Happy Friday! I can FEEL the energy building throughout Whittier as the holiday break draws near. I'm looking forward to many fun activities next week, including our third Hubbard Street Visit, the Holiday Sing on Friday, and more great work in our core subject areas.
4th Grade Math: We started Unit 5: Big Numbers, Estimation and Computation this week. The major skill in Unit 5 is double-digit multiplication. The students will learn three methods by which to solve these problems; we learned the first this week. It's called "Multiplication Wrestling" (or the "old-school" term: "FOIL"). See example below:
- Your problem: 32 * 56 =
- First you break up the numbers into teams: (30 + 2) * (50 + 6) =
- Then you multiply each of the combinations of numbers:
- First: 30* 50 = 1500
- Outer: 30 * 6= 180
- Inner: 2 * 50= 100
- Last: 2 * 6 = 12
- Last, you add their totals: 1,792
Science: We reviewed all of the major concepts and took our "Electricity and Magnetism" test this week. Next week we'll only have one science class; we'll spend it using the knowledge we've gained to make electromagnets! After break we'll begin our Ecosystems unit.
*** An important note: we begin our ecosystems unit upon our return from winter break in January. Each child needs 3 clear, 2-liter bottles in order to create an ecosystem (and I need time to cut them all to the right size!). With that in mind, please send in any bottles you collect over the holidays as soon as possible. We need a total of 135, and we currently have 3!! They need to be clear (not tinted or green), rinsed out, and label-free please.
Writing: Again we worked on our "Choose Your Own Adventure" projects. Ms. Casey and I have enjoyed meeting with each of the groups several times now to help them plan and develop their stories. Most teams are into the typing phase; our (very ambitious) goal is to wrap up and publish by next week!
*** An important note: we begin our ecosystems unit upon our return from winter break in January. Each child needs 3 clear, 2-liter bottles in order to create an ecosystem (and I need time to cut them all to the right size!). With that in mind, please send in any bottles you collect over the holidays as soon as possible. We need a total of 135, and we currently have 3!! They need to be clear (not tinted or green), rinsed out, and label-free please.
Writing: Again we worked on our "Choose Your Own Adventure" projects. Ms. Casey and I have enjoyed meeting with each of the groups several times now to help them plan and develop their stories. Most teams are into the typing phase; our (very ambitious) goal is to wrap up and publish by next week!
Social Studies: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
Miscellaneous:
- Bottles, bottles, bottles! Please send in your 2-liter bottles. We will use them as terrariums and aquariums for our next science unit, starting in December. They need to be clear (not tinted or green), rinsed out, and label-free please. Thank you!!
- GIRL SCOUT 11th ANNUAL TOY DRIVE will take place Monday, November 28 to Friday, December 23, 2011. Drop Box Locations are: Whittier Lobby and Dole Library.Encourage your friends and neighbors to donate gifts for children ages 0-13. (Don’t forget the older children!) Who Benefits from these toys? Our Austin Neighbors! The children will receive these gift-wrapped toys distributed by the Fraternite Notre Dame (FND).
