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
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, 4th 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
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
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
Estimation and Number Sense Video Clips
Chapter 2, Math In Focus
Estimating sums using rounding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr-xHNNrZeA
Estimating differences using rounding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mqFzPCWXYY
Estimating products using rounding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHcv7_bf8XQ
Estimating quotients using compatible numbers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI290ZVrHbU
Front end estimation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4GSf5u80S4
Factors, Prime and Composite Numbers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSKfTReVa-g
Finding the Greatest Common Factor using Math In Focus method
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD5jLpSsN00
Factors, Multiples and Prime Numbers easily explained.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tifyIMpyLYw
Multiples, Common Multiples, Least Common Multiples
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxPZGv0mLiI
Finding the Least Common Multiple using the Math In Focus method
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGLpBe46wIY
Using an array model to solve multiplication problems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDXH9tfVqAI
Using an array model to solve multiplication problems, shading ones and tens in a similar way to Math In Focus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t40_Hkf5rj8
Using an area model to solve multiplication problems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdYV6i-kXcA
Chapter 1, Place Value Websites
http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/tens.cgi?A1=s&A2=1
Play the Place Value Puzzler.
http://education.jlab.org/placevalue/index.html
Play the Place Value Game. http://www.linkslearning.org/Kids/1_Math/2_Illustrated_Lessons/3_Place_Value/index.html
Listen to the online lesson.
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/placevaluepirates1.htm
Play Place Value Pirates.
http://www.mathcats.com/explore/age/cake.html
Create a Place Value Birthday Cake for five different ages.
Basic Fact Multiplication Websites
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skill_builders/multiplication_math_fourth_4th_grade.htm
Twenty-eight online games listed, I haven’t played them all
http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/Tunnel/multiplyFrame.htm
Fast paced game
http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/ConeCrazyLevels.htm
Play the ice cream scoop game
http://www.ausmath.com/Flashcards/multiplication.html
Select the multiplication flashcards
http://www.aplusmath.com/games/matho/MultMatho.html
Play the multiplication game
http://www.aplusmath.com/games/picture/MultPicture.html
Play the hidden picture multiplication game
http://www.aplusmath.com/Games/Concentration/Multiplication_Concentration.html
Play multiplication concentration
http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/EggStaticDrop.htm
Challenge yourself with this game of multiples
http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/HolidayPractice.htm
Create a holiday picture as you practice basic facts
http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/edgemoor.htm
Annoying to some, fun for others…
Video clip showing patterns for the 2s and 8s
This website helps explain the concept of multiplication – and then gives strategies for helping to master the basics.
http://del.icio.us/bobstegner/Math-Multiplication T
his website provides several links to other multiplication games recommended by math teachers.