Curriculum Update Math & Language

MATH

Today we launched into a mini geometry unit on angles!

Summary of unit key concepts for grade 4
-Recognize and contrast benchmark angles: right angles (90 degrees), straight angles (180 degrees) and half-right angles (45 degrees)
-Angles are measured by the spread of the angle's arms and NOT by the length of the arms or the area in between the arms.
-Smaller angles can be used to measure larger angles (e.g. two half-right angles makes one right angle, four half-right angles equals one straight angle, etc. )
-Compare other angles to benchmark angles (e.g. almost a right angle, almost a little more than a half-right angle, almost a straight angle, etc.)

Summary of unit key concepts for grade 5
-Understand that angles are measured in units called degrees and using a tool called a protractor
-Recognize and contrast benchmark angles: right angles (90 degrees), acute angles (between 0 and 90 degrees), obtuse angles (between 90 and 180 degrees) and straight angles (180 degrees)
-Estimate and measure angle measurements using protractors. Reorient a protractor, as needed, to measure an angle in an unusual orientation
-Understand that only certain combinations of angles are possible in certain shapes (e.g. if a polygon contains four right angles than it must be a square or a rectangle)

After we complete this mini unit on angles, we will explore polygons, 2D and 3D shapes!

LANGUAGE:

We continue with our 'Mystery Book Club' centres and activities. Students are currently working on their mystery story organizers which they will use to write their own mystery stories.

Check out some of the 'settings' their mystery novel or our classroom shared novel, that students created during our centre activities before the March Break:

It was wonderful to see everyone today after the March Break. There were a variety of stories and recounts presented during our morning sharing circle and it sounds like everyone had a great break.

-Tuesday March 19th, we have a fun-filled day of 'Mathletics' at St. Augustine School. It will be a day of math activities in a 'rotation station' format and should be very interesting. Ask your child all about it Tuesday night at the dinner table!

-Information sheets and permission forms went home today regarding our upcoming school-wide field trip to the sugar bush on Thursday, April 4th. Please be sure to complete forms and return them to school as soon as possible.

-Letters also went home about our upcoming Family Life unit 'Created Sexual- Male and Female.' Instruction for this unit will be done separately for grade 4's and grade 5's as the content varies slightly. See the letter for more details.

-Math quizzes went home today. Please sign and return them to school.

-Reading Logs continue to be an important aspect of your child's learning. Daily reading improves reading comprehension in all subject areas and also strengthens verbal communication and writing skills. As I have said before, when your child does his/her reading is up to them and you. There may be 'double up' days and other days when reading just isn't possible. Either way, the log is there in order to formalize what is an extremely important skill and a home-school connection. Plus, it promotes the love of reading and exploring the world through printed material!

Measurement Quiz Friday, March 8th!

There  will be a short math quiz on Friday March 8th which will cover the

following Measurement concepts:

Grade 4:

-Estimation and/or measurement of money amounts to the nearest penny

(even though pennies are no longer in circulation, bank card and credit

card transactions are still debited to the nearest cent)

-Estimation and/or measurement of the capacity of

containers in mL (millilitres) and L (litres) & the relationship between these

two units of measurement (1000 mL = 1 L)

-Estimation and/or measurement of the mass of objects in g (grams) and

kg (kilograms) and the relationship between these two units of

measurement (1000 g = 1 kg)

Grade 5:

-Estimation and/or measurement of money amounts to the nearest penny

(even though pennies are no longer in circulation, bank card and credit

card transactions are still debited to the nearest cent)

-Estimation and/or measurement of the capacity of

containers in mL (millilitres) and L (litres) and the relationship between these

two units of measurement (1000 mL = 1 L)

-Estimation and/or measurement of the mass of objects in g (grams) and

kg (kilograms) and tonnes (t) and the relationship between these units of

measurement (1000 g = 1 kg and 1000 kg = 1 t)

-Estimation and/or measurement of the volume of objects in cubic

centimetres (cm3)  and the relationship between Capacity and Volume

(e.g. displacement used to calculate the volume of irregularly shaped objects)

Mark Your Calendars!

Thursday, February 28th - Junior Ski Day

Tuesday, March 5th - Grade 6 Bake Sale (Fundraiser for end-of-the-year trip)

Wednesday, March 6th -  Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten Season.

There will be a liturgy at in the gym at 11:00 a.m. All parents/family members are welcome to attend!

Friday, March 8th - Math Measurement Quiz and Outdoor Winter Play Day (weather dependent of course)

MARCH BREAK - March 11th - 15th

Report Cards Reminders!

By now, most of the report card slips and envelopes have been returned to me. If you have yet to do so, please send back envelopes and report card slips next week! Once again, if you would like an interview with your child's teacher(s), it's not too late to complete complete the form that was enclosed with the report card OR simply write a note in your child's agenda!

Black History Month

February is 'Black History Month.' On Monday we contributed our ideas during our 'Sharing Circle' about 'Black History Month' (what we knew about it already, thought we knew, questions we had, etc.). Then we looked up the history and meaning of 'Black History Month' on the internet to learn more about it's origins, countries that celebrate it and which months they celebrate it, etc. Then, we watched a video of some African-American students explaining what 'Black History Month' is, and what it means to them, in their own words. On Monday, and again today, we shared the story of 'Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt' which is about a young slave girl who made a quilt that was really a map, in order to escape from slavery into Canada, via the 'Underground Railroad.' Many slaves after her, used her quilt in order to reach the same freedom in Canada.' Throughout our discussions and book talk this week, we have been focussed on identifying the 'Big Ideas' behind 'Black History Month.' The students understand the importance of remembering the extreme efforts and sacrifices that were made in order to fight for freedom and uphold human rights and freedoms. I was amazed at their insights and how easily they made connections between past and present and the 'Golden Rule.'  

Language Arts - Mystery Book Club

We are starting our 'Literacy Place-Crimes, Clues and Suspects Book Club.' As you may have guessed, the book club unit will be based on mysteries! The unit will cover many aspects of language instruction.

Reading:  Reading comprehension strategies are taught through the mystery-based teacher Read Aloud (Mystery at Turtle Lake) and Shared Reading texts provided by the unit.  We will work as a group to develop our understanding of texts read during our shared reading sessions.
Students will be given one of four different different novels to read for the book club (these have not been assigned yet). There will be opportunities for independent reading and other times they will be be reading their novel in small groups.

Oral Language:  Throughout our book club sessions, there will be many class and small group discussions which will give students opportunities to articulate their thoughts and ideas to others. Students will also have the opportunity to further develop their listening skills by listening to, and carefully considering, the various ideas and viewpoints of their peers.

Writing:  Students will participate in a variety of reader response writing activities throughout the book club unit (e.g. mystery jot notes, prediction sketches, written responses to comprehension questions, etc. ) Additionally, students will write their own mystery story!

The 'Mystery Book Club' should be an exciting learning journey in grade 4/5!