Fourth Grade Newsletter
Happy October, 4th Grade Families! We can’t believe how fast September has flown by! Read below to check out all the exciting events and learning opportunities coming up for your fourth grader this month. As always, reach out to your student’s classroom teacher with any questions.
Important Dates & Reminders
- October 3rd-10th: Forestdale’s Book Fair
- After School Hours 4:30pm-6:30pm on October 4th & 6th
- October 9th: Student Holiday (No School)
- October 12: Level IV Screening Process for Families, 6-7 pm
- October 13th: Forestdale’s Falcon Chorus Singing the National Anthem at the Lewis HS Football Game @ 6:30pm
- October 19th: Field Trip! National Symphony Orchestra Concert at the Kennedy Center
- Mid-Late October: Conference sign-ups starting this month!
Language Arts
What are we learning?
Reading: Unit 2 - Characters
- Students are learning to…
- synthesize multiple ideas to develop and revise complex theories about characters
- develop ideas about characters by tracking their internal and external journey
- search for deeper understanding of theories through class discussions
Writing: Unit 2 - Personal Essays (My Role Model)
- Students are learning to…
- develop a clearly defined thesis and structure their writing in ways that help readers’ understanding
- use a variety of elaboration techniques to include details that support their thesis
- share their pieces, receive feedback, and use the feedback to revise, considering new perspectives
Home/School Connection
Questions to ask your student:
- What story is your class reading in language arts? Tell me about the characters. What are they like?
- What connections can you make with the characters in the story your class is reading?
- Who did you choose to write about as your role model? Let’s brainstorm some examples of this person’s influence in your life.
Books We’ve Been Reading
- Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo (Ms. Jensen’s class)
- Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (Ms. Shartel and Ms. Crane’s classes)
- Upcoming: One Green Apple by Eve Bunting
Math
What are we learning?
Unit 2: Addition and Subtraction
Students will be able to…
- Read, write, and identify the place and value of each digit in a nine-digit whole number.
- Compare and order whole numbers expressed through millions.
- Round whole numbers expressed through millions to the nearest thousand, ten thousand, and hundred thousand.
- Estimate and determine sums and differences of whole numbers (numbers each 999,999 or less).
- Create and solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving addition and subtraction with whole numbers.
- Identify, describe, create, and extend patterns found in objects, pictures, numbers, and tables (numerical).
- Recognize and demonstrate the meaning of equality in an equation.
Home/School Connection
Questions to ask your student:
- Is your answer reasonable given the values and the context of the problem?
- Did you answer the problem or question being asked?
- Is your actual solution close to your estimate?
- How could you convince someone that I have the correct answer?
Science
What are we learning?
Virginia Ecosystems [starting October 10]
- Students will be learning to investigate and understand that…
- plants and animals have unique structures that help them to survive
- organisms, including humans, interact with one another and with the nonliving parts of an ecosystem
- Virginia has important natural resources
Home/School Connection
Questions to ask your student:
- How does the geography (land and water) in Virginia affect its natural resources?
- Why are plants important? How do they help humans and animals?
- How do plants get their energy?
Social Studies
What are we learning?
Unit 2: Virginia’s Native Peoples
- Students are learning to…
- locate the three American Indian language groups (Algonquian, Siouan, Iroquoian) and corresponding tribe (Powhatan, Monacan, Cherokee) on a map
- explain and analyze how Virginia’s early Native Peoples adapted to the environment and climate to meet their daily needs: food, clothing, and shelter
- describe the lives of Native Peoples in Virginia today, making connections between past and present
Home/School Connection
Questions to ask your student:
- How can artifacts help us learn about the people of the past?
- What did Native Peoples of Virginia do to survive each season?
- What have you learned about Virginia’s Native Peoples today?
Specials
What are we learning? & Home/School Connections:
- Library: 4th graders will continue exploring different genres of fiction (such as fantasy, mystery, spooky, historical, realistic, humor, etc) and expanding their identities as readers. They will also gain more familiarity with using the library catalog to find books that fit their informational and recreational needs.
- PE: After mastering our first unit- “Rules, Routines, and Expectations,” all classes are progressing to the next unit. Students in grades 3-6 are mastering throwing and catching concepts and proper form. Our connection to FCPS’ “Portrait of a Graduate” is currently connected to “Communicator” traits. Please contact Ms. Brod or Mr. Bergin for any questions or concerns.
- Music: Ms. Shaw’s Music Class 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th Grade: Recorders! We are building our music theory knowledge and repertoire of recorder music!
- Music: Mr. Sawasky’s class: K – 6th grade will continue to explore traditional Hispanic music for Hispanic heritage month. Our 4th graders will be learning about the instrument families of the orchestra on a field trip to the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on October 29. Fourth grade parents need to sign the permission form and make sure their students’ teachers get it back this week, thanks!
- Art: In the Forestdale art program, the primary goal is to create an environment in which every student feels confident, safe, and supported by Ms. Barrett and by the other students. The goal is that each student will reach a level of technical mastery and self-confidence that allows them to take risks with their own artwork and create work that they value. In October all students will be wrapping up their printmaking units and doing their planning drawings for the upcoming painting unit!
- 4th graders made marker prints of "My Own Private Island" using Presto foam printing plates.
- STEAM: 4th graders will learn about the importance of balance in an ecosystem and identify problems/ develop solutions to environmental issues around Forestdale.
AAP Corner 
What are we learning?
- Students are engaging in academic conversations through Socratic Seminars. Socratic Seminars are a type of conversation where students authentically discuss ideas without raising their hands.
- Fourth graders read the book Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson and discussed how the author’s choices impacted the message.
- Part of the advanced curriculum is teaching through concepts. Concept based instruction supports students making connections across content areas.
- In fourth grade, students are learning about the concept of change and how it applies to Virginia Native Peoples and ecosystems.
Home/School Connection
Questions to ask your student:
- How does where I live impact how I live?
- How does where I live change over time?
- How do my actions affect my community and ecosystem?
- How does my learning about the past and myself change my relationships with nature in positive ways?
- How do the resources in Virginia’s regions help to build relationships amongst Virginia’s regions?
- What types of relationships exist in my community, and in my ecosystem? What do these relationships look like and how are they established?
- What types of groups exist in my community, and my ecosystem, and how do they function?
- What causes positive, neutral and negative relationships in nature and in communities?
- What are the characters learning about themselves and the world?
- How do my experiences shape my interpretation of stories?
ESOL - English Speakers of Other Languages
During the month of October, we are highlighting the language of informing. Here are some questions you can ask your students and sentences you can use to help them practice how to inform.
- Tell me about what you noticed.
- Tell me what happened.
- What does that look like?
- How might you describe that?
- I notice that __________.
- That is __________.
- That has __________.
- This shows __________.