Curriculum Updates
Reading
During the month of September the Reading Workshop is launched! First, we will be thinking about how to be successful readers, create new reading goals, and learn how to maintain our Reading Logs. Next, we will practice envisioning our stories and making predictions. Then we dive into studying the characters of our books. This reading unit sets the exciting tone for the rest of the year!
Writing
In September our focus is to raise the level of narrative writing. We will begin the first writing unit by collecting many "seed" ideas that can be used for stories. The students will brainstorm times when they felt strong emotions and something important took place in their lives. The students will then rehearse how some of the ideas would go in an actual story. They will draft their idea, revise, and edit their stories with the assistance of the teachers.
Math
What is math? When do we use math? These questions are posed to the students to help them gain an understanding of how crucial math is in our world. Our first unit in math is place value, We will be examining the value of numbers and how they change based on the place value. Then we move on to rounding numbers up to the hundred-thousands and comparing whole numbers.
Social Studies
Our focus in fourth grade is New York State and how history unfolded here. Our journey begins with exploring and learning about the natural New York State environment. We then move on to connect this with learning about the first people of New York State: the Native Americans. We become familiar with the Iroquois and Algonquins, gaining knowledge of their beliefs, traditions, and societal structures.
Science
Students begin their in-depth work participating in hands-on experiences with plant life. They will study all the pieces of plant life: germination, see dispersal, parts of the plant and their functions, and photosynthesis. Ms. Rowland, the Science teacher, guides the students through the topics and we will be supplementing within the classroom. We will read aloud books about plant life, hold class discussions, and complete projects. Another exciting part of this unit is growing our very own garden on the school grounds. The students will have a chance to plant, observe, and than harvest various vegetables.
During the month of September the Reading Workshop is launched! First, we will be thinking about how to be successful readers, create new reading goals, and learn how to maintain our Reading Logs. Next, we will practice envisioning our stories and making predictions. Then we dive into studying the characters of our books. This reading unit sets the exciting tone for the rest of the year!
Writing
In September our focus is to raise the level of narrative writing. We will begin the first writing unit by collecting many "seed" ideas that can be used for stories. The students will brainstorm times when they felt strong emotions and something important took place in their lives. The students will then rehearse how some of the ideas would go in an actual story. They will draft their idea, revise, and edit their stories with the assistance of the teachers.
Math
What is math? When do we use math? These questions are posed to the students to help them gain an understanding of how crucial math is in our world. Our first unit in math is place value, We will be examining the value of numbers and how they change based on the place value. Then we move on to rounding numbers up to the hundred-thousands and comparing whole numbers.
Social Studies
Our focus in fourth grade is New York State and how history unfolded here. Our journey begins with exploring and learning about the natural New York State environment. We then move on to connect this with learning about the first people of New York State: the Native Americans. We become familiar with the Iroquois and Algonquins, gaining knowledge of their beliefs, traditions, and societal structures.
Science
Students begin their in-depth work participating in hands-on experiences with plant life. They will study all the pieces of plant life: germination, see dispersal, parts of the plant and their functions, and photosynthesis. Ms. Rowland, the Science teacher, guides the students through the topics and we will be supplementing within the classroom. We will read aloud books about plant life, hold class discussions, and complete projects. Another exciting part of this unit is growing our very own garden on the school grounds. The students will have a chance to plant, observe, and than harvest various vegetables.