Current Studies in Fourth Grade
January 12, 2022 | Ms. Jonker
It’s good see the fourth graders embrace hybrid learning. The in-person students patiently wait for me to open my zoom rooms and deal with the many tabs that I inevitably need! The remote learners flexibly deal with tech issues that arise while staying engaged with our class discussions.
So what are we studying? This post will summarize most of it.
In STEAM, the students are working to answer this big question: “How do human-made objects fly?” Students are exploring answers to that question by researching terms like air resistance, lift, and fuselage. At the end of this week, students will be assigned a specific aircraft to research and eventually build a model of.
I am excited about all of the cross-curricular connections in our current units of study! As we study flight in STEAM, we are studying the book Amelia Lost in language arts. This book is about Amelia Earhart and its chapters alternate between telling the story of her growing up and the story of her disappearance. Students read the book in partnerships each day. They are also writing paragraphs about Amelia Earhart’s goals and struggles.
In math, we started a measurement unit. Students are learning how to do measurement conversions, starting with units of length. Students will learn how to calculate perimeter, as well. Next week we will begin a study of polygons. I am excited to see how students apply their understanding of measurement and shape when they construct aircrafts for STEAM.
In art this term, fourth grade creates entries for The Graceful Envelope Contest, transforming an envelope into a work of art. We experiment with turning words into pictures in the style of calligrams. Next we’ll begin brainstorming ideas around the contest theme, Greetings and Salutations.
In music, students are preparing songs related to the MLK celebration. In PE, students are doing a combination of things including volleyball.
In Spanish, Brandon Brown dice la verdad is the class read. Fourth grade students are developing literacy skills by reading, acting, and discussing each chapter. They are demonstrating comprehension through classroom conversations and by completing scaffolded writing assignments that are meant to help develop oral and written fluency.
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