4th Grade PARCC Testing Schedule

4th Grade:

Monday, March 9th: Test #1 (Reading)

Thursday, March 12th: Test #2 (Reading)

Friday, March 13th: Test #3 (Reading)

Monday, March 16th: Test #4 (Math)

Thursday, March 19th: Test #5 (Math)

Landform Research Project

Use what you have learned in science about Land and Water and what you have learned in social studies to think like a geographer. Create a presentation, in your own words, that a geographer might write about a landform and how it was formed. Choose one of the landforms listed below.

This research project will include three components: research notes, bibliography and in-class visual presentation.

Overview

Your research notes should be organized into five parts:

1. Introduction
1. Attention Grabber
2. Topic clearly stated
3. Photo of your topic
2. Explain “Where is it?” - Geographic location
1. Your research should include a map to illustrate your landform.
2. Include the US region what it is located
3. Other information about where it is
3. Explain “Why is it there?” - Landform formation
1. How did it form?
2. Why is it there?
4. Explain “What it is like there?”
1. What is the climate?
2. What is the culture?
3. Who lives there?
5. Summary of what you learned through this project.
1. What is the most important thing to know about your landform?
2. Enrichment: What would you need to do/know to survive if you were stranded on your landform?  What would you pack? What dangers are there? What animals do you need to be prepared for? This needs to be research based, not fictional, if you decide to add this survival information to your summary.  

Steps to Complete Research

Choose Landform

Pick one of the landforms from the list below. Then choose a specific example of that landform located within the United States. For instance, you might choose mountains and then decide to focus on the Rocky Mountains for research.

Landforms

mountain, river, lake. plains, glacier, volcano, plateau, caves, desert, valley, canyon, waterfall. *If you would like to research a landform that is not on this list, talk with your teacher.

Begin Research

You will need to take notes on at least two books or websites about your landform. Mrs. Rolfes will conduct a lesson on how to take notes and cite your sources. Pay close attention!

Using school sponsored research websites, find at least two reliable Internet resources about your landform. As we have discussed in class, Wikipedia is good for basic information but is not considered a reliable source. Take notes using the research outline and be sure to record the web address.

Research Graphic Organizer

Get your thoughts and research on paper. Focus on ideas and organization. Your notes should be outlined into five sections that include information to completely answer each question geographers ask.

In-Class Presentation

Prepare a 2-3 minute presentation about your landform. You have the option of presenting your research in one of the ways listed below.  Focus only on answering the geographer’s questions.  If you have an idea for your presentation that is not included in the list, talk to your teacher.  Your presentation must be rehearsed.

There are three parts to this research project:

1. Research Notes
2. Bibliography page citing sources using proper formatting
3. Presentation - you can choose one of the following ways to present the information about the landform you have researched:
1. Explain Everything with script.
2. Keynote presentation that includes 8 - 10 detailed slides.
3. Tri-fold travel brochure using Pages
4. Posterboard
5. Other - need teacher approval

In order for your presentation to be complete, you must have written talking points on index cards at the time of your presentation.

Research Timeline

• Introduction to the research project, initial research, and topic selection.
• Overview on how to cite sources and note taking with Mrs. Rolfes.
• Begin research notes
• Begin presentation
• Work on presentations
• Finish presentation
• Presentations in class.
  
  
  PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS 
  
   GRADING RUBRIC
  
  
  
  

4th Graders are Going into Business!

4th Grade Business Unit 2014-2015

Overview:

As an introduction to economics and the world of commerce, students will design, implement and run a mock business. Students will work in groups of two to  three students. Students are given a spending limit of no more than  $10 per student for purchasing materials for products.

Common Core Standards:

• Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
• Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
• Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
• Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
• Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text.

• Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
• Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
• Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
• Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.
• Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
• Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing.
• Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others;
• Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Components:

• Identify the difference between goods and services
• Define and use economics related vocabulary
• Develop a business plan:Including deciding on products, pricing as well as coming up with a business name, logo and brand statement.
• Write a persuasive business letter: draft a letter to an imaginary bank (teacher) requesting start up costs for your business. Introduce yourself and business. Describe your goals and provide three reasons why the bank should invest.
• Prepare products and make a price list
• Create Advertisements: Including flyers, poster boards, PowerPoint Slide and commercial
• Keep track of expenses and profits made
• In addition to the development of their businesses, students will have stories and activities in Social Studies to help them understand economic terms and processes.

Timeline:

Week of 11/17 - Introduction to the business project and begin developing business plan. As part of the business plan, groups will create a schedule to plan how they will complete everything for their grand opening on 12/18.

Week of 12/1 - Begin persuasive letter to bank owner.  Work on Economics Packet. Develop Products Letters due by Friday, 12/5.

Week of 12/8 - Continue to prepare products. Create advertisements for business. One student from each group should bring in a posterboard by Tuesday, 12/9. Business vocabulary due on Thursday 12/11.

Week of 12/15 - Mall is open for business from Tuesday - Thursday. Parent shopping will be on Thuesday, 12/18. Time is TBD.

Heritage Project Packet Pages due Monday

Dear 4th Graders, 

Don't forget that "Section 1: My Ancestors" and "Section 2: The Interview" must be completed in the heritage project packet by MONDAY!  Just complete the packet pages with all the info- we will do the rest in class.  Here's the project link again in case you need it. 

Happy Halloween,
The 4th Grade Teachers 

Bring in your Boxtops!

Conference Week Links

Homework Help Club: This year at Mann, we will be offering HHC to students in 3rd through 5th grade. It will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00pm-4:00 beginning Tuesday, October 28, 2014. Please use the google form to sign up your child if you are interested in this program.

4th Grade Report Card Info: As a 4th grade team, we complied a list of the standards that will be covered in the first trimester to help parents get a better understanding of the standards based report cards. Please take a look at the link and let me know if you have any questions about report cards at our conference.

Student Council Service Team Application

If you are interested in joining the service team at Mann, you need to complete the application below.

Here is a link to the Student Council Service Team application:
Student Council Service Team Application