Clarksburg Elementary School
Fourth Grade Newsletter
Engaged Learners
Future Leaders
Volume 1 Issue 9
May 2, 2016
Email Addresses
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
May and June
Dates to Remember:







May 10th, Bay Trip
Parent Meeting, 6
PM
May 20th, Bay Trip,
9:30—4:30
May 27th, Fort
Frederick Field Trip,
9:30—3:30 PM
May 24th, Spring
Concert, CHS, 7 PM
June 10th, Parent
Volunteer Breakfast
June 16th, Awards
Assembly, 9:30
June 20th, Last Day
of School, half day
We do need volunteers
to chaperone the Bay
Trip on the May 20th
and the Fort Frederick
Trip on the 27th . We
would like to have three
volunteers from each
class for the Fort
Frederick trip. We take
any and all volunteers
for the Bay Trip. It is an
amazing trip. Parents
will have to carpool to
each of the trips as our
students fill the bus.
More information on the
trips will be coming
home soon.
Clarksburg Elementary
Our Last Newsletter of the Year
Here is an overview of some of the instructional areas of study for the
end of the year. The county newsletters for reading and math are 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
throughout the rest of the school year. We will send home some suggestions for summer practice later in the school year.
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: Narrative
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by composing, over shorter and
extended time frames, narrative texts with evidence of:
A well established situation that introduces a narrator and/or characters.
An organized event sequence that unfolds naturally.
Dialogue, descriptions and details to develop experiences, events, or show the characters response to situations.
Transitional words and phrases to sequence events.
Concrete words, phrases, and sensory details to precisely communicate experiences.
A concluding section that results from the experiences and events
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.
Students have been researching natural disasters. They will share their information with each other
in order to write an informative piece. In small groups they will create a multi-media project to
share this information. Finally they will write an opinion piece on which has had a greater impact on
the Earth’s surface.
Social Studies
Civics
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by:
Demonstrating and applying knowledge for the historical development and current status of the
fundamental concepts and processes of authority, power, and influence in Maryland today and in the
British colonies of North America
Geography
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by:
using geographic concepts and processes to examine the role of culture, technology, and the
environment in the location and distribution of human activities in the United States today, in
Pre-Columbian America, and during the European colonization of America.
Economics
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by:
using economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic
principles, institutions, and processes during the age of exploration and used in Maryland today.
Students will gather, record, and analyze information about the three regions of colonial America, the
New England, Middle, and Southern regions. Then students continue their study of the colonial period
by determining how geographic characteristics affected how colonists lived and worked in the Middle
and New England regions. Finally, students participate in an historical investigation focused on the
French and Indian War to determine how European policies affected interactions among colonists and
Native Americans.
Science
Earth Space Science
Students demonstrate proficiency of Grade 4 standards for this measurement topic by:
Understanding Explanations- Explaining interactions and relationships among processes (e.g., natural forces
and cycles of the hydrosphere and atmosphere) and materials (e.g., fossils, rock formation, and Earth
features). Applying these concepts to real-world situations.
Generating Evidence- Analyzing and interpreting data as evidence that supports claims related to processes
that change Earth’s surface over time (e.g., natural forces and cycles of the hydrosphere and atmosphere) by
examining properties and formation of fossils, rock formation, and Earth features.
Reflecting on Knowledge- Using and interpreting scientific and technological knowledge to formulate
generalizations about processes that change Earth’s surface over time by examining properties and formation
of fossils, rock formation, and Earth features.
Participating Productively- Questioning the validity of evidence related to processes that change Earth’s
surface by examining properties and formation of fossils, rock formation, and Earth features .
Students will explore fossils to see how the fossils of organisms provide insight into organisms and
environments of the past. Next, students will develop working definitions of the terms weathering,
erosion, and deposition. Finally, students will merge concepts and topics from the Measurement
Topics of Physical Sciences and Engineering and Technology to develop an understanding of ways
Humans use technology to impact Earth’s surface to meet a societal want or need (e.g., designing and
testing a method to prevent water erosion).
Dear 4th Grade Parents/Guardians,
As you may know, the 5th graders have a Promotion Ceremony at the end of the year to commemorate their farewell to
Clarksburg as they head on to Middle School. The ceremony this year will be held on Wednesday June 15 th at 10:00 AM.
It will last around an hour or so. Your tasks would include clean up of the ceremony and set up of the reception. We would
like for you to arrive at 10:30 AM, but you are welcome to come right when Promotion starts in order to see it all happen!
Please fill out this form so we can get a headcount of helpers.
https://docs.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/forms/d/1cu-qpEP5OfmgtyoLUF2sV3IM9j6dKp3I6hYAOvFx1jk/viewform
Volunteers who decide to help out will be able to witness Promotion, thereby gaining ideas for their kids next year! This
will help you out and us out when planning for the following year. You will also be granted the opportunity to serve on our
Planning Committee next year.
Thanks for taking the time to contribute to this event.
Warm Regards,
Fifth Grade team