Benson/Cave News
News from the 4th Grade
November 20, 2015
Math News
We are now working on measurement using metric units. We will work on this unit for the 2 days next week and when we come back after the Thanksgiving Break, we will finish it up and test probably on Thursday, December 3rd.
I will be sending home a “Black Friday” project sheet on Monday with all students. They are to do this for a math project grade. It will be due the Monday we get back from Thanksgiving. This is a great way to earn an extra 100 in the gradebook.
Another great website that we are using in class is Zearn. This allows the students to get extra practice on the things we are talking about in class. To access this website, go to Zearn.com. Students use their school number as their username and the password is: benson.
Students were given at least 10 minutes each day in class this week to work on ALEKS. Students have until Sunday night to make sure they have mastered 5 topics. They can work on ALEKS in class or at home. If your child did not master 5 topics, please allow them to work at home and get this done. This will be a grade each week from here on out. Parents can log into their child’s account and see their progress. ( I used to have to do that several times a week with my son.) To access ALEKS from home, go to aleks.com. Your child will need to share their username with you. Their password is: aleksmat
Don’t forget that you can access your child’s text book at www.pearsonsuccessnet.com Their username is their school number id and the password is richland2.
Science News
We finished up talking about the other planets in our solar system and are now talking about something a little closer to home--the moon. Each child was given a “moon log” to fill in. They will need to go out each night and record what the moon looks like. If they miss it at night, maybe they can catch it on their way to school. They will fill this in until Tuesday, December 8th when it will be taken up for a grade.
Language Arts News
In reading this week students completed their essays about ships. Now they are ready to publish their writings. This week we began reading a story selection in Treasures titled “How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning.” Students are learning how to identify the author’s purpose for writing a story. On Tuesday, there will be a test on this story. Students can use their textbook with the test for the comprehension questions. Please encourage your student to write the correct page number where they find the answer in the story beside the question to earn extra credit points. On Monday I will collect reading logs. Since next week is a short week, there will be no reading log assigned. .
Social Studies News
In social studies we are studying the original 13 colonies that were settled by the English. Students were given a map for their notebook to name the colonies. Now our focus will be on comparing and contrasting the colonies based on their location - New England Colonies, Middle Colonies and Southern Colonies. Students are learning about the New England Colonies first. We will compare and contrast the Pilgrims and the Puritans. Then we discuss the first Thanksgiving.
Fourth Grade News
Next week will be a 2 day week due to the Thanksgiving Break. School will be closed Wednesday-Friday. Have a wonderful holiday!
We need your child to have headphones or ear buds in class everyday. We use them every day. They also need them every time we go to the computer lab. Please make sure your child brings them to school everyday.
Our Brattonsville field trip has been rescheduled for Tuesday, December 15th. We will leave at 8:00am so your child will need to be at school between 7:30 and 7:45. If they are normally a bus rider in the morning, please bring them to school that day. We will be back in time for normal dismissal, so they can ride the bus home if that is their normal mode of transportation.
Something fun for your family: Arbor Day Celebration at the Carolina Children's Garden--Saturday, December 5, 2015--11:00am-1:00pm
Join us in celebrating trees with storytelling and crafts including acorn planting,leaf headbands, leaf rubbings, and pine cone trees. Talk to your favorite tree! Walk between our Treasured Trees Nature Walk and Tree ID. Help us plant an umbrella tree. Free seedlings to the first 100 children.
The Carolina Children's Garden is located at Clemson/Sandhill
900 Clemson Road, Columbia 29229
Ending Thoughts
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Thanks for sharing your children with us each day!
