Fourth & Fifth Grade: August 31-September 4, 2026
Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,
This week, the class learned about the history of their respective hometowns as well as our capital city, Atlanta. After listening to the stories and viewing the county map of Georgia, one conclusion the class came to was that the majority of the cities and counties were named after people. This made them even more curious about who these people were. Another key point that stood out was how the expansion of the railroad in the mid-19th century led to the birth and growth of many of their hometowns.
After that, the Fourth and Fifth graders went further back in time to learn about the cities and counties that were named after Indigenous nations and peoples who have long inhabited the land that is now Georgia, including the Cherokee and Muscogee Nations. For example, they learned that the city of Kennesaw has Cherokee roots and that the original pronunciation of the word was “Gah-nee-sah.” The class was also amazed to hear that the land during precolonial times looked more similar to our forest campus than our modern suburban landscape. Students became curious and wondered if any Cherokee villages had once existed on our campus, especially after knowing that many communities were intentionally built near a body of water.
The class also began their first reader, Soft Rain, a historical fiction story told from the point of view of a nine-year-old Cherokee girl who lived near the modern Georgia–North Carolina border. As we progress through the story, the students will continue to learn more about the physical geography of Georgia so they can develop a better understanding of how people utilized the land during that time. The class will also dive more deeply into the history and culture of the Cherokee Nation.
In Math, the Fourth Grade students have been working on mastering their multiplication tables and have received a soft introduction to learning how numbers can have multiple factors. Understanding this concept will help prepare them for the Fractions block later on this year. Fifth Grade Math lessons have been focusing on reviewing decimals and learning about business math.
We are excited to welcome you tomorrow for Curriculum Night and to share more about the year ahead.
Class Reminders and Announcements:
Weather permitting, the class will have Creekcess this Thursday, September 9. Please make sure your child brings water shoes (Crocs or rain boots are also okay), a change of dry clothes, and sun protection.
Parent Conferences are October 8 and 9! Please sign up here to schedule a time to meet.
Conferences are for adults only and are an opportunity to come together to talk about your child’s experiences at school, celebrate their growth, and share any questions, observations, or concerns.
September 9: Grade Curriculum Meeting, 6:00 pm. (adults only)
September 12: Community Workday
September 18: Day of Courage (half-day)
September 21 - 25: Fall Break
September 28: Teacher In-Service (No School)
Warmly,
Ki Nicole
