Grade 4

Reading

 This term, our Grade Four students have commenced a meaningful exploration of the picture book Storm Boy by Colin Thiele. Set against the backdrop of South Australia's Coorong region, this Australian classic delves into themes of compassion, environmental stewardship, and the profound connections between humans and nature. Through the narrative, students are introduced to the character of Fingerbone Bill, an Aboriginal man whose wisdom and deep understanding of the land offer invaluable lessons in cultural respect and the importance of listening to First Nations voices.

As we journey through the pages of Storm Boy, students are encouraged to reflect on the significance of Indigenous perspectives in shaping our understanding of the world around us. This reading experience not only enriches their appreciation for Australian literature but also fosters a deeper respect for the diverse cultures that contribute to our shared heritage.

Writing 

This week our students have been developing their information report writing skills, using the Coorong as our topic focus. We began by reading and discussing a non-fiction article to build a clear understanding of what the Coorong is and where it is located.

 Body Paragraph: We learned how a body paragraph is meant to classify or describe one specific aspect of a topic— and how it helps readers understand better.

• Topic Sentence (TS): This kicks off the paragraph by introducing the main idea—who or what we're talking about, and why or how it's relevant.
• Supporting Details: These are the key ideas of the paragraph—facts, explanations, examples or descriptions that help expand on the TS.
• Concluding Sentence (CS): This wraps it up by reinforcing the main idea in a fresh way, but without repeating the TS word for word.

We modelled identifying each part using sample paragraphs. Students planned their own paragraphs using a simple chart: they drafted a topic sentence, added a few detail points, and wrote a concluding sentence. They then turned their plans into full paragraphs, checked for clarity and structure, and revised with feedback. This structured approach is helping students understand not only what to include in a paragraph, but also why those parts matter.

Maths 

So far this term in Mathematics, our Grade 4 students have been building their skills with a range of multiplication algorithms, including the expansion, contracted, distributive, and associative methods. These strategies have helped students understand how numbers work and how problems can be solved in different ways. To keep learning fun and engaging, we’ve also played a variety of maths games that reinforce these concepts. In addition, students have been working on division, focusing on dividing by 2s, 5s, and 10s. It’s been a productive and enjoyable 2 weeks of learning in maths!