January 31 2020

Date: January 31 2020

A Look Ahead: Upcoming dates and due dates: Due Dates: ·      Social Studies Journal: Feb 7th ·      Conteo de Invierno Rough Copy: TBD (end of February) ·      Piel de Bufalo Rough Copy: TBD (end of February) ·      Division Test: February 11th ·      Februrary 7th: Grade 5 Spanish Assembly ·      February 12th: Dia De Amor Y Amistad in class ·      February 13Th & 14th: Teacher’s Convention (No School) ·      February 17th:  Family Day (No School) ·      February 26th: Pink Shirt Day

In Science, we have wrapped up our unit on simple machines and our science unit test. We have been learning about energy, gravity, force, and friction. We have learned that potential energy is when you have the potential to do something; this is also known as stored energy. For example, when there is a ball at the top of the hill it has potential to go down. Kinetic energy is moving energy. Gravity is a force that pulls objects down. We learned that a hammer and a feather actually fall at the same time if there is “air draft” as it is the form of the object that causes it to fall differently.

In Social Studies, we started learning about Alberta’s Indigenous Peoples. We learned about medicine wheels and how they are sacred for special ceremonies. The medicine wheels are made of arrowheads, stones, and buffalo bones. We also learned about how the Indigenous Peoples had a very strong relationship with nature and how instead of buying items, they lived off of the land. They would also give back to the land after they would take from the land and give thanks for what nature was providing. When hunting and gathering they would use as many parts of the animal that they could in order not to waste. Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump is a place where the First Nations gathered buffalo and chased them down drive lanes. When chasing the buffalo, the First Nations would use buffalo robes in order to disguise themselves. Due to an optical illusion and the speed in which they were running they would jump off of the cliff and at the bottom there were First Nations to kill the injured buffalo. They would take them to the camp and use every part of the buffalo.    The First Nations would sleep in tipis and they would use buffalo hides and large sticks for the poles to make the tipis. Each tipi had a special design and each design had a special meaning. They would use berries and other fruits and plants to make the designs on the tipi. In order to hold the tipi down they would use large stones or rocks.

In English Language Arts, we have been working on editing our work with COPS and ARMS.  C.O.P.S stands for Capitalization, Organization, Punctuation, and spelling. A.R.M.S stands for Add, Remove, Move, and Substitution. We have been editing some of our personal responses in partners. We have also discussed the importance of writing drafts for our writing.

In Spanish Language Arts, we have been learning about famous people who have failed but never gave up. We are examining them so we can have role models. All of these famous people have failed and they kept trying and they persevered. We are learning about them so we can better understand growth mindset and the power of yet. We have also been practicing our conjugation of regular AR ER and IR verbs. On Thursdays, we have been reading the book Bufalos Antes de Desayuno. We chose this book because it ties into our social studies unit on First Nations and tells the story of the Lakota tribe.

In Math, we have started learning about division. We have learned long division, the box strategies, vertical strategies. Each flex group has been teaching and learning a different activity in relation to division. We have been doing equal groupings, using multiplication to work backwards, and arrays. We also know that it is important to know our multiplication facts before we start division as they are related.

In Music we… More to come J

Please Celebrate February 12: Dia de Amor y Amistad (Friendship Day) February 26: Pink Shirt Day

You Can Help Your Child By: - Quizzing them with their multiplication math facts 0-10x -Reading with them and asking them about the text they are reading -Asking them about different types of energy -Ask them about their new SMART GOALS.

Overheard in grade 4: - I am excited to learn more about energy-K -I am excited to receive our future selves letters (in ten years)-O - I am excited for our next unit in science –B -I am excited and worried about getting our tests back-A -I am really enjoying using the sixth habit out of the seven habits…synergize-A

January 17 2020

Date: January 10 2020

A Look Ahead: Upcoming dates and due dates: Due Dates: Math Division Quiz: Friday January 24th  Science Test on Simple Machines: Thursday January 23rd 2020 Scholastic Orders due: Friday January 24th

In Science we have been working on the screws and levers flip book and the reading comprehension on simples machines. We have also been doing compound machine flip book. There are six simple machines. They are wheels and axles, pulleys, screws, levers, inclined planes, and wedges. Compound machines have more than one simple machine to make up a bigger machine, like a wheelbarrow. We have a unit test on Thursday January 23. We also have a study guide to help us!  Our next unit is about energy including potential and kinetic energy.

In Social Studies we are beginning our new unit on Alberta’s past and the history of our province. We will begin learning about Alberta’s First Nations Peoples. We will be discussing topics including -Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump -The importance of nature -The importance of the buffalo -Historical artifacts  and the importance of artifacts and symbols in different cultures We have been keeping a journal with images and a write up of our understanding. The journal entries are due each Friday.

In English Language Arts we have been doing a letter to our future selves. We discuss the past, the present, and our hopes for the future. We will be taking these letters home in an envelope to open in the year 2030. We are writing these letters as we are wrapping up a decade and entering a new decade. We ask that parents communicate to the teachers once they have received the letter. Please either email or write in the agenda. We have been learning how to self edit our work and how to add more depth to a personal response and how to connect to text, to the world, and to my own life.  We will be continuing to read and write personal responses about the texts. Our focus on the upcoming weeks will be stories about First Nations cultures.

In Spanish Language Arts we have been learning about Albert Einstein, Walt Disney and Dr. Seuss, as well as many others. We are examining them so we can have role models. All of these famous people have failed and they kept trying and they never gave up; they persevered. We are learning about them so we can better understand growth mindset and the power of yet. We will be focusing on verb conjugation, oral communication, and reading for understanding.

In Math, we have been starting to 3 digit and 2 digit by 1 digit multiplication problems. Also in math, we have been learning the box strategy, lattice, and the standard (elevator, zip line) strategy, as well as and expanded notation form. We have reviewed our math facts and problem solving as that leads us to division. We have been studying how we can divide numbers by creating visual groups using drawings and manipulatives, estimating, working backwards from multiplication, and learning the formula of long division.

In Music we… We continue 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. We are also going to begin working on the concept of harmonization through the singing of rounds.  The song below is a translation from the popular “row, row, row, your boat” round. Voy, voy, a remar, En mi barco voy. Alegre, alegre, alegre, alegre, Remando estoy.

You Can Help Your Child By: - Quizzing them with their multiplication math facts 0-10x -Reading with them and asking them about the text they are reading -Asking them about the different simple machines and looking around in daily life to recognize these machines. -There will be a study guide that goes home please quiz them on the study guide. -Ask them about their new SMART GOALS.

Overheard in grade 4: -I am excited about Alberta’s history-E -So far, I have been enjoying our letter to our future selves-A -I am disappointed because the school year is half way over and I love all my teachers-C -I am excited for the simple machines test on January 23rd –J -I am excited for learning about division-J - I am excited to continue gym and our unit on mission impossible-I