Working Hard and Learning Lots

This week we started new units in math, social studies, and writing.  In math, we started our measurement unit.  Metric conversions have been tricky, but students seem to be progressing nicely.  Time, customary conversions, and area and perimeter are coming our way next week.  In social studies we are studying Government.  This is a big topic and we are hoping to lay the foundation so that we can answer the question, "why is government needed?" and "on what principles should our government be based?"  Lastly, in writing, we started a new unit on research.  This unit puts together the ability for students to read for information, and write down key understandings.  Our goal is to research and create a brochure based on a Native American region.  

Here is a link to a video we watched about the Preamble to the Constitution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHp7sMqPL0g
Here is a link to a video students sang to in music: http://viewpure.com/o8pAIO3CPBY?start=0&end=0

Reminders:

MStep:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:
Writing: 
I can use sketching to help me record what I am learning about Native Americans.

I can observe while I read to help me record what I am learning about Native Americans using inferencing, comparison, and cause and effect.

Social Studies:  

I can explain the possible consequences of having no government, rules, or laws.
I can describe the purpose of government as shown in the Preamble of the Constitution.
I can give negative and positive consequences to land modification in the United States.

Math: 
I can recognize and measure metric units of length, liquid volume, and mass.
I can solve problems using different measures of time.

Reading:

I can show deep comprehension by writing an essay about my character's traits with evidence from the text.

Important Dates:

May 8th: MStep breakfast

May 9, 10, 11, 16, 18: MStep 

May 12th: Early Release, students are dismissed at 12:15

May 19th: Popcorn Friday
May 29th: No School - Memorial Day