4th Grade Newsletter
1st Nine Weeks
Math
Below you will find the math units studied for the first nine weeks of fourth grade. What may seem like a lot, it is! The pace is brisk. However, we will revisit topics of study often and spiral the concepts in order to attain mastery. Please always know, we are here to help. If you have questions, we encourage you to ask for clarification.
Unit 1: Place Value of Whole Numbers and Decimals
Students will interpret the value of each place-value position as 10 times the position to the right and as one-tenth of the value of the place to its left.
Students will represent the value of the digit in whole numbers through one billion and decimals to the hundredths using expanded notation and numerals.
Students will compare and order whole numbers to one billion and represent comparisons using greater than, less than, or equal to.
Students will round whole numbers to a given place value through the hundred thousands place.
Students will relate decimals to fractions that name tenths and hundredths while using concrete and visual models and money.
Unit 2: Addition and Subtraction of Whole Numbers and Decimals
Students will add and subtract whole numbers and decimals to the hundredths place using the standard algorithm
Unit 3: Multiplication of Whole Numbers
Students will determine products of a number and 10 or 100 using properties of operations and place value understandings.
Students will round to the nearest 10, 100, or 1,000 or use compatible numbers to estimate solutions involving whole numbers.
Students will use strategies and algorithms, including the standard algorithm, to multiply up to a four digit number by a one-digit number and to multiply a two-digit number by a two-digit number. Strategies may include mental math, partial products, and the commutative, associative, and distributive properties.
Students will represent the product of 2 two-digit numbers using arrays, area models, or equations , including perfect squares through 15 by 15.
Unit 4: Division of Whole Numbers
Students will represent the quotient of up to a four-digit whole number divided by a one-digit whole number using arrays, area models, or equations.
Students will solve with fluency one-and two-step problems involving multiplication and division, including interpreting remainders.
Students will use strategies and algorithms, including the standard algorithm, to divide up to a four-digit dividend by a one-digit divisor.
Students will round to the nearest 10, 100, or 1,000 or use compatible numbers, or estimate solutions/quotients involving whole numbers.
Science
Processes for Scientific Investigations
This unit bundles science procedures and safety. Throughout the school year, students need to be familiar with the scientific process and safety, so we will be setting up our science journals and engaging students in short investigations using process skills which will begin helping them to think like scientists.
Investigating Physical Properties of Matter
In this unit we will be exploring how matter is classified, changed and used. We will use a variety of tools to investigate, measure, compare and contrast physical properties of matter. Students will discuss their observations, and record and organize data in their notebooks as well as interpret evidence from their investigations.
Investigation Mixtures
In this unit we will be investigating the similarities and differences of mixtures and solutions. In order to understand those differences, we will provide students with experiences that include the concept of dissolving and solubility. After analyzing data from our investigations students will record and organize the data in their journals.
Investigating Energy
This unit covers various forms of energy, conduction, and electric circuits. We will engage in descriptive investigations to differentiate among different forms of energy, including mechanical, sound, electrical, light, and thermal energy. During our investigation, students will also be encouraged to consider environmentally appropriate and ethical practices with resources.
Language Arts
In unit one we will review grammar, mechanics, and spelling rules for writing a good composition. Students will be able to understand the parts of speech in writing, reading, and speaking. Students will be expected to spell words with more advanced orthographic patterns and rules, and spell base words and root words with affixes.
Students will also be expected to express an opinion supported by accurate information, employing eye contact, speaking rate, volume, and enunciation, and the conventions of language to communicate ideas effectively.
Lastly, students will participate in teacher- and student-led discussions by posing and answering questions with appropriate detail and by providing suggestions that build upon the ideas of others.
Reading
Welcome to your our first 9 week adventure in 4th Grade Reading! We will be learning about Reading Strategies such as Metacognition, Visualization, and Synthesizing with our focus on Fiction and Poetry. We will also discuss good fit books, and start our first book club groups. We are very excited about these book clubs and cannot wait to get started and see the amazing projects our students will create with collaboration from their peers.
We will also continue using the Whooo's Reading program. We love this program because it reinforces the literacy skills we teach while also supporting the writing skills. All of our students will be given goals for each month. Students will be given the opportunity to test in the classroom EVERY Wednesday. They may also test at home. We do look at, and often print, the answers students submit. Sometimes we adjust the points according to what we read; so keep in mind, grades and points on this system are subject to change based on our assessment of the answers. Hopefully we will have it up and running very soon!
Social Studies
Our Social Studies focus to get us settled into Texas History will be map skills, knowing your address by heart (very practical), learning the state song (Texas Our Texas) and the national anthem, and our first Very Important Person. We will also set up our interactive journals and get acquainted with our newspapers and text books. Any information you would like to present about our great state is most welcomed. Start thinking about our annual trip to Austin... its going to be a great year!
3rd Nine Weeks
Science
Natural Resources (Continued)
Students will be identifying Earth’s natural resources and classifying the resources as renewable or nonrenewable. They will also be learning the importance of conservation.
Patterns of the Earth
During this unit students will explore weather a step further by using weather data that they gather and apply to the reading and creating of weather maps. They will measure and record changes in weather and make predictions using weather maps, weather symbols, and a map key. Students will also expand their knowledge about the water cycle by illustrating the continuous movement of water above and on the Earth’s surface, as well as the role of the Sun as a major source of energy.
Traits
During this unit, students will demonstrate that some likenesses between parents and offspring are inherited, passed from generation to generation, such as eye color in humans or shapes of leaves in plants. Other likenesses are learned such as table manners or reading a book and seals balancing a ball on their noses.
Energy Flow in Living Systems
During this unit, students investigate that most producers need sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make their own food, while consumers are dependent on other organisms for food. They will also describe the flow of energy through food webs, beginning with the Sun, and predict how changes in the ecosystem affect the food web such as a fire in a forest.
Language Arts
Students will be focusing on organizing their compositions. This includes having a catchy and interesting introduction, supporting details for your reasons, and a conclusion that wraps it all up.
Also, the Writing STAAR test will be on April 10th which will be here before you know it!
Math
For the next few weeks, students will continue learning about fractions. Finding equivalent fractions, writing fractions as sums, renaming fractions and mixed numbers, and comparing fractions using benchmarks are just a few of the topics of learning. In addition, while students learn how to compare fractions, they must also order them according to value. To finalize this study, we will learn how to add and subtract fractions.
The next unit of study will be all operations and financial literacy. Stay tuned for detailed descriptions on these areas of study.
Reading/Social Studies
We are starting a unit about Research. We will learn how to read to find “trash and treasure,” information that is not useful and information that is useful. We will learn to make notes and cite our sources. We will combine this skill with Social Studies and research an important Texas Hero.
Genre Projects will have a different look. We will be sending home more information about those soon.
This month’s Whooo’s Reading goal is 50 points! Make sure you are reading and taking tests! We need more little owlets on our tree!