Week 9

Dear Parents and Students,

After returning refreshed from the week off, we wasted no time getting back into the swing of things in Grade 4. As usual, we have been very busy, including completing three of our MAP tests.

In the Classroom:

Maths

We began Topic 5 this week, which has been mostly a review of multiplication. We will

continue our studies next week, including using expanded algorithms, before reviewing the topic. The topic test will take place next Thursday.

Literacy Workshop

This week, we spent more time in our Reading Circles, and our story of the week was Boss of the Plains. The conversations and collaborative work are really beginning to develop, and each group is becoming less reliant on guided instruction.In Grammar, we have just finished Unit 2, which was dedicated to nouns, and we will complete review exercises over the next week. Next week, we will also begin our next unit about verbs.

Science

Our investigations of surface changes continued this week, including a practical task in which we created and studied a two-dimensional model of a canyon. We made observations of the types of fossils that may have been found there, and drew conclusions about the types of environments that had existed over millions of years. We then applied our conclusions to our investigation into the Ashfall Fossil Beds. Next week, we will explore how landforms on Earth can change more rapidly.

Social Studies

We spent most of our week in Social Studies learning about economics. Using the USA as a model, we have been investigating the various industries that make up a nation’s economy, and how it may be affected by elements such as supply and demand. We will continue with this study next week.

Other important information

So far, our MAP tests have gone smoothly. We have one more test next week, which will be the Science test to take place on Wednesday afternoon. 

We have an exciting end to next week as we attend the Halloween Carnival organised by the secondary department on Thursday, 23rd October. Parents are welcome to attend after dismissal, so maybe we’ll see you there. This will be followed by the Retrocession Day national holiday on Friday, October 24th when school will be closed. 

I hope you enjoy your weekend, and I’ll see you all on Monday!

Dates to remember:

Thu Oct 23 Maths test - Topic 5: Multiplying by 1-Digit Numbers

                         Halloween Carnival

Fri Oct 24 Taiwan Restoration Day - Public holiday - School closed

Thu Oct 30 October assembly

Fri Oct 31 Halloween parade and performances