Next Week: We will start a new unit over decimals. Students will learn how to explain the relationship between the digits of decimal numbers and represent the value of decimal numbers using expanded notation.   

Texas Standards Covered:

4.2E. Represent decimals, including tenths and hundredths, using concrete and visual models and money. 4.2B. Represent the value of the digit in whole numbers through 1,000,000,000 and decimals to the hundredths using expanded notation and numerals.            

This Week : We explored states of matter and their properties, particularly mass. We measured the mass of classroom objects on a balance during an experiment, and journaled about how mass is a property of matter that we can use to organize and group items.

Next Week : We will classify matter based on its relative density. We will add new academic vocabulary in addition to the concepts of "sinking and floating". We will experiment with different items (golf ball, foam ball, plastic spoon, and other classroom items) to measure if they are more or less dense than water. 

Texas Standards Covered/Started :

4.6 Matter and energy. The student knows that matter has measurable physical properties that determine how matter is identified, classified, changed, and used. The student is expected to: 4.6A classify and describe matter using observable physical properties, including temperature, mass, magnetism, relative density (the ability to sink or float in water), and physical state (solid, liquid, gas).

This Week : We built up our map reading skills by studying different types of maps and their features. Students practiced their cartographic skills and found locations on a map using a grid system. We completed and sent home our week 2 Studies Newspaper, "Map Skills and Location" in your students red Take-Home folder. 

Next Week : We will identify, compare, contrast, and answer questions about the four Texas environmental regions (Mountains/Basins, Great Plains, North Central Plains, and Coastal Plains). We will identify cities and study human population in these areas to answer questions about our state. We will complete and send home our week 3 Studies Newspaper, "Regions of Texas". 

Texas Standards Covered/Started :

4.6A Identify, locate, and describe the physical regions of Texas (Mountains and Basins, Great Plains, North Central Plains, Coastal Plains), including their characteristics such as landforms, climate, vegetation, and economic activities.   4.7A Explain the geographic factors such as landforms and climate that influence patterns of settlement and the distribution of population in Texas, past and present.   4.8A Describe ways people have adapted to and modified their environment in Texas, past and present, such as timber clearing, agricultural production, wetlands drainage, energy production, and construction of dams.