Elko and Killea Newsletter

1. Elko and Killea Newsletter March 2014 • English Language Arts • Did you know that there are over 10,000 types of ants? Not mighty in size, but mighty in resourcefulness and industry, the ant has crawled the earth since prehistoric times. It has dwelt in rainforest tree trunks and acorns of oak trees, beneath logs, and under sidewalks. It has protected forests by capturing insects, cleared weeds away from acacia trees, and by growing gardens has released important nutrients into the soil. Seed lifters, dirt diggers, social beings, ants have the most advanced brain of all insects! So watch where you step, especially on a warm day: a small but mighty ant may be underfoot. • This nonfiction text sure has taken us on a journey through text features! Check it out… • Table of contents: A table of contents gives the heading and beginning page number of each section in a book. • Heading: A heading tells you what the section is about. • Photograph: A photograph is a picture made with a camera that shows how things look in real life. • Label: A label is a word that tells about a picture. • Caption: A caption is a sentence that tells about a picture. • Bold Print: Bold print shows you new or important words. • Colored Print: Colored print shows you new or important words. • Glossary: A glossary lists new or important words and shows or tells what they mean. • Index: An index tells you what page to find information in a book. It is in ABC order. • Diagram: A diagram is a labeled picture that shows the parts of something. • Map: A map is a picture that shows the location of things or places. • Timeline: A timeline is a chart that shows events in order. • What is a R.A.F.T. response? • Many children have difficulty answering comprehension or open ended questions. Many children choose to answer using a sentence or even one word. The strategy of “RAFT” helps children to fully answer each question. We will continue to utilize this new strategy for the remainder of the year and beyond! Please familiarize yourself with the strategy below: • R-Restate the question • A-Answer the question( I know this because) • F-For example (Find evidence) • T-Tell your thoughts and tie it up! • You may even want to color code your response to be sure to incorporate all 4 parts of R.A.F.T. ! Mark your calendars: March 3- Read Across America week 5- Walk to School Wednesday 6- Parent Family Life Presentation 7:00 p.m. GYM 21- Hickory Tree Pizza Day 24-26 Spring Break The Food Bank was a huge success! What a special 4th grade memory! What’s Coming Up Next in ELA: Our next writing unit will be focusing on essay! The students will be exposed to creating a thesis statement, introduction, three supporting facts/ideas and a conclusion. Essay is less abstract than personal narratives and realistic fiction for most students because it has a defined structure to it. There is always an introduction, three supporting paragraphs and a conclusion that connects and supports the thesis statement. The main purpose of our essay is to persuade or inform the writer’s audience. Again, individual writing conferences will be happening regularly during our Writing Workshop time. This ensures that each child is given the appropriate Some Fun…Try this 3 times fast…A noisy noise annoys an oyster.

2. Math We have been working very hard to learn that very difficult algorithm named “long division” and we have successfully reached the conclusion! Now we will be heading in to Topic 11 – Fractions. This topic begins with learning about Factors and Prime and Composite numbers. This leads us into a review of basic fractions and the challenging concept of “equivalent fractions”. We will also be learning how to add and subtract fractions with the same and different denominators. Science We are finishing up our unit on Electricity by completing our electrical matching games and creating a crossword puzzle which includes key vocabulary words dealing with current electricity. Our last project is “building” a room (box scene) in which we will create a series circuit in which to illuminate the room using white and/or colored lights! This project will test our creativity and circuit building knowledge, but most of all, will be a lot of fun! • Oh no, we have run out of a few materials… • Scissors • Highlighters • Thin or Thick Sharpies • Crayola Markers • Feel free to donate any of the materials from above! Thank you in advance! Social Studies We continue to travel through our social studies program applying the lessons of “civics” in our own classrooms as it relates to our classmates and ourselves. Learning about our country, regions, the geographic and political boundaries will be examined through various projects.