December 2, 2009

Dear Fourth Grade Parents:

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. We have a busy and exciting few weeks before the December vacation begins. I hope we all stay healthy during this time.

Yesterday, we embarked on a new journey in class, part of a school-wide study of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Fourth, third, and second graders engaged in a lively discussion of culture. What makes a culture? What do we know about the cultures of Afghanistan and Pakistan? What are we curious to learn? It is our goal to explore together the rich cultures and diverse people of these two Central Asian countries. Today our groups looked at several maps of the region to discuss how the extreme climates affect the way in which these people live and to learn some of the physical boundaries, surrounding countries, mountains, and rivers. Our future discussions will explore the unique topography, customs, history, and traditions of these two countries.

Following these introductory classes, the school will be divided into mixed age groups for a variety of hands-on activities, which will deepen our understanding. Students might work with wool, study folk dancing, or explore traditional cooking from these countries. These activities will be in place of our December craft time.

Our study of mushrooms will conclude in the next few weeks as we wait to see if our mushroom spawn will produce fruit. We will also do a brief science unit investigating paper towels. Students will use their critical thinking skills and sharpen their consumer awareness as they test paper towels for absorbency and wet strength, and compare pricing and manufacturer’s claims with their findings.

Fourth graders have been studying the life and work of artist Georgia O’Keefe. We have explored the scale, color, and composition of her work, and students have completed a pencil study in preparation for a painting they will do in her style.

I have a request regarding homework. As you know, students are asked to read a half an hour each evening. I ask students to keep track of that reading each day on their reading logs. Please encourage your child to fill in their reading logs. It is very helpful for me to know what they are reading.

Just a few reminders: The K-4 Spring Concert is Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. Students should arrive at 6:15 and meet in our classroom. December 18^th is a half-day. Dismissal is at noon.

As always, please call or e-mail me if you have any questions or concerns.

Best regards,

Libby

The Properties of Oobleck

In 4th Grade we have been studying the mysterious substance Oobleck. What is it? How does it react when we touch it, squeeze it, heat it, poke it, freeze it? What do scientists do? How do they test something and use that data to determine the properties of a substance? How do they come to consensus about the laws of a particular material?

On October 29, 2009, the scientists of the 4th Grade determined the following 3 laws of Oobleck:

1. Oobleck acts like a liquid if you let it settle in your hand, but it becomes more like a solid if you touch it.

2. Its texture changes depending on what you do to it.

3. When you lay your hand on top of it without much pressure it sinks more slowly because it has more surface area than a finger.

Parent Letter

Dear Fourth Grade Parents:

Is Oobleck a liquid or a solid? When will our mushrooms sprout mycelium? Who is the Real Thief? How are division and fractions related? These are just some of the questions we have been asking in fourth grade this week. We have been busy at work on a variety of projects across all subject areas.

Students are working hard to complete their mushroom stories and illustrations. While these are creative writing pieces they are also designed to assess students’ basic understanding of mushrooms, as they are required to include at least three mushroom facts in their stories. This week we will be checking the growth progress of our oyster mushrooms, which we “planted” in class three weeks ago. We are hoping to see a white tangle of mycelium and to be able to take the mushrooms out of the dark in a few weeks to begin the fruiting process.

We continue to read William Steig’s The Real Thief. This story poses a variety of questions about loyalty, truth, trust, and justice. I have enjoyed the lively discussions about this story as the children try to figure out which character is the real thief.

Students have also been exploring the properties of the mysterious substance, Oobleck. What is it, a liquid or solid? How does it react when touched, heated, squeezed, molded, left out to dry? What does being a scientist entail? We held a scientific convention about our Oobleck findings and came to consensus on three laws of the substance. Ask your fourth grader for details!

The weather is getting colder each day. Layering is the key so that students are prepared for the ever-changing New England weather. Also, if it is possible, please send your child in with a pair of inside shoes. This cuts down on the amount of mud that gets tracked into the classroom. Thanks!

It was a pleasure to see you all for conferences last week. Thank you for coming in to meet with me and for sharing your delightful children with me. I am enjoying my work with them immensely.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Best, Libby

Oobleck recipe: Combine 1 cup water with 5 drops food coloring. Add cornstarch until thick and goopy, about ¾ of a package. Be sure to fully stir in the cornstarch. The substance will be hard to manage. Do not pour Oobleck down the drain. You may rinse small amounts out of bowls and off of utensils.

French:
Class has been lively lately as we mimed biking, skating and all the various action words we learned last year. We have reviewed many topics and I am impressed by how much students have retained. We discussed greetings, numbers, colors, introductions and talking about siblings and one's age. We are poised now to jump into Alex et Zoé and will be learning next how to say "I know how to______". Please ask your student to play charades with you and have him/her tell you what you are doing in French!

Parent Letter 10/9/09

Dear Fourth Grade Parents:

Energies are high and excitement is mounting as we approach the Medieval Faire. Fourth graders are looking forward to their duties as knights and ladies of the court on Saturday. Thank you all for your contributions to this wonderful and important event.

Our mushroom study continues with the “planting” of our oyster mushrooms in class. We are using toilet paper rolls as a medium in which to incubate the spores of three kinds of edible oyster mushrooms. We will have to wait a few weeks to see the first signs of mycelium and then another two weeks for mushrooms to appear. Ask your fourth grader to tell you more about this project and explain why toilet paper works well in this context.

In math we are about to complete our second unit. Students have been adding and subtracting multi-digit numbers using several methods. We have also been investigating the use of graphs and interpreting landmark data. In language arts we have finished reading Dear Mr. Henshaw and students are completing their friendly letters to the main character, Leigh Botts. We have also begun work on our mushroom stories, a creative project designed to assess students’ knowledge of mushrooms, their properties and their importance to our ecosystem.

In an effort to gain a deeper understanding of place for our sustainability unit, fourth graders have been drawing detailed maps of our classroom. Future mapping assignments will include mapping their bedrooms, the Grammar School trails, and their routes from home to school. It is delightful to see the different perspectives each student brings to his or her map and which details they view as important to include.

A few reminders – Parent/Teacher conferences are on Thursday, October 22, from 8:30 – 4:30. Please sign up with Tammy for a time slot. I look forward to meeting with you all. Long Fall Weekend follows that conference day. There is no school on Friday, October 23.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Hope to see you all at the Faire.

Best regards,

Libby

Mr. Triangle

Mr. Triangle fell into the mud.

His non-parallel sides made a loud thud.

Since he has three sides

It was hard to get up.

He finally made it with a loud “Shlup.”

With angles of three,

Mr. Triangle has victory!

  By Andres

Parent Letter 9/21/09

September 21, 2009

Dear Fourth Grade Families:

 We are settling into a rhythm in the Fourth Grade classroom.  Students are feeling more comfortable with their new schedule, and we are well into work on our first units of study.

 This past week students began to think about mapping when we made models of our classroom with pattern blocks.  It was interesting to see how the different teams approached this project.  This week students will have a homework project of mapping their bedrooms, and we will map The Grammar School as a group.  This is all part of our year-long unit on sustainability. These mapping projects are designed to give the class a better sense of the surrounding community and our place in it.  This foundation in mapping will also segue into our study of U.S. geography later in the school year.

 We have been involved in an in-depth study of mushrooms and their importance to the health of the forest.  Students have learned the parts of the mushroom and how they exists in a symbiotic relationship with many forest trees.  We also learned how mushrooms propagate; we made spore prints, and did observations of mushrooms under the microscope.  This week we will attempt to identify some mushroom species in the woods by TGS.

 In math we have finished our first unit, which provided an introduction to geometry.  We move on this week to Unit 2.  Please see the Family Letter sent home with your child today for details on this unit.

 We have been reading Beverly Cleary’s Dear Mr. Henshaw as a group in class.  The book tells the story of Leigh Botts and the challenges he faces in his young life.  We have had some interesting discussions about these conflicts and how Leigh deals with them.  The class is also enjoying a read aloud of the classic, Half Magic, by Edward Eager. 

 In PSD, we are working on soccer and field hockey skills as well as playing a number of team games such as Capture the Flag and Go For Twenty.  Friday is usually our game day up in the woods, and the children enjoy such games as Fox and Hounds and Eagle Eye.  We will also be working throughout the year building core strength.  Students will jump rope, do crunches, and run either the ½ mile or mile.  These events will be timed at intervals during the year so that we can measure personal progress.  Students are encouraged to focus on doing their personal best and to support one another in all our endeavors. 

 Some important reminders – Please be sure to check your child’s homework folder each night.  There are sometimes important notices for you about sports, classroom projects, or field trips.  Also, please check the fourth grade blog (link through the TGS website) to see what’s happening in the classroom.

 Curriculum night is this Thursday.  I hope you can come and see what has been happening in the classroom and learn more about the year ahead.

 As always, please e-mail or call me with any questions or concerns.

 All best,

Libby

 

 

Parent Letter 9/9/09

September 8, 2009

Dear Fourth Grade Parents:

It’s wonderful to be back in school and working with all of your children.  We have an exciting year ahead, and we’re off to a great start. 

Our first week of school has been geared toward helping the students adjust to a new classroom and teacher, designing classroom rules and expectations, and beginning our curricular units for the fall.

An overarching theme for this year’s curriculum is a study of sustainability. We will begin by developing an understanding of the impact we have on the planet.  Good sustainable practices are based on an understanding of and commitment to our local communities.  To that end we will begin the year with several mapping projects to give students a tangible sense of our place within our community.  This year-long study will encompass a look at local farming practices, investigate the nutritional and environmental benefits of eating locally produced food when possible, and examine how the choices we make within our communities can have a positive impact on the health of our environment.

Our science work has started with a study of mysterious mushrooms.  We took an exploratory hike into the woods last week to see how many different varieties we could spot.  Students also did detailed pencil sketches and labeled all of the parts of these fascinating fungi.  Rest assured that we began this unit with a discussion of the importance of not handling any mushrooms from the woods due to the fact that some are poisonous.  Students will not be handling mushrooms themselves unless they are edible ones I have purchased from the store. You may notice a heightened awareness of mushrooms on your next hike through the woods.  I hope they will have lots to share with you. 

In math we have started our first unit in the Everyday Mathematics program with an exploration of lines, line segments, rays, and angles.   Students are also working on learning the properties of polygons.  Our Language Arts studies have begun with the class reading Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary.  Students will respond to this literary selection by exploring new vocabulary words, answering comprehension questions in classroom discussions as well as in written form, and with drawings of certain sections from the text.  Regular journal writing is also a big part of the Language Arts program, as are poetry and story writing and research projects.

PSD as well as soccer and cross-country running practices began this week.  Please be sure your child has proper shoes with them for these activities.  Crocs are fine for indoor shoes but not ideal for running around.  It is also important that they have a bottle for water.

Some important dates to remember:

This Friday, September 11, is the all-school potluck, at 6:00 p.m.

September 16 is photo day for the lower school students

The Medieval Faire is just around the corner.  Please be sure to stop in the main hall and sign up for duties before and during the faire.  Thanks in advance for your help!

That’s all for now.  It has been a pleasure to start the year with this wonderful group.

Please call or e-mail if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

All best,

Libby

Recorder begins next Tuesday

If you own your recorder, or if you had a TGS recorder over the summer, please bring it next Tuesday, September 8th for your first recorder class. Have a great Labor Day weekend. Alli

Welcome to 4th Grade!

The fourth grade year is one of growth, development, and accomplishment.  In fourth grade we will build on each student's growing social capabilities and ethical awareness to create an optimal learning environment.  This will involve fostered independence and respect for diversity in others.  Fourth graders will work on broadening and strengthening their knowledge base in all areas.  This year often sees children shift from an emphasis on process to an equal focus on the end result.  With these factors in mind, we will be able to complete many exciting projects on our fourth grade journey.

What's Up In the Fourth Grade

School is about to begin.

August News

Dates to Remember:

August 27: New Parent Student Meeting
August 27: 10-12 New Parent Conference
August 28: Parent/Teacher Conferences (8:30-4:30)
August 29: All School Work Day (Sat.)