January 6, 2007
Dear 4B Parents~
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
In the fourth grade we have jumped into the curriculum with both feet. This past four day week was packed with activities.
This week we began discussing the early exploration of California by the Europeans. To understand this topic, we needed to understand what Europe was like in 1492, and what would compel someone like Christopher Columbus to sail out into the unknown. From there we are moving into the explorers of California; who they were, when they traveled, what they were looking for, and what impact they had on the Native culture. To help organize and display this material we are creating a giant time line on our class bulletin board. Additional and related elements to this study will include a large in class historical fiction writing assignment, that includes literature books, science, math, mapping skills and as well as our field trip to the Tall Ships in San Francisco on February 1st.
In addition to the introduction of explorers, we are moving to the end of the City of Ember. The students are truly enjoying this book and are enthusiastic about reading it. One of the things I like best about this book is that the author poses some ethical dilemmas. This past week we discussed a particularly interesting conflict. If youve been following the story, you know that the city of Ember is running low on supplies. One of the characters, Lizzie, works in the supply office and has been secretly offered several cans of rare and delicious food. She takes them and enjoys them. When Lina, one of the other main characters finds out, she is horrified. Here is the question: if there is only enough of an item for one person, is it right for one person to have it, while the others have nothing? As Lizzie says, You cant share a can of applesauce with the entire city. But Lina goes on to say, That doesnt mean its right for your to have it. Whos right? What would you do? These are the types of questions we discuss through the reading of the story, and the discussions can get intense. Its exciting to see the students interacting with literature on this level.
On Friday we began our unit on magnetism and electricity. To begin with, the students observed the interaction of permanent magnets to a variety of common materials. Through observation, discussion and questioning the students gained a clear understanding that iron needs to be present in an object for that object to be attracted to the force of a magnet. They also discovered that magnets display forces of attraction and repulsion. Future activities in this unit will include identifying materials that are conductors and insulators; understanding and constructing simple open, closed, parallel, and series circuits; and use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build explanations. We will connect this unit to our social studies and literature units as we discuss early navigation and the use of compasses.
In addition to the introduction of explorers, we are moving to the end of the City of Ember. The students are truly enjoying this book and are enthusiastic about reading it. One of the things I like best about this book is that the author poses some ethical dilemmas. This past week we discussed a particularly interesting conflict. If youve been following the story, you know that the city of Ember is running low on supplies. One of the characters, Lizzie, works in the supply office and has been secretly offered several cans of rare and delicious food. She takes them and enjoys them. When Lina, one of the other main characters finds out, she is horrified. Here is the question: if there is only enough of an item for one person, is it right for one person to have it, while the others have nothing? As Lizzie says, You cant share a can of applesauce with the entire city. But Lina goes on to say, That doesnt mean its right for your to have it. Whos right? What would you do? These are the types of questions we discuss through the reading of the story, and the discussions can get intense. Its exciting to see the students interacting with literature on this level.
On Friday we began our unit on magnetism and electricity. To begin with, the students observed the interaction of permanent magnets to a variety of common materials. Through observation, discussion and questioning the students gained a clear understanding that iron needs to be present in an object for that object to be attracted to the force of a magnet. They also discovered that magnets display forces of attraction and repulsion. Future activities in this unit will include identifying materials that are conductors and insulators; understanding and constructing simple open, closed, parallel, and series circuits; and use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build explanations. We will connect this unit to our social studies and literature units as we discuss early navigation and the use of compasses.
We continue to work on grammar and will begin a new Words Their Way list next week. We are just finishing up a writing and illustration activity using the book, Two Bad Ants.
If you have not already done so, please make sure to turn in your field trip permission form and your report card envelope.
Thank you!
Have a good week-end,
Have a good week-end,
-Steve
===========================
Stephen Blatteis
sblatteis@wornickjds.org
posted by Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School at 9:05 PM
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