THE GRADE 4 NEWSLETTEROctober Edition

October Edition

Peace DayOn Friday, September 28, the Canadian International School commemorated International Peace Day.  All classes gathered for a school-wide celebration in the courtyard.  Students, teachers and administrators arranged themselves into a giant peace sign, while songs of peace and love played on the loud speakers.  During the week, many classes had learned the music and lyrics to such songs as "With My Own Two Hands," John Lennon's "Imagine," and the Beatles' "Let It Be."  Students explored the meaning of peace in class lessons focused on our monthly character trait (respect) and how to promote cooperation between people of the world.  Children drew pictures and made posters depicting peace.  Some traced pictures of their "own two hands," with pledges to make the world a better place through simple, daily acts of kindness, respect and responsibility. All classes were invited to make and decorate "pinwheels for peace." During the Peace Day celebration children, teachers and administrators flew their pinwheels in the wind, sang songs of peace and love, and admired the posters.  It was a

Mid-Autumn Festival

(Tết Trung Thu)

To celebrate the Vietnamese traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, the school was decorated with bright colours from hanging lanterns and dragons made by students. In class, students learned about the story of Cuoi, who became stuck in the moon after trying to save his banyan tree. Last Thursday, students enjoyed a delicious moon cake as traditional dragon dancers paraded through the hallways dressed in red and yellow.

Great Things Have Been Happening….

MATHEMATICS The Grade 4’s have started a 2-week unit on multiplication and division. Students are learning strategies to help them solve word problems such as:

Repeated addition (example: 6x4 = 6+6+6+6) Equal groups (example: 6x4 = 6 groups of 4) Doubling (example: 6x2=6+6) Adding on (example: 6x6=6x5+6) Subtracting from easy number (6x4= 6x5-6)

Also in October, some classes will begin studying data management. They will be conducting hallowe’en surveys and comparing their results with that of their classmates’.

Here are some fun websites to assist you and your child with this unit of mathematics.

http://www.softschools.com/math/games/

http://www.nelson.com/school/elementary/mathK8/

AcademicsIt’s been just over a month, and already so much learning has taken place, both in and outside of the classroom.

Grade 4 students working together to solve math problems

Grade 4 students exploring outdoor habitats for science class.

ReadingGrade 4 students are learning to read fluently, to use reading strategies that can help them better understand a text and are being challenged to think critically, at their own reading level.

They’ve also learned that it’s important to choose a “Just Right” book – one that’s not too easy, and not too hard. Using the Five Finger Rule, they can determine whether a book is at the appropriate level. Keep reading at home, each night grade 4!

Grade 4 students practicing reading fluently

WritingThe focus through October will be re-counting stories and events.

It is similar to re-telling a story and procedural writing but, paragraphs or ideas begin with an ordinal number in words (first, second) or words like: then, next or finally. This skill can allow your child to include lots of detail and correct us of past tense verbs.

At home, after your child has read, ask them to retell orally or recount what they read in written form. You can check the sequence of events easily if you have read the story or information together or you listen to your child read aloud.

A recounting checklist can be found at the end of this newsletter for your child to complete with you, or independently. This checklist also gives a place for your child to write improvements and accomplishments.

You can also help or ask your child to turn the story or chapter into a comic strip is another way to check events are in order. Not the best for adding detail in writing.

Helpful websites:

Making comics http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/index.html

http://www.pixton.com/

Here is a small example.

This weekend was fun! First we went to the swimming pool where we played with our friends and family. I love to do cannonballs and splash my Dad.

Next, our family went out to a restaurant. We all ordered different things and shared our food. Everything was so delicious. My favourite part was the dessert! I thought I was going to burst I was so full!

Finally, after we rolled out of our chairs, we got in a taxi and rode home. It was a busy weekend and I hope to do it again.

Dates to RememberMonday, Oct. 15 to Friday, Oct. 19 - No School  Saturday, Oct. 27 – BCIS Grand Opening Wednesday, Oct. 31 – Hallowe’en DanceTuesday, Oct. 23 to Thursday, Oct. 25: class photos

More Great Things Are Still To Come ….

Class Trip: HuếNext spring, grade 4 students at CIS will take a class trip to Huế. As a former capital of Vietnam for 150 years, it has been rightly recognized and celebrated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are many historical and cultural sights and landmarks in Huế (including the Citadel and the Thiên Mụ Pagoda), and the city has played a critical and lasting role in the development of Vietnam This trip will be an important opportunity for students to reflect on Vietnamese history and make connections to their own studies of civilizations and societies. Please start thinking about your child's participation in this adventure. Stay tuned for more information regarding logistics and pricing.“With Our Own Two Hands” Leaders during Primary recess

Huế

ResponsibilityD E C I S I O N S F Y RP I H S R E D A E L T EW X E S I M O R P E U LC J O B S H U H P H D IE L B A T N U O C C A AC A R E T A K E R T F BP I H S R E N W O V S LT R U S T W O R T H Y E

trustworthy, accountable, duty, ownership, caretaker, jobs, promise, decisions, leadership, reliable

R-E-S-P-E-

The character trait for September is respect. We are proud to announce the recipients for this month- students who have consistently demonstrated respect through their behaviour and actions:

4A: Hwang Soo Hyun and Trinh Thuong Minh

4B: Nguyen Tran Gian Hien (Helen) and Kim Ji Won

4C: Huynh Lan Huong and Nguyen Tu Toan

4D:Nguyen Phi Long, Tran Gia Hoa

The famous anthropologist Margaret Mead reminded us that “the solution of adult problems tomorrow depends in large measure, on the way our children grow up today. There is no greater insight into the future than recognizing that when we save our children we save ourselves.”

Character education is a deliberate effort to nurture universal attributes that transcend racial, religious, socio-economic and cultural lines. It is a whole school effort to create a community that promotes the highest standards of student discipline and citizenship. The attributes are promoted, modeled, taught, expected, celebrated and consciously practiced in everyday actions. Character education will facilitate the development of a positive school culture in an explicit and intentional manner.

CONGRATULATIONS

Next Month’s Character Trait:

RESPONSIBILITY