4AW Weekly Newsletter Nov 26-30 2018

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

November 26 - November 30, 2018

Thanks to all of you who came and supported the Christmas tree making in grade 4 on Friday. many Thanks- the students can't wait to see the tree and their decorations.

The students had a great time at the Deepavali Celebration on Friday. Check out the linked photos on our photos page.

Language Arts
This week in reading, the students are developing theories about their main characters based on the patterns from the character’s words, actions and thoughts and using these as evidence. In writing, the children are drafting their story scenes, focusing on storytelling by using a strategy called Show, Don’t Tell. 

Math
This week sees the end of our multiplication and division unit.  Look out for math tests in your child's pouch later this week. Please sign and return.  Most students have mastered the area model and partial quotients model but some have not yet. As this is a year long benchmark we will be revisiting these strategies through our OCR (Ongoing Cumulative Review)a at the start of each lesson and focusing on keeping skills sharp as well as supporting those students that need more time and practice to get there.

This week sees us start our new math unit about Measurement and Conversion. We will be looking at prefixes of Kilo- Milli- Centi-  in measuring liquids (liters), distance (meters) and weight (grams). We will start with some vocabulary and then some hands on measuring activities to introduce the students to  the units we use to measure.

Science
This week students will continue working on their understanding of forces and  simple machines. They will be involved in hands-on experiments through creating K’Nex Cars and powering them through rubber band energy, to explore both potential and kinetic energy.  Check out their group cars on the photos page.

Announcements
Scholastic Orders - please see email from Annie Gillis.
ES Dress Up Days - plan your days in advance click HERE for dates.
Water Bottles & Hats - Please check that your child comes to school with their water bottles and hats every morning. Recently, many students seem to be forgetting them at home.

Resources
We are growing realistic fiction readers and writers in grade 4!
They are doing this by thinking deeply about the characters.  These CHARACTER TRAITS  are useful in describing the character based on their words, thoughts and actions.

To support your child as a reader...GRAB THE BOOK YOUR CHILD IS READING and ASK to describe the character based on his/her thoughts, words, and actions.

To support your child as a writer...ASK your child to explain about the character in the story they are going to write.

4AW Newsletter Nov 19-23

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

November 19 - November 23, 2018

Language Arts
This week the students will be using the class read aloud, Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo, to dig deeper into character traits, scene summaries and envisioning the text in order to read intensely. In writing, many children are ready to develop a believable character and use their plan to draft their story scenes.  Lessons on setting out "dialogue", using 'Show, Don't Tell' and paragraphing will be a focus this week.

Math
Students will continue to practice their skills in using the area model to multiply. This week the main focus will be on practising and becoming more comfortable using the partial quotients/ Big 7 strategy to solve division equations/ word problems. Some of these word problem may have remainders and so students will think through what they can do with the remainders. See resource section below.

Science
In Science, we will continue to learn about simple machines- inclined plane, screw, lever, wedge, pulley, and wheel and axel . We will continue to model and describe how applied forces impact motion- even learning about Sir Isaac Newton and his Laws of Motion. Classes will plan investigations by identifying dependent and independent variables.

Announcements

• Tuesday, Nov 20 - NO SCHOOL (Prophet Muhammad's Birthday) 
• Friday, Nov 23 - Deepavali Cultural Day ES students are encouraged to dress up in traditional Indian attire.
• Scholastic Orders - please see email from Annie Gillis.
• ES Dress Up Days - plan your days in advance click HERE for dates. 
• Water Bottles & Hats - Please check that your child comes to school with their water bottles and hats every morning. Recently, many students seem to be forgetting them at home. Please label their belongings.

Resources
As we continue on our division journey in math, we will be having discussions and practice on what to do with the remainders.  Here are some links for round up,  drop it (ignore it), and share it 

4AW Newsletter Nov12-16

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

November 12 - November 16, 2018

Thanks for all of you who supported and came for our Flag Parade and International Fest! So much fun ! HERE  are some photos from an ISKL parent, Agung Fauzi, from the flag parade.

Language Arts
In reading this week, the students will be getting into book club groups and use discussions to deepen their understanding of the stories they are reading. In writing, the students will be choosing an idea they have generated and begin planning out their writing using a story arc.

Math
This week in math, the students will be working on division. Our aim is for the students to use strategies to solve division equations, eventually being more comfortable with the partial quotient method . They will also be answering real world word problems with quotients that have remainders.

Science
This week students will be continuing to develop their knowledge of force and motion through various hands-on science experiments. They will be looking at controlling variables and how they can impact results. Students will then continue to learn about simple machines.

Announcements

• November 13th & 15th - Biathlon training: If your child is participating in the biathlon, please be sure your child has his/her bathing suit and goggles along with proper sports attire when they arrive to school in the morning.
• Water Bottles & Hats - Please check that your child comes to school with their water bottles and hats every morning. Recently, many students seem to be forgetting them at home.

Resources:
For parents here are some  math strategies that we will be using in division-  modelling, skip counting, using multiplication and partial quotients/ Big 7.

4AW Weekly Newsletter Nov 5-9

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

November 5 - November 9, 2018

Language Arts
In reading, we will continue analysing character traits and will use evidence from the text to prove our thinking. In writing, we will identify characteristics of realistic fiction through mentor texts and develop story ideas that stem from personal experiences.  We will begin to use the story arc as a planning device.

Math
This week the students will be practising using the area model method to solve real world multiplication problems. We will practice 1 digit x 2 digit, 1 digit x 3 digit and 2 digit x 2 digit problems. It is suggested that the students brush up on their multiplication facts and extended facts in order to help them solve these word problems. For example, if they know that 2 x 6 = 12, then they should know the extended fact 20 x 6 = 120.

Science
Students will continue to investigate forces and motion. Why don’t you try to carry out the egg drop experiment at home or design a paper aeroplane that can travel the farthest? Later this week, students will begin to investigate simple machines (levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, wedges, inclined planes, screws, and gears) and how they make work easier.

Announcements

• November 5th - NO ASAs due to expected heavy holiday afternoon traffic.
• November 6th - NO SCHOOL - Deepavali
• November 9th- International Day Flag Parade. Students should come to school in their national dress or national colors. 
• November 10th - Annual International Festival from 4pm-8pm. 

Resources
To support science at home,  watch this video to help recognise the different types of simple machines. Help your child complete a simple machine scavenger hunt at home- it is amazing how many simple machines we use!

Egg Drop Experiment

Today we carried out an egg drop experiment. You could try this at home too.

What is force?
What is motion?
What did you predict would happen?

Why did the egg fall into the water?

We will be using this to encourage greater clarity in diagrams and steps as well as introducing motion, force, gravity and inertia.

Video Courtesy of Ms. Kim.




Someone on a TV show even managed 5 egg drops! Anyone up for the challenge?

4AW Weekly Newsletter Oct 29- 2 Nov

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

October 29 - November 2, 2018

Language Arts
This week, we will begin our Realistic Fiction reading and writing units. In Reading, we’ll be reviewing expectations for independent reading and add onto our ThinkMarks with a focus on character traits and how characters grow/change. In writing, students will examining mentor texts to identify features of realistic fiction writing.

Math
Students will be finding the multiples of a number, using various strategies including skip counting. They will be demonstrating their understanding of factors and multiples of whole numbers. As well, students will be exploring the use of the area model for solving multi-digit multiplication.

Science
We are launching our Force and Motion,  Science unit by investigating a phenomena, and asking ourselves how do various forces impact the motion of objects?  Our next step is to find out more about applied forces and how they create a balanced or unbalanced force. We will be asking the following questions throughout the unit:

• How do various forces impact the motion of objects?
• ​How can force be applied or changed to make work easier?
• How does the transfer of energy impact the motion of an object?
• How does the design process help us find solutions to our problems?

Announcements
Wednesday, October 31st will be the elementary Halloween Dress up Day (School Policy: NO weapons, NO masks, NO scary costumes)
A Heads up: Tuesday, November 6,  there is NO SCHOOL, due to Deepavali

Resources
As many classes introduce the area model this week, here are a few resources that may help you help your child and may help YOU understand this strategy.

• Using the area model (two digit number x single digit number)
• 
  
• Multiplying two digit numbers (two digit number x two digit number)

Grade 4AW Weekly Newsletter 22-26 October

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

October 22- October 26, 2018

Language Arts
This week, we will be finishing up both the nonfiction reading unit and personal essay writing unit. The children are publishing their essays in writing and working closely with partners to revise and edit their writing.

Math
Students will be learning about factor pairs and determining which numbers are prime and which numbers are composite and even some that are square numbers. They will also be playing games that involve multiplication and division in order to solidify their facts.

Social Studies
This week will bring us to the end of our unit on culture and global citizenship. Students will be sharing their presentations with a partner, taking notes on their partner's culture and comparing and contrasting how similar and different their culture is from their partner. They will also reflect on how understanding different cultures makes them better global citizens.

Announcements
October 31st will be the elementary Halloween dress up day, (School Policy: NO weapons, NO masks, NO scary costumes)
Nov 9th, Friday - ES International Festival Flag Parade: Students and Parents encouraged to dress up! Students can dress in costume: country of origin, country of self identification (one or more!) , country of citizenship: it’s their choice! Parents are also encouraged to attend , dress up (optional) to celebrate this fantastic morning! Bring your cameras… Each child will receive a mini flag that represents their recorded passport with Admissions. This is the day before our Annual International Festival.

Resources
As we are studying prime and composite numbers in math here are a few games that will give your child practice at recognising these numbers. Both games help with recognizing prime and composite numbers Prime and Composite sorting game and another is a helping game about Prime and Composite numbers.