4A Newsletter
Parties, Pictures, and Puberty
Important Dates and Reminders
- Tuesday, June 2nd: Goodbye Assembly @10:10am in the middle school gym
- Tuesday, June 9th: Last Day of School, early dismissal
4th grade dismisses at 12:10pm - Wednesday, June 10th: Step Up at the Kofman Auditorium in Alameda. Doors open at 10:45, program beings at 11:00am
(see email from Kelly Nelson for details)
Marble Party
The kids are welcome to come dressed in their pajamas (or change later), and they may bring a stuffy that is no bigger than a regular sized pillow. We will be watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.
Balclutha Field Trip Success
Preparing to Meet the Captain
Capitalism at Work
Searching for Gold
Health: Nutrition and Puberty
One of our final units at the end of 4th grade covers health: nutrition and puberty. The students have been doing related investigations in the science lab, including determining the amount of Vitamin C in different beverages. We also recently participated in a cooking project with Thelma centered around healthy eating. The students enjoyed the dishes we cooked this week and many asked for the recipes. You will find all of the recipes attached to this email. We’ve talked about the nutritional needs of nine, ten, and eleven year olds, focusing on eating a well balanced diet, but also pointing out that their bodies need more calcium and protein at this time in their lives. We've also looked at food labels and analyzed how many calories are in a gram of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Overall, the students learned that they need to have a balanced diet that includes more protein and less fat so their bodies can perform well. Over the next week, we will spend some time discussing puberty and all that it entails.
The focus of our talk will be medical facts about their bodies, the changes that can begin at this time in their lives, and why their bodies go through these changes. To support this curriculum, we will read from two books by Robie H. Harris that have been reviewed and approved by Narda Skov, RDS’s Health Educator. The first book is called It's So Amazing and is written for children age 7 and up. The second book,It's Perfectly Normal, is for children age 10 and up.
Our conversations and readings will begin by telling the students that it is okay to be curious, confused, or embarrassed about this phase of their life. We will learn to use appropriate language and terminology to talk about our bodies. Next, we will talk about specific changes that happen with puberty, including hormones and changing feelings. We will also read and discuss how to take care of their bodies (including the topic of hygiene), and keep healthy during this time of change. Part of the curriculum will focus on the similarities and differences of the changes that are happening for boys and girls during this time. By the end of the lessons, we will touch on reproduction and explain that it takes a sperm and an egg to make a baby. From our previous experience, the question of how the sperm and the egg meet always comes up. We do not avoid the question. We answer them clearly and honestly, telling them the different ways this can happen. Our goal is to answer basic questions, while not going into great detail. All throughout the week, we will have an anonymous question box, where students can submit questions they are uncomfortable asking aloud.
We promise to keep you updated with topics that come up as we get into our discussions. Please keep the lines of communication open by sharing with us any questions, comments or concerns that may come up for you and your family.
Ms. L Wisdom
Idiom of the Week: Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Song of the Week: "Everyday People" by Sly and the Family Stone