Term 4 Week 8-9 Snapshot
Welcome to Week 8, Term 4
Welcome to Term 4, Week 8. We have had a wonderful start to the term and have found that the students have settled back into routine quite well.
Please read the following overview of the learning for Week 8 and Week 9 of Term 4.
English
READING
Students should be completing at least 20 minutes of independent reading a day as well as the work they complete at school.
Students have been exploring main idea and synthesizing when reading. We have used a range of strategies to helps students gain an understanding and being able to identify the main idea in a text. Students will continue to look at structural and language features of a range of texts with a focus on forces to assist with information required for the unit of inquiry. Students have been exploring a range of new vocabulary and using prior knowledge to assist in new knowledge gained while reading.
WRITING
Students have been investigating how to write an Explanation text and have been conducting the necessary research required about different topics. They will continue using the writing cycle, using text connectives and complex sentences to enhance their written work. Students will have a focus on identifying what subtopics will be required for their explanation text according to the research they have conducted.
While writing, we encourage students to use the writing cycle to ensure they are continuously developing and improving their writing.
The writing cycle consists of five stages:
1. Plan
2. Draft
3. Revise
4. Edit
5. Publish
Word Study
Students will continue to practice 30 "codes" of the English language. Grades 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D will begin exploring Rule 19, a reading rule which makes i and o say its second sound. 4E will continue exploring Rule 20, a spelling rule which explains when to change singular words to plurals. The "bootcamp" process allows students to practice the new skill until it becomes "automatic" in their brains.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, students will continue to explore problem solving of complex sums. They will show understanding of time using am and pm notations as well as to solve unknown numbers in time problems. Students will explore solving unknown quantities using addition and subtraction. They will begin recognising and continuing patterns as well as creating formulas to explain number patterns.
Unit of Inquiry
Students are exploring How the World Works and will inquire into the line of inquiry, 'The Design Cycle' and 'The External Forces that make Objects Move.'
Students will explore how the design cycle works by stating the stages of the design cycle, determining the steps required at each point of the design cycle and implementing and evaluating how well they worked through the design cycle.
Students will recognise that forces can be exerted by one object on other whether through contact or non-contact, describe the impact of a force on an object, explain how multiple forces can be exerted on an object and apply their knowledge of forces to the design process to develop solutions for their purpose.
Wellbeing
Over the next couple of weeks we will be focusing on coping with challenges and changes in the classroom in preparation for next year. In particular, students will also look at how persistence and adaptability will help them in multiple situations.
Reminders
Make sure you read school communications regarding any changes of drop off and pick up.
Grade 4 students will be finishing at 3:20pm.
Grade 4 Team
4A Melanie Davis
4B Andrew Yeaman
4C Phoebe James
4D Nicole Klaassen
4E Heather Jenkins & Zoe Picton
Hearing unit - Amy Chadwick