4th Grade Newsletter
December 12, 2014
Important Dates
- Monday, December 15: Social Studies Test
- Monday, December 15: Science Fair Data Chart Due
- Monday, December 15: Unit 3 Exam Study Guide Due
- Tuesday, December 16: Unit 3 Exam on Light/Sound
- 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 by Monday, December 15 if you would like to donate to our holiday party. This will cover pizza, drinks, snacks, and games for the entire day*
Reading
On-Level/Advanced: Students will begin watching the film version of Shiloh (Rated PG) on Monday and review for the end of novel test on Tuesday. If you do not want your child to watch the film version of Shiloh, please email Ms. Mingus before Monday, December 15. The final reading log for this semester is due 12/15, with seven entries. The end of novel test will be on Wednesday, December 17. Students have received a hard copy of the study guide, which is also posted electronically on the FSA Portal.
ELA
All Classes: This week we will conclude our opinion writing unit. Students will practice giving their opinion while citing evidence (with a winter/holiday twist.)
No homework is planned for this week. **Please have your student bring his/her workbook to class Monday-Wednesday.**
What's ahead in the new year? In the second semester we will be writing across the curriculum in Math (Quarter 1) and Reading (Quarter 2.)
Math
All Classes: Next week in math, we will work on an in-class activity. Students will plan a party, choose a guest list, create a seating chart, determine a budget, and plan how much food to serve. There will be no homework or warm up for the week.
Science
This week we finished up our discussion of Light and moved into our discussion of sound. We will wrap up this very short unit on Monday and will test our knowledge with the Unit 3 Exam on Tuesday, December 16th. The corresponding Study Guide is due on Monday, December 15th.
On Monday, December 15th, the students should also hand in their Science Fair Data Chart. The due date was previously listed as 12/12, but Mrs. Dempsey chose to give the students an extra weekend to complete the assignment. The chart is simply a record of the data that has been collected during the experimentation process. There is no official document for the assignment. Most students choose to use software to make the chart (Microsoft Word, etc.).
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
On Monday December 15th, we will have our Colonization of North America Test. After that we will begin our study of the American Revolution by examining the cause of the revolution in the Colonies. This is where students will not only learn about the key events that shaped America but also about the key figures of the time such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and many more.
We will bring the American Revolution to life through an exciting and engaging educational series which the students enjoy very much. You may encourage your child to keep watching at home over the break as we won't be able to watch the entire series in class.
About the show Liberty's Kids:
http://www.libertyskids.com/pt_aboutshow.html
I hope everyone has a safe and joyful winter break!
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