4R Experiences: Volume 2: 24 August 2015

Big Hello from 4R!

What a fun and fantastic first week back to school! Students are digging deep into our first unit of inquiry: Let's Eat! Our central idea is Sharing food is complex and present challenges, or in our own words, Sharing food is complicated and gives big problems. So far, students have wondered how food is shared across the planet, how food is available in some places but not others, the different types of food choices people make (e.g. eating frozen broccoli vs. eating fresh broccoli), and where different foods come from. These wonders also came from our study of photographs of families around the world and what they eat in one week.

In math, we have begun our Investigations study called Mathematical Thinking in the 4th Grade. To brush up on our mental math and estimating skills, we've learned the games Close to 100 and 101-200 Bingo. Students are using words, numbers, and pictures to share their thinking both verbally and in written form.

We have also begun a writing piece in response to the question, "What is one thing you did for the first time this summer?" Everyone is excited to listen to what everyone did this summer, as well as sharing what they did.