October 25 2019

Date: October 25 2019

A Look Ahead:  We are wrapping up with STEM and we are continuing to build our maps of Alberta. In math, we are continuing to look at telling time, the 24-hour clock, as well as time lapse. In Science, we are continuing to learn about waste and our world.  In Spanish, we are exploring Puerto Rico for our upcoming assembly. In English, we are forming reading groups and doing books studies. Upcoming dates and due dates: October: 31à Halloween costume parade November 1: à Professional Development (No Classes) November 8:àRemembrance Day Assembly November 11:à Remembrance Day No School November 21: à Student Led Conferences (early dismissal) November 22:à Student Led Conferences (No classes) November 28:à Puerto Rico Assembly (afternoon) Due Dates: October 31: Ecological footprint with Writing November 4: Iggy Peck Architect Journal Response November 4: Dear Duncan Letter November 5: Science Poster Presentations Due November 7: Waste and Our World Science Unit Test (Review on Blog)

In Science we are finishing our ecological footprints so that we can show our impact on earth and our environment. We are also making posters for presentations we will have in different classrooms across the grades. We will be presenting information on recycling, composting, waste and garbage, and refundables.

In Social Studies we are going to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and we are making maps of Alberta with the Alberta regions. We are also using makey-makeys to control our Alberta map so that we can teach about our regions. We are learning about the six regions of Alberta (Grasslands, Rocky Mountain, Parkland, Foothills, Boreal Forest, and Canadian Shield).

In English Language Arts we are writing letters to “Duncan” from the short stories “The Day the Crayons Quit” and “The Day The Crayons Came Home”. We also read the story “Iggy Peck Architect” and learned the reason we should build and the importance of problem solving.

In Spanish Language Arts we are learning about Puerto Rico as we will be having our Spanish language assembly next month. We have learned -The capital of Puerto Rico is San Juan -The Puerto Rico flag has  5 equal horizontal stripes, which are red and white. -Puerto Rico has tropical weather -Puerto Rico’s national flower is the hibiscus

In Math, we are learning how to tell time using digital and analog clocks. We are learning how to use 24 hour clocks. We are also learning about lapsed time. We have been working on problems with lapsed time.

In Music we…

We began working on the recorder. The notes that are a focus of the Grade 4 recorder unit are the B, A, and G (above middle C). With these notes, we play a variety of pieces where we explore the beat and rhythm as well as begin a more in depth focus on reading music notation.  Song  Abejita Bonnie Bee, Dime ¿qué quiérese aquí? Quiero, quiero cantar y volar. Quiero bailar sin parar. This song includes playing the recorder, the singing voice as well as the xylophone.

Please Celebrate:  Learning about using the makey makeys.

You Can Help Your Child By: -Reading every day in English and in Spanish -Asking them to tell time using analog clocks -Asking them about 24 hour clocks -Adding and subtracting using everyday activities like shopping -Asking them to help sort waste (garbage, recycling, compost)

Overheard in grade 4: I like how we can learn to speak another language. –E. -I like how we have been working on our Alberta maps in social studies. A -I like learning about the 24 hour clock. –C -I like what we are doing in STEM (the map of Alberta) -D - I like math, because we are learning about clocks-N

October 10 2019

Blog Post October 10 2019

Introduction:

This blog has been created by the grade 4 classes
(teachers AND students) to let you know about what
is happening in class and what we are learning.

Flexible Groupings: 

Every day we have flexible groupings in Math, English, and Spanish.
Teachers have split students into three different groups based on areas of strength, areas for growth, and where each student fits best socially. These groups are flexible and will change periodically. 

Science:

During science we are learning about compostable items, biodegradable items, non-biodegradable items, and garbage.
We are also learning about the ecological footprint. An ecological footprint that we have. All the waste that we use and produce is our “footprint”. It is our impact on earth. 

We looked at some pictures of items that were biodegradable and that we are able to recycle but as green leaders there has been changes in the process this year. 

We are also learning about landfills and dumps.
When creating a landfill, people put a liner and a layer of clay, which prevents leachate from leaking into the groundwater. They would put in garbage and flatten it until it is full. They would then put another layer of soil.
We are also learning about the 4Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink). 

Math:

We are continuing to learn about rounding.
 We are rounding to the nearest 10 (decena), 100 (centena), and 1000 (millar). 

We are using math talks in order to demonstrate what we have been learning and the strategies we are using. 

We are continuing to add and subtract numbers up to 10 000. 

We are using rounding to add and subtract real numbers using different retail locations and real-life situations. 

English & Social Studies: 

We are learning about different regions in Alberta.
We are taking turns with the computers so that we can learn more about the regions and how they are different.
 We have also been journaling about we are grateful for, as Thanksgiving is soon and how we are privileged.
We are also going to the makerspace for STEM to show what we are learning about in regards to the regions. 

Español: 

We have just finished our work on our “tiracomicas” in Spanish about fossils and dinosaurs.
We are discussing what we do during “otoño” (fall).We have been discussing and writing about “los colores de otoño” (the colours in autumn, “la comida en otoño”, (the food we eat in autumn), “la ropa de otoño” (clothes we wear in autumn), as well as  “las celebraciones de otoño” (the celebrations in autumn).
We have also been working on our verbs and how to communicate what we enjoy and what we like to do. 

We have been writing in our journals about what we like in the fall and what we are grateful for using the sentence starters “en el otoño a mi me gusta” and “yo agradezco” 

How Can I Practice?

Please discuss and practice these vocabulary words. 

Math: Practice rounding to the nearest ten (decena), hundred (centena), thousand (millar). 

Try to read everyday in English and Spanish. 

Special hint: In your agenda please write your favourite animal and favourite colour. Have your parents sign it. 

Vocabulary: 

1.    Reduce 

2.    Reuse 

3.    Recycle 

4.    Rethink 

5.    Landfill 

6.    Natural Resources 

7.    Animal Life 

8.    Vegetation 

9.    Landforms 

10.Bodies of water 

11.Climate 

Vocabulario 

1.    Reducir 

2.    Reusar 

3.    Reciclar

4.    Reconsiderar 

5.    Vertedero 

6.    Recursos Naturales

7.    Vida Animal 

8.    Vegetación

9.    Accidentes Geograficos

10.Masas de Agua 

11.Clima 

Overheard in Grade 4 

I like flexible groupings because they are giving me lots of challenging work. -J.

I like learning about recycling so that I know more about green leading. -K 

Rounding is used when you are estimating. You can round when you are estimating money. -S. 

September 27 2019

Introduction:

This blog has been created by the grade 4 classes

 (teachers AND students) to let you know about what

is happening in class and what we are learning.

Flexible Groupings: 

Every day we have flexible groupings in Math, English,

and Spanish. Teachers have split students into three different

groups based on areas of strength, areas for growth, and where

 each student fits best socially. These groups are flexible and will change periodically. 

Science:

In our first unit, “Waste & our World” we have been learning about decomposers,

consumers, and producers. We have also been studying what is biodegradable and

non biodegradable in order to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
We did a nature walk and learned what people and animals do with their waste and

garbage outside. We learned that decomposers only eat “biodegradable” items.

I learned how people disrespect the earth and how to take care of the nature spaces

 in our school. 

Soon, we will be organizing ourselves into groups as the Dalhousie School Green Leaders.

 When working as a green leader we separate the refundable containers, recyclable

 materials, and the organic compostable materials. This helps take care of our school,

 our community, and our earth. 

Math:

In math we are learning how to round numbers to the nearest ten (decena),

 hundreds (centenas),  and thousands (millares). 

We are adding and subtracting four digit numbers. We are carrying when adding,

 and borrowing when subtracting. We are also reviewing our math facts to build on

 our foundation.  We have also been doing “El Numero Del Dia” which helps us do

 multiple things with that number including, even and odd numbers, multiplication,

problem solving, and expanded notation (forma expandida). We have also been learning

 about place value. 

Every few weeks we have math homework and a math quiz. This helps our teachers

understand where we are at. Our homework helps us practice what we have been learning.  

English 

We read the book “Best Part of Me” and then wrote our own versions to demonstrate

what we believe are the best parts of us.  This past week we have read many picture

books and then wrote about our growth mindset. We have read “The Thing Lou

Couldn’t Do”, “The Most Magnificent Thing”, “What To Do With A Problem”,

“Ish” and “The Dot”, “Rosie Revere Engineer” and “The Book of Mistakes”.  

We realized that growth mindset is when you “keep trying and trying until you get it”.

You also face difficulties and problems and you may feel frustrated but you

 don’t give up. You will accomplish it. 

We also discussed the “power of yet”, which means that although you might not

 do it at that time you can eventually do it  in the future. 

We have also discussed what makes us unique and different from one

 another and our differences are what make us special. 

We will continue  journaling throughout the year and discover different

topics and ideas through writing. 

Español & Social Studies: 

We have been writing about “nuestros amigos imaginarios” to practice descriptions.

We are creating “tira comicas” (comic strips) about how fossils are formed,

where they are discovered, and where they go so that people can learn more

about our history. As Albertans it is important for us to learn about fossils

because Alberta is a major fossil discovery ground in the world.

 There is a famous dinosaur that was discovered by Joseph B. Tyrrell called

the “Albertasaurus”. 

Vocabulary: 
1. Producer
2. Consumer 
3. Decomposer
4. Rounding 
5. Estimation 
6. Fossil
7. Paleontology 
8. Mindset
9. Courage 
10. Region

Vocabulario: 

1.    Productor

2.    Consumidor

3.    Descomponedor

4.    Redondear

5.    Estimación

6.    Fósil

7.    Palentología

8.    Actitud Positiva

9.Valor

10.Región

How Can I Practice?

Please discuss and practice these vocabulary words. 

Math: Practice rounding to the nearest ten (decena), hundred

(centena), thousand (millar). 

Try to read everyday in English and Spanish. 

Overheard in Grade 4:

“ When we were doing reading about reducing, reusing and recycling

 we read that “one  person’s trash is another person’s treasure”-B. 

“I am excited to make dinosaur fossils out of clay and or plasticine after

 making our comic strips in Spanish”-J

“I really liked in math doing the “numero del dia” because it helps me

 with subtraction and addition”. -A 

Upcoming Due Dates & Events

• Due Dates
• Tira Comica: October 4
• Math Homework: October 7
• English Journal: October 10
• School Events:
• PD Day: October 11
• Thanksgiving: October 14
• STEAM Residency Begins late October
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