This week in 4A was filled with unit wrap ups!
Curriculum:
Science– We have officially finished our bodies and senses unit! We spent this week learning about hearing and our brains. For hearing, we created playdough models of the outer/middle/inner ear and watched a clip of a show on Netflix called Storybots to assist in our knowledge of what each portion of the ear does and how sound travels though each. If you ever need an educational show to show your kids, Storybots is a favorite of mine! It looks a little bit little-kiddy, but my husband and I enjoy watching it with our kids too (and sing the songs randomly). We had a blast learning about our brains! Yesterday, we learned about the different lobes and cortex, and what each portion is in control of. We played Simon Says with our lobes and cortex to learn the locations as well. Today, we heard stories about how each portion of the brain affects us and why each portion is important to have. Ask your students about a guy named Phineas Gage, and see if they can tell you about why his frontal lobe damage (caused by a railroad accident) effected his personality and behavior. They will be coming home wearing awesome brain hats that we created today! I have attached a full class picture, enjoy!
Math- Mrs. Yee has been doing an amazing job with the students, walking them through division. There is a practice test coming home today, please go over it this weekend. I have attached this practice test as well. Directions for a poster went home on the 5th, these are due next Wednesday (the 12th). If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Yee at ayee@stmarym.org.
Reading- The students ROCKED their Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom trailers this week! In case you missed it, students have spent the last 2 weeks working on their final assessment for the novel study Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom by Louis Sachar. This week, we put on 3 different performances. The first was for our friends in 4B on Wednesday during Buddy time. They helped us work out the final kinks we may have still had, made sure we were loud enough, and helped us with final touches on our blocking (movement of props on the stage). Thursday, Mr. Ramseyer came in and watched us. He was so impressed, he thinks we should perform for the whole school at an assembly! If that happens, I will let you know! Finally, today we performed for Mrs. Cortez and for our final grade. I can tell you, that was the EASIEST thing I have graded all year, everyone did such a phenomenal job!!
Religion– We continued our talks and studies about the Holy Spirit. We also have begun a new addition to curriculum called Sacred Stories. Students are asked to think of how something they did that day either brought them consolation- brought them closer to God and brought joy to their lives, or brought them desolation- pulled them further away from God, and did not spark joy in their lives.
History– Students worked to learn about Lewis and Clark in preparation for our unit on the Oregon Trail. We learned about Sacagawea and her interpretation skills to help keep these explorers alive on their journey to the Northwest.
Writing– As students worked on their Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom trailers, we looked at our Wonders curriculum and did a week long unit on Natural Disasters. Though this unit, students focused on comparing and contrasting information. They were also asked to use their computer time to pick a natural disaster and do a little research on them. Some students finished their pre planning research page in class, however most were asked to bring them home and finish their research there. On Monday, students will be using this information to write a newspaper article. Over the weekend, please help students finish this page. They have had 2 computer class periods to work at school, so they should be close to finishing.
Upcoming/ reminders:
- A homework calendar went home with your student last week. It lists out the big important assignments that are going to be due over the month. I have included some online platforms as well, such as Mathletics and Raz Kids. Each student has learned how to log on, and has logged onto their account at school. Please go over the calendar with your student for upcoming events. The first Mathletics assignment is due by Monday night!! Your students know how to log on, as they have done it many, many times this school year. Please check with them that they have completed this assessment!!
- The BACK of this homework calendar is the February Reading Log. Please remember to do this every night for at least 20 minutes.
- Stapled to the homework calendar is the directions for the science unit project. This is a totally 100% at home project. Since students will have over 2 weeks to complete it, it is expected to be their BEST work. It is worth a significant amount towards their grade, so they need to put a lot of effort into it. These projects are due Thursday, February 20th.
- Spelling Bee students will have their final spelling bee on February 13th after school. Please pick up your student at the lower parking lot at 3:45. If your child is not picked up by 4:00, they will be sent to extension. We have one more practice quiz this Thursday. Thank you for helping your student participate in this competition! If you have any questions, please forward them to Mrs. A MAkashio@stmarym.org
- IMPORTANT AND SECRET: On Thursday, February 13th, we will be having our Valentine’s Day Party. Students are able to bring in treats and valentines to pass out (not a secret). Parents, I would LOVE it if you would be willing to come in either on the AFTERNOON (2:45-3:15ish) of Wednesday, Feb 12th OR in the MORNING (7:30- 8:00ish) of February 13th to show your love for your kiddo and decorate their desk! That way, when they come in on Feb 13th, they will be blown away with their desk specially decorated by you for them! If you need help coordinating, or would need me to decorate for you, I can do that too! Just let me know 😊 Again, this would be a SURPRISE for your student!!
Mrs. Christina Cortez
Fourth Grade Teacher
