Grade Four
Parent-Teacher Communication

December News

Fourth Grade, 2008

We hope that you had the opportunity to share in the paraliturgy on the day before Thanksgiving or in our First Friday Mass on December 5^th.  Praying together is a great way to share the blessings we have been given in our lives.  With thoughts of Advent and Christmas in mind, it is also suggested that instead of bags of candy at our class Christmas party, that parents might instead use the money they would spend on candy and purchase school supplies which will be sent to the needy schools in Haiti. In conjunction with the parish it is our wish that we share some of the blessings we have and help students in poorer countries with their school studies.  Your help and cooperation is appreciated.

Our Western state projects are going ahead in a timely fashion. Students have signed up for a date to give their presentations and the format for this project has been distributed.

The study of the Western states continue with a look at Hawaii, and the Hawaiian people, who were among the first inhabitants of the West, though the islands did not join the Union until 1810.  Students were amazed to discover that the Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters.  These include five vowels and 7 consonants.  Further studies will include the fact that gold was discovered in California in 1849 and brought a rush of population. This led to a study of women’s rights in California at this time.

Science classes are exploring changes in motion. Thinking about how life would be if there were no bicycles or machines to help us move around was an eye opening exercise. The relationship between force and motion is fundamental in appreciating many of humankind’s technological advances.  We are now looking at roller coasters and roller bladeing in a new light.

A good description is like a photograph. It is an image that seems almost real. Whether the description is part of a larger body of work, or is a complete piece, the focus on the topic is sharp and distinct.  We are busy in Language classes painting a sharp, sensory image in the reader’s mind.  The writers in class are working on writing a good description that captures the reader’s attention.  Sentences blend and create an image for the reader. Using the thesaurus is a good idea for these paragraphs.

The new theme in Reading offers students a view beyond their daily experience. It fosters students’ appreciation of their own surroundings.  As we look to take care of the world around us, we hope to find some answers in our reading.  The next book report will be a biography or an autobiography. This book report will be due on January 13^th.

Progress reports are due on Friday, December 12^th. Please watch for them, sign and return as soon as possible.

From our classroom to your home, wishes are extended for a Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year.