News and Notes 6/6

News and Notes

From Fourth Grade

Fractions

Building on our knowledge of multiplication and division, we are ending the fourth grade math discoveries with a look at fractions.  The fourth graders looked this week at identifying equivalent fractions.  We used models of fractions to identify equivalent fractions and also learned how to use our understanding of multiplication and division to find equivalent fractions.  Being able to explore fractions through hands-on models and computation strategies leads to a fuller understanding of this important piece of mathematics.  Of course, adding in some fun fraction games only adds to the depth and richness of the learning experience!

In Conclusion

After a long time working through the steps of the writing process, the fourth graders have finally reached the "conclusion" of their research papers.  So far they have learned how to write a thesis statement, conduct research and take notes on their selected topic, organize their notes into an outline format, and then from their outlines create a rough draft of the introduction and body paragraphs.  The conclusion is the last step in the writing of our research papers.  From here we move on to editing, revising, and publishing.  The fourth graders had a great sense of accomplishment as they put the conclusions onto their five paragraph essays.  What a great job they have done with this, their first formal research paper!

The Shot Heard 'Round the World

To end our year of study of history, we worked this week to discover the causes and beginnings of the American Revolution.  Before we talked at all about the 1700s, we first had to discuss the vocabulary term "revolution."  The fourth graders had some amazing ideas about what a revolution is and what they imagined the American Revolution looked like.  We discussed some of the major causes of the war, including the phrase "No taxation without representation."  The fourth graders changed this into a more comprehensible slogan: "We don't get a say, so we won't pay."  As we learned more about life in the 1700s we discovered that events like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party were the result of a long pattern of tension between England and the American Colonies.  We also discovered this week that at Lexington and Concord the first shot of the War was fired... "the shot heard 'round the world." 

Stepping Up

We've come to the time in the year when we start looking ahead to fifth grade.  This week the fourth graders were given an opportunity to "step-up" to the fifth grade.  On Friday morning they joined with their classmates for fifth grade and met their new teacher.  Being able to form some connections and establish some familiarity now will only help us come in next year with a readiness and eagerness for learning!  The fourth graders were so exciting to be stepping up to fifth grade!