Pinnacle Academy 2015-2016 School Year
Welcome to Mrs. Petti's Fourth Grade!
January 2016 Highlights
Highlights of Week 17: Jan. 4 - 8, 2016
We welcomed a new fourth grader, Omer Y., on our first day back from winter break. Omer has lived part of his life in Turkey and has lived most recently in southern California.
On Friday, we were excited to watch Safiya A. and Sofia A. represent the fourth grade in the school geography bee. We were proud to see both of them survive the early rounds of the competition. We were in suspense when Sofia survived to the final round. Then there were a number of tie-breaker questions that both Sofia and Lily had trouble answering. Finally, Sofia answered a question that Lily was not able to answer, and the fourth grade cheered as Sofia won the school geography bee! Now Sofia is working hard to prepare for the next step: a February 1st online qualifying test for the state geography bee. Congratulations and good luck, Sofia!
In math, we wrapped up our fifth unit, on estimation, multi-digit multiplication, and working with large numbers. The students learned to use exponential notation in working with powers of 10. We reviewed the partial products method of multiplication and completed study guides in preparation for a unit assessment on January 13.
In language arts, the students wrote about a moment in time from the winter break; finished revising and publishing December writings; and wrote an informational paragraph about one of the weather instruments we have studied. We continued our guided reading discussions of Lawn Boy and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.
In science, we reviewed weather maps; cold and warm fronts; and high and low pressure systems. We learned about the weather conditions that contribute to the formation of thunderstorms. We consulted some of our supplemental weather resources, including multiple copies of a Magic Tree House Research Guide: Twisters and Other Terrible Storms. We learned interesting facts about thunder and lightning.
In social studies, we learned the Rocky Mountain capitals and the names and locations of major U.S. rivers and mountains. We reviewed the names of the Great Lakes. We reviewed the names of all 50 states. Several students finished learning the names of all 50 capitals.
Highlights of Week 18: Jan. 11 - 15, 2016
The students took MAP tests in reading and math.
Science: The students brought in their science fair project boards. About half of the class shared their boards, and the rest will share on Tuesday, January 19. Each student reviewed their board with Mrs. Petti and made note of suggestions for minor revisions as needed. We continued our unit on "wild weather," with a study of hurricanes and tornadoes and several review activities in preparation for a unit test in the coming days.
Math: The students took a Unit 5 assessment on multi-digit multiplication, estimation, and large numbers. We launched a new unit on division of large numbers. The students learned the "partial quotients" algorithm for dividing large numbers. We also investigated a project integrating math and social studies: creating cut-away paper globes marked with angle measures, finding the latitude and longitude of Fairfax, VA, and using globes to locate a small island in the Indian Ocean that is almost exactly on the opposite side of the planet from our school.
Language Arts: The students published their writings about a moment in time from the winter break and paragraphs about one of the weather instruments. Some students wrote a paragraph about how thunderstorms, hurricanes, or tornadoes develop.
Social Studies: We launched a unit on the physical geography of Virginia.
Highlights of Week 19: Jan. 19 - 21, 2016
It was a short week, with the MLK Jr. holiday on Monday, a two-hour delay on Thursday, and a snow closing on Friday!
On Tuesday, January 19, the students completed their MAP testing and visited the book fair and the library.
In math, we continued our unit on division of large numbers. We also analyzed a variety of story problems to decide what to do with the remainder in different situations.
In language arts, the students had opportunities for informative writing, free writing, and revising and publishing. We read and wrote more on weather-related topics in preparation for Thursday's unit test on "wild weather."
Students put finishing touches on their science fair project boards as needed and completed their oral presentations. After Thursday's unit test on "wild weather," we reviewed the test and clarified questions that had confused some of the students. On Thursday, in anticipation of the big snowstorm coming on Friday, we read about snow crystal formation and examined a chart showing the weather conditions create different types of snow crystals. The students learned how to make six-pointed paper snowflakes and attempted to create a specific type of snow crystal. A number of students tried to make stellar dendrites, which have many branches.
The students worked on learning the names and spellings of the Pacific and Southwest capitals. The quiz has been postponed until after the big snow.
Highlights of Week 20: Jan. 28 - 29, 2016
It was a very short week as we dug out from the big snow, with classes resuming on Thursday and Friday with two-hour delays.
Language Arts: The students revisited their New Year's resolution and made a written plan for accomplishing some of their goals. Next, they wrote about snow moments. Word study quizzes on Friday covered the prior week's words. Much of our reading activity related to our new unit on Virginia's geography. There was also time for some independent reading.
Math: As part of our unit on division of large numbers, the students explored connections between the 360 degrees in a circle and the 60 minutes / 12 hours in the circular face of an analog clock, as we looked at slices of circles and clock faces (ex: 1/3 of an hour is 20 minutes; 1/3 of a circle is 120 degrees). The students analyzed elapsed time in terms of angle degrees and used full circle protractors to construct a variety of acute and obtuse angles.
Social Studies: We learned about some of the major water features of Virginia. The students completed the water features portion of an interactive booklet on Virginia's geography and took a quiz on this information. The students also completed a quiz on the capitals of the Pacific and Southwest states.
Science: We launched a new unit on Force, Motion, and Energy. As a preliminary activity, we inflated balloons and pairs of students attempted to bat them back and forth for 30 seconds without letting them touch the floor, furniture, or other students. The students then completed a page asking them to reflect on what forces were at work as the balloons fell, moved sideways, or transitioned at their highest point (from rising to falling). In several weeks, we will revisit this page and add more insights based on new knowledge from the unit.
At the End-of-Quarter assembly, the school acknowledged Sofia A. as she received a medal from the National Geographic Society for being the school Geo Bee winner. Congratulations, Sofia! We also acknowledged the honor roll students and Adem O. as the fourth grade Puma Pride winner for January ("honesty").