Term 3 Preview 2016
Dear Parents:
Welcome back from Spring Break! I hope you all had a
wonderful holiday. The following is an overview of our intended course of study
during the third and final term of the year.
Language Arts
Students
will be working on:
·
reading and
responding to a variety of poems
·
writing poems in
various styles and adding in specified poetic devices
·
non-fiction
Literature Circles
·
free choice
research assignments using an inquiry method
·
weekly Word Work
The
inquiry process refers to the steps in conducting and reporting on research.
The term inquiry is used to highlight the question driven nature of the
process. The steps are as follows:
1.
Selecting a topic
and developing questions related to the topic.
2.
Locating and
evaluating information sources.
3.
Reading
4.
Synthesizing the
information into a relevant final product.
5.
Presenting the
final product or new understandings to the class.
6.
Reflecting on the
process.
Math
Grade
four students will be working on:
·
fractions
(naming, ordering, creating equivalent fractions and finding part of a set)
·
adding and
subtracting decimals numbers, as well as relating decimals to fractions
·
geometry (naming
and sorting polygons, describing and creating prisms and pyramids, recognizing
symmetry and drawing lines of symmetry)
·
memorization of
addition and subtraction facts to 20 and multiplication facts to 9 x 9
·
review of
concepts covered this year
Grade
three students will be working on:
·
naming and
ordering fractions
·
adding and
subtracting decimals numbers, as well as relating decimals to fractions
·
geometry (naming
and sorting polygons, naming and describing 3 dimensional shapes)
·
memorization of
addition and subtraction facts to 20 and multiplication facts to 5 x 5
(possibly up to 9 x 9)
·
review of
concepts covered this year
Science
In
our Habitats and Communities unit, students will be working on:
·
understanding that
all living things and their environments are interdependent
·
understanding biodiversity
in local and world-wide ecosystems, including the structural and behavioral
adaptations of animals and plants
·
exploring
aboriginal knowledge of ecosystems
Students will be making
dioramas to go with their inquiry projects this term. If possible, please send
a shoebox or another small box to school with your child.
Social Studies
Students
will be working on:
·
demonstrating
knowledge of early European exploration of BC and Canada
·
showing how
European exploration led to contact, trade, cooperation and conflict between
First Peoples and Europeans
·
analyzing factors
that influenced early European exploration of North
America
Physical Education
Students
will be:
·
learning and
performing the traditional May Pole and Folk dances
·
participating in
track and field activities such as sprinting, relays and long jump
·
participating
daily in physical activity
Fine Arts
Fine Arts will focus on drama this term. Students will
be working on:
·
expressing ideas
and emotions using verbal and non-verbal communication
·
interacting in role and demonstrating the
ability to maintain focus within a dramatic structure (staying in character)
·
taking part in reader’s theatre
·
applying audience skills appropriate to a
variety of presentations
Health and Career
Education
Grade
four students will be working on:
·
pedestrian safety
and proposing
strategies for preventing substance misuse
·
identifying the
steps in a decision-making model and applying them to situations
Grade
three students will be working through the C.A.R.E. kit, which is a sexual
abuse prevention program designed for third grade students. More information
about this program will come home soon.
Homework
Your child will continue to have weekly homework packages
this term. No homework or Word Work will be assigned on weeks interrupted by
holidays.
Communication
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to
contact us through a note in your child’s planner or an email to koxley@sd40.bc.ca or aturton@sd40.bc.ca. Thank you for your support of our classroom
activities.
~Mrs. Oxley & Ms. Turton
Dear Parents and Students:
We hope you’ve all had a fun and relaxing Winter Break.
The following is an overview of our intended course of study during the second
term.
Language Arts
Students
will be working on:
·
teacher-led SMART
Reading
·
independent SMART
Reading activities that allow students to select, read and respond to novels of
their own choosing
·
story writing
with a focus on developing skills such as organizing your writing, improving
punctuation, capitalization and grammar skills and adding descriptive details
and emotions
·
weekly Word Work
activities
·
listening and
speaking skills necessary for presenting work to an audience or for sharing
ideas during structured partner sharing time
Students often decide to
bring the novel they’ve chosen for independent SMART Reading home to read. This
does not mean your child has additional formal homework or that your child is
behind. We simply encourage students who are interested in their novel to read
as much of the novel as they’d like outside of class.
Math
Students
will be working on:
·
division,
including practicing long division for Grade 4 students
·
telling time
using digital and analogue clocks
·
measurement
·
financial
literacy, including recognizing Canadian currency, adding and subtracting using
money, making change with amounts to $100 and understanding earning and payment
·
solving multi-step
word problems
Science
Students
will be learning about the space. During this unit, students will learn about:
·
the planets in
the solar system and familiar constellations
·
local changes
caused by Earth’s axis, rotation and orbit
·
the relationship
between the sun and the moon
·
observing objects
and events in familiar contexts
·
how to
co-operatively design and complete a project
Social Studies
Students
will be working on:
·
learning about
basic needs for all human beings and how these needs are met in various
communities and cultures
·
preparing a
cultural research project and sharing it with the class
Physical Education
Students
will be working on basketball and lacrosse units this term, as well as
continuing to enjoy 30 minutes of daily physical activity. An emphasis will be
placed on full participation, listening to instructions and good sportsmanship.
Fine Arts
Fine Arts will focus on music with Ms. Lange this term.
Health and Career
Education
Students
will:
·
continue to work
on developing strategies for responding to bullying, stereotyping and
discrimination
·
explore the
virtues of courage and self-reliance
Homework
Your
child will continue to have weekly homework this term and no homework or Word
Work will be assigned on weeks interrupted by holidays. For the grade four’s,
some of the packages will reflect activities students will have to complete
during FSA testing, which takes place in late January and early February. More
information about FSA testing will be sent home later in the term.
Thank
you to all the students and parents who continue to record their home reading
in their planners. Any reading your child does, including reading from their
independent SMART Reading
Communication
As
always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through a
note in your child’s planner or an email to koxley@sd40.bc.ca
or aturton@sd40.bc.ca. Thank you for
your continued support of our classroom activities.
~Mrs. Oxley & Ms. Turton
Term 1 Preview 2015
Dear Parents:
Welcome to our Grade Three and Four blended Montessori
class! The following is an overview of our
intended course of study during the first term.
Language Arts
Students
will be working on:
·
teacher-led and
independent SMART Reading activities that will help develop comprehension by
teaching skills such as setting a reading goal, making connections, predicting
and summarizing
·
journal writing,
with an emphasis placed on adding descriptive details and emotions and re-reading
work to check meaning
·
oral activities
designed to develop listening and speaking skills, including partner talk,
image description and reporting to the class
·
weekly Word Work
Math
Students
will be working on:
·
determining and
extending patterns and determining the place value of larger numbers
·
communicating
mathematical understanding pictorially, concretely, symbolically and verbally
·
sharing and
reflecting on mathematical thinking
·
connecting
mathematical concepts to the real world
·
adding and
subtracting numbers, with and without regrouping
·
multiplication
and division
·
understanding and
using estimation
Science
Students
will be learning about the rock cycle. During this unit, students will also:
·
demonstrate
curiosity about the natural world by generating questions
·
suggest ways to
plan and conduct an inquiry to find answers to their questions
·
observe objects
and collect, sort and classify data and information using methods such as
drawings or tables
·
safely use
appropriate tools when observing and measuring objects
·
make simple
inferences based on their results and prior knowledge
·
communicate their
findings through reports with the assistance of technology
Social Studies
Students
will be learning about mapping. During this unit, students will be working on:
·
learning how to
use a compass, legend and scale on a map
·
using maps and globes
to locate specified features including Canada
·
creating maps to
show specified features
Fine Arts
This
term the class will focus on visual arts. Students will be working on:
·
experimenting
with elements of design (line, shape, space, texture, etc.) and principals of
design (pattern, repetition, balance, contrast, etc.) when creating images
·
using a range of
materials (pencil, pen, paint, pastels, etc.), techniques and technologies to
create images
·
creating 2-D and
3-D images that express personal identity, communicate ideas or experiences and
illustrate personal written responses or other work from various subjects
·
creating 2-D and
3-D images that coincide with holidays and observances that occur during the
first term
·
developing and
refining ideas, processes and technical skills to improve the quality of
artistic creations
Health and Career
Education
Students
will be working on:
·
discussing and
practicing ways to deal with bullying behavior
·
discussing
factors that influence self-identity, including body image and messages in the
media
·
developing
strategies and skills to navigate the internet safely, including ethical use of
information
Physical Education
Students
will be working on:
·
demonstrating the
proper technique for fundamental movement skills such as balancing, running,
jumping, catching or throwing
·
demonstrating
fair play principles and participating in physical activity daily
·
understanding
that participation in physical activity at moderate to vigorous intensity
levels benefits all aspects of our well-being
Students will accomplish the
above outcomes by participating soccer and minor games units. An emphasis will
be placed on maintaining a good attitude and doing one’s best. In addition to
our regular P.E. blocks, students will participate in 30 minutes of Daily
Physical Activity (DPA). Please make sure that your child comes to school
prepared to move around and be active each day. I suggest that you send the
following items to school to facilitate participation in DPA:
·
shorts, sweat
pants or yoga pants and a t-shirt
·
an extra pair of
shoes and socks
·
a refillable
water bottle
These items are also nice to
have at school in case your child’s clothing becomes wet or messy due to
inclement weather in the late fall and winter months. Items can be placed in a
bag and left in the cloakroom.
Homework
This term, your child will have weekly homework
consisting of a Math or Language Arts activity sheet and daily Word Work
activities. Homework will be given out on Mondays and will be due the following
Friday. Word Work quizzes will take place on Friday mornings. Attached is a
list of daily Word Work activities your child should be doing at home to help
learn the words and study for the quizzes. The first homework and Word Work
activities will be sent home on September 21. No homework or Word Work will be
sent home on short weeks.
In addition, your child should be reading each night for
at least 20 minutes. Please write the number of minutes your child reads each
night in your child’s planner when you sign it. Those students interested in
earning the Super Reader award at the end of the year need to read for a
minimum of 200 days throughout the year. I will simply add up the days of
reading recorded in the planner in June to see who qualifies.
Parents often ask what they can do to help their children
with their homework. For Math, I would ask that you encourage your child to
review his or her work before handing it in, double checking it for mistakes.
For writing activities, have your child check for capitals, punctuation and
spelling. Attached is a list of 130 High Frequency Writing Words. These are “no
excuse” words that your child should be able to spell correctly 100% of the
time; Grade 3’s are responsible for knowing words 1-55 and Grade 4’s for
knowing words 1-75 (the exception to this are the words their, there and
they’re, as it is tricky for children to figure out when to use one over the
other). Please remind your child to double check her or his writing to make
sure these words are spelled correctly.
Other
·
Library time is
on Mondays this year. Please try to return books on Fridays or Monday mornings.
·
We have PE in the
gym on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons. We will be doing PE outside or in
the classroom on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
·
We have Music on
Mondays.
