Fourth Quarter Newletter 2010

Reading:

This final quarter in my reading class, we will focus on science-fiction and mystery. Students will read City of Ember, People of Sparks, or Running Out of Time for our science-fiction unit. We will finish the quarter with a classic “who done it” entitled The Westing Game. This book is full of plot twists, red herrings, and interesting dialogue. It encourages analysis and discussion through out this tale. Reading strategies also include vocabulary development, inference in text, main idea and character development, along with setting and plot development.

Finally, students will have the opportunity to utilize their reading skills during the AIMS test as well as the year-end MAP test. These tests will be important for reading/language placement next year.

Math:

We begin the quarter with a focus on Coordinates, Area, Volume and Capacity. Students will complete a unit on Algebra Concepts and Skills that fits in nicely with Hands-on-Equations, which they worked on third quarter..

Unit 11 moves us back into volume by adding cylinders, cones, and pyramids. Students will also use the displacement method to find the volume of an irregular 3-D object. They will move into Probability, Ratios, and Rates in Unit 12. Finally, we will study a discrete math, which includes multiplication principles, vertex edge graphs and Euler’s circuits.

As with reading, students will have the opportunity to utilize their math and problem-solving skills during the AIMS test, MAP test and Orleans Hanna Algebra Placement test. These tests will be important for math placement next year.


Science:

Science is full of mystery this quarter, from the vast to the minute. We will focus on Physical Science including Mixtures & Solutions, Powders & Crystals, and Cabbages & Chemistry (acid/base identification) .. Students began the quarter focusing on powders and crystals. We will look at their unique properties and see how they react and interact with various liquids and heat. Students will begin to learn the differences between mixtures, compounds, and solutions. They will also be able to identify physical vs. chemical changes in substances.

Our final science adventure will be a culminating Mystery Festival in which students will use all of their science knowledge to solve a simulated murder mystery. We will take it from the crime scene to the courtroom! It will be interesting to see “who done it!”

I have enjoyed your children this year, and look forward to a wonderful fourth and final quarter. They have grown so much and are becoming responsible citizens. I will miss them next year.

If you have any questions please blog here or email me.

Suzi Cook
scook@amphi.com