Ms Christensen Grade 4

Exploring simple machines

Today we made simple machines with items we found around the classroom.
We saw pulleys, levers, inclined planes, wheel and axles, wedges and even a screw.

In Math we have been reviewing what we have learned so far. We are able to add and subtract 4 digit numbers and also explaining our steps. We can describe and extend increasing patterns. We can solve for unknown variables using our Algebra skills. On top of all that, we can identify area and perimeter and tell if a shape is congruent.

In writing, we started working on our opinion pieces. We selected our own topic to have an opinion. Some students have chosen animal based opinions and others have decided on a more food based opinion. Ask your learner what opinion topic they have chosen.

In social studies we are focusing on developing a better sense of Alberta's land. We looked at the different regions of Alberta and identified some of the major cities. We will be taking a closer look at each individual region next.

Christmas Concert

Warm Feet for the Street

When you live on the streets, a pair of warm socks stuffed with hygiene and other useful items can be a valuable gift. This year, the grade 4 Ambassador Club is organizing a grade 4 campaign to help recipients of the Mustard Seed by participating in their Warm Feet for the Street initiative. We are very lucky to be receiving a donation of socks for this project. We are asking for students to donate what will go in the socks. Please no alcohol based items such as mouthwash, no food and no money. Donations will be accepted in your child’s classroom until December 13. Thank you in advance for your continued support. This is a great way for our students to give back to our larger community and provide some warmth for those less fortunate this holiday season.

Here is the link should you wish more information as well as a wish list for donations:

http://www.theseed.ca/assets/files/pdf/christmas_project/Warm%20Feet.pdf

Simple Machine Research

http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirtrep/simple/plane.htm

TUSC Round 2

We had a great first round of TUSC. I was excited to see how much practice and effort was put into the presentations.

Here are the jobs for the next TUSC meeting

Animal Lover – Manraj, Naiya

Travel Agent – Rafael, Sadie

Weather Reporter – Wynter, Cullen, Saarthak

Movie Critic – Alton, Kyla

Guess Who? – Caelan, Grace

Local News Reporter – Reide, Adrian

Famous Inventions - Davin, Declan

Surveyor – Kinleigh, Sophia

Jokester – Rylan, Eli

Sports Reporter – Roman, Charlie

President – Amber

Weather website

https://goo.gl/WKCpNy

Totally Unbelievable Speakers Club

We are taking a break from our weekly math homework to focus on a new initiative. Introducing TUSC, our Totally Unbelievable Speakers Club. We are working on our first presentations in class this week, but after this first presentation it will be expected that each students completes their presentation preparation at home.

What is TUSC?

TUSC is an oral speakers club designed just for you – a Grade 4 student! TUSC occurs like a true meeting with a President and a variety of presentations.

When does TUSC happen?

Every two weeks, everyone will participate in the TUSC meeting. Our first meeting is November 20.

What do I need to do for the TUSC meeting?

Each meeting, students will have a specific task to complete and present at the meeting. The tasks change each meeting so everyone will get a chance at each role! For example, if you are the President at one meeting, you might be the Travel Agent at the next meeting.

To prepare for your task, you’ll need to reference the descriptions below. Each description explains the task and what you’ll need to have prepared for the next TUSC meeting. If you need more information about the task, ask Ms. C. It is your responsibility to be well prepared for each meeting! There are some tasks that will take time to prepare…do not wait until the last minute! Each presentation should last 3 - 5 minutes (try not to go over time).

Why are we doing these TUSC meetings?

It’s a really fun way to practice our researching, public speaking, presenting and writing skills! Be as creative as you’d like for your task. Dress in costume, make a slide show, add video to your presentation…the possibilities are endless!

How will I be evaluated during these TUSC meetings?

There will be 2 evaluations – one from Ms. C and a peer-evaluation.

· The evaluation from Ms. C will be based on the content and organization of your presentation as well as your speaking and presentation skills.

· The peer-evaluation will provide you with feedback, compliments and suggestions, things for you to improve upon for the next meeting.

Remember: It is your responsibility to be well prepared for each meeting! This includes having all materials at school on the day of the meeting.

Each of the following tasks will be included in each meeting:

President – Ms.C (just for the first meeting)

2. Animal Lover – Alton, Rylan, Saarthak

3. Travel Agent – Reide, Wynter

4. Weather Reporter – Grace, Caelan

5. Movie Critic – Sophia, Kinleigh

6. Guess Who? – Eli, Charlie

7. Local News Reporter – Roman, Declan

8. Famous Inventions - Adrian, Rafael

9. Surveyor – Naiya, Amber

10. Jokester – Kyla, Manraj

11. Sports Reporter – Sadie, Cullen

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

TRAVEL AGENT

choose an interesting location to talk about

give us some information on famous landmarks

tell us where in the world it is located

tell us some interesting things to do there

tell us the average temperature there

MOVIE CRITIC

prepare an oral report on a (G or PG ) movie you enjoyed

introduce your movie

tell what kind of movie it is

tell the general story line but do not give away the ending

explain your opinions of the movie

what was good, bad, highlights, where can the movie be seen

who would you recommend this movie to and why

give it a rating out of 5 stars

LOCAL NEWS REPORTER

choose a news topic from TV, the internet or the newspaper that would

be interesting or important to report on

bring the news item to school and tell us about it, why you chose it and

your viewpoint either for or against it

GUESS WHO?

select a famous person or someone the class will know

write 7 interesting facts about that person that will give clues as to who

the person is

read the facts to the class and have them “guess who”

SPORTS REPORTER

prepare an interesting report on one sport or a sports event that has

happened recently or is about to happen

FAMOUS INVENTIONS

choose an invention

talk about the inventor

give details, interesting facts about his/her life and the invention from Internet

research or library books

show pictures or artifacts if possible

ANIMAL LOVER

choose an animal that is not common

give 5-8 interesting facts about the animal

show a picture if possible

SURVEY SAYS…

come up with a topic/question you want to know more about

make a prediction as to how people will answer

collect and manage the information using an organizer (tally, chart etc.)

survey at least 20 people

explain to the class why you chose your question

share your prediction about the outcome -were you surprised by the

results

find a way to visually display your results to the class (graph)

JOKES AND RIDDLES

choose 5 jokes or riddles, write them on cue cards

use your voice effectively to present the jokes and their punch line

WEATHER REPORTER

prepare and report on the weather

include local weather (Calgary), weather around Canada and a weather

forecast (3 day outlook)

your report can include: temperature high and low, chance of rain or

precipitation, cloud cover, sunrise and sunset

Example format:

I will be bringing you the weather report.

In local weather, the weather in Calgary is….

Wheels and Lever Game

https://www.msichicago.org/fileadmin/Activities/Games/simple_machines/

Remembrance Day Assembly

We are having our Remembrance Day Assembly this Friday at 10:15am. Please bring any Poppy donations to school this week and wear your service club uniforms on Friday for the Assembly.

Practice choreography

Here is the song to go with the choreography everyone is learning in gym.

Oct 25

This week we started exploring some of our shape and space outcomes for grade 4. We started by looking at understanding the concept of congruency and symmetry. Then we learned about area and perimeter of regular and irregular 2-D shapes.

For writing, we examined how to use a graphic organizer to help organize our writing. We did two "How to" writing pieces to help show the importance of sequential order in writing. We also looked at word choice when writing as we made a haiku poem about Fall.

To go along with our Fall haiku, we explored some watercolour techniques. We made a Fall leaf piece using a dry brush, wet brush and salt application. To outline the leaves we used permanent markers and wax crayons.

In science we did some research looking at the life cycle of some common materials. Each student was responsible for creating a flow chart that demonstrates the cycle of the product they choose.

Classroom Update

Here is a quick look at what we have been learning about in the classroom...

In Math, we have been learning to represent, compare, and order numbers to 10 000, pictorially and symbolically. We have been using base 10 blocks to construct and show to concept of regrouping in addition. We took a close look at Pascal's triangle and looked for patterns. We have been learning to identify, describe and extend patterns using tables and charts.

In ELA, we have been focusing on visualization in reading and writing. When reading we are trying to picture the story like it is a movie in our head. For writing, we are learning to use more descriptive word to help paint a picture for the reader.

In Science, we have been learning about Waste and Our World. We have been exploring humans impact on the environment through waste. We have identified different types of waste and how we can recycle different types of packaging.

In Social Studies, we have been learning about the different regions of Alberta. We looked at what each region looks like and what resources are available in each part of the province. We were lucky to have some artifacts for Ft. Calgary in class last week. These artifacts were from different Aboriginal peoples. We looked at the artifacts and learned about each piece looking at what the item was made of and what purpose the item was used for.

What a great week!

This week sure did fly by. We had an amazing time at The Glenbow museum. We spent the morning creating poems from a chosen painting. Then we became artists as we assembled a mixed media piece by doing a rotation of sensory tables. We used our sense of sight, touch, smell and hearing to explore art expression. In the afternoon, we learned about the Blackfoot language and culture. Our guide shared lots of information about First Nation beliefs and values.