Sequoyah Elementary School
News From Fourth Grade
NOVEMBER 4-DECEMBER 7
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
Math with Ms. Lentz and Mr. Poole
In Math, we are working on this Essential Questions, “How can knowledge of
place value help with multiplication and division of multi-digit whole numbers?”
During these next few weeks we will extend understandings of place value and
properties of operations, including the distributive property, to multiply a whole
number of up to 4 digits by a 1-digit number. Rectangular arrays, area models,
and equations are used to represent and explain calculations. We’ll be encouraging our students to flexibly decompose numbers and select from a repertoire of
strategies, including mental math, to calculate products. This work will lead to
students applying their knowledge of operations to make connections to solve
problems involving conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller
unit. This will be enhanced by the work students are doing currently using multiplicative comparisons. During this period we’ll also begin developing further the
understanding of a formula, with area and perimeter being the foundational concept. Mastery of the basic facts for multiplication are very important during this
quarter. Homework and classwork will include exercises to strengthen student
mastery of the basic facts for 1-9.
Science with Ms. Lentz and Mr. Poole
Students will continue to observe and work with the model ecosystems constructed
in the first quarter to collect observable evidence of the relationships and interactions that occur among the living and non-living components of an ecosystem.
Our students will use print and non-print resources to identify and describe habitats within an ecosystem. In addition, we’ll take a look at the events (both natural
and man-made) that can impact an ecosystem in a positive and negative manner.
Later in the semester, students will conduct their own investigations to observe,
conclude, and infer the effects of pollution and/or pollution by-products on the
environment. They’ll also investigate the natural or man-made factors that can disrupt a stable environment.
NEWS FROM FOURTH GRADE
Page 2
Reading and Social Studies with Mrs. Beard &
Mrs. Cruise-Levi
During the second quarter of fourth grade, students will compare poetry and
drama (plays) based on elements of text structure. They will also identify
and compare similar themes and topics within literature (poems, plays and
traditional stories). Students will continue to make inferences using text support. We will also be looking for “cause and effect” in our reading. In poetry we will focus on verse, rhyme and meter. In drama we will focus on stage
directions, casts of characters and dialogue.
In Social Studies we will focus on economics this quarter. Students will examine the specialization of jobs and interdependence of businesses within
the state of Maryland. They will examine Maryland maps to describe specialized work in regions throughout Maryland. Students will also engage in
making decisions about what to produce when resources are limited. They
will identify opportunity costs of decisions made by individuals, businesses
and government.
Goal-Setting
Next week, our fourth graders will be deciding on a goal they wish to reach.
Then they will develop a plan that outlines the steps they need to take to
achieve their goal and the part that parents and teachers play in the process.
Stay tuned for further information about this activity in their Data Notebooks.