4th Grade
News
April 1, 2016
Upcoming Events
Planetarium Trip: 12:20-1:45 PM
Vilsmeier & Hunter- 4/4/16
Early Dismissal @ 12:35 PM
Friday- 4/8/16
PSSA ELA Testing
English Language Arts
By: Miss Vilsmeier & Houghton Mifflin
This week we tied in PSSA review and preparation
into our instruction. We also started to think about the
question “What makes a character memorable?” We will be
reading the myth Hercules’ Quest, and learning about a
legendary hero’s life and adventures. We will also read the
folktale Zomo’s Friends, about making a friend by being a
friend.
Monday- 4/11/16 through
Thursday- 4/14/16
PSSA Math Testing
Monday- 4/18/16 through
Wednesday- 4/20/16
PSSA Science Testing- 4th Grade
Monday- 4/25/16 and
Tuesday- 4/26/16
Literacy Night: 4:30-6:00 PM
Thursday- 4/28/16
This week’s…
Target Vocabulary: acquire, unfortunate, coerce,
boasted, beamed, glared, ceased, declared, devised,
resourceful
Vocabulary Strategy: adages and proverbs
Comprehension Skill: story structure
Comprehension Strategy: questioning
Writing: narrative writing- descriptive writing
Grammar: prepositions
Check out Think Central (online) to
view the eBook and listen to this
week’s selection.
Contact Information
Mrs. Susan Lahneman
lahnemsm@npenn.org
215-855-4331 Ext. 5718
Miss Christie Vilsmeier
vilsmecl@npenn.org
215-855-4331 Ext. 4682
Miss Breanna Yates
yatesbs@npenn.org
Math
By: Miss Yates
The fractions and mixed numbers keep on coming! As we continue to
work on adding and subtracting mixed numbers and improper fractions, we have
begun to transfer our knowledge into solving word problems. This shows us the
practical application of fraction math and how important these strategies are for
everyday life. Chapter 8 introduces multiplying fractions and mixed numbers. We
are using and will continue to use multiple strategies to work through these
multiplication problems (making models, acting out the problem).
We are working hard on our basic math facts! All students now have a math fact
fluency graph. This graph allows each student to keep track of their own progress
with the mad minutes we do in class. As we continue to work on our fact fluency,
the number of facts we know is growing rapidly! A great way to practice math
fact fluency at home is to do the “fact fluency” activity on Moby Max.
Science
By: Mrs. Lahneman
We started back after the relaxing spring break by observing and
comparing the 4 soil components we have been working with. While we have
worked with it building our stream tables, it was the first time we had an
opportunity to look at each of the parts of soil up closely. The students
recorded and discussed the properties of each component, and excitedly came
to the conclusion that humus has a very loose texture and a high water-holding
capacity and reacted very differently when it was added to water. Our young
scientists discussed how the soil properties might affect the ways in which soil
is eroded and deposited. We also worked on vocabulary and
dictionary/computer skills to further our knowledge. How excited the students
who volunteered were, knowing that this was the week for Science Night and
they got to show their way around an experiment.