Sunday, April 10, 2016

April 11

Dear Parents,
We were so proud of how our students took the FSA testing so seriously. They used their knowledge, strategies, learning, and gave it their all for sure! Results won't be here until some time in May. We will let you know the day we receive scores. Thank you for all of your support and encouragement at home!
Mrs. Kluge and Mrs. Cox.

Wednesday is Early Release! We have fewer resources due to 4th and 5th grade FSA testing. So... we will have RECESS on non-resource days! Yay!

Resources this week:
Cox:
Friday: art
Kluge:
Tuesday: pe


ELA: We finished Peter Pan last week! We compared the novel to the 1953 movie version and we were shocked at the many differences. We recorded similarities and differences during the movie and we will complete a writing activity during work centers to share our comparisons.

Our new unit will focus on the importance of clean freshwater around the world. Our central text will be One Well: The Story of Water on Earth written by Rochelle Strauss.
In unit one of our final module, we will continue to build geography and map-reading skills by studying where water is found on earth. We will write informational paragraphs to explain this. We will also examine the water cycle and watersheds and will compare how different texts present similar information about these two topics. This will be excellent preparation for fourth grade writing. 

This week, we will discover how all water on earth is connected and has been here since the beginning of time. The text will provide some surprising facts about water on earth as well. 

Some important new vocabulary will be found in the following sentence:

"All water on Earth is connected, so there is just one source of water -- one global well -- from which we all draw our water."

These words would be great to discuss at home this week!

In writing, we will start to learn about two types of writing prompts which will be a big part of fourth grade. The type of prompt determines how a writer organizes his/her piece.

Opinion prompt: "After reading the text, would you support having uniforms in school or not having uniforms in school? Give information from the text to support your opinion."
Informative prompt: "The text discusses the practice of recycling. Write an informative piece explaining how recycling is a positive thing for a community. Use evidence from the text to support your answer."

Our first assessment will be an on-demand paragraph answering the question, Where is Water on Earth? Students will explain using specific facts, definitions and details from the texts they have read in their informative paragraphs. They will use a familiar graphic organizer we have used all year.
TOPIC:
DETAIL:
     EXPLAIN:
DETAIL:
     EXPLAIN:
CONCLUSION:

Math:
This week in math the students will be solving one- and two-step word problems using the four operations.  They will represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity.  The students will use concepts learned throughout the year to determine appropriate strategies. We will use modeling and reasoning to develop solution paths. The students will independently make sense of problems and persevere in solving them, share their solutions and critique peer strategies.  We will measure the perimeter of various circles to the nearest quarter inch and use all four operations to solve problems involving perimeter and missing measurements.  The students will construct rectangles with a given perimeter using unit squares and determine their areas.

Example problem and strategies for solving problem:

If an adult movie ticket cost $7 and a child ticket is $4, how much would it cost for Tony’s family of 2 adults and 2 children to attend the movies? 

Example problem for missing measurement in perimeter problem:   

Example Problem: Molly builds a rectangular playpen for her pet rabbit. The playpen has an area of 15 square yards. Estimate and label as many possibilities for the playpen.   

Homework:                                                                                        
Module 7 Lesson 3
Module 7 Lesson 16
Module 7  Lesson 17
Module 7 Lesson 18
Module 7 Lesson 20


Things to practice and review at home:
Practice identifying number patterns using multiplication, addition or subtraction strategies.
Continue to review  multiplication and division facts 2 to 10  
Practice solving two step word problems involving all four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).
Please check out our DCPS site http://www.duvalschools.org/Page/17284
for homework help and strategies to help with solving homework problems.  

Science:
We will be describing structures in plants and their roles in food production, support, water and nutrient transport, and reproduction.  The students will learn how plants respond to heat, light and gravity.