Merry Christmas!  We have an unusual schedule this week, due to special events. This information can be found on the Weekly Memo. We are doing a classroom secret santa with all gifts being made at school. The students are very excited about this. Our exchange will take place on Friday.
Math: We are finishing up multi-digit addition. We may begin to look at subtraction.
Language: We have begun to look at opinion vs. fact.
Homework: With all the preparations getting ready for this wonderful holiday, no homework will be assigned. Students are always invited to go on Dreambox or Razkids at anytime.

Tomorrow (Friday December 15th) is our White Elephant Christmas Sale. Please send your child with money to purchase gifts for their family. All items are $1 or $2. Your child is invited to wear an ugly Christmas (or just a Christmas) sweater as well as a Santa or elf hat or reindeer antlers, etc. 

Math: We are continuing to look at and practice a variety of strategies for multi-digit addition. Students will work on problems this week and be able to use their prefered strategy.
Language: We will look at synonyms, antonyms and homonyms this week. The students loved listening to this song about these types of words.
Homework:        grade 3           grade 4

Math: Student created strategies used to solve multi-digit addition problems were sent home earlier this week. These are strategies we touched on last week and will continue to use this coming week.
Language: We looked at synonyms quickly this week, also spending time exploring fiction and nonfiction text features. We will continue looking at both of these this coming week.
Homework: Cursive writing homework came home on paper on Friday. This can stay at home for practice throughout the year. Also for homework this week please have your child practice their multiplication facts. These will be an asset for the year as we look at a variety of math concepts that will be easier for your child when multiplication facts are memorized.

We are pleased to have our student teacher from University of Ottawa, Ms. Erum, joining us full time starting tomorrow.
Language: We will look at synonyms this week. This was on our schedule for last week but the students enjoyed prefixes and suffixes so much we pushed synonyms to this week.
Math: We will explore a variety of strategies to add multi-digit numbers. Grade threes will add two digit numbers using mental strategies and three digit numbers using concrete materials and a variety of other strategies. Grade fours will do the same with four digit numbers.
Homework:         grade 3 and 4 homework

The students asked me to add this fun game to our blog so they can play at home.

Math:  We will continue to look at numbers represented in different ways this week. We will use base ten blocks and written words in more detail when dealing with numbers.
Language: We will look at compound words more closely this week, as well as looking at synonyms.
Homework: Each student brought home some religion/family life homework to be completed with parents. Please have this work returned to the school for Thursday. In addition to this, please see grade 3 and grade 4 homework.

Math:  We will explore representing numbers in different ways. Grade 4s will deal with numbers up to 10 000 and grade 3s with numbers up to 1000. This video explains numbers represented in expanded form.
Language:  We are finished with narrative writing and will begin to look at the main idea of written texts. This is information that would change the story greatly if it was not included. It is the most important thought or idea in a writing piece. Supporting details are information used to provide more information about the main idea.
Homework: Homework will come home on paper this week.

Please have your child wear red and/or black tomorrow, if possible, for our Remembrance Day service.

Math: As we continue to explore Data Management, we will look at many to one correspondence on graphs.  For example, a legend or key which shows one pumpkin represents 5 trick or treaters. Students will continue to answer questions about data and take a closer look at other types of graphs such as pie graphs. 
Language: We are finishing narrative writing stories this week. We will then begin identifying the main idea in writing pieces.
Homework:          grade 3 homework           grade 4 homework

Math: Students have been conducting and are working on displaying data from their own class surveys. Grade 4s will be making double bar graphs. Grade 3 will be displaying their data in different formats like bar graph or pictograph.
Language: We are continuing with narrative writing. Students have been working on incorporating dialogue using quotation marks in their writing.
Homework: Please use this graph to answer questions for grade 4 and grade 3 homework.
                              

There are no new updates for this week. For homework this week, please have your child read each night and practice multiplication facts.

Students began working on games to teach multiplication facts to 12. This is an open-ended activity that will take place over several weeks and will include oral language, procedural writing and media literacy.
Math: We will be starting our data management unit this week. Students will learn how to create and read a variety of data. It is very important when displaying data in a variety of graphs that titles and labels are included to give information about the data. Students will also learn how to read data and answer questions about the information, for example, How many more.....?, How many fewer.....?, How many people were surveyed altogether?
Language: We are retelling a narrative writing story using a graphic organizer to ensure all components are included. This will provide practice for students before creating and writing their own story.
Homework: Cursive writing practice sheets will be coming home this week. Also, please watch this video about bar graphs and do the practice session.

Math: We will finish our look at patterning and skip counting, with an assessment this week before moving on to data management. View this attached video to demonstrate how we are using number lines in class to skip count or discover number patterns. Grade 4s are also practicing how to show this information using t-charts. Number lines and t-charts can begin and end at any number that makes sense with the problem.
Language: We used graphic organizer to deconstruct a story about a child with stage fright. We have been writing our own ending to this story. We will begin to create our own narrative stories using the same graphic organizer this week.
Homework:    grade 3 homework       grade 4 homework

Math: We continue to look at number patterns and how they can be made from patterns involving shapes. For example, creating letter representations for patterns with repeating shapes.
Language: We are looking at narrative writing and the characteristics of this writing style, such as main character, plot, setting, problem and solutions.
 Homework:      Grade 3 homework                   Grade 4 homework

Math: The students will look at some patterns and pattern rules they have completed independently and see how they can bump up their patterning work. We will take a closer look at attributes and patterns involving shapes.
Language: We will finish up our narrative writing, using posted criteria and a rubric. We will then look at the characteristics of narrative writing.
Homework: Please practice multiplication facts this week for math homework.
                                 Grade 3 homework             Grade 4 homework

We will be continuing with our same math and language learning goals this week as in the last blog post.
Homework will be due next Monday the 25th in order to give people time to access the homework through the last blog post. If you have any trouble accessing the homework please let me know. You can also have your child practice their multiplication and division facts as well read. After your child is done reading, asking them questions about what they have read, such as "Why do you think the character made that decision?" or "What do you think another appropriate ending to the story could be?" will help deepen their reading comprehension skills.

Welcome to the blog for Mrs. Cooper's class!  If you are reading this blog and are no longer in my class, kindly unsubscribe to the blog updates.
I am sure you have heard about our classroom guinea pigs. If you are interested in having the guinea pigs at your home for the weekend, please send a note in the communication book at any time throughout the school year.
See our updates and homework below:
Math: We are working on creating number patterns or patterns using shapes. We have been outlining the criteria to state a pattern rule (start at..., increasing/decreasing..., the interval such as by 2s, 25s, 19s, etc...., each time).
Language: We have been working on some writing tasks such as a Getting to Know you page and a creative writing story. We have also been working on nouns and word families through a making words activity.
Homework: Grade 3 homework   Grade 4 homework

This has been a wonderful school year with the grade 3/4 class. I have truly appreciated getting to know your children and meeting the fabulous parent community.
Tomorrow will be our Play day. The talent show will be on Wednesday, the last day of school for this year. I wish each of you a restful, fun summer and look forward to seeing your children again in September.

The school year has gone by so fast! Unbelievably, we are at the last full week of school.
Please check the Weekly Memo for events of the week as there are a lot going on.
Have your child continue to read and practice multiplication facts regularly for homework.
We will continue to explore in science and health this week as well as to look ahead to what students may expect in math and language for the next school year.

Summer is finally here! Our Upper Canada Village field trip is tomorrow (Monday June 12th). Please be sure your child is dressed for the weather and has all appropriate food and drink for the day. There is an on-site cafeteria. I am not sure what the food selection is like there. Please make arrangements for your child's late pick up from school. Buses are scheduled to arrive back at the end of the day, at 5:30. Thank you to all those parents who have volunteered to help. This is invaluable, as the trip could not take place without volunteers, and much appreciated.
As the school year winds down, homework will be less structured. Students have worked hard and time will be spent preparing students for next school year as we get closer to the end of the year. Please have your child continue to read each day, both out loud and silently. Also, they should be practicing multiplication and division facts on a regular basis.

Just a friendly reminder that this Friday is a P.D. day. There will be no school for students on that day.

EQAO was over, with the last day of writing taking place last Friday. The grade 3 enjoyed it and the grade 4s enjoyed visiting other classrooms.  All of the students should be proud of themselves!
The students are excited to be working on a book or movie review this week.  They will be presenting these to the class. This encompasses several components of our language program. We will revisit fractions this week in math.
For homework, please continue to have your child practice multiplication and division facts as well as read each day.

Happy Monday everyone!  EQAO will continue for grade 3 students again this week.  They have been enjoying it so far! The grade 4 students have also enjoyed visiting other classrooms in the school during EQAO time and these visits will continue. They have been working hard on some math booklets as well as enjoying a variety of other classroom activities.
When we are not on our EQAO schedule we will be continuing with probability. I will also introduce a book or movie review for language.
For homework this week, please have your child review multiplication and division facts each night, as well as read either silently, or out loud to someone else.

I hope everyone had a great long weekend!
EQAO starts this week for grade 3 students. They will begin to write on Wednesday.
Grade 4 students will have homework coming home on paper this week. Grade 3 will not have homework.
When students are not writing EQAO, we will be working on probability in math and grammar in language.

There is a bake sale tomorrow at school so please send money with your child if you wish them to make a purchase. Remember this is a long weekend with no school for students on Friday or Monday.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!  This will be a short week, with Friday being a Professional Development day for teachers and no school for students. Monday is a holiday and there will be no school.
Tomorrow will be a track and field day for the grade 4 students as they participate in a variety of outdoor activities all day. The grade 3s will be joining them for part of the day so please ensure your child is dressed to spend  most of the day outdoors.
Homework: This will be coming home in paper format again this week.
Math: We had a great time experimenting with hands on mass and capacity activities last week. We will continue with this area of study. We will also review concepts in preparation for EQAO beginning on Tuesday after the long weekend.
Language: We will look at a variety of grammar questions and review concepts taught. We will also fine tune written answers.

Happy Monday! We all enjoyed Education Week last week. The students in the class did a super job with the Mass. I was very proud of those who read and those who walked with or sat with the kindergarten students.
This week is much quieter with tennis twice and a regular routine otherwise.
Please see the updates below.  Grade 3 homework will be coming home on paper again as well as grade 4 homework, after having a break last week.
Math: We will look at movement using a grid system, such as that used for the game Battleship or when reading a map.
Language: Students are working on a narrative writing piece of their choice. We will look at EQAO sample language questions as well this week.

This week is Education Week in our Catholic school board. There are many activities throughout the week so please see the Weekly Memo and Education Week Activities emails. Some of these activities will be outside, including our walk to the church on Tuesday, so please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather as rain is in the forecast this week.
Please see the information regarding homework as well as the math and language updates below:
Homework: Since we are coming closer to EQAO testing, homework will be coming home in paper form to allow grade 3 students to become more familiar with EQAO style questions as well as the look of the test itself. Grade 3 students have already received a homework package and parent letter. Homework is to be returned each Thursday.  Grade 4 students will also have paper homework in the coming weeks.
Math: We will examine movement through translations (sliding a picture or object,)  reflections (flipping a picture), rotations (turning a picture).
Language: We will look at nonfiction text features through researching Canada facts.

Our class will be working with some of the kindergarteners on the Mass for Education Week in May. Your child should have brought home an information slip today. Some of the students in the class will be reading at the Mass and brought home their reading today to practice throughout this week. Other students in the class will be walking with kindergarten students to carry offerings to the altar at the church. They will have a note in their agendas this week.
Please see the homework and updates below:
Homework: Your child will be bringing home a graphic organizer that is a drawing of a hamburger. They are to pick a story of their choosing at home and fill in the appropriate introduction of characters, plot, setting, and problem as well attempts to solve the problem (or events that happen) and conclusion. Also, please have your child practice their multiplication and division facts each night.
Math: We continue to look at geometry.
Language: Students are reviewing the characteristics of narrative writing and will also write some poetry.

Happy Easter everyone!  I hope everyone enjoyed this special time with family and friends.
This week is Earth Week so please check the Weekly Memo for the colour themes for students to dress each day. Tomorrow (Tuesday) students should dress in blue and/or white to recognize Air and Water day.
Homework will be coming home on paper this week.
Please see the updates below:
Math:  We will begin Geometry this week, looking specifically at angles.
Language:  We will explore poetry and inferring (what messages can we get without being told directly).

We have a short week this week since Good Friday, April 14th, and the following Easter Monday are school holidays. There are several upcoming activities that require purchases through the school Cash Online so please check out the weekly memo if you haven't done so already.
Please see the updates and homework below:
Homework: Grade 3 and 4 homework 
Math: We began division on Friday.  Grade 4s will learn how to divide one whole digit number into 2 whole digit numbers (e.g. 60 divided by 5 equals 12). Grade 3s will learn to divide up to 49 divided by 7. Each grade will look at a variety of ways to do this operation, such as the standard algorithm, using manipulatives or using pictures.
Language: Along with narrative writing, we have been exploring reading comprehension strategies such as differentiating between the main idea and details. These activities will continue this week.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the last day to order popcorn for your child to receive Friday if you wish to do so.

It seems like there may finally be an end in sight to all that snow! There is lots of water in some areas of the yard so sending extra socks and having your child wear rain boots will help them stay dry each day.
There will be bingo again this Friday at lunch. As well as providing support to the school's Lenton project, the students have great fun playing.
See grade 3 and 4 homework as well as updates below. Please click here to review how to write a letter.
Math: We are exploring multiplication and will also look at division this week. The students will be creating word problems that require these operations to solve.
Language: We will look at narrative writing and each student will work on creating their own.
Visual arts: The afternoon class has been working very creatively on Barbara Reid artwork. Using plasticine, the students are creating three dimensional, textured works.

We have a fairly quiet week coming up. Bingo is on Friday so please send in a loonie or toonie so your child can play and support our Lenten initiative, the OK Clean Water project.
Please see the homework and updates below:
Homework: Grade 3 and 4
Math: We will finish addition and subtraction then move into multiplication and division. Grade 3s will be multiplying up to 7x7 and dividing into 49. Grade 4s will also look at single digit multiplication as well as multiplying double by single digit (e.g. 25x4). Grade 4s will look at division as well.
Language: We will be putting our finishing touches on persuasive letter writing.

Please have your child wear blue tomorrow (Wednesday) to recognize World Water Day. There will be a presentation about water supply and availability first block Wednesday.

I hope everyone enjoyed a great March break and are feeling relaxed and rejuvenated!
This Friday will be school wide bingo for those students who have brought in money for the OK Clean Water project. There will also be some environmental initiatives this week such as World Water Day (Wednesday) and Earth hour (Friday from 2:30-3:30).
Please see the grade 3 and grade 4 homework and math and language updates below:
Math and Language: We will review material covered before the March break and finish the short story and letter writing tasks before moving on to new material.

Happy last week before March Break! If your child will be absent for any part of this coming week, please don't forget to call in to the school to report your child absent.
It is spirit week this week. Please check the weekly announcement to see how your child should dress each day.
Please see the homework and updates below:
See grade 3 homework and grade 4 homework here.
Math: We have been working with addition and subtraction of 3 (grade 3) and 4 (grade 4) digit numbers. The strategies we have been using are: a number line, and regrouping by adding the ones column, then tens column, etc. We have also been looking at subtraction as the difference between two numbers, not just "take away".
Language: The students are working on short stories with an introductory paragraph used to introduce a limited number of characters, 1 or 2 settings, and the problem. The body includes about 3 attempts to solve the problem. The concluding paragraph wraps it all up, with a solution to the problem.

Woot! Woot! Ski day is tomorrow for those grade 4s attending. The bus will leave the school at 9:15 and return back to school at 4:45. Please be sure your child is bundled up for the weather and has all food required for the day.

We have a busy week coming up!
Monday afternoon is the Engineering Challenge for the junior students. The grade 3s will enjoy watching some of this event while the grade 4s participate.
Tuesday is Shrove Tuesday so all of the students and staff will be enjoying pancakes at school.
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. We will have a Liturgy of the Word at 10:30 a.m. All parents are welcome.
Friday is our Junior ski trip. It should be a great time for all those students participating!
Please see the grade 3 and 4 homework and updates below:
Math: We are just finishing up linear measurement and measurement conversions (e.g. there are 100cm in one 1m). We will then look at multi-digit addition and subtraction (e.g. 324 + 698).
Language: We continue to read Charlotte's Web. We are using this novel to examine a variety of writing and comprehension strategies. The students looked at the characteristics of a short story (one setting, few characters, one problem, a beginning paragraph with a hook, and a concluding paragraph that wraps up the problem presented) and will write a short story using some information from Charlotte's Web this week.

A friendly reminder for grade 3 parents that the last Swim to Survive day is tomorrow. Also, there will be no skating for the 3/4 afternoon class tomorrow after such warm and sunny weather!
Shrove Tuesday is this coming Tuesday (Feb. 28th). Parent council will kindly be providing pancakes, syrup and butter to all students. Please notify me with a note in the agenda if your child has any restrictions and can't eat any of these items.

I hope everyone had a great long weekend!
The grade 3's have their last Swim to Survive this Friday morning, the 24th. The 3/4 afternoon class will skate again on Friday 3rd block, if conditions are suitable.
Homework: Will come home on paper this week.
Please see the updates below:
Math: We will continue with measurement, looking at linear measurement (for example, measuring length) and units of measure (appropriate units for object measured,and comparing measurement units).
Language: We continue to read Charlotte's Web and answer questions about the novel using proof from the text, and paragraph format.

Just a friendly reminder that there will be no school on Family Day Monday so next week will be a short week. Grade 3s do not have swimming this Friday. They have their last session on the 24th of February. The afternoon grade 3/4 class will be skating this Friday afternoon 3rd block so please be sure your child comes to school with skates and helmet that day.

We have a busy start to this week! The afternoon grade 3 and 4 class will be skating 3rd block tomorrow, so please send skates and helmets. On Tuesday, students will have the opportunity to share Valentines with their classmates, if they choose to do so. We will also be visiting the grade 6 bake sale. Information about the bake sale is on the Weekly Memo. Please send money and a plastic container with your child if possible for their baked goods purchases. Wednesday is Flag Day. All students are asked to wear red and white to celebrate our great nation on this day. We will be singing O'Canada in the gym as a school.
Please see this week's homework.  grade 3 homework  grade 4 homework
Math: Grade 3s experimented with temperature this week. Both grades looked at elapsed time.
Language: We will continue with Charlotte's Web, after having taken a break to do Christmas and New Year's goal setting paragraph writing activities.

Just a friendly reminder that grade 3 students have Swim to Survive tomorrow (Friday) morning so please make sure they bring all necessary items to school in the morning.
Grade 4 students must return their ski trip permission forms by tomorrow if they haven't been returned already. If your child will not be attending, please write a note in the agenda if you haven't already.
These are the names of the students in the class for those of you requesting them for Valentines:

Teresa          Kenshi            Jackson              Matteo D.            Lucia            Sacha           Anna     Mattias        Giovanni         Lucas                 Madison M.         Ava               Elias          Domenic N.     Declan         Sahaara           William              Matteo R.            Veronica                        Geraldine           Jacob            Madison W.                               Venice                 Dominic S.

The Grade 3 students had a great time at Swim to Survive on Friday. While they were swimming, the Grade 4s enjoyed paying some special attention to their reading buddies in Grade 1.
The grade 3s have another swimming session this Friday. Friday is also the school Valentine's Dance. See the Weekly Memo for details. Items for our homeroom Valentine's basket can still be brought in. We are in need of non-food items like a red and white table cloth, pasta bowl, candles or anything else that would enhance the basket.
For Homework this week, both grades should complete any unfinished math homework in their math books. Please send the book back to school each day. The Grade 3s will bring home a language worksheet as well.
Please see the updates below:
Math: Grade 3s have finished telling time to five minute intervals, and Grade 4s to one minute intervals. Both grades will look next at elapsed time.
The attached links will provide information to Grade 4 parents about math concepts covered this week that students will use to complete their homework. They cover median, mode and stem and leaf plots. Mean is also covered at the beginning of one video and students have looked at this concept quickly but it is not a focus so feel free to skip ahead.
median            mode              mean, median and mode          stem and leaf plot

Language: For Media Literacy, the students had a good look at some advertising tricks used for specific target audiences. They will include this information on the covers of their goal setting pieces to try to persuade others to try their goal activity with them. They will also be designing a cereal box cover.

Just a friendly reminder that the grade 3 students have their first lesson for Swim to Survive tomorrow, February 3rd.

Thank you to all those who have contributed to our "All Things Italian" basket so far.  We have lots of pasta and other food items.  We are still short on non-food items such as table cloth, pasta bowl, candles, etc. We would love to have those items to round out our basket.

Remember tomorrow is a P.D. Day. I will see all students back on Tuesday, with any library books to exchange.
Our Swim to Survive begins this week, on Friday Feb. 3 so please make sure your child comes to school with all the required items that day.
This Thursday is Sweater Day!  Please see this link Sweater Day Info. created by some of the students in our class for more information.
The grade 4 students brought home permission forms last week for the upcoming ski trip. You must pay on line for this event. The online payment receipt should be sent in with the form.
We are still collecting items for our Valentine's Day "All Things Italian" basket. Please send items in by February 6th. Some grade 4 students also still need items for their Engineering Challenge project.
For homework this week, students will bring home their math books to complete work. Please be sure the book gets returned to school each day.
Please see the updates below:
Math: We are almost finished up Data Management and will be moving into Measurement. Both grades will start this unit with measuring time. Grade 4s will be finishing Data Management this week looking at Stem and Leaf Plots.
Language: Most students have finished their paragraph writing about goal setting. We began oral presentations last week and will continue this week.

Many of us have been enjoying this mild winter weather. It does mean, however, that the rink has been closed until further notice - likely later in the week, weather depending. If skating has been planned for your child for the beginning of the week, it has been postponed.
The grade 4 Engineering Challenge kicks off tomorrow afternoon. Your child will need supplies in order to be successful with this ongoing weekly task. Please send items listed in the January 9th post in with your child as soon as possible.
Each homeroom class will be collecting items to create a theme basket to be used at the upcoming Valentine's Dance on February 10th. Our class' theme is "All Things Italian"! We will be looking for the following items to be donated: pasta, herbs, pastries, cookies, sauces, oils, red and white tablecloth, spices, seasonings, two candles, pasta bowl, gift cards or anything else you would like to contribute that suits this theme. If you want to contribute a specific item, please either send in the item or write a note in your child's agenda to avoid duplicate items. Please send in all items by February 8th.
Please see the updates and homework below:
Homework: Your child should be spending time on Raz kids and Dreambox this week. Please write a note in the agenda if you have any difficulties with either of these. I have changed some reading levels for some children. Some homework on paper may also be coming home.
Math: We continue with data management, looking at a variety of different types of graphs such as pictographs and circle graphs.
Language: As we finish our goal setting paragraphs, students will make a cover that is appropriate for their goal. They will also present these goals orally to the class.

Grade 3 Homework  Grade 4 Homework

We had a great first week back at school!  The students were happy to see their classmates and the guinea pigs again.
Grade 3 students should have come home with their Swim to Survive information sheets and permission forms. Please return permission forms as soon as possible if you have not already done so. Also, please return the volunteer slip if you are able to volunteer on any of the days.
Our afternoon class will be skating for phys. ed. once the ice is ready. Your child will need skates and a helmet to participate in this activity. More information will be coming home from Mrs. Mahusky when the ice is ready.
We will have the Humane Society in to visit our afternoon class with a dog on Monday Jan. 16th (tomorrow). Please write a note in your child's agenda with details if they have an allergy to dogs or if they have a fear of animals that may impact the visit. This visit is linked to the Gospel value of Stewardship of Creation (valuing all life), our Science curriculum (Understanding Life Systems), and our Health Unit of Personal Safety and Injury Prevention.
Please see the attached homework and updates below:
Math: We have been reading graphs to gain a more thorough understanding of the data presented. We have also been working on sorting by a variety of attributes. An attribute is a property of an object or person; something you can say it has such as size, colour, shape, etc. We have been using Venn diagrams to sort a variety of objects. This helps demonstrate that some objects can be sorted by two or more attributes. For example you could short shapes by colour (red) and number of sides (4). Some shapes would be red, some shapes would have 4 sides, and then some shapes would be red with 4 sides.
Language: We continue to work on our goal setting and paragraph writing through the New Year's Resolution activity.

A very happy New Year to everyone!  It was great to see all the students refreshed and happy back at school today.  We each shared our favourite part of the holiday. We spent some time reviewing material covered before the break. We also had a visit from our new principal Mrs. Di Labio.
Some of you may have noticed that the grade threes are scheduled for Swim to Survive this week. Not to worry - this is not our grade 3 class.  Our class will be participating in Swim to Survive on Feb. 3rd, 10th, and 24th.  More information will be coming home regarding this shortly.
Homework will start again next week. For this week, you can discuss with your child appropriate goal setting and achieving. We will be looking at this in class this week as it relates to New Year's resolutions.
Please see the updates below:
Math:  Before the break, each student conducted a survey of class members regarding student's favourite Christmas tree ornaments. We conducted this survey again today. We are now using that information to create graphs. Students will also be reading a variety of data displayed to answer questions about the information given.
Language: We are writing about our New Year's resolutions. We are using graphic organizers to help outline what steps need to be completed in order to achieve an identified goal. We will also be using this graphic organizer to identify timelines to complete these steps. This information will be used to work on paragraph writing. Grade 3s should be writing at least 2 paragraphs and grade 4s at least 3 paragraphs. The students will be using a checklist to complete this task, as well as for editing purposes.
Science: The grade 3s will be reviewing their Soil information before starting their unit on Structures. The grade 4s will be reviewing their information on Rocks and Minerals before taking a closer look at Pulleys and Gears. The grade 4s will be starting the Engineering Challenge at the end of the month with other junior classes. Below is a list of materials we are asking each student to collect and donate if possible. More information will be coming home shortly.
Visual Arts: We watched a video that demonstrated some techniques used with paint and a variety of application tools. We will be exploring this in a hands-on fashion later in the week.

Engineering Challenge materials:
paper, cardboard, newspaper
 string, yarn, rope, fabric
 glue, play dough, tape
 popsicle sticks, tongue depressors, toothpicks, skewers, chopsticks, dowels
 wooden pencils
 plastics, styrofoam, rubber
 CDs
 spools (wooden, plastic)
 bottle caps (plastic)
 paint, decorations straws, rubber bands
 paper clips

 sand and Play-Doh