C l a rk sb u r g E l e m en t a ry S c h o o l
Fourth Grade Newsletter
Engaged Learners
Future Leaders
Volume 1 Issue 5
February 1, 2016
Email Addresses
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
February
Dates to Remember:
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Feb. 5th—Class and
Group Pictures
Feb. 8th –22nd-PTA
Read-a-thon
Feb. 12th Valentine’s Day
Party 2:30 PM
Feb. 15th—
President’s Day, no
school
Feb. 26th—Early
release day
Clarksburg Elementary
Valentine’s Day:
Valentine’s information
will be coming home as
soon as possible. Please
be sure that if your child
is writing Valentines
that he or she writes
one for each member of
the class.
We hope you all are managing to stay warm and safe this winter. Even
with the weather challenges this winter has brought, your children are
doing a fabulous job coming in excited and ready to learn.
Here is an overview of some of the instructional areas of study for this
month. We are attaching the reading and math newsletters that have
been generated by the county. These newsletters are also available on
the CES website. The newsletters will give you the Measurement Topics
(MT) for each of these subjects. It will also give you the Thinking and
Academic Success Skills (TASS) that will be the focus for all subject areas
during the quarter.
On the following pages is an overview of the instructional areas of study
for the areas of writing, science and social studies that will be covered
this month.
Writing
Writing: Opinion
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by composing, over shorter and
extended time frames, opinion texts with evidence of:
An introduction that elaborates on an opinion statement.
An organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the opinion.
Reasons supported by researched facts and details.
Linking opinion and reasons using words and phrases (e.g., for instance, in order to, in addition).
A concluding statement or section related to the opinion.
Writing: Informative/Explanatory
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by composing, over shorter and
extended time frames, informative/explanatory texts with evidence of:
An introduction that develops a clear topic.
An organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the information.
Formatting using text features or multi-media to aid comprehension.
Researched facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.
Linking ideas within categories of information using words and phrases (e.g., another, for example, also, because).
precise language and domain-specific vocabulary
A concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented.
Writing: Process, Production, and Research
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by:
Developing clear, coherent, and organized writing appropriate to task, purpose and audience.
Planning, revising, and editing based on feedback from adults and peers.
Using a variety of technology while interacting and collaborating with others to produce or publish
writing.
Conducting short research investigations of different aspects to build knowledge or a topic.
Recalling or gathering relevant information from print and digital sources.
Recording relevant notes, categorizing information, and citing sources.
Drawing evidence from literary and informative texts for analysis, reflection, or
research.
Writing: Use of Language
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by:
Creating audio recordings and visual displays to enhance main ideas or themes.
Choosing words and phrases to convey ideas precisely.
Demonstrating command of grade-level grammar, usage, spelling, and capitalization.
Differentiating between listening and speaking contexts that call for recounting experiences, reporting
on topics or telling stories in an organized manner using appropriate facts or details.
The students will begin this month working collaboratively to write an informative newsletter about
a topic of their choosing. This ties in with our science, social studies and health lessons from
Earlier in the year as well as writing. Then the students will have the opportunity to analyze
different types of advertisements and research responsible marketing to children. They will
Then write an opinion piece about marketing to children.
Social Studies
Culture
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by:
demonstrating and applying knowledge of the impact of diversity and commonality of people and
human interdependence in Maryland today, in early European settlements in America, and in native
societies during the time of early European colonization.
History
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by:
using historical thinking skills to identify, examine, describe, and compare how individuals and
events have changed society during the age of European exploration and during the time of early
European settlement of America.
The students will be reading primary and secondary resources to analyze the settlements
of St. Augustine, Jamestown, Plymouth and St. Mary’s City.
Science
Chemistry (Science)
4.5.C.1 Provide evidence from investigations to identify the processes that can be used to change materials
from one state of matter to another.
Observe and describe the changes heating and cooling cause to the different states in which water exists.
Based on data explain the importance of water’s ability to exist in all three states within the temperatures
normally found on Earth.
Earth/Space Science (Science)
2.5.E.1 Recognize and describe that the amount of water on Earth continues to stay the same even though it
may change from one form to another.
Describe how water on Earth changes.
Explain that the sun is the main source of energy that causes the changes in the water on Earth.
Describe the relationship between the amount of energy from the sun and the quantity of water that is
changed.
Describe the processes that maintain a continuous water cycle.
2.4.E.2 Recognize and describe that each season has different weather conditions.
Describe different seasonal weather conditions using data collected from weather instruments, models or
drawings.
Compare average daily temperatures during different seasons.
Compare average daily wind speed and direction during different seasons.
Compare average daily precipitation during different seasons.
Engineering and Technology (Science)
7.3.A.1 Develop an understanding of the characteristics and scope of technology.
Students will utilize tools from a weather station to make observations about the daily
weather features. They will record and analyze this data over time. In addition, we will
learn about matter, states of matter, and conservation of matter as it relates to weather.
We will also describe the water cycle and its important to life on our planet.