4th Grade Newsletter
December 5, 2014
Important Dates
- Monday, December 8: MAP Test (Reading)
- Monday, December 8 : Social Studies Brochure Due
- Tuesday, December 9: MAP Test (Math)
- Tuesday, December 9: ELA End of Opinion Unit Vocabulary Test
- Wednesday, December 10: Reading Project Due
- Friday, December 12: Unit 4 Math Test
- Friday, December 12 : Social Studies Study Guide Due
- Monday, December 15: Social Studies Test
- Wednesday, December 17: End-of-Novel Test
- Thursday, December 18: Winter Party (12-1:30)
- December 21-January 5: Winter Break
*Please send in $5 if you would like to donate to our holiday party. This will cover pizza, drinks, snacks, and games for the entire day*
Reading
Accelerated: Students will finish reading The Phantom Tollbooth and completing comprehension questions. This week students have learned about the idioms in the novel. Next week, students will learn how mathematics can contribute to the plot of this work of literature. In an effort to build strong reading comprehension skills, it is important that students read for at least 20 minutes everyday. Students will be given a new reading log to complete every Monday and turn in the following Monday for a homework grade. Students will have Book Report due on Wednesday, December 10. A copy of the project instructions is available on the portal.
ELA
Accelerated: Classes will compete in a group debate; arguing that their animal group has the greatest chance for survival. Groups include: mammals, reptiles, fish, birds. Our students are really enjoying planning their arguments and rebuttals. Test on Tuesday 12/9/14 over figurative language and debate vocabulary words: hyperbole, simile, onomatopoeia, personification, alliteration, idiom, cliche', metaphor, evidence, emotional appeal, rhetorical question, debate, rebuttal. *Please note that Wednesday is our normal testing day; moved due to Wednesday's Reading test. Thank you for understanding.
*See the bottom of the newsletter for a copy of the study guide or visit the FSA Portal: Teacher Resources: Study Guide.
Math
All Classes: There will be a test over Unit 4 on Friday, December 12. A study guide has been provided in class; additional copies may be printed from Class Resources. While the study guide will not be graded, we will review it each day in class; please make sure your child brings it every day.
On Level/Advanced: The Unit 4 Test will cover fractions: identifying, modeling, comparing, ordering, and problem solving.
Accelerated: The Unit 4 Test will cover operations with fractions: adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.
Science
Helpful Links:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/howwesee.html
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/lightshadows.html
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/energy-light-sound/light.htm
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/energy-light-sound/sound.htm
Social Studies
This upcoming week we will finish up our Colonization of North America Unit. We will examine the lives of the different colonial people and how their choices and behavior were influenced by their region. We will also learn more about the economic specializations of the 3 regions.
The colonial brochure is due on Monday. Students will also receive their study guide which is due on Friday. Late study guides will not be accepted. Students must have them with them in class to receive full credit.
Important Dates:
Monday Dec. 8th- Colonies Brochure Due
Friday Dec. 12th - Colonization of North America Study Guide Due
Monday Dec.15th - Colonization of North America Test
Fulton Sunshine Academy
Email: info@fsaelementary.org
Website: http://fultonsunshine.org/
Location: 1335 Northmeadow Parkway, Suite 100, Roswell, GA, United States
Phone: (770) 410-1500
Facebook: facebook.com/FultonSunshineAcademyElementarySchool
Twitter: @FSAElementary
Mrs. Dempsey
Email: ndempsey@fsaelementary.org
ELA Study Guide- Test 12/9/14- All levels
Figurative Language
Hyperbole- an exaggeration- I could eat a horse!
Simile- comparison using like or as- Pretty as a picture
Onomatopoeia – words that are pronounced like the sound they represent- Boom! Smash!
Personification- giving human qualities to an inhuman object- The clouds danced around the moon.
Alliteration- the repetition of beginning sounds, syllables, letters in a sentence or phrase- Peter Piper Picked…
Idiom- a phrase whose meaning cannot be taken literally- It’s raining cats and dogs.
Cliché- overused saying- You complete me.
Metaphor- comparison using like or as- Her heart is stone.
Debate Vocabulary
evidence- facts or proof used in an argument
emotional appeal- used to make your audience feel an emotion or connection to your argument
rhetorical question- a question not meant to be answered; the answer is usually implied by the question
debate- an argument with rules
rebuttal- the act of claiming another’s argument is untrue