Homework:
There is always a little homework everynight, even if I did not assign it. The students should do a couple of pages of notes each night. They should read the pages, take notes, and do the quick check for that section. Classwork becomes homework if it is not finished in class.
Notes:
When taking notes, students should not copy every sentence in the book. Notes should include:
* A title and page number for each set of notes.
* Information the student felt was important enough to share class.
* The definitions to the yellow highlighted words and other vocabulary words.
* Any questions the student has after reading the lesson.
* Pictures or diagrams that are helpful to understanding the lesson.
* The question and answer to the two quick check questions at the end of the section.
The notes will be shared by the students during class discussion. The students will be able to ask their questions and help guide the instruction from information they felt was important. This method also allows me to focus my instruction on the areas and topics that are more difficult, rather than spending class time reading the text book aloud.
The notes should be written neatly. Students will also take additional notes during class discussion and should be writing down everything I write on the whiteboard.
Quick Check:
The quick check should include the question and the answer. We will correct them in class together and should be corrected with a correcting marker or colored pencil.
Lesson Review:
At the end of each lesson, students will complete the lesson review. This should be written in their science spiral and should include a title, page number, and they must write out the questions.
Correcting Work in Class:
I always ask the students to correct their work in a colored pencil/pen. This gives them a visual reminder of the areas they need to review when it comes time to study. I also ask the students to "actively correct" their work by writting in the correct answer in their colored pencil/pen. This again provides them with additional information to use when studying for tests.
Tests:
All chapter tests will be announced with at least one week notice. The test date will be put on the Edmodo calendar. The study guide is posted here on Weebly.
Extra Credit:
Extra credit on a science test is usually questions about material I discussed in class, but was not found in the science book or for giving the correct answer for any T/F question when the answer is false. When extra credit is given on a test, it is not factored into their test score. It will be used later, when I am calculating their final science grade. If the student is on the border of a 4/5, and they have completed extra credit, I will push their grade up to the 5. If the student is on the border of a 3/4, the extra credit will push their grade to the 4. I encourage all students to complete as much extra credit as possible.
Science Packets:
At the beginning of the chapter, I will pass out a science packet that contains material we are covering in the chapter. The packet is due the day before the chapter test and all answers will be given in class. The students will "actively correct" the packet in a colored pen/pencil and use this packet to study for the test. The students are encouraged to study the areas they missed the most.
4th Grade Science Units of Study and Lessons
Life Science
Chapter 1: Living Things Need Energy
Vocabulary for Chapter 1
Lesson 1 Plants and Sunlight
Lesson 2 Food Chains
Lesson 3 Food Webs
Lesson 4 Microorganisms
Study Guide for Chapter 1
Chapter 2: Living Things and Their Environment
Vocabulary for Chapter 2
Lesson 1 Ecosystems
Lesson 2 Living Things Need Each Other
Lesson 3 Changes in Ecosystems
Lesson 4 Adaptations
Study Guide for Chapter 2
Earth Science
Chapter 3: Rocks and Minerals
Vocabulary for Chapter 3
Lesson 1 Minerals: The Building Blocks of Rocks
Lesson 2 Igneous Rocks
Lesson 3 Sedimentary Rocks
Lesson 4 Metamorphic Rocks
Study Guide for Chapter 3
Chapter 4: Slow Changes on Earth
Vocabulary for Chapter 4
Lesson 1 Weathering
Lesson 2 Erosion and Deposition
Lesson 3 Landforms: Changing Over Time
Study Guide for Chapter 4
Chapter 5: Fast Changes on Earth
Lesson 1 Landslides
Lesson 2 Earthquakes
Lesson 3 Volcanoes
Study Guide for Chapter 5
Physical Science
Chapter 6: Electricity
Lesson 1 Static Electricity
Lesson 2 Electric Circuits
Lesson 3 Using Electrical Energy
Study Guide for Chapter 6
Chapter 7: Magnetism
Lesson 1 Magnets
Lesson 2 Electromagnets
Lesson 3 Motors and Generators
Study Guide for Chapter 7
Chapter 1: Living Things Need Energy
Vocabulary for Chapter 1
Lesson 1 Plants and Sunlight
Lesson 2 Food Chains
Lesson 3 Food Webs
Lesson 4 Microorganisms
Study Guide for Chapter 1
Chapter 2: Living Things and Their Environment
Vocabulary for Chapter 2
Lesson 1 Ecosystems
Lesson 2 Living Things Need Each Other
Lesson 3 Changes in Ecosystems
Lesson 4 Adaptations
Study Guide for Chapter 2
Earth Science
Chapter 3: Rocks and Minerals
Vocabulary for Chapter 3
Lesson 1 Minerals: The Building Blocks of Rocks
Lesson 2 Igneous Rocks
Lesson 3 Sedimentary Rocks
Lesson 4 Metamorphic Rocks
Study Guide for Chapter 3
Chapter 4: Slow Changes on Earth
Vocabulary for Chapter 4
Lesson 1 Weathering
Lesson 2 Erosion and Deposition
Lesson 3 Landforms: Changing Over Time
Study Guide for Chapter 4
Chapter 5: Fast Changes on Earth
Lesson 1 Landslides
Lesson 2 Earthquakes
Lesson 3 Volcanoes
Study Guide for Chapter 5
Physical Science
Chapter 6: Electricity
Lesson 1 Static Electricity
Lesson 2 Electric Circuits
Lesson 3 Using Electrical Energy
Study Guide for Chapter 6
Chapter 7: Magnetism
Lesson 1 Magnets
Lesson 2 Electromagnets
Lesson 3 Motors and Generators
Study Guide for Chapter 7