What is the most efficient blade to produce the most voltage from a wind turbine? This was the powerful engineering question the 4M Smarties were trying to answer today when the Museum of Science came to visit us at Foster School. Students worked in teams to test variables, collect data and then report to the class about their findings. Based on the collected information, each team was able to create the most efficient blades for their wind turbines. We will be able to extend this investigation in weeks to come with materials purchased by the science department.Thanks to the PTO for sponsoring this visit.
We read a non-fiction story this week about training service dogs this week and students practiced sequencing events and looking for ways the author organizes information on the page to get the message across. They also went hunting for text evidence with Ms. Donaghey to support the big ideas in the story.
In math, we made the connection between multiplication facts and division. We did a quick review of multiplication facts and some students still need to practice their 12 tables. The Unit 5 test went home today. Please sign and return it next week. An Open Response problem that was part of the Unit 5 assessment will go home on Monday. Next week I will introduce the partial quotients method of dividing. This is different than traditional long division, but a very effective way for students to learn division of large numbers at their own pace. I will send home an example of the partial quotients algorithm next week and you can ask your child to demonstrate how it works. Thanks to Mrs. Steele for helping with math games today. We have openings for many Friday's in the coming months. Please sign up using the Google Sheet on this page.
Happy Chinese New Year! The entire 4th grade participated in a variety of activities that celebrated the Chinese culture. In 4M, students worked with tangram puzzles to make a variety of shapes. This was definitely an exercise in perseverance!
An order form went home this week if you are interested in purchasing the book, Fish, by Gregory Mone. This author will be visiting us on March 15th and working in each of the 4th grade classrooms during our writing workshop. We are looking forward to learning new writing tips from a published author!
Ask a Fourth Grader!
We read a non-fiction story this week about training service dogs this week and students practiced sequencing events and looking for ways the author organizes information on the page to get the message across. They also went hunting for text evidence with Ms. Donaghey to support the big ideas in the story.
In math, we made the connection between multiplication facts and division. We did a quick review of multiplication facts and some students still need to practice their 12 tables. The Unit 5 test went home today. Please sign and return it next week. An Open Response problem that was part of the Unit 5 assessment will go home on Monday. Next week I will introduce the partial quotients method of dividing. This is different than traditional long division, but a very effective way for students to learn division of large numbers at their own pace. I will send home an example of the partial quotients algorithm next week and you can ask your child to demonstrate how it works. Thanks to Mrs. Steele for helping with math games today. We have openings for many Friday's in the coming months. Please sign up using the Google Sheet on this page.
Happy Chinese New Year! The entire 4th grade participated in a variety of activities that celebrated the Chinese culture. In 4M, students worked with tangram puzzles to make a variety of shapes. This was definitely an exercise in perseverance!
An order form went home this week if you are interested in purchasing the book, Fish, by Gregory Mone. This author will be visiting us on March 15th and working in each of the 4th grade classrooms during our writing workshop. We are looking forward to learning new writing tips from a published author!
Ask a Fourth Grader!
- What activity did you enjoy the most when you celebrated Chinese New Year?
- What variable did you test on the wind turbine? What are the characteristics of the most efficient blade?
- What is happening in the book, Fish, that is being read aloud in class?
- How many books have you read for the Battle of the Books? Has your team read all 12 books yet?