May Newsletter
4th Grade
Important Dates!
Monday, May 5th to Friday, May 15th: NYSESLAT Testing (ELLs only)
Wednesday, May 6th and Thursday, May 7th: Plant Sale!
Thursday, May 7th: Virtual Evening Parent Teacher ConferencesThursday, May 21st: Tiger Family Morning
Friday, May 22nd: PS 230 Spirit Day: Wear Red, White, and Blue!
Monday, May 25th: NO SCHOOL--Memorial Day!
Wednesday, May 26th: NO SCHOOL--Eid-al-Adha!
Module 7: Tricksters and Tall Tales
In this module, students will listen to, read, and view a variety of texts and media that present them with information about traditional tales. They will identify central ideas, figurative language, and media techniques in order to better understand unfamiliar texts. Students will also encounter an informational text to build knowledge across genres. They will also build their vocabulary and synthesize topic knowledge and learn that traditional stories can teach many lessons about life and the world around us.
Classes 401, 404, & 405
This month in math 4th-graders will be developing ideas about the ways in which situations with two varying quantities can be mathematically modeled and analyzed! Students will work with arithmetic patterns and functions represented by tables, graphs, and equations. Ideas will be developed through activities focused on solving multi-step problems, generating and analyzing patterns, and using symbolic notation to model situations. Penny jars, windows and towers are just a few of the ideas! Please have your child continue to practice their math facts at home!
Classes 402, 403 & 406
In Unit 5, students work on measurement. We will be learning about the metric system and how it uses x10, x100 and x1000 to measure in liters and milliliters, grams and kilograms and meters and kilometers. We also will learn about other forms of measurement for capacity and length, such as gallons, quarts, feet and inches.
As students develop their understanding of measurement, they will be working with many real-life problems. To support your child, you can ask them the following questions:
- What do you know about this problem?
- What information do you need to solve this problem?
- Are you expecting a bigger/greater answer, or a smaller one?
What is going on in cluster classrooms this month?
Music: 4th grade recorder players will learn the note F natural (not the same as F sharp!). We will review all the musical terms we have learned over the course of the year.
Gym: We still have a couple of lessons left on our Track and Field Unit. After that, we will begin our Volleyball Unit. All students will learn most volleyball basics, such as passing (forearm underhand passing), setting (overhead passing), attack options (hitting/spiking), blocking (from attack and defending positions), and defensive skills (rolling & sliding). All the skills will be taught and played using beach balls.
Science: The 4th Grade Scientists are learning about cells, tissues and organs. We will be discussing how a group of organs work together to make an organ system. Scientists will learn about how the organ systems in our body all work together to help our bodies function properly.
Scientists of classes 401 & 403 are continuing the unit Structures & Functions of Organisms. They will learn how different plants and animals have unique parts that serve specific functions. At home, have your child observe plants and pets and discuss how different body parts or structures help them function in everyday life.
Technology: The Fourth Graders are using Code.org. This program focuses on building computational thinking, basic programming, and digital citizenship through hands-on activities, using block-based coding.
Art: In May, fourth graders will be exploring the Op art movement and the concept of optical illusions. Students will learn to use value, shading, and rhythm to create an illusion of three-dimensional form.
Ms. Brill: Fourth grade artists will explore street art and create grafiti style names on printed/painted brick walls. Donations of baby wipes to clean hands would be appreciated as we are all out. Thank you.
Read every night for at least 25 minutes.
Read nonfiction and fiction books.
Practice multiplication facts every night.
Do some exercise every day.
Eat a healthy breakfast and dinner.
Theme of the Month: Empathy and Compassion
Empathy: when you are able to share someone else’s feelings and/or when you are sensitive to someone else’s experiences.
Compassion: when you want to help someone who is sick, hungry, or in trouble
Book of the Month: We’re All Wonders (R.J. Palacio)
We're All Wonders is a picture book by R. J. Palacio, the author of Wonder, that introduces the main character, Auggie, to younger readers. It's a story about empathy, kindness, and seeing beyond appearances, where Auggie imagines blasting off to Pluto to escape hurtful reactions to his face, realizing from afar that Earth is big enough for everyone to be different and still be a "wonder". The book serves as a gentle introduction to the themes of belonging and acceptance found in the original Wonder novel.
Student of the Month Characteristics:
They demonstrate kindness and compassion to his/her peers.
They are kind and caring.
They are honest, dependable, trustworthy, and supportive of their peers