Central Park Zoo

We visited the Central Park Zoo today! 

We prepared yesterday by reading articles in groups: 1 group read about the zoo's history, and the other group read about the zoo today. Each group recorded key information and then shared what they learned with their friends, as well as some of our friends from 3rd Grade.

At Central Park Zoo, we observed many interesting things;  here are some of our friends' observations: people playing music, people drawing portraits, an art class drawing sea lions, a lot of trees and leaves ("like it was raining leaves!"), skyscrapers behind the trees, and...a policeman eating a hotdog! So many things to see, not just animals...

As we observed the animals in the zoo, we recorded them, noting if they were a Vertebrate (animal with a backbone) or an Invertebrate (an animal without a backbone), as well as which sub-group they belong to (mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, fish, etc). We also noted their natural habitats.

On our long bus ride we got to see some other famous NYC landmarks (which we recorded, too!) such as the Manhattan Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, Hudson River Park, Pier 17, the Intrepid, and many more:)

Enjoy the pictures!

Dear Parents,

Hi! Here is Mora Ariella, the girls Judaic Studies teacher.
I am happy to be a part of the 4th and 5th Grades Blog and share some of the exciting things that happens in our classroom.

This year we started a special program to learn Judaic Studies called Tal Am.
In the program, we learn subjects such as Chumash, Jewish Festivals, the Parsha of the week, and Jewish Heritage. The program includes workbooks, music CD’s, story books, wall posters and educational games all in Hebrew. For more information about the program please check the website talam.org.

During the morning, the girls are learning to speak and integrate Hebrew words into their learning. As the weeks go by, we gradually add more Hebrew words and their vocabulary will I”YH grow throughout the year.

I am looking forward to a great year with your daughters and working with you to make it a positive learning environment Please feel free to email if there are questions or concerns at morahariella@mazeldayschool.com .Or call me at school and I will return your call as soon as possible!

Morah Ariella.

Math Update!

We've been discussing "What's My Rule" Function Machines in Math: When you put a number in a function machine, the machine has a rule. For example "+25". So whatever the input number is, it will change the output number accordingly. If "+25" is the rule and  50 went IN, 75 will then come OUT. If 100 went in, 125 comes out, etc.

We've also discussed the use of "*" and "/" as symbols for Multiplication and Division in older grades, as well as for use when typing on the computer.

We've reviewed the meaning of FACTOR (2*10), PRODUCT (20), MULTIPLES (20,40,60), and SQUARE NUMBERS (1*1, 2*2, 3*3, etc).

We discovered that from all 100 Basic Multiplication facts, only 28 really need memorizing! We are now working at getting better with these facts using our Fact Triangles.

Science Update!

How are animals classified? This was our focus question in today's Science lesson! Scientists classify animals based on their similarities and differences. We learned about 2 basic groups: VERTEBRATES (Animals with backbones), and INVERTEBRATES (Animals without backbones).

Within Vertebrates we discussed 5 subdivisions - Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals; we discussed each group's basic characteristics, and sorted examples for each.

Spell Check Reminder

A  reminder that our 2nd Spell Check (Spelling Test) will be this Tuesday, October 26. The index card packet will be due, with their sentences completed on the back. 

Make spelling review fun! Think of funny sentences that contain the spelling words, and leave a "______" where the word should fit in. Have your child guess the word by spelling it out! Get involved and have some fun!

UPCOMING TRIP

Central Park Zoo!

In sync with our Social Studies curriculum, which explores NYC landmarks this unit, we will take a trip to the Central Park zoo!

Please note the trip will be on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28th. We will leave school at 9:20, and return 1:30 (depending on traffic).

Fruit for Afternoon Snack

This is just a friendly reminder to please send fresh fruit for afternoon snack! The fruit should be whole, uncut and washed. Thanks!

Literacy

We have been enjoying D.E.A.R. Time (Drop Everything And Read), and using our READER'S RESPONSE Notebook to respond to our reading.We've been thinking about our texts, and making predictions, discussing characters, and noticing the author's style of writing.

In our Writer's Workshop we've been focusing on Personal Narratives which can be about the author, someone who came before the author (like a grandparent), or a fictional character based on someones life. We have been looking at different FORMATS of personal narratives - like diary form, photo-journal, poetry, or a realistic fiction book with or without chapters. Some focus on a single event, and some on the sequence of the character's life.

We particularly enjoyed THE KEEPING QUILT by Patricia Polacco. Her story seemed to resonate with us, and the students really enjoyed the book's style.

To see some of the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Quilt-Patricia-Polacco/dp/1442416610/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286766414&sr=1-1

Science

What are the building blocks of life? CELLS! We examined the thin, transparent peel of the onion in a real microscope and got to see, with our own eyes, real cells! We noticed that they were all connected like round bricks, and that each was enclosed with it's own border, called a cell membrane. We learned that plant cells  not only have a cell membrane, they also have a cell-wall, as well as a special function for trapping the sun's energy so it can make its own food! Animals, though, do not make their own food and therefor animal cells do not need this function!

We learned that there are single-celled organisms, but usually cells form tissues...which form organs (like your heart!) ...which form organ systems (like the circulatory system!)...which form organisms (like people!).

We learned that scientists ask questions to help them organize and group living things:
How many cells does the organism have?
Where does it live?
How does it get food?

We learned that in general, living things are organized into 6 KINGDOMS. Each kingdom is further subdivided into smaller groups, the smallest two groups (GENUS and SPECIES) givie the living thing its scientific name.

Social Studies

Landmarks in NYC! That is what we've been learning about in Social Studies. We've learned some cool facts about the Flatiron building (Did you know it's odd shape is like a flat iron? Did you know that people believed it would fall over? Did you know that the Flatiron building appears in Spiderman movies?), as well as the creation of Central Park (did you know that they had to cart soil in from New Jersey? Did you know the park took 20 years to complete? Did you know it has 6 bodies of water and 36 bridges and arches?).

Central Park - 1870 Map

Riding in Central Park... THEN

Ice-Skating at Central Park...NOW

We designed our own park maps with a key to navigate the map. We read a great book called My Taxi Ride by Paul Dubois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender. It takes you through NYC in a fun, zippy taxi ride!

To view part of the book:
http://www.amazon.com/My-Taxi-Ride-Jennifer-Swender/dp/1423600738/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286761402&sr=1-3-spell

 We have been comparing and contrasting the difference in the above landmarks THEN (when they were built) and NOW. We've seen some interesting old photos and maps that have given us a great idea of what things looked like back then!

Math

We are already in our 2nd Unit of Math. In Unit 1 we explored Naming and Constructing Geometric Figures. In Unit 1 Lesson 2 we worked on points, line segments, lines and rays; we labeled them and learned the correct symbols for naming them.

In Lessons 3 - 5 we discussed different types of POLYGONS (closed shapes with straight lines that do not intersect). In Lessons 6-7 we explored using a compass and creating circle constructions with it. We discussed concentric circles (one circle within the other - with neither circle touching the other), and congruent shapes (shapes that are the same size). We explored hexagon and triangle constructions in lesson 8.

We had our first Math Assessment in Lesson 9; we will be bringing them home for corrections this week! Please pay attention to the areas which need work - they are clearly marked and pointed out.

We have moved right along into Unit 2 - exploring number values. We enjoyed Game Day, when we played important and fun math games that correspond to the material we are learning!

We played Polygon-Pair Up (matching shapes and their properties - for example a rhombus card  with a property card that says "2 pairs of parallel sides and no right angles"); Name that Number (where each player has a secret number and they need to guess a digit contained in their opponent's secret number. If that digit is present they need to name the number's value, and then the amount is added or subtracted); Addition and Subtraction Top-It (comparing sums or differences of two or three cards. The player with the biggest sum or difference takes all the card).

Please make sure to write on the homework log if any of the Math Study-Links seem difficult. I would like to know so we can help!

Welcome!

Welcome to the 4th and 5th Grade blog! Thanks for stopping by and seeing what we've been up to...

We have been off to a great start, and with the holidays behind us - we'd like you to be aware of what we've been working on in class! I will be updating the blog in the following subject areas: math, science, social studies, spelling, reading and writing (language arts), as well as school events and trips. 

I look forward to meeting you at the open school night soon and hearing your feedback!

I hope you will enjoy the blog, and please feel free to comment and compliment! ;)

Sincerely,

Morah Nechama Dena