WOW! It’s December! As we work our way to winter break, we are getting so much done! In addition to our standards based learning, we are getting to do a lot of activities too like fire safety with the Henrico Fire Department and our enviroscape activity this week to look at watersheds!
This week in reading fourth grade focused on author’s purpose again. We reviewed the reasons author’s write and tied this in to our writing lesson!! In fifth grade, we looked closer at fact and opinion. Students differentiated between fact and opinion. It is important for readers to understand whether the author of text is presenting facts or personal opinions about a given topic. Facts can be PROVEN true or false, while opinions are personal beliefs that CANNOT be proven. We read an article about Black Panther and students identified opinion statements. Next week we will continue to look at this article and decide what reasons the author has for stating that opinion and what their purpose is for sharing.
In writing, we focused on different types of writing! We looked at informational writing and have just started a writing piece where students will write to EXPLAIN! We started by sketching a snowman. Students will not have to write directions for how to draw the snowman. Finally, next week, we will give those directions to someone in the other class and see if they can draw the snowman using the directions. We will compare originals and see how important detailed instructions are to a reader!
In social studies, fifth grade took their states and capitals in the southeast test. We also worked on songs to help us study. Students will record final versions on Monday. We can’t wait to share! Fourth grade continued our study of Jamestown– taking a closer look at agriculture, slavery, and the spread of the colonies and how that affected the New World.
NEXT WEEK:
READING: Students will learn about facts and opinions in fiction and non-fiction texts. Students will learn that facts are true and can be proven, opinions are statements that involve someone’s own thoughts and emotions. In addition, students will learn about affixes: prefixes, root words, and suffixes. We will discuss how prefixes and suffixes affect the meaning of a word.
WRITING: Students will continue working on their “How to Draw a Snowman” Project. We will focus on transition words, writing in sequential order, and being descriptive to help the reader understand exactly what to do.
SS: Fourth will continue to talk about money, bartering, credit, debt, and savings in colonial time. We will also discuss everyday life for the colonists with regards to clothing, food, and housing. Lastly, students will learn about the rights and ownership of land for the colonists and slaves. We will probably try to take a mini quiz before we leave for break so students don’t forget everything we’ve learned. Look for an update on Remind early next week. Fifth grade
IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION:
Tuesday December 11: 5th Grade MAP Reading; 4th grade Fire Safety lesson
Wednesday December 12: Family Life Class (Information came home about this last week. If you need more information feel free to reach out to me by email or remind!)
Thursday December 13: 4th Grade MAP Math
Friday December 14: 5th Grade MAP Math; 4th grade Lesson taught by the Math and Science Center
Winter Break – Thursday, December 20th to Wednesday, January 2, School Reopens on the January 3, 2019.
STAY WARM THIS WEEKEND!!
