Week in Review: January 9 - 13

Welcome to back the wonderful world of grade four...it is amazing how fast time flies when you are having fun, as I hope everyone was over the Christmas break.  I managed to get in a few of the important "S" events over the break - some snowboarding, skating, several suppers, and even some sleeping!   In listening to the kids this week it is clear that the break was busy for them, and a lot of fun was had for many of you.  Our week this week has been nothing short of great - everyone hit the ground running and we had virtually no change in learning pace as is sometimes the case after longer breaks.  We introduced new concepts and covered further ground with existing topics - all in all a productive start to the new year! 

And now the curricular news...

In Math we will continue with multiplication and are now working with the concept of multiple digit times multiple digit, i.e. 23 x 36 or 367 x 59.  These types of equations will draw on the students' knowledge of not only multiplication facts but also place value and the regrouping of facts.  Please encourage your child to take advantage of the shared Google docs containing links to "Double digit multiplication" sites where they can continue to practice their skills and gain increased fluency and accuracy with problems.

In Language Arts the focus will has again shifted towards active word attack strategies and using word features to decode unknown vocabulary and assist with phonetic spelling patterns.  Currently we are working our way through James and the Giant Peach and we have been applying our strategies in deciphering unknown words within the novel but chunking the unknown words into pieces including prefixes and suffixes. In working with prefixes and suffixes the students will begin expanding their own working vocabularies and better recognize spelling patterns within words which can assist them in reading and understanding the words.  

The weekly spelling words will continue to be introduced each Monday, used throughout the week in various activities and then tested on the Friday - continue to use the Spelling City website to assist with spelling practice.

In Science we are continuing to explore Simple Machines and have begun working with levers.  This week we worked on identifying the various parts of the lever - the fulcrum, the load, and the effort/force.  In working with these three parts we discussed how their location on the lever bar would help determine what class the lever is.  With our study of levers we will be looking at: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 levers.

In Social Studies we are continuing our study of the First Nations Cree people of Alberta.  Lesson activities are now beginning the transition into European settlers arriving in Alberta. Our class discussion topics this week are now looking at the Hudsons Bay Company and the impact of European hunters/traders on Native lifestyles within Alberta.  With the arrival of trading posts Native life was changed and their roles within the province were also changed.

In Music, Mrs. Ausman is excited to announce that it's "recorder time"!  Students who have recorders are asked to please bring them to school on Monday as recorder lessons kick off next week.  Those students who had placed orders for a recorder will have them delivered to them next week in music class.

Important Upcoming Dates/Events

Thursday, January 19 - Library: Book Exchange

Friday, January 20 - Spelling Test: List #18

Thursday, January 25 - School Bake Sale:  50 cents per item

Thursday, January 26 - WHPS Ski Club Trip to Rabbit Hill (forms/fees available online)

Tuesday, January 31 - PD Day: School