Pinnacle Academy 2015-2016 School Year
Welcome to Mrs. Petti's Fourth Grade!
May 2016 Highlights
Highlights of Week 33: May 2 - 6, 2016
Math: We completed our unit on fractions, decimals, and percents and launched a new unit on measurement conversions, volume and capacity, and 3D geometric shapes. We were also introduced to adding and subtracting with negative numbers. We applied measurement and 3D geometry skills and concepts in designing paper vases or boxes (and, in some cases, paper flowers) for the mothers.
Language Arts: Most of our language arts time was integrated with social studies and science this week. The students continued to work on the class skit, involving a dialogue between people of the past, present, and future.
Science: We continued to peek in regularly at the eaglecam at the National Arboretum; the fast-growing eaglets now have nearly full-grown feet and beaks, and their yellow feet look enormous on their small downy bodies. We launched a new unit on life processes, focusing on plants.
Social Studies: We rehearsed our class skit, completed illustrations for the skit, and continued a unit on colonial life in Virginia after the early years of Jamestown.
Special Events:
During Monday's Puma Pride assembly, we recognized the students who participated in the Science Olympiad, including Adan, Safiya, Saliha, and Dilara. We also recognized students who had gone beyond the school history bee, including Safiya. We congratulated Sofie for her politeness in April.
We were happy to see many of the students' mothers during the Mother's Day tea on Friday. The students presented their 3D paper gifts, and we played a friendly quiz game with whiteboards to see how well students' and mothers' answers matched on questions related to the mothers' background, preferences, and home surroundings.
Highlights of Week 34: May 9 - 13, 2016
Math: We continued our unit on measurement conversions, volume and capacity, and 3D geometric shapes. We also added and subtracted with negative numbers. On Friday, we set up a penticube museum of 29 different arrangements of 5 cubes, each sharing at least one face with another cube. The students tried their hand at drawing 3D cubes and penticubes.
Language Arts: Most of our language arts time was integrated with social studies and science this week. The students practiced and performed the class skit at the Variety Show. The following day, we took some time to reflect and give each other feedback.
Science: We continued to peek in regularly at the eaglecam at the National Arboretum; the fast-growing eaglets now have nearly full-grown feet and beaks, and their yellow feet look enormous on their small downy bodies. We were introduced to photosynthesis and learned more about plant parts.
Social Studies: We rehearsed our class skit and continued a unit on colonial life in Virginia after the early years of Jamestown.
Special Events:
The highlight of our week was the Variety Show for Grades 4 - 8!
Highlights of Week 35, May 16 - 20
Math: We concluded our unit on measurement conversions, volume and capacity, 3D geometric solids, and addition and subtraction of integers. We did some movement and number line activities to help clarify the addition and subtraction of negative numbers. The students took a unit test on Thursday.
Language Arts: Some of the students worked on independent research projects while others extended their word study skills. We also integrated reading and writing with science and social studies inquiries.
Science: The students planned small investigations into the sprouting and growth of different varieties of beans; they observed changes daily and began documenting changes later in the week. We learned about flower structures and reproduction, then learned about fern reproduction. We watched some interesting videos about plant reproduction and the interrelationships between flower features and the actions and physical features of the pollinators. The students were particularly intrigued by a rare titan flower structure, over nine feet tall, with a strong scent to attract small bees from afar, as this flower only blooms for a few days out of every 1,000 and has no near neighbors.
On Friday, the students dissected corn and lima bean seeds to identify structures and to make note of differences between dicots and monocots. The students designed flowers and labeled parts of the flower. We observed a variety of flowers and identified flower parts in the garden beds and natural areas. We took apart a cattail (from another area) that had gone to seed during the winter and spring, and the students scattered the tufted seeds near a bed of cattails in the natural area. We kept daily watch on the bald eaglets, who have been flapping their wings and hopping across the nest.
Social Studies: We learned more about colonial life in Virginia. The students compared and contrasted the hardships in the early days of Jamestown with later challenges that prompted the capital's move to Williamsburg and, later, to Richmond.
Special Events:
On Wednesday, the students participated in a Never-Ending Story Scavenger Hunt designed and led by the sixth graders.
Highlights of Week 36, May 23 - 27
Math: We began a unit on rates, including unit pricing. We reinforced skills and concepts related to adding and subtracting integers. We measured and graphed the growth of our bean sprouts. Some of the students created geometric designs on red T-shirts in anticipation of Field Day.
Language Arts: Some of the students worked on independent research projects while others extended their word study skills. We also integrated reading and writing with science and social studies inquiries.
Science: The students continued their investigations into the sprouting and growth of different varieties of beans. We reviewed flower structures and reproduction, and the students took a related quiz. We began learning about the ways in which plants adapt to their surroundings.
We kept daily watch on the bald eaglets, who have been hopping higher and a bit farther as they get ready to fledge.
Social Studies: We learned more about colonial life in Virginia, including cultural changes as immigrants from different countries continued to settle throughout Virginia.