CES 4th Grade News
January, 2020
New Year...Same Expectations
Quarter 2 will wrap up at the end of the month. Wow! Half the school year already behind us! As we head into the 3rd quarter, 4th graders are expected to continue giving their best efforts in their school work. These expectations have been laying the groundwork for success with MCAP testing as well as with the demands of increased rigor in all subject areas. Thank you for your continued support!
Classroom Supplies
Please continue to check with your child to see if he/she needs to replenish any of their school supplies. And...please keep sending in those tissues--we are always in need of more! Thank you!
Reading News
As we return from our Winter Break, we will finish up our studies of Greek Mythology and allusions. Then, we will be jumping back into literary text. We will first spend some time talking about Point of View - who’s narrating a story and how that impacts the plot. Students will even try their hand at rewriting part of a story from a different perspective!
Students will always be asked to prove their point by citing text evidence.
As your child is reading at home, encourage them to cite evidence from the story/text as they discuss their reading with you. (“How do you know that? What does the author tell you? What can you infer about _____?”)
Math News
In this unit students will…
(Items in bold indicate standards taught to mastery.)
Understand relative sizes of units within the customary system (in, ft, yds, mi.; oz, lb; c, pt, qt., gal.; sec., min., hr.) by developing benchmarks through hands on experiences and visual representations. (MD.A.1)
Record measurement equivalents using a two column table (conversion table) to use as a tool for problem solving. (MD.A.1)
Solve multi-step problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit using (in, ft, yds, mi.; oz, lb; c, pt, qt., gal.; sec., min., hr.) (MD.A.1)(MD.A.2)
Apply the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles in real world and mathematical problems. (MD.A.3)
Multiply two 2-digit whole numbers using area models, partial products, and place value understanding. (NBT.B.5)
Use multiplication or division to solve word problems involving measurement with multiplicative comparisons. (OA.A.1, OA.A.2)
Divide a whole number of up to 4 digits by a one digit whole number and interpret remainders. (NBT.B.6)
Use all four operations (multiplication and division focus) to solve multi-step (at least 3 steps) word problems. (OA.A.3)
Toward the end of the month we will delve into fractions and decimals for a while in Unit 7: Fractions and Decimals as Numbers.
Social Studies (& Science) News
We will be wrapping up our studies of the explorations of early Maryland colonization. Through these explorations we are learning the reasons behind how and why Maryland formed as an early colony, as well as its role during the American Revolution.
After we finish up our studies on Maryland, we will move into our next science unit about Energy and Energy Waves. In the first few units, students will define energy and identify the different forms of energy: mechanical, light, sound, heat, and electric. Students will investigate ways in which energy is created. Students will also observe how energy is transferred through sound, light, heat, and electricity by completing different activities during station rotations.
Writing News
As we head into January, students will begin researching topics for the second chapter of their informational writing books. This chapter includes information about a more specific, self-selected topic. They are all so excited to learn more and teach readers with their finished pieces!
Students will be expected to include important elements of information writing, such as key details, important/relevant vocabulary words, and text features in their writing this quarter.
We are writing to teach, so ask your child what he or she is researching and encourage them to teach you more about their topic!
Save The January Dates:
1st: Schools Closed - New Year’s Day
2nd: Schools Re-Open!
20th: Schools Closed - Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
29th: Schools Closed - Teacher Work Day (End of Term)
The 4th Grade Team
Sandy Cafarelli
Karla Hallock
Dreda Kelley
Melissa Lasko
melissa.lasko@fcps.orgJill Maenner
Caitlin Mills