Week of 10/16/17

Highlights for the Week of 10/16/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 8 - Grade Appropriate & Domain-Specific Vocabulary
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include a variety of words that are appropriate for 4th-grade students. Instead of studying a spelling rule, we will focus on the definition of these words and how they might be used in reading and writing. Part of this week's lesson will also highlight how to use reference materials such as a dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, and encyclopedia. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 10/20.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"
We will be digging into an excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech". Students will use their close reading skills in the whole group and with partners to interpret the message, language, vocabulary, and perspective of the piece. A QUIZ on Happy Birthday Dr. King & the "I Have a Dream Speech" is scheduled for Friday, 10/20.

Social Studies - The Narragansett
We will complete our study of the Narragansett People with a small project titled "The Narragansett Village", which is due on 10/24. Students will draw a model of what a Narragansett village of the past would look like based on what we have studied about their culture. There is also a QUIZ on the Narragansett scheduled for 10/24.
Science - How Are Animals Classified?

Students will take an open note QUIZ on animal classification on Thursday, 10/19.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 2 - Adding & Subtracting Fractions

Students will complete a GRADED WORK SAMPLE on Monday in class. The work sample will consist of four problems that require adding or subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. Students will be expected to use the strategies that we have studied in class to solve the problems. Problem-solving with fractions will be our focus for the rest of this week. Students will work with partners to create a poster of a hiking trail that is divided into sections based on fractions that they are given. They will then use their poster to problem solve. On Friday we will introduce the final strategy for adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators...the "Double Number Line".

Happy Friday!

Mrs. Karen Bell