Reading Workshop
Throughout April students will continue to use their historical fiction text to complete character analysis, determine theme/themes, infer, compare and contrast, synthesize, and write deeply about their reading while using textual evidence. As mentioned previously, these are strong reading skills that our 4th grade readers will be able to apply across any fiction text that they pick up and read regardless of whether or not it is historical.
Students are also working through the complexity of group work. Groups are building problem solving and self-reflection skills through their daily communications with one another. Students are refining their ability to exchange information about their reading in a way where they can dive more deeply into the big ideas being presented by the author of their text.
Writing Workshop
During the month of April students will extend their skills as writers of literary essays. They are invested in the process of growing big ideas about the short stories that they are analyzing each day. Students are being challenged to lift the level of their essays through their thesis statements, writing about ideas that are more complex and interpretive, and supporting those ideas with textual evidence. They will also learn to analyze author’s craft and use this to support their ideas. Finally, students will move from writing about one text to crafting essays that compare and contrast two pieces of literature. Following this unit students will begin informational writing.
Science
As Young AmeriTowne lessons come to a close, we will switch gears and focus on Science for the remainder of the year. Our next unit of study will be Sun, Moon, and Stars. Key questions we would like students to be able to answer include: What are the patterns of movement for the Sun and Moon across the sky? How does Earth compare to other objects orbiting the Sun? How do we study the solar system?
As we embark on this unit, students will study the path of the sun and its various positions in the sky as well as how and why shadows are formed. We will also gather and analyze shadow data to develop logical conclusions about the sun's position. Finally, we will study the various phases of the moon as well as constellations.
Math
During the month April we will be learning about fractions and decimals. In this unit students will learn how to determine parts of rectangles (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/3, 1/6), how to find equivalent fractions, how to identify and represent decimals on grids, how to compare fractions and decimals, and how to represent fractions and decimals on a number line. They will also be adding/subtracting fractions and decimals and computing with rational numbers. Learning will be differentiated through small group instruction as well as extension activities that will challenge all students.
**As always, you and your kiddo can log on to the Pearson Realize website for access to teaching videos, math games, and the HW pages connected to this unit.
Unit 6: Useful Links for Fractions and Decimals
Gold Rush CMAS Schedule 2019
April
8th
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9th
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10th
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11th
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12th
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3rd Grade
8:45-10:30
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English Language Arts (ELA) Unit 1
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English Language Arts (ELA) Unit 2
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English Language Arts (ELA) Unit 3
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Math Unit 1
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Math Unit 2
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5th Grade
10:45-12:30
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English Language Arts (ELA) Unit 1
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English Language Arts (ELA) Unit 2
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English Language Arts (ELA) Unit 3
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Math Unit 1
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Math Unit 2
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4th Grade
1:15-3:00
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English Language Arts (ELA) Unit 1
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English Language Arts (ELA) Unit 2
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English Language Arts (ELA) Unit 3
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Math Unit 1
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Math Unit 2
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April
15th
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16th
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17th
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18th
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19th
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3rd Grade
9:00-10:30
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Math Unit 3
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5th Grade
10:45 - 12:15
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Math Unit 3
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Science Unit 1
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Science Unit 2
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Science Unit 3
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4th Grade
1:30-3:15
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Math Unit 3
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ELA 3 Units @ 90 min
Math 3 Units @ 65 min
