SIENNA HILLS 4TH GRADE NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 16th-19TH
ELA : Mrs Tangie jngumangie@topamail.com
Scholars will begin the week by taking a book walk and participate in a notice-
and-wonder discussion to orient themselves to the text Walk Two Moons. The teacher reads aloud the first two chapters and asks a few TDQs to check for understanding. Scholars will mark or highlight the
beginning of important ideas. The class will discussion teases out the tantalizing details or “mysteries”
that leave the reader wanting to know more. The class generates questions around these
“mysteries” that will increase engagement and guide comprehension as scholars progress
through this complex text.Walk Two Moons is a complex text containing multiple stories or plot lines that eventually merge into a conclusion. Scholars will complete story maps and summaries
to establish initial coherence of the major story elements and start to organize the three
main stories using the setting of each plot line as an anchor for the three layers of Sal’s story.
They will practice using linking words to connect details and ideas.They will also
continue to gather evidence about how Sal’s and Phoebe’s stories are connected to deepen their
understanding of the Focusing Question.
MATH : Ms. Beltran mbeltran@topamail.com
Next week, scholars will continue building their understanding of multiplication and division as they explore strategies for solving larger problems. We will focus on using place value, multiplication strategies, and equations to break apart numbers and make problems easier to solve. Scholars will continue developing their ability to explain their thinking and apply these strategies to real-world problems.
Example Problem:
24 x 13 = (24 x 10) + (24 x 3)
Scholars will use the distributive property to break apart numbers, solve each part, and combine their answers.
We are excited to continue building these skills and growing as mathematicians!
SCIENCE/HUMANITIES: Mr. Enriquez benriquez@topamail.com
Throughout the module, scholars worked to build a shared understanding of energy, energy transfer,and energy transformation. This week, scholars will apply that knowledge to solve a problem in an engineering challenge. After reviewing the engineering design process, scholars will identify an available energy source, a desired application of energy, and the materials available to propose a solution. Scholars will then apply what they have learned about energy transfer and transformations to design a device that transforms energy from an available form into desired form emulating William Kamkwamba. They will also present final designs to their peers.