Math: We have just begun a new math unit! The students just finished Unit 7 which was all about fractions. We are plowing through Unit 8 now. Students will discover how to find perimeter and area in this unit. They will also learn the importance of finding these measurements.

Social Studies: BIZ-TOWN! I am sure you have heard all about Biz-town from your child. It is new this year in the 4th grade and we love it! Biz-town is a unit designed to prepare students for more adult like living. Students learn about responsibilities and rights. They learn about community and businesses. Students learn about taxes and economy. This is a great unit and I am very excited for it. Once we have finished this unit, we will go on a field trip to Biz-town. Students will all have a job, which they applied for, and they will see what it is like to work their job all day. They will be writing and cashing checks. They will be making and spending money. They will see what it is like to pay bills and run a business. This is a wonderful unit and all the students are very excited. Ask your child what job he/she applied for.

Science Fair: We are coming to the end of our science fair projects. Your child has been working very hard on a science project over the past several weeks and it is almost time for the science fair! Tuesday, March 22nd, their displays for the science fair are due. Each student has an example of what this should look like in their science packet which is in their binders.

Cookie Dough- this arrives on Thursday March 24th. You need to pick up your child’s cookie dough after school on this day. You may pick it up at the science fair if you plan to attend that. Also, the cookie dough needs to be put in either the refrigerator or the freezer within 72 hours of delivery.

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, March 24th-6:00-8:00 Science Fair
Thursday March 24th –Cookie dough arrives
Friday, March 25th – Report Cards go home
Thursday, March 31st - Bake Sale fundraiser
Thursday March 31st - 6:30 4th Grade Recorder Concert
Thursday March 31st -Eager reader minutes due

Ask your kids about:
-what is happening in our read aloud, Number the Stars
-what they wrote their essays about
-the jobs they applied for at Biz-town

From, Ms. Peavey

Reading: We have recently started a new read aloud with the class. We just finished reading Snow Treasure, and have begun reading Number the Stars. This book is also historical fiction. The story is about a young girl named Annemarie. The story takes place in Denmark during the time of the Nazi invasion. We began this book last week and it has created great teaching and learning opportunities.

Along with reading Number the Stars we have begun Readers Theater. We just completed our second week and it is great! The students are given a script on Monday to read over and practice. On Wednesday we give them their roles and the students practice their parts with the groups. This has really helped with fluency and getting the students to project their voices and speak in front of others. We will be beginning our third week starting Monday. Ask your child to read aloud to you and see how great he/she is able to read with fluency.

Writing: We are just about finished with our Essay unit. The students have all completed their first draft of their essays. I am now conferencing with each student individually to help them improve their writing in one way. Ask your child what he/she chose to write about and encourage him/her to share their essay with you.

From, Ms. Peavey

During the same explorer unit, we learned about how the Hudson Bay Company hired men to trap animals and then trade their fur. Students participating in role playing. Half the class were Hudson Bay managers conducting the interviews. The rest of the class were interviewing for a fur trapper position. Both sides had a list of demands, but they also had to learn to compromise on issues they could deal with or without.

After learning about Lewis and Clark, we wrote an expository paragraph about their journey. We came up with a topic sentence together, then each group wrote a supporting detail sentence. Then we put them all together and came up with a concluding sentence. After some revising and editing, here is the class's final draft.

          Lewis and Clark led the Corps of Discovery westward to explore the land. President Jefferson sent Lewis and companion, Clark, to survey the new American land. Lewis and Clarks’ goals were to trade with the natives, make maps, and to find a waterway to the Pacific. They also wanted to collect wildlife and animal samples. On the way, they met Sacajawea who was with the Hidatsa tribe. She was captured from her Shoshone tribe years earlier. During Lewis and Clark’s expedition, they ran into many dangers such as rattlesnakes, bears, and bad weather. When they finally reached the Pacific, they were very excited, yet disappointed because they were exhausted.