been learning about electricity. We have been focusing on current electricity, and how it works. Students built circuits in science lab to help them better understand how electricity flows in a closed circuit. We will continue to learn about electricity for the next few weeks.
• In language arts, we are reviewing all topics covered this year. The ELA test will be April 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.  We have been reading the book "Hoot," in class together. We have been focusing on the author's use of imagery, and on characterization. The class also created wanted posters for one one the characters in the book. We have spent a little time each day practicing for the ELA test.
• In math, we just finished up our unit on fractions. We spent time this week multiplying a whole number and a fraction. We have also spent a lot of time converting improper fractions to mixed numbers, and then simplifying. We just started to learn how to use the formula for area to find missing sides of rectangles. The class has had math review every morning.
• Please remember to send in any ELA breakfast items that you may have signed up for.

Have a great weekend!

February 27

What a busy month February has been! Hopefully March will bring some warmer weather. This is what we have been up to in fourth grade:

• Social Studies- We finished up the American Revolution unit. I was very pleased with the student's performance on their assessments. The class also completed their mythology projects, which were displayed in the main hall. We received several compliments on the quality of work of the tri-fold displays from many teachers. We will be starting up an electricity unit in science next week.
• Language Arts- We continue to work on figurative language. This week, the class learned about personification, and reviewed similes and metaphors. We have also been talking about the structure and features of different forms of writing (prose, poems, and plays). The class has been practicing plays in small groups to present to their peers. We will begin a literature circle next week for the book Hoot. The class has been practicing writing essays. We have been reviewing main idea, author's purpose, and theme.
• Math- We finished up our first unit on fractions. We have started a new unit which focuses on adding fractions with like denominators, and simplifying. The class has been working on multi-step word problems every morning. We also cycled through math stations twice this week.
• Other News- Please send in a safe snack for the month of March.

Thank you for your continued support! Have a great weekend!

January 24

I hope that everyone is keeping warm in this frigid weather! Here's what we have been working on the past two weeks:

• In social studies, the class has been learning about the American Revolution. Last week, we mostly learned about the causes and effects that led to the revolution. This week, students learned about battles, the Continental Army, George Washington, and Patriots and Loyalists. Next week, we will learn about the end of the war, and students will create slogans.
• In ELA, students are finally finishing up their final copy of their favorite holiday essay. We have been spending a lot of time learning about figurative language. So far, students have learned about metaphors, similes, alliteration, and hyperbole. We have also been reading poetry, learning about it's structure, and finding examples of figurative language. The class continues to learn about foreshadowing. We also just finished our read aloud book, Weasel. 
• We started our mythology projects. Students have chosen a myth, and are researching the myth to summarize it, identify the theme, find a modern day link, and to find cool facts about the characters in the myth. Please send in a tri-fold board by Monday, so that we can assemble the projects at school. 
• In math, we have been spending a lot of time with long division. We cycled through stations a couple time this week. Next week, there will be an assessment on long division, and we will be starting fractions. I offer math help on Wednesdays after school, so if your child is in need of support, please have them stay after on this day.

Have a great weekend!

January 10th

Happy New Year!  We have spent the first week of 2014 hard at work!
     In Language arts, the class is continuing to read their fantasy books. Next week we plan to have the books finished by Friday. We will be moving on to a mythology unit where students will be researching a Greek or Roman myth to present. The class learned about foreshadowing this week with the start of our new read aloud book, Weasel. We started a mini-unit on figurative language. This week, students learned about metaphors. Children are finishing up their holiday celebration essays next week.
    We started a new unit in social studies on colonial New York. The class spent some time learning about the life of children in the colonial days. We also learned about some colonial trades. Next week, we will be learning about the French and Indian War, and the causes of the American Revolution.
    In math, we wrapped up unit 8 with a test on Monday, and are mid-way through unit 9. The class is learning about division with remainders, compatible numbers, and rounding to estimate. We cycled through math stations twice this week. Next week, we start long division!
Have a great weekend!

December 2-6

This week in fourth grade, Miss Palmer taught many lessons for her "solo week" student teaching. She will be with us one more week. Here's what we worked on:

• We started our fantasy unit up. All students are reading a different  fantasy book, and have learned about the fantasy genre both in class and in the library. Students wrote a letter to me in their literature circle packets, giving a summary, making connections, and telling the author's purpose. We will meet in groups Monday to discuss our reading, and to read fantasy letters.
• The class learned more about how to find character traits through inferring. They found character traits for the main character from our read aloud book. The class also practiced using context clues to find the meaning of new words.
• The class started a new writing piece. We are writing about a favorite holiday celebration. Again, we are focusing on paragraphing, topic and closing sentences, and providing details. Students just started drafting their body paragraphs.
• In science, we continue to learn about the solar system. This week, the class researched either inner or outer planets. They are in the process of creating flip books about the planets they researched. Next week, students will choose one planet to research further. The week before the holiday break, there will be a solar system assessment.
• In math, the class learned about compatible numbers, and how to find hidden information in word problems. Next week, we will be multiplying double digit numbers using arrays.
• Mrs. Mondandaro came in on Wednesday for a Hanukkah presentation, which the class really enjoyed! 
• Next Wednesday will be our trip to Sage to see "The Secret Garden." Please send your child with a peanut free lunch. We will be leaving around 8:50, and will return to school around 8:30.

Have a great weekend!