Friday October 26th

This week we had a visit from Green Calgary. We learned about what happens in landfills when it rains and leachate gets in to the ground. We did an experiment to find out the best materials to put in a landfill to protect the earth and water. We made our own mini landfills and poured in fake leachate to test out the materials. We discovered that the best materials are clay, foam, fake grass and plastic. 

We continued analyzing the classrooms' waste management systems by going through their garbage bins, recycle bins and compost bins. We found out what mistakes each class is making by putting waste in the wrong bin.

In Math we began addition using the base ten block strategy. We drew base ten block pictures to represent the numbers we were trying to add. We learned that when the ones, tens or hundreds added together to be more than 10, we traded 10 blocks in for one of the next higher blocks. 

We also started solving word problems using the acronym CUBES strategy. It stands for:

C - Circle the important numbers.
U - Underline the question.
B - Box the math vocabulary.
E - Choose the type of Equation.
S - Solve the equation and double check. Write a     
     Sentence to answer the question.

In writing we continued making strong sentences using the 4 S's of strong writing. 

In Art we learned some sketching skills such as pressure control, smooth shading and light angles. We practiced these skills by sketching pictures of gourds. 

In Social Studies we started to draw maps of the boundaries of the regions of Alberta. 

Next Week's Spelling Pattern:

R-Controlled Vowels - Bossy R! 

When the letter r follows a vowel, the vowel is usually forced to change its sound. That’s why we call it the “Bossy R.” In most small words with one vowel in the middle, that vowel has a short vowel sound as in the words bad, hen, sit, fox, and fun. 

The sound of the vowel changes if we replace the last letter of each of these words with the letter r: 

Fat changes to far

Cat changes to car

Hen changes to her

Sit changes to sir

Fox changes to for

Fun changes to fur. 

Reminders:

In-line Skating - Please return the signed blue form for in-line skating by Thursday November 1st. We will be starting our first session on Friday November 2nd. Please have your child bring their helmet to school if they have one. 

Halloween - This year at Panorama Hills School students will be allowed to dress up for Halloween. This will take place in the afternoon only on October 31st. If you choose to partake in this activity, please ensure your child has a costume that can be worn under, or easily put on over their clothes. Because of the high volume of children changing all at once, they won't be able to use the bathrooms to change into their costumes. Wearing a costume is optional. Your child may wear orange or black clothes, Panorama Hills School spirit wear, or their regular clothes. 

Winter Weather Clothes - Please remember to have children bring snow pants and boots during the colder, wet season. The field can get very wet as snow melts. Extra socks in their backpack would be great as well. 

Friday October 19th

This week was tiring, because we had 5 days again! 
In Math we continued rounding and representing numbers to 10 000. We had a check-in to check our understanding in Number Sense. Next week we are starting addition and subtraction! We will start with using the base ten block strategy. More details will come on next week's blog. 

**If you want to continue helping your child with number sense at home, ask him/her to show you how to represent a 3 digit or 4 digit number using a place value chart, base ten block pictures, word form, expanded form and a number line. You may also ask them to show you how to draw and use a number line to round numbers to the nearest ten/hundred or thousand.**

In Science we made surveys to find out each of the classroom's waste management systems. We visited each classroom and gathered our data. We will use this information to help us improve the school's waste management systems. In Social Studies we began learning about Alberta's regions. 

In Health we discussed different negative feelings, such as being angry, sad, frustrated, anxious or embarrassed. We thought about what changes happen in our bodies when we get a feeling and what coping strategies we can use to help the bad feeling go away. We now have a calming box in our classroom with lots of different tools to use to help ourselves calm down! 

On Thursday we had a special visitor in our class! Ms. Paull came and read us the book What Is Peace. We each reflected on what peace means to us. We made cards with our ideas that will be displayed for the Remembrance Day assembly in November. 

Today we had an assembly and were given a cardboard challenge! It is inspired by Caine's Arcade. Here is the link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIFNkdq96U

Next Week's Spelling Pattern:

Middle and Ending Consonant Blends

This week we focused on consonant blends that come at the beginning of words. Next week we will focus on consonant blends that come at the middle and end of words. 

A consonant blend is 2 or more consonants that come together in a word. Their sounds blend together, but each sound is heard. For example:

sk as in risk 

ld as in cold

pt as in crept

Practice words will be:

sound dusk​ refund​  cold​  skunk​  absent  blended unfold   

Reminders:

Cardboard Challenge - We are still collecting Cardboard for our Cardboard Challenge. Donations of boxes, cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, etc…. Donations are being collected in the Grand Hall behind the blue partition.

No School - On Friday, October 26th teachers are having a professional learning day, so there is no school for children.

Halloween - This year at Panorama Hills School students will be allowed to dress up for Halloween. This will take place in the afternoon only on October 31st. If you choose to partake in this activity, please ensure your child has a costume that can be worn under, or easily put on over their clothes. Because of the high volume of children changing all at once, they won't be able to use the bathrooms to change into their costumes. Wearing a costume is optional. Your child may wear orange or black clothes, Panorama Hills School spirit wear, or their regular clothes. 

Winter Weather Clothes - Please remember to have children bring snow pants and boots during the colder, wet season. The field can get very wet as snow melts. Extra socks in their backpack would be great as well. 

Friday October 12th

This week was brilliant, exciting, overwhelming, sometimes loud and with a lot of different emotions. 

Today we performed in our Empathy assembly. We started the day feeling sort of nervous, happy, and excited. Now that it is over we feel proud, relieved and amazed at how well it turned out! We worked very hard on our skits all week. Thank you to everyone who was able to come watch! 

Here are links to the two skits that our class created:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=10GU9y1uqlR0bL9d7Ym9KNIsf99GwAr9B

https://drive.google.com/open?id=15CsNKI5K5uLDmnf69DfL9kbV6Srub0YK

Earlier this week we had a visit from the Military Museum. We saw and analyzed Canadian artifacts from World War 1 and 2. We saw army clothes, helmets, boots, food containers and things they used for protection. 

We also recieved an exciting email from Ms. Paull. She asked us to help her improve the classroom waste management systems in our school. Next week we will survey all the classrooms to find out what needs to be improved. This will be a very exciting project for us!  

In Math we continued to develop number sense and practiced rounding 2 digit, 3 digit and 4 digit numbers to the nearest 10. We also continued practicing how to create our own number lines. 

Next Week's Spelling Pattern:

Consonant Blends

A consonant blend is 2 or more consonants that come together in a word. Their sounds blend together, but each sound is heard. For example:

gl as in glove

dr as in dream

str as in straight

scr as in screen 

Practice words will be:

protect      front        craft      scared      trace    splinter     screech     spaces     stuff      greedy

Reminders:

Scholastic Book Order - Please return any scholastic book orders on Monday, October 15th.

Picture Day - The children's individual photos will be taken on Thursday, October 18th. 

No School - On Friday, October 26th teachers are having a professional learning day, so there is no school for children.

Halloween - This year at Panorama Hills School students will be allowed to dress up for Halloween. This will take place in the afternoon only on October 31st. If you choose to partake in this activity, please ensure your child has a costume that can be worn under, or easily put on over their clothes. Because of the high volume of children changing all at once, they won't be able to use the bathrooms to change into their costumes. Wearing a costume is optional. Your child may wear orange or black clothes, Panorama Hills School spirit wear, or their regular clothes. 

Winter Weather Clothes - Please remember to have children bring snow pants and boots during the colder, wet season. The field can get very wet as snow melts. Extra socks in their backpack would be great as well. 

Friday October 5th

This week was splendid! 

We had a special guest on Thursday. She is a Calgarian children's author. She is very sweet, like a marshmallow. Her name is Cathy Beveridge. She taught us about how to make our writing strong by adding details. She taught us the 4 S's of writing:

1. Specific

2. Sensory details

3. Strong verbs

4. Show don't tell

In Social Studies we started a new project using Google Slides. It is a project all about Alberta. Our first slides are describing Alberta's symbols. (Ask me to show you my progress at home!)

In Math our focus continues to be on developing number sense. We were introduced to a 'learning intention', which is our current learning goal in Math and 'success criteria', which are the different things we need to be able to do to show that we have achieved the learning intention. We will be working on these for a few weeks. 

Please visit the following link to find the learning intention and success criteria. There are also links to games to help reinforce and practice each concept:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Von0b3dqkGpqP00Y4zjj35-ZHBRuyDOx9VjNy1nAvsc/edit?usp=sharing

This week we began learning how to round numbers. We also started representing numbers on a number line. 

Next Week's Spelling Pattern:

Soft g and soft c. 

The letter g has a hard sound, as in 'gift' and a soft sound, as in 'strange'.

The letter c has a hard sounds, as in 'cactus' and a soft sound, as in 'celery'. 

Often the c and g makes a soft sound when followed by 'e', 'i' or 'y'. 

Practice words will be:

edge, gentle, baggage, gerbil, energy, stage, strange

circle, center, cement, price, decide, celery, force

Reminders:

Grade 4 Assembly - On Friday October 12th at 10:00am the grade fours will be presenting in an assembly about empathy for the school. Parents are invited to come and watch! 

Thanksgiving Long Weekend - There will be no school for students on Friday October 5th and Monday October 9th.

Winter Weather Clothes - Please remember to have children bring snow pants and boots during the colder, wet season. The field can get very wet as snow melts. Extra socks in their backpack would be great as well.