Fourth & Fifth Grade: August 25-29, 2025
Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,
The class is nearing the end of their first Main Lesson block of the school year! This week, everyone completed their Main Lesson book drawings of the United States and its major regions, including the non-contiguous states: Alaska and Hawaii. For the last two weeks, the class has been working on remembering the locations of the states and their respective abbreviations. To help with this, they have played a variety of active games, including a scavenger hunt, a hand-clapping game, a “Which State Am I?” movement game, and studying their own personal maps. As a way to combine math with geography, the students observed a road atlas and how to use a map key. They measured the distance between two North American cities, then used the scale to calculate the distance in miles. One discovery that was found while observing the road maps is that the interstates that end in an even number travel east to west, while the ones that end in an odd number travel north to south. It was exciting to see them find this conclusion on their own! The students have also been working on the state research projects and preparing for their presentation. A solid foundation of geographic knowledge has been set. The class will revisit part two of North American Geography later in the semester.
For September, the class will begin their second Main Lesson block: The Wonder of Number. In this mathematics block, the students will enhance their understanding of the four basic operations, learn mathematical theorems, and discover patterns in prime, square, and triangular numbers. The class has spent the last few weeks reviewing their math skills using the four basic operations as a way to prepare for the lesson. Overall, the first month of school has offered an opportunity for beneficial learning about each child and their unique personality, interests, and skills. Looking forward to seeing you all at our Curriculum Night tomorrow evening in our indoor classroom and to a busy and educational September ahead!
Announcements & Reminders:
As we begin to transition into the next season, please make sure your child has warm layers for when the mornings are chilly. We often start the day with some movements that can help warm the children up, but it’s best to have extra layers just in case.
September 2: Early Childhood Curriculum Night, 6:00-7:00 pm (adults only, please)
September 3: Grades Curriculum Night, 6:00-7:00 pm (adults only, please)
September 13: Community Work Day
September 19: Day of Courage (Half Day) (students are encouraged to wear red, yellow, or orange)
Warm Regards,
Ki Nicole
