Colonial Project

Students in Mrs. Gordon's Social Studies class has been asked to complete a project on the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and/or Southern colonies. Students were given a choice board to choose which project he or she would like to complete. Students will be given time in class to work on the project, but the project should be completed by Wednesday, December 17th. Your child will present to the class on that day as part of Colonial Day.

Mythology Project

In Reading, we have been working on a Mythology project. The students have been working on story maps, story summaries, character trait organizers, and a paragraph about a mythological allusion (today, a "Herculean" task means a difficult or seemingly impossible task. This was taken from the myth of Heracles/Hercules). Students will be creating a poster that combines these things in class. I ask that students try to dress up in a Greek style on the day of his or her presentation. You can make this as simple (bedsheet toga) or as complicated as you like. Please, don't feel that your family needs to purchase anything for this presentation. Try to use items from around the house.

Reading 1 will present on Monday, December 15th.
Reading 2 will present on Tuesday, December 16th.

Week of November 17th

Reading (we are continuing last week's Weekly 5 to give students the opportunity to respond to literature with quality):

Reading Skill: Read your group reading book to complete book by November 21st. Finish the graphic organizer for plot.

Work on Writing: Compare yourself to the main character:  What is a similarity and a difference? Be sure to elaborate and explain why these are similarities and differences.  Write at least 10 sentences. Be sure to include a bold beginning and excellent ending.

Word Work: Vocab organizer for "oblige"

Listen to Reading: Study Island 2d:  Theme

Homework:  Eagle Eye due on Wednesday if your child's book is completed. We are almost at the mid-point, so remember:  4 Non-fiction points and 5 Fiction points!

Social Studies:  
Students will finish up their Roanoke opinion pieces by THURSDAY, November 20th. The final copies will be due then. We will begin talking about Jamestown and then the Plymouth settlement.

Common Core Revisions

State Board of Education proposes revisions to CCGPS standards in ELA, math; proposed changes posted for public comment for 60 days

I encourage you to take a look at the revisions and weigh in. There are only two ELA revisions for fourth grade but there are 12 proposed revisions to 4th grade math. View the link here.

Reminders

November 11:  Cyber Bullying Night at 6 p.m.

November 13:  Fuddrucker's Night from 4-8 p.m. (See you there around 7)

November 17:  Thanksgiving Lunch for 4B from 11:45-12:30

November 19:  4 1/2 Progress Reports go home

November 24th-28:  Thanksgiving Break!

Week of November 10, 2014

Social Studies:  We wrapped up our Explorers unit with an open book test today. We are going to begin our study of Colonial America by reading a story about the lost colony of Roanoke. Students are going to write an opinion piece in class about what they think happened at Roanoke. 

Reading:  We are connecting "Theme" or the lessons of a book as we wrap up our chapter books. Students are asked to finish their reading group chapter book by next Friday (November 21st). They will need to complete their plot organizers on that date as well. 

Here are the components to this week's Weekly 5:

Reading Skill: Read your group reading book to complete book by November 21st.

Work on Writing: Compare yourself to the main character:  What is a similarity and a difference? Be sure to elaborate and explain why these are similarities and differences.  Write at least 10 sentences. Be sure to include a bold beginning and excellent ending.

Word Work: Vocab organizer for "oblige"

Listen to Reading: Study Island 2d:  Theme

Homework:  Eagle Eye due on Wednesday if your child's book is completed. We are almost at the mid-point, so remember:  4 Non-fiction points and 5 Fiction points!

Research and Writing Mini-Bites:  We are on week 4, so that means a quiz will be coming up on Friday. You can look at old mini bites to help prepare for the quiz. 

Week of November 3rd

Math:
We are multiplying two digits by two digits.  There are a myriad of strategies we use to solve the problems.   Using the online math book for extra support is a great way to get more reinforcement at home.   The chapter 5 test will be next Tuesday.  In the meantime continue to practice multiplication facts.  Having strong fundamentals is a great way to be successful in math.

Science:
The students are learning about simple machines.   This Friday the students will take a test on both simple machines and force and motion.

Reading:
*We are continuing character perspectives in reading this week. Students are asked to take an event in the story and explain how two characters have a different perspective of the event. They are also asked to support their claims with evidence from the text.

Social Studies:
*We are wrapping up explorers this week. We will discuss examples of cooperation and conflict between Native Americans and Europeans. We will complete a close reading activity and finish up the unit with an open notes/book test on Friday.

Language:
*All Explorer Journals should be completed and turned in.
*We are on week 3 of Research and Writing Mini Bites.