November 24th - 28th

Hello Grade ¾ families,

We had a wonderful week of learning, welcoming the snow weather and gearing up for Winter. It was lovely to see so many of you at conferences last night and this morning. Your insight and collaboration are invaluable and help us create the best possible learning environment for our students. Thank you!

Learning Intentions:

Grade 3:

• I can describe solid, liquid, and gas states of matter in terms of the properties of shape and volume.

• I can explain how matter can change state if heated or cooled.

Grade 4:

• I can compare the different methods of waste management and discuss their environmental impacts.

• I can develop a personal plan to reduce waste.

• I can discuss local waste management programs.

• I can represent a recycling process, using diagrams.

This week, the Grade 3 and 4 students split up into grade groups to work with Ms. Andreea and I in Science.

The Grade 3 students started a group project, creating states of matter posters. We used notes collected in our visual journals, along with a checklist, to plan and organize our learning into different headings: What is Matter? What is a Solid? What is a Liquid? What is a Gas? How do States of Matter Change? 

The students are busy designing their posters with relevant visuals and interesting examples and will continue this work next week.

Ms. Andreea:

This week, the fourth graders were introduced to proper recycling practices and how recycling works across our city. Students learned about the purpose of each color-coded bin, which items belong in them, and which items do not. We also explored how composting works and why it is an important part of reducing waste.

Together, we discussed how improper sorting can increase landfill waste and negatively affect our environment. Students were excited to see how recycled materials can be transformed into brand-new items, highlighting the positive impact of responsible waste sorting.

Learning Intentions:

Grade 3:

• I can use estimation to add when an exact sum is not needed or to check my answer

• I can add 2-digit and 3-digit numbers using the standard algorithm.

Grade 4:

• I can use estimation to check the reasonableness of my sum when adding.

• I can add multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm, including decimal numbers.

This week, students completed an estimating sums exit slip. They rounded 3 or 4 digit numbers to the nearest ten, hundred and thousand, and added them. On Wednesday, we began our Math Centers to start off our lessons on adding with the standard algorithm. Students are working in 4 groups, rotating through various centers (Teacher Time, Independent Work, Math Games, Puzzles/POTW/Challenges) to complete activities targeted to their learning needs.

So far, we’ve been learning hands-on with base ten blocks. We represented 2 digit addition with base ten blocks, put the numbers into their place value columns (hundred blocks in hundreds place, ten blocks in tens place, etc.) and replaced the blocks with their numerical representation. This activity helped students reinforce the connection between numbers, digits, and place value, preparing them to understand how the standard algorithm (stacked addition) works. We will continue with our Math Centers next week.

Ways to continue the learning at home:

• Use this link to play fun games to support basic addition facts, estimating, and rounding: https://www.roomrecess.com/mobile/AstroBlaster/play.html 

Reminder and Updates:

• Fridays are library exchange days - please have books returned by Thursday each week.

• December 11th - Photo Retakes and Winter Concert.

• Please ensure your student is prepared for the weather. Check in with your student as they may have outgrown their indoor shoes.