Happy Holidays!

We had a great end to our week and first half of the school year!  Thank you for attending our Learning Celebration and letting us share some of our favorite work with you.  It was great to see families together in our classroom; sharing, reading, visiting and enjoying some yummy snacks.  I'm sad to say I didn't take any pictures!  

Thank you for the wonderful and thoughtful gifts!  I appreciate your support and look forward to the second half of our school year!  See you all in January!!!  Enjoy your family time and the magic of the holiday season :)

It truly is "the most wonderful time of the year"... :)  Love, Mrs. Porter

Wednesday Fun

We enjoyed the PTO sponsored cultural arts program this morning!  Ritmo Blu percussion group did a great job engaging, entertaining, and teaching the kids!  It was a great start to our day :)

Back in our room we shared our homemade 'garbage' band projects and made some connections to the percussion instruments we saw and heard in the performance from Ritmo Blu.  We are looking forward to getting together to make some music tomorrow for our Learning Celebration.  Here are a couple of pictures :)

Class Update: Week of Dec. 16

Hello everyone!

I hope this finds you well and ready for the holidays!!!  :)  We have a busy week ahead as we wrap up our third term this week and prepare for our winter holiday break.  

Some Dates to Remember this week:

Monday, Dec. 16 - Science study guide goes home

Tuesday, Dec. 17 - Band project due
                               Social Studies notebooks go home for studying

Wednesday, Dec. 18 - American Revolution Test
                                    Cultural Arts Assembly (8:30-9:30 in the Multi-Purpose room)

Thursday, Dec. 19 - Learning Celebration (11:30-12:30 in our classroom)

Friday, Dec. 20 - Science Test on Sound
                            Last day before Winter Break

Thanks so much!  Have a great week!

Class Update: Week of Dec. 9

Hello Everyone!

This week in Math we will continue adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators as well as reviewing finding equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, changing mixed numbers and improper fractions.  We will take the fractions test Friday.

In Reading we are identifying different text structures to help us comprehend different types of texts by looking for specific key words.  We are working with the 5 text structures (description, sequence, compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem/solution) to help us with nonfiction text.

In Writing we are drafting our persuasive writing piece.  Through our writing we are also practicing visually expressive sentences, grammar skills, and text organization.

In Science we are investigating how sound is produced.  We learning about sound with emphasis on pitch, amplitude, frequency and sound waves.  Questions you may ask your child by the end of this week include:
- What is sound?
- How does sound travel?
- What is the difference between sound frequency and sound pitch?

Don't forget about our science project due December 17th.  Last week we sent home information regarding a project that involves your child creating a musical instrument at home.  We can't wait to put our instruments together to make a band :)

In Social Studies we are wrapping up our study of the American Revolution. This week we will learn about the battles of Saratoga, Yorktown and the signing of the Treaty of Paris.  We will also be researching and discussing achievements from some of our key individuals from the American Revolution such as King George III, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benedict Arnold, Patrick Henry and John Adams.  A completed study guide will come home by Friday to help prepare for our test next Wednesday, December 18.

Academic Planning:
December 13 - Math Fractions Test; American Revolution Study Guide comes home; * Exploration afternoon

December 17 - Science Project due. Students need to bring their homemade instruments to school.

December 18 - American Revolution Test

December 19 - Learning Celebration - Please celebrate your child's learning from 11:30-12:30 in our classroom!  We will be sharing an American Revolution class project and hopefully some 'band' presentations :)  Feel free to plan to join your child for lunch following our celebration.  Be on the lookout from an email from our room parent for some items we would like to have to help us celebrate (light refreshments and some paper goods)
 
* Explorations: Yesterday, students chose explorations that support our IB skills and prepare students to be college and career ready.  This Friday will be our first exploration and we will have one each month during the school day.  Some exploration options were for the remainder of the year; while many others were just one time meaning they can sign up for a different exploration each month!  Ask your child what they chose!

Have a great week!

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving Holiday and time to spend with family and friends.  :)

We jumped right back in to our learning today and consulted the December calendar discussing events and assessments that are coming up before our Winter Break (December 23-January 3).

In math this week we are adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators.  We will also add and subtract mixed numbers this week or early next week.  By the end of next week, I would like to give the summative assessments for the three math standards we have worked with this term, NF.1 (equivalent fractions), NF.2 (comparing/ordering fractions), and NF.3 (adding/subtracting fractions).  Today we had fun with 'Pizza Party' framework task.  Here are some examples of their work:

In ELA we are working on opinion writing.  We are using mini-stories to support our opinion.  In reading we are working on text structures this week.  There are 5 text structures authors use to organize their ideas.  They are description, sequence, compare/contrast, cause/effect and problem/solution.  We will work with one each day.

In Science we will take a test on Light this Wednesday, the 4th.  We worked on a study guide together today and it should be in their homework pocket of their planner today to study.  Following Light we will be learning about the properties of sound.  A home project regarding sound went home in the red folder today (it's due Dec. 17).

In Social Studies we will continue our work with the Revolutionary War (final assessment Dec. 18; a study guide will come home before then).  Today we covered the Second Continental Congress and Battle of Bunker Hill.  Tomorrow we will be reading, analyzing, and summarizing the Declaration of Independence.  This Wednesday, several volunteers have offered to come to our 4th grade classrooms as key people from the Revolutionary War period.  Thank you so much if you volunteered your time!

Have a great week!!!

PS.  REMINDER: Mrs. Porter's class MAP testing dates: 

Tuesday (12/3) Math 10:35-11:40

Wednesday (12/4) Reading 10:35-11:40

Thursday (12/5) Language Arts 10:35-11:40

Planning Ahead

Hello All!

We did a little 'planning ahead' work in our agendas today.  Here are the notes we added (as well as a few I noticed at the end of the day when checking email).

In addition to these notes, please note our MAP testing dates below.  Please try to schedule any doctors appointments around these if possible!  Thank you!

Mrs. Porter's class MAP testing dates: 

Tuesday (12/3) Math 10:35-11:40

Wednesday (12/4) Reading 10:35-11:40

Thursday (12/5) Language Arts 10:35-11:40

Also, there is still time to sign up to volunteer for our first Exploration of the school year!  Here is the link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1XRatbBfOJkl4bI_WJCf7Y1DCz03MovKIGLDKBkCZrk/viewform

Other assessments on the horizon will be in Math (testing standards NF.1 and NF.2- equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, comparing and ordering fractions, mixed numbers and improper fractions).  Following this assessment we will move on to our final math standard of Term 3, NF.3 (adding and subtracting fractions).  In addition to math, we will have a test on Sound in Science (our standard to work with after Light).  There will also be an optional home project assignment coming home after the break.  We will also continue to work with our ELA standards and opinion writing.  We will have a busy 3 weeks in December!!!  :)

As always, thank you for your continued support and enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday!!!  See you in December!

Busy Week!

What wonderful presentations last night at Literary Cafe!  I was so proud of all of our kids for overcoming stage fright and speaking in front of family and friends.  Thank you for participating!  If you weren't able to make it, you were missed!

Cozy lighting, jazz music in the background, colorful tablecloths, fun 'bookworm' centerpieces, and a 'stage'!

In math we moved on from finding fractional parts to working with mixed numbers and improper fractions.  We will continue this skill tomorrow as well.  Here are our notes from today:

There is also a BrainPop video on mixed numbers you can check out as well as videos on LearnZillion.

This week in ELA/SS we have continued our work with events that led to the Revolutionary War.  Today we followed up from the Boston Tea Party and the Intolerable Acts with the First Continental Congress.  We worked in small groups to read and compare notes and then worked as a class to rank our factual notes in order of importance. It's been great to hear the conversations and opinions as they relate to our central idea: Challenges can be addressed with individuals organize for a common purpose. The colonists sure are coming together to form a united front! Tomorrow we are on to Lexington and Concord!

Before lunch we were able to get in our refraction lesson with prisms as we investigated with how light travels through prisms.  We worked in groups with prisms and explored with light sources (natural light from the window and artificial light from light bulbs and our projector).  We also watched a BrainPop video, rainbows before we ended the lesson with some note-taking:

Well, that's our update today!  I hope you all have a great evening and we'll see many of you at lunch tomorrow!  Remember our lunch time tomorrow is 12:20-12:50.  You can meet us downstairs or see us out on the playground by the cafeteria before we go in to eat.  Cost is $5 cash for an adult lunch.

Friday Fun

While the weather outside looked cold and dreary, we didn't let it slow us down!  We kept up cheerful spirits as we worked all day!
In math today we continued with comparing and ordering fractions.  We practiced two ways: one, by drawing a model and two, by converting fractions to like denominators.  After a partner task of ordering the amount of sugar in ice cream (yikes! some flavors have so much!), we moved on to group games of Fraction 'War'.  It was loud in our room but productive!

Following Math we moved into ELA/SS and continued our work on the events leading to the American Revolution.  Today we focused on the Boston Massacre and began talking about the Tea Act and Boston Tea Party.  Our note taking is going well as we go!  Next week we will start with our notes on the Tea Party then move to the 1st Continental Congress and Lexington and Concord.  We will close the week with a timeline project of all the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.

Before lunch we investigated light and refraction with concave and convex lenses in Science.  What fun we had exploring!!! We also watched a short video clip, a demonstration, and took some notes.  But by far the hands-on exploration with the lenses was the highlight of today's lesson!

After a spaghetti lunch, a spelling test and indoor recess it was time for the weekend to begin!  Have a great one!

Lots of Learning Going On

We have been busy studying the causes and effects of the French and Indian War as we lead up to the American Revolution.  This week we have worked with comparing the government in England and in America.  From there we have started discussing many of the taxes that were imposed on the colonists to help pay for the war; namely the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Quartering Act, Navigation Acts, Tea Act and Townshend Act.  We have also written drafts of opinion letters to King George III stating our opinion of British Rule and the taxes.  In our small groups, we are working on summarizing the text as well as taking notes as we close read.

Comparison of the Government in England and America

In math we have moved to comparing and ordering fractions.  We have discussed that there are 2 ways we may see fractions to compare (like and unlike denominators) and how to change denominators to make fair comparisons.  Yesterday we took notes for these methods as well as did some guided and independent practice.  We closed with a group problem solving activity comparing the amount of a candy bar two kids ate to see who ate more.

Group Work Examples: 

Class Updates

I hope you all had a great weekend and perhaps stopped by the Planetarium Friday night for the open house. :)

Learning Update:
In our integrated ELA and SS lessons we wrapped up causes of conflict in the west and events that led to the French and Indian War.  We studied the war, effects of the war and the British response.  We also discussed how the colonists had to begin to help pay for the war and did a little 're-enactment' with a King, Parliament members, tax collectors and soldiers.

This week we will be learning about the taxes that resulted from the cost of the French and Indian War and wrap up the causes and events that lead to the war.

In Math we are working on equivalent fractions and fractions in simplest form.  This week we will wrap those skills up and move on to comparing and ordering fractions.

In Science we are working with the properties of light.  We worked with reflection last week and this week we will work on refraction, comparing reflection and refraction, then move on to concave and convex lenses.

In other news:

1. Term 2 Report Cards and Naglieri test results are in your child's red folder today.

2. We have had 2 coaching sessions with our Literary Cafe coach and the kids are getting so exciting about standing in front of their classmates and sharing their poetry.

3.  Literary Cafe (4th grade) is Tuesday, November 19 from 6:00-7:30.  We will all gather in the multi-purpose room for some student presentations before breaking into class groups in individual classrooms.

4.  Thanksgiving Lunch (4th grade) is Thursday, November 21.  Our lunch time is 12:30 - 1:00 if you'd like to join your child.

Bradley Observatory Walking Field Trip

 

What a great morning for a walk to beautiful Agnes Scott College! We joined Mrs. Weaver's class on a great tour of the observatory.  We started outside on the plaza learning about the sundial and seeing models of the 8 planets to scale with comparison to the sun.  Included in the sundial was also the tracks/orbits of each planet.  Next we headed inside and up a stairwell to the dome which houses the 30-inch Lewis H. Beck telescope.  The kids oooohhhed and awwwed as the dome opened up to reveal the sky!  Then we made our way to the planetarium.  As the kids got comfortable in the plush auditorium, the lights dimmed and we had a lesson in the sun, moon and stars.  The highlight may have been when the lights went black and the constellations appeared!  We throughly enjoyed our visit to the observatory and thank Mr. De Pree for his tour and presentation!

PS.  There is an open house this Friday night (free of charge!).  The doors open at 7:30pm.  Coffee and cookies will be available.  You can also tour the dome and attend a presentation about what's happening at the Galactic Center at 8:00pm.

Happy Halloween!

We've had a fun day on Fifth Avenue as we try to contain some of our excitement and continue working and learning together. ;)

Our morning began with a fun drawing activity in Art.  Picture spooky houses and graveyards with interesting names on tombstones!  In math it was business as usual as we continued working with equivalent fractions.  We are using fraction strips as a resource.  (see below)

We spent the rest of our morning with some "Halloween" related ELA activities.  We did a close read with a non-fiction text about Bats and answered text-dependent questions.  During writing, we started a creative writing story with Spooky Story Starters while listening to Halloween music and eating brownies.  Then off to recess, lunch and PE/Music!

Have fun and be safe tonight!  (And no homework to worry about) ;)

Term 3

This week marks the beginning of Term 3!  Time is flying!  Lots of fun things are happening in room 227 :)
I will update our 'curriculum' tab with Term 3 skills/standards/etc soon... ;)  In the meantime, here's what we are up to right now:

This week we will be doing close reading on informational texts within Reading and Social Studies to learn about the French and Indian War.  Some guiding questions you may want to ask your child at the end of the week are:

• What was the French and Indian war?
• What are some of the causes of the French and Indian war?
• What kind of effects did it have on the colonists?

In math we jumped into fractions.  We began talking about how we use fractions in our everyday lives.  Some questions you can ask your child:

• What are fractions and how can they be represented?
• How are fractions used in everyday life?
• What are equivalent fractions? (for example, 2/4 is the same as 1/2)

In Science we will begin our unit on Light and Sound.  We will be investigating the nature of light using tools such as mirrors, lenses and prisms.  We will be identifying materials that are transparent, opaque and translucent.

Also in ELA we started our Term 3 Reading Contracts.  We worked in small groups today to go over the expectations of these contracts as well as the book choices, mapping out a timeline to complete them by the December 5 due date, and setting some goals for our reading.   Please know that the Reading Contract is expected to be classwork; not additional homework for your students.  We allow time in class to work on these as they are doing independent reading.  Books your child reads in their small groups (LINKS, EIP, Classroom) are also allowed to 'count' as a Reading Contract book; I don't want to add 'extra' reading on them!  Below is a chart summarizing these discussions today.

Heritage Center Field Trip

Last Friday 4th grade took a walking field trip to Adair Park for a [COLD!] morning of presentations.  We witnessed exhibits and 'testimonies' of historical figures such as Harriet Tubman, a Revolutionary War soldier and a woman representing a Native American clad in animal derived clothing.  From an archaeologist we learned 'projectile points' and how they were used for weaponry from the tribes in and around our region (we also learned how to make a fire!).  We were able to step into the Mary Gay House and the Swanton House, Decatur's oldest standing building.  We learned of the homes history of being the only two structures still standing post civil war.  Check out some pictures below :)

Thanks for supporting our field trip!

Friday Field Trip

"Our field trip is tomorrow," the kids keep saying. :)  And they are right; the day has come for us to enjoy the activities planned by the Heritage Center as we join the rest of F.AVE fourth graders at Adair Park for our History Adventure.  This will be a walking field trip so please make sure your child is dressed in comfortable shoes for walking as well as warm (I hear we have a cool day ahead of us tomorrow).  We will rotate through six stations tomorrow as we experience the lives of Revolutionary War Soldiers, Harriet Tubman, Early Native Americans and more.  We are looking forward to our adventure!

Info:
We will leave school between 8:15-8:30 to walk to Adair Park.  We will have a police escort and police officers will be stationed along our walk.
We will stay together as a class throughout the activities.
We will head back to school when the activities end around 10:30 (we anticipate being back at school by 11:00).
Lunch at school as usual at our normal time (12:30-1:00)

Phases of the Moon (and more)

Science was yummy today as we reviewed the Phases of the Moon!

Also keeping us busy learning today was a fun lesson on Order of Operations in Math (Pardon My Dear Aunt Sally!!!) ...

...as well as a review in Social Studies comparing colonial regions...

Class Learning Update

We've been busy this week!

ELA: We have worked hard on revising and editing our narrative writing pieces.  We used ARMS and COPS to help us remember all the parts of these writing stages!

In math we have practiced and practiced our division standard, NBT.6.  We have learned 3 methods for solving division problems: 1. standard algorithm 2. partial quotient 3. area model.  We have worked with one digit divisors and up to 4-digit dividends.  Once each student found their favorite method they were begging to make up problems for extra practice and to challenge each other!  YAY!  Here are some screen shots of the methods (sorry they aren't the best/clearest!)

Here is an organized example of student work; showing their division problem solving in 2 ways:

In Social Studies we have been working on Colonial America.  We have identified and labeled a map of the 13 colonies as well as discussed (and listed) the individual states within each region (New England, Middle/Mid-Atlantic, Southern).  We have also been learning about the life in each region (reasons for locating there, resources available that lead to jobs, etc, geography and climate).

In Science we have presented our Solar System models and moved on to the moon!  We have learned about the moons in our Solar System (there are over 100 moons; only 3 in the inner planets; only 1 for Earth, 2 for Mars; Mercury and Venus are the only planets with no moons!).  We will study the Earth's moon and explain the sequence of the phases of the moon.

Enjoy the weekend!  We are looking forward to our Lemony Snickett visit Monday morning and our Field Trip Friday!!!!!

Solar System

Astronomy has been super fun to study!  The class has really gotten into the features and characteristics of the planets and have worked hard with their research.  They have come very involved with the Solar System and it showed through their presentations.  Their creativity and hard work was evident as each group (or individual) shared their work.  Solar Systems complete with the sun and 8 planets (in order- some even including all of the moons!), Kuiper Belt, Astroid Belt, Dwarf Planets and even Hubble and Comets adorn our class science wall and the wall outside of our room.

Next up, the moon!