Fourth Grade B

Dear Fourth Grade Parents,

 

The fourth graders have participated enthusiastically in all of our activities this week!

 

In Reading, we…

• are nearing the conclusion of The City of Ember by Jean Du Prau.  The fourth graders have been so involved in this sci-fi book that they asked Mrs. G. if they could write a musical about it!  We are looking forward to seeing their creative interpretation of this story!  They continue to put a lot of effort into comprehension questions, vocabulary exercises, and journaling responses.

 

In Math, we…

• went on a $10,000 “shopping spree” designed by Ms. Spallone.  This project required the fourth graders to search the web and find merchandise that they wanted to purchase. Once they collected their data, they totaled up the cost to see if they reached ten thousands dollars, checking their work with estimation and rounding to the hundreds place.  Students’ purchases ranged from televisions to jewelry to jacuzzis.  Many included generous charitable donations and gifts for others.

 

• reviewed distance conversions using rulers and map scales.

 

• Estimated the number of pistachios supplied by Ayanna.  Ask your child how close his/her guess was to the actual number!

 

In Writing, we…

• continued our study of the  parts of speech.  This week, we identified verbs, differentiated between helping verbs and action verbs. And edited for subject-verb agreement.

 

• enjoyed hearing Ceridwyn share her Halloween poem, our Poem of the Week.

 

In Theme, we…

• started our new Social Studies thematic unit on the Civil War.  We began by reading about the context that led up to the war.  During this unit, the fourth graders are becoming journalists who will report on various aspects of the war.  At this time, they are researching the pre-war lifestyles of different populations who lived in the Northern and Southern United States.  They have been captivated by their research and are sharing important discoveries about the power dynamics operating in the country at that time.  Despite the painful nature of this period in American history, the fourth graders will hopefully be empowered by discovering the agency and determination employed by everyday people to ensure that freedom for all, at least in embryonic form, was achieved.  As in our Encounters unit, the children are presented with materials appropriate to their developmental level.  We will make every effort to be sensitive to the emotions engendered by learning about some of the injustices that characterize this period.

 

We also…

• wrote cards for victims of Haiti’s recent earthquake as part of the “Messages of Hope” appeal led by Jane Goodall’s “Roots and Shoots” organization.  If you would like to find out more information about this neat organization, check out: http://www.rootsandshoots.org/.

 

• welcomed Gina Haney, a Practicum II student from NLU, to 4B.  Gina will be joining us on Fridays as she completes her Practicum.

 

Notes:

• Thank you so much for all of your wonderful ideas about projects to support Haiti.  The administration, faculty, and student council are currently in discussion about the direction Baker’s school-wide relief efforts will take.  Stay tuned for details!

 

• Zinnia informed us that a community meeting will be held this Saturday, January 23, at 8:30 am at the Evanston Civic Center to discuss the potential closing of Evanston’s branch libraries.  If this is an issue of concern to your family, your presence at the meeting can make a difference!

 

 

Have a great weekend!

Kerah & Emily J

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