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
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