Maple Elementary School

Text Box: Fourth Grade Happenings The month of January was an eventful month for fourth grade! We identified and drew geometric shapes and solids. The students even constructed polyhedrons from marshmallows and toothpicks in the process of learning about faces, edges and vertices. We have concluded our work with the Geometry unit so the students should be sharing their unit tests with you soon. During the month of February, we will be learning how to measure the length, weight and temperature of objects. We will also begin a unit on fractions. Please encourage your child to practice using fractions around the house. Some great ways to apply these skills are in cooking and measuring. It is imperative that all students have mastered their facts since fractions are an extension of multiplication and division. In reading, we have started a unit entitled Problem Solvers. These stories have always interested our students since the stories involve experiences and problems that some of our students are able to relate to. These stories allow for interesting classroom discussions as many of the characters have different cultural backgrounds, which is always exciting to learn about. Please continue to encourage your child to read each night so that he/she may earn a reading medal. During the month of January, the students really enjoyed learning about the founding of the Maryland colony and how it grew and transformed into a state. Even though they are anxious to continue learning about Maryland’s history, we will have to put that on hold so that we may begin our next science unit, “The Water Cycle”. Throughout the next month we will be learning all about water and the many different states that it exists here on earth, as well as how it changes from a solid to a liquid and even to a gas! Be sure to ask your child how water can exist in so many different ways on our planet. We are also spending a lot of time working on our service learning project. Since our student service learning project is recycling, students have been collecting white paper around the school. Please encourage the recycling of objects in your home. You may also want to discuss with your family why it is important to recycle and how the recycling process has changed in the last 20 years. We look forward to continuing to work with your children. Please feel free to come and visit the many exciting events that are going on in the fourth grade.

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