We spent a long time reading, learning how to take notes, and writing. We learned about organizing the information by main idea and supporting details. Then we created our Mountain Trek Field Guides. You will be able to see them when you come to parent/teacher conferences this week. I have been doing this project for three years, and these are the best field guides I have seen.
Our science unit, Earth Materials, is a perfect compliment to the Mountain World Geography unit. So we have also been reading and learning about rocks and minerals. On Friday, we observed mineral samples of quartz, calcite, fluorite, and gypsum. Then we conducted scratch tests to determine the hardest mineral of the four. Ask your student what they learned.
Next week we will be conducting experiments to determine which rock samples contain calcite.
We have a lot going on in 4th grade. Come to Parent/Teacher Conferences this week to check out some of the things we have been doing. Also, don't forget about the PTA book sale that will be going on in the gym.
