Spring?

 Hello and Happy Spring!  We had a busy week here in Room 11!  In ELA this week we focused on nonfiction text structures.  We started by defining the 5 types of text structures used in nonfiction texts: Description, Problem and Solution, Sequence, Cause and Effect and Compare/Contrast.  We discussed how different texts about the same topic can have different text structures depending on the author's purpose for writing the text.  We also identified key words that may be found in each text structure.  We read 5 short passages about sloths and identified the text structure and compared it to the author's purpose.  Then, students read 5 different passages about video games and worked to identify the text structures.  We also continued to read Save Me a Seat this week.  We discussed how our perception of the characters is changing as we read more and more of this novel.  We also discussed how events in the text affected the characters differently depending on their perspective and prior experiences.

In Social Studies this week students worked on their New Netherland ad project.  They pretended that they were the Dutch West India Company, but with modern technology, and created ads to convince Europeans to move to New Netherland.  They had to identify the audience and provide at least 3 persuasive reasons in their advertisement.

In Science this week students wrapped up their unit on Motion Energy by completing an escape room using all they have learned.

As you can see we had a great week in fourth grade!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

A few reminders:

• Our Field Trip to the New York State Museum is on Thursday, March 30th.  Students will need a brown bag lunch for this trip.
• Friday, March 31st is Ball Cap & Sports Jersey Day as well as Popcorn Day during lunch.