4th Grade MP3 Campus

School Data is open on the first of each month for parent reviews. These are due by the 5th. We hope the cut and paste grade level newsletter will be helpful to supplement your remote learning plan reviews. Thank you for submitting in a timely manner and if you need help, please reach out to your SLPC.

Topics: Division fluency, geometry - lines, angles, rays, attributes of quadrilaterals, review of fourth grade skills

Activities: This month we spent our class time focused on fourth grade geometry and strengthened our knowledge of vocabulary and attributes of shapes. We talked about what classifies each type of quadrilateral and we looked at the concept of symmetry. We also completed a digital escape room for St Patrick's Day which allowed students to practice fourth grade skills from our whole year including algebraic reasoning, multiplication and division, unit conversion, rounding, number lines, and much more. Our other focus this month was setting a benchmark for current fluency with division facts. Students will be given opportunities to practice on campus but should be working at home to master any facts they aren't automatic with yet.

Teacher Tip: By the end of fourth grade students should be well on their way to fluency with all 4 operations. When given a basic fact students should be able to answer within 3 seconds. If you are looking for a digital resource to use for repeated practice please reach out to me or your SLPC and we can get your student added to the MP3 "classroom" on Reflex Math.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Kurashige, skurashige@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: test-taking format and testing tips, character development, satisfying storyline/plot

Activities:​ We also took some critical time to work through SBA sample questions. We explored the practice tests together looking at tools and talking through test-taking tips. Then students took the opportunity to work through a practice SBA Performance Task question that required them to write an essay. It was fun to see students quickly realize that the assessment is very similar to the work we regularly do in class!

We also kicked off our Mini Comic Writing Unit. We are using comics to practice fully developing a character and planning our a satisfying plot. We are all very excited about this work!

Students also completed weekly 7 Minute Writes and started to do some Spirit Week planning. Each year, 3rd and 4th graders plan a Spirit Week in May.

Teacher Tip:​ ​Our MP3 Newsletter has ​excellent SBA practice links. Encourage your student to work through the practice activities to build test-taking confidence.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Giesen, jgiesen@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Geographical features, Comparison of Coastal and Plateau tribes

Activities:​ We began the month by continuing our study of the geographical features found in our state. It didn’t take long for students to realize just how diverse Washington truly is. We explored the five regions by reading and watching video clips highlighting each area’s unique features. After reading and analyzing content from the Washington, Our Home textbook, students applied their new knowledge by creating Venn diagrams to compare and contrast the Coastal and Plateau tribes. This activity was an excellent way to assess comprehension, especially as students practiced citing evidence from the text to support their ideas. Next, using materials from Washington, Our Home, Since Time Immemorial, and Studies Weekly, students were divided into two groups—one focusing on the Coastal tribes, and the other on the Plateau tribes. Each group researched and recorded information about homes, food, clothing, traditions, transportation, and celebrations. Students collaborated to divide the work and began writing short paragraphs to include on their presentation boards. The final step was sharing their findings with the opposite group, creating a meaningful exchange of knowledge.​ In addition to our classroom studies, we enjoyed a special visit from Dr. Everett, who spoke about himself, the Meridian School District, and its core commitments. In preparation for his visit, students generated a list of thoughtful questions. During the visit, one student took notes to write an interview article for The Vibe, our school newsletter.​ We also concluded our reading of the Addy series, which had been paused during the first semester due to our focus on the Faces of History project. This powerful series sparked meaningful conversations around important topics such as slavery, the value of education, and the hardships of life—including the loss of a loved one. As students listened to the story, they practiced making predictions, analyzing characters, building courage, and showing empathy. I’m always impressed by how these discussions not only deepen students’ understanding but also help build their character.

Added highlight: Each morning, before taking attendance, I’ve begun projecting the live webcam from Big Bear Valley, which features an eagle’s nest. Students have been captivated as they observe the parent eagles, Jackie and Shadow, caring for their eaglets. Through daily viewing, we’ve learned about eagle behavior, the growth and development of eaglets, and how challenges—like severe weather—can pose serious risks to their survival. It has been a joy to witness the fourth graders' sense of wonder as they watch each morning unfold. If you'd like to follow along at home, you can use the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE

Teacher Info: Mrs. Elgersma, gelgersma@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Keyboarding (Accuracy & Speed), Google Sheets, Internet Safety

Activities: This month I decided to wait on continuing Google Slides in order to review skills in Google Sheets. As I have been working with this group for three years on Google Sheets skills, I was able to use the lessons I also presented to the sixth grade class. Each day students were presented with a new task that required them to create a data chart based on real life tasks and then learn to use the sum or average functions, or to create detailed graphs. Students who finished these projects early were able to either work in pairs or independently to tackle a final challenge or to create directions for a mystery picture that was then used by second grade students.

Finally, Mrs. Richardson, our district Technology Specialist spent one day presenting important information about internet safety. Students learned about digital footprints and were challenged to examine their own technology use and footprint. This information and an internet safety poster can be found in the Technology Google Classroom. It is a great place to begin (or continue) the discussion about digital safety at home.

Follow Up Activities: Please review the internet safety posters located in the Google Classroom (https://classroom.google.com/w/NzQ3MjU1MDk0Mjc1/t/all) or go to https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/families for more resources for families.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Montgomery rmontgomery@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Elements of Art: Shape, Line, Color, Value, & Texture; Principles of Design: Balance, Pattern, & Unity; Techniques: cutting organic symmetrical shapes, yarn painting, painted papers, & printmaking

Activities: We started the month by reading Matisse: The King of Color by Laurence Anholt and exploring his stained glass windows, filled with organic shapes. Inspired by Matisse, students cut their own organic shapes along a line of symmetry (creating symmetrical shapes!) and filled the empty spaces with vibrant colored cellophane. They then added borders of painted patterns, and these beautiful “stained glass” pieces are now hanging in our windows at school! Next, we explored watercolor techniques such as “wet-on-wet,” creating “blooms,” and using plastic wrap on wet watercolor paper. These stunning pieces became the backgrounds for our next project: a four-leaf clover collagraph print. Students used foam and cardboard to create unique stamps, then inked and rolled them to print their designs in a radial pattern. Our final project of the month combines several techniques, including yarn painting and painted paper, to create a spring collage. (These are still in progress!)

Reflection Questions: Ask your student about their favorite art technique from this month.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Warnock, swarnock@meridian.wednet.edu