Language Arts
This term in Language Arts we have been emphasizing non-fiction or expository writing. Students have learned the features of expository text, used it for research purposes, learned how to keep and organize research notes and how to turn their notes into cohesive, detailed paragraphs. Students have also begun exploring reflective writing, recording written self-assessments in their personal websites.
As a class, students have studied the Tale of Despereaux,through whole group sharing, discussions, poetry writing and through representing the events in the story from multiple perspectives. Students have been building their toolbox of reading strategies through concrete and reading experiences. Students have learned how to determine importance and how to create mental pictures to build more comprehensive understanding as they read for a variety of purposes.
This term students have engaged in small group literature circles which works in much the same way as a book club. The group of students agree on a focus for the week and cycle through reading, recording details and sharing with their group once per week in a book club meeting format. These are largely student driven with adult support.
Mathematics
Grade 4 students began the year with an investigation into number patterns and how recognizing patterns can help them find multiple solutions to open-ended problems. Next students moved onto equations, understanding the meaning of the equal sign and solving single-step equations with an unknown. After equations, students turned their attention to geometry, beginning with an investigation of symmetry and designing a symmetrical mosaic. To complete this unit, students learned about the attributes of prisms and pyramids including specific mathematical vocabulary such as edge, face, vertex and base to describe them. Finally students began work on place value to 10 000 and representing large numbers in a variety of ways. This work will continue into term 2.
Science
In the first term, students explored Plant Growth and Changes, specifically the taxonomy of plants and the needs of plants. They conducted experiments on bean plants to determine optimal growing conditions and worked carefully on creating careful, labeled scientific drawings. They will use this knowledge in the next term to grow vegetables under grow lights. Through robotics, students started working with concepts related to Waste and Our World where they are designing a robot to save birds caught in a hypothetical oil spill
Social Studies
Social Studies has been taught in conjunction with Writer’s Workshop this term. Students have researched the 6 regions of Alberta, determining how the landscape, water features, plants, animals and human use impact each region. They represented their learning through the creation of art and non-fiction writing. Students have also become familiar with topographical, physical and political maps of Alberta. A visit from a City of Calgary cartographer helped students to understand the importance of maps in managing the city’s infrastructure.
Physical Education
This term students have participated in an active physical education program designed to foster cooperation and fair play as well as develop skills in the areas of tag games, dance, volleyball, fitness circuits and flying discs. Students have been “running around Alberta,” logging laps of the gym and following their progress on a map. So far students have run almost to Jasper from Calgary via Banff and Lake Louise.
French
French language instruction this term has focused on students developing vocabulary and phrases that enable them to give information about themselves. This culminated in the “Moi” project where students used models to write about themselves and then presented their work orally to the class.
Music
Grade four music students have had an extensive look at Rhythm this term. Through our study of the Rhythm Pyramid we have begun to understand the mathematical relationship between whole, half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes. We have read, played, created, performed, represented, and written rhythms in 4/4 time using multiple variations of the quarter note, eighth note and sixteenth. We have also prepared ourselves for reading our recorder music by learning the Treble clef music staff. We can successfully name all notes on the staff and understand how line and space notes are related to each other. We have also explored chords through learning proper ringing techniques and etiquette with the Bells and Hand chimes. By composing a song with the Bells this term we have combined the music elements of rhythm and pitch.
