updated February 19, 2019

Maps: Completed, Evaluated, Appreciated

Last week fourth graders began the task of evaluating each Washington State Map. When students evaluate another person’s work they better understand the importance of looking at grading criteria before, during and in the completion of an assignment. I also started my own evaluations so all maps should go home this week. I am very aware that no score can adequately represent the time and work each map represents. Thank you for all your work. This week fourth graders reflect on their map-making experience – source for insight.

Social Studies:

Fourth graders are still planning their journey on the Oregon Trail. Last week we introduced our characters and began our packing lists. This week we plot our route and create wagons. To keep on schedule with all the snow, we will do this in 2D instead of 3D. We will also decide how problems will be solved while on the trail and select a wagon train leader. I will show fourth graders the beginning episodes of “Frontier House”, a PBS reality series that shows modern families committing to living as homesteaders. Check out

https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/frontierhouse/project/series.html

Other resources for the Oregon Trail are

http://www.historyglobe.com/ot/otmap1.htm

http://oregontrail101.com

Math:

Fourth graders are working diligently to fully understand fractions in a deeper level. This week we move forward to the fourth grade textbook, Chapter 6, Fractions and Mixed Numbers. In this chapter, your child will learn about computing with fractions and mixed numbers. Some of the skills include adding and subtracting fractions, converting between mixed numbers and improper fractions, finding a fraction of a set and solving real-world problems.

Finding the fraction of a set or a number is a useful skill with many applications in everyday life. Look out for opportunities to help your child practice this skill. While traveling by bus or car, tell your child that the distance between two points, say your home and school, is 4 kilometers. Ask your child to calculate the distance between the school and another place, say the library, which is half-way between school and home. ½ X 4 = 2 kilometers. I appreciate all the fraction support at home.

Dates to Remember

Thursday, 2/21: All school mass, all blues

Thursday, 2/28: Service Trip, 4^th grade

Service Trip Dates, VA Medical Center:

11:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Thursday, 2/ 28, Thursday, 3/ 21, Thursday, 4/ 11, Thursday, 5/16

Service Trips, 2019

Service Trip Consent Form

Homework

Tuesday: Read for 20 minutes

Spelling worksheet

Social Studies / Writing assignment, family map reflection

Math assignment

Wednesday: Read for 20 minutes

Read spelling sheet out loud.

Try to sound like a news reporter on TV.

Math assignment

Social Studies assignment

Thursday: Read for 20 minutes

Be ready to read spelling sheet out loud

Have spelling worksheet from Monday, ready to turn in on Friday.

Study for weekly quiz and spelling test.

I’m trying to get us back to a routine, so yes, there is a spelling test and weekly quiz this week. Thank you!

Helpful Websites

Cursive Writing Resources

http://www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/cursive/animation/lowercase.htm

To see the animation, move your mouse over a letter. Lowercase

http://www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/cursive/animation/uppercase.htm

To see the animation, move your mouse over a letter. Uppercase

http://www.donnayoung.org/penmanship/cursive-animations.htm

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for cursive letter animation video clips for each letter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PBUYzWXEIQ

Continuous video clip, capital letters first, then lower case… not exactly how OLG teaches them, but clear and concise.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cursiva-lite/id976052613?mt=8

One of several free apps… Try them and share your experience with the rest of us.

Social Studies

Video clips about timelines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFu-zMjGJJA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccwFRZFsDbk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc64qurhFng

Video clip explaining the challenge of showing the world on a flat map

Youtube clip guides you to create a map of Washington State. We call the “Puget Sound Lowlands” the “Western Lowlands”. Otherwise, this is perfect for helping us learn our state’s geography.

Video clip showing timeline and explaining BC/AD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFu-zMjGJJA

Typing Website

http://www.typing.com

Spelling Website

Check out this website for online spelling practice…. Enter our list each week! http://www.spellingcity.com/

Math

Fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5C5PdZ_Yys

fractions on a number line

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEn8AfqemvM

equivalent fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as7ioM80K38

simplifying fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9me_tSRN2Z8

comparing fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJIqhDSrYB4

ordering fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=017cdlI36JE

adding and subtracting fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkg7370cpjs

shows mixed numbers, represented with visual aids, then shown as an improper fraction, finally shows the multiplication and addition “short cut”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4mqPMdyUYg

shows improper fraction, represented with visual aids, then shown as a mixed number, finally shows the division “short cut”

http://www.mathplayground.com/howto_fractionofanumber.html

Explains how to find a fraction of a set using visuals, using division and multiplication and multiplying fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNRmxDG2jVk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlxIzuIYcRs

Shows Math in Focus method one, subtracting fractions from a whole number

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpdTfe30N1s

Longer video, also shows Math in Focus method two, subtracting fractions from a whole number

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27yggOZ6ODc

Very quick, shows adding and subtracting whole numbers and fractions

Chapter 3, Math in Focus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyWYQYqBbMg

Bar model example, division

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyvgHvDXStQ&list=PLCrYL64JQwDyAtX_ukOBiLJgEf8ri-u2T&index=1

Bar model example, multiplication

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyyw1gnGAhE&list=PLCrYL64JQwDyAtX_ukOBiLJgEf8ri-u2T&index=7

Bar model example, multiplication, before and after model

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUetnxoI2pE

Division, Math in Focus method

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asX8f0UFmgA

Division, Concrete to Pictorial, Math in Focus method

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skill_builders/division_math_fourth_4th_grade.htm

Links to websites for division lessons and practice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qhw6Tv8780

Reminder, multiplying multiples of 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QZnVBlMhNs

Double digit X double digit multiplication using an area model.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xmsEtyOB10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVUfkN3TImI

Double digit X double digit multiplication showing partial products.

(No time is spent on this in Math In Focus, lesson 3.2, but I think it’s a good bridge between area model and the standard method that is taught next.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD3YsWbOeA8

Double digit X double digit multiplication, standard method

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXdzUlf5fEk

Multiplication using an Area Model

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_xZfYtk0do

Multiplication using a Place Value Chart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzupp6Q3epA

Multiplication breaking apart larger factor into place value parts and adding partial products

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhLAe-_D1_o

Multiplication using place value method showing partial products

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QZnVBlMhNs

Multiplication, double digit X double digit, using an Area Model