Fourth Grade April Newsletter:

Important Dates & Reminders

• April 1: Teacher Workday, No School
• April 2: Staff development day, No School

Language Arts

What are we learning?

Reading and Writing: Testing as a genre

• Students are learning that…
  • Readers actively prepare for test questions using everything they know about tests and the genre.
  • Readers monitor for understanding throughout the testing experience (before, during, and after reading test questions and the passage). 
  • Readers use test-taking strategies to select the correct answer or answers.

Books We’ve Been Reading 

• Front Desk by Kelley Yang
• I Survived the American Revolution by Lauren Tarshis

Math

What are we learning?

Unit 6: Geometry

• Students will be able to…
  • Identify and describe points, lines, line segments, rays, and angles, including endpoints and vertices.
  • Identify and describe intersecting, parallel, and perpendicular lines.
  • Identify, describe, compare, and contrast plane and solid figures according to their characteristics.
  • Classify quadrilaterals as parallelograms, rectangles, squares, rhombi, and/or trapezoids.

Home/School Connection

Things to do with your student:

• If your child has access to a computer, have them practice fact fluency on Reflex math and practice on ST Math. 

Science

What are we learning?

The solar systems unit will begin in May.

Social Studies

What are we learning?

New Nation and Civil War

• Students will…
  • Explore the connections between liberty and slavery in the ideas and lives of George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and George Mason. 
  • Explore the influence of geography and technological advances on the migration of Virginians into other states and western territories and how it impacted different cultures. 
  • Use a critical lens to analyze the major events leading to the Civil War and interpret the legacy of it in Virginia today. 
  • Understand the impact of Virginia’s role during the civil war.
  • Evaluate and interpret the roles of Native Americans, Whites, enslaved Africans, and free Africans prior to and during the Civil War
  • Identify acts of resistance and moral courage that resulted in the emancipation of African Americans. 

AAP Corner

What are we learning?

• Students are continuing to meet in book clubs.
• AAP students are completing a Jacob’s Ladder to understand different perspectives on school uniforms. 

Specials 

What are we learning? &  Home/School Connections:

• Library: 
  • In April, we will have our Spring book fair! It will be from April 11-April 22. There will be evening hours during most days for families who would like to come after school.
  • 4th grade students are continuing to research famous people for their G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) project. They will be learning how to ethically add non-copyrighted images to their projects, and beginning to cite their sources.
• PE: 
  • Falcon Families, We hope your Spring Break was full of smiles and activity. As always, we are grateful to call you our co-teachers and appreciate the work you do with your student(s).
  • Upon returning from break, we always revisit routines and expectations until students are back in “school mode.” The next actual unit will be SOCCER! Students have been looking forward to this unit because it’s many peoples’ favorite and we can finally play more outside. Falcons are lucky because Mr. Bergin is a working Varsity Soccer Coach in the county; what a valuable resource! Students will learn basic skills, rules for the sport, and practice in small games. At the end of the month, we will transition to a two-week biking unit! Families can stay alert because we will be asking for volunteers to assist with this unit. Volunteer sign-up information will likely be shared in Thursday Folders and/or Talking Points. Until then, Happy Spring!
  • ❤ Mr. Bergin and Ms. Brod
• Music: 
  • Shaw - 
    • Ms Shaw’s class is working on learning the notes of the staff and our next belt for the recorder Frog in the Middle.
  • Sawasky - 
    • All grades will continue our work on the frame drumming composition.  All students will know how to create their own rhythms and work on creating melodies.
    • We will practice singing the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” All students will express themselves through playing xylophones, frame drums and percussion instruments.
    • 3^rd and 4^th will be learning how to create a melody and will continue rhythm practice.
• STEAM:
  • 4^th Grade: 4^th Graders are wrapping up their habitat construction projects and are practicing computer science skills on code.org.
• 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 April,  all students will be creating clay art projects! 
  • 4th graders will create clay islands . This is in conjunction with their island maps that they made during the printmaking unit in the fall. 
  • All students’ ceramic pieces are delightful.
  • Thank you to all families for returning the Parent Interview Forms for each art unit! Students in grades 1st - 6th continue to use their Art Planning and Reflection Books, increasing their literacy skill practice during art classes!
  • As always, Ms. Barrett ([email protected]) is here for any questions or concerns regarding the art program.