Monday, October 3rd-
We will be creating our very important writer’s notebooks in class.
I would like each Puffin to bring in one special picture.
This can be a photo, a magazine clipping, or even homemade art.
The picture should be personal, reflecting who they are, what they enjoy, and/or the people/places that are special to them.
Note: please send in a picture that is OK to permanently paste onto a notebook.
Wednesday, October 5th- In & About!
Level 2 students will participate in a LEGO engineering lab brought to FGCS by an Intel Outreach program. We will have a special guest teacher facilitate the activity and talk about supply chain (source, make, deliver, reuse).
Friday, October 14th- NO SCHOOL for students:
Statewide In-Service day
Friday, October 21st- NO SCHOOL for students:
Grading/Staff Development day
Monday, October 24th- All School Meeting
Thursday, October 27th - NO SCHOOL for students
Goal setting conferences
Thursday, October 28th - NO SCHOOL for students
Goal setting conferences
Homework: Weekly homework is due by Thursday morning 10/6
Reading: Spend at least 20 minutes reading (outside of school) every day. When you finish a book, log onto your google classroom account and complete a reading log response.
Math homework: Students should log on to either Dream Box or Khan Academy (see below) and complete 30 minutes (minimum) of math practice. I have worksheets for those who prefer a paper assignment, students just need to ask in class. If your home computer does not support Dream Box, or your kiddo prefers to use Khan Academy for math homework, create an account and add me as a coach by following these steps:
- Log in (or sign up) at khanacademy.org
- Visit khanacademy.org/coaches (the “Coaches” tab in your profile).
- In the “Add a coach” field, enter our class code: VQZX2Z
Typing Homework: This year, Level 2 students will have typing homework to develop and support important keyboarding skills. Please practice at least 20 minutes per week on: Typing.com
Account usernames and passwords were given out during Family Visits. Contact Ginny if you have trouble logging into the typing account.
What's Happening in the Puffin Nest?
STORY PATH UNIT: Main Street: Understanding Goods and Services
Students are working in partners to develop their own businesses and solve real-world problems that business communities face. This unit is designed to help students understand how behaviors such as recycling, composting, buying products that are recycled or have less packaging, and reducing consumption can help the local and global environment. During our investigation, we will focus four big questions:
- Where does the "stuff" we use everyday come from?
- How does the way we live affect the Earth?
- Where does our trash go?
- What are ways we can conserve energy and natural resources?
Last week, students created characters to work in their Main Street businesses last week. First, they designed uniforms to reflect the kind of work their character would do, and then they wrote about the skills and resources their character needs for their job. Our discussion centered on these ideas:
- How many different kinds of workers work in this business community?
- What are some of the responsibilities of these workers?
- In what ways are these workers alike? In what ways are these workers different?
We visited the police station to learn more about the different kinds of jobs within our community. The Puffins got a tour of the department and also got to hear more about the types of training required of detectives, patrol officers, evidence specialists and office managers.
This week, we turned our attention to understanding the marketplace. It was time for the workers to "begin another day of work" in their businesses. That meant it was time for the class to consider how the business district and their businesses work. Students started to create a poster displaying a list of products they have for sale. Our discussion began with these points:
- What goods and/or services should my business provide?
- Where do businesses get the money to pay their workers?
- Why are customers so important to businesses?
- How does your business attract customers?
- Why would customers want to come to your business?
- What do the workers do to make this a good place to shop?
- How do the workers help each other in the business?
We visited the Metro Central Transfer Station to learn more about the path of goods into our garbage and recycling. The Puffins got a tour of the garbage, recycling, and hazardous waste facilities. Students considered the question, "What happens after you set your garbage out at the curb?"
As we move forward in our project work, students will be reminded that the goods produced, bought and consumed in our communities may one day end up at the transfer station. We will also think about how we can all play a role in making our planet more sustainable by taking simple steps at home, work and school to recover resources and dispose of recyclables in the most responsible way.
SECOND STEP: Skills for Social, Emotional and Academic Success
This program consists of short lessons, games, songs, skits and stories that address skills for learning and getting along with others. Topics covered this week:
- Empathy
- Listening with Attention
- Being Assertive
Current 4th Grade Math Topics:
1. Generalize place value understanding for multi-digit whole numbers.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NBT.A.2
Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Compare two multi-digit numbers based on meanings of the digits in each place, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.
2. Use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NBT.B.4
Fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.