Week of February 23 to 27
What We Learned this Week:
Bible: It was an exciting week for our 4th graders as we followed the incredible journey of the prophet Elijah! Here is a quick look at what we learned:
Courage in the Face of Trouble: We discussed how God sent Elijah to speak truth to King Ahab and the people of Israel.
God’s Faithful Care: We saw how God protected and provided for Elijah even when he had to flee from the King.
Important Meetings: The students learned about the moment Elijah met Obadiah as part of God's plan.
A Powerful Display: We wrapped up by talking about the amazing way God displayed His power on Mount Carmel.
It was a great reminder for the students that God is always with us, providing us with strength and courage no matter what we face.
The Unit 12 Elijah test is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 11. To help your child prepare, please find the following resources below:
Link to English Study Guide: This guide is designed to help parents support their student's review at home.
Link to Spanish Study Guide: The students will also receive a physical copy of this in class very soon.
Link to Blooket Review Games: A fun and interactive way for students to practice their knowledge!
Happy studying!
Math: Our 4th graders have been busy mastering the world of measurement this week! We tackled everything from tracking time to calculating the space inside complex shapes. Here’s a summary of our math adventures:
Key Takeaways:
Students learned to navigate U.S. Customary units, practicing how to convert length (inches, feet, yards), weight (ounces, pounds), and liquid volume (cups, pints, quarts, gallons). We even applied these skills to real-world word problems!
We practiced calculating elapsed time- helping students figure out exactly how much time passes between two events.
Area vs. Perimeter:
Perimeter: The distance around an object (2 × length + 2 × width)
Area: The number of square units needed to cover a shape (length × width)
The class leveled up by finding the area and perimeter of "L-shaped" or complex figures, which involved finding the lengths of unknown sides before solving the puzzle.
Reading: This week, we moved beyond just "what happened" in a story to Interpretive and Analytical Reading. We are learning that characters, much like us, are works in progress!
Key Highlights:
Characters on a Journey: We acknowledged that main characters are constantly learning and changing. Sometimes the lessons we learn from them at the start of a book are different from the ones at the end—and that’s okay!
Theme Detectives: The students learned that you don't always have to wait until the final page to find the "big idea." We practiced identifying major themes just by looking at the title, the back cover, and leafing through the first few pages.
Comparing Classics: We spent time comparing and contrasting the themes of different books we’ve read this year to see how different authors handle similar big ideas.
Mentor Text Magic: We are having a blast reading Frindle! It’s been the perfect tool for our classroom discussions as we watch Nick’s "big idea" turn into a school-wide phenomenon.
Writing: This week in Informational Writing, we moved beyond the basics to help our readers truly "see" and "feel" our topics. The classroom has been buzzing with the sound of students searching for just the right words!
Key Highlights:
Adding Color to Descriptions: We learned that a writer's job is to "paint a story" for the reader. The students practiced pushing their writing further by using precise adjectives and topic-specific vocabulary to create vivid physical descriptions.
The Power of the Quote: We explored how professional writers use quotes from books or experts to emphasize a point. Quotes add "weight" and authority to our writing, making our information even more convincing. The students are currently hunting through their sources to find that "perfect" quote to anchor their own work.
Social Studies: This week, our classroom felt like a tiny globe as we explored the powerful stories of immigration. From personal family trees to historic landmarks, we’ve been busy tracing the paths that brought people to our shores.
Key Highlights:
Mapping Our Heritage: We kicked off the week by identifying the countries our own ancestors came from and locating them on the world map.
Michigan’s Story: We read about the major groups of people who immigrated to Michigan, discussing the "when" and the "why" behind their journeys to our state.
Family Narratives: Through the beautiful stories in The Keeping Quilt and Grandfather’s Journey, we saw how traditions and memories are carried across oceans.
The Two Gateways: Students compared the experiences of immigrants at Ellis Island and Angel Island. We studied moving photographs of the people who arrived there and the precious objects they chose to bring with them.
A Lasting Impact: We wrapped up the week by discussing the incredible ways immigrant cultures have shaped the food, music, and traditions of America today.
The students were fascinated to see the "treasures" immigrants packed in their trunks—realizing that when you can only carry one suitcase, what you choose to bring tells a very special story.
Spelling: Here is the link to next week's spelling list!
✍️ Big News: We’re Becoming Published Authors!
The moment we’ve been waiting for is almost here! Our 4th graders are officially finishing up the assembly of our very own class book. We will be mailing our final manuscript to Studentreasures Publishing during the first week of March.
Order Forms: I have sent home the order forms and envelopes in your student’s folder today.
Action Needed: If you would like a copy of this special keepsake, please fill out the form and send the envelope back to school as soon as possible.
We can’t wait to see our hard work in print!
Progress Updates for the Month of February:
These will be sent home on Monday, March 2. Please take a look when you are able to, sign it, and return it to school with your student by Monday, March 9. Thank you for your partnership!
From the Spanish Immersion Team:
From the Office:
Upcoming Dates:
March 16: No School
March 20: Reports Card Live
March 26 + 30: Parent Teacher Conferences
April 3-10 Spring Break
Guinea Pig Sleepovers? Is your family interested in caring for a guinea pig over Spring Break? It’s a great way to try out having a pet for a short time! If so, please contact Mrs. VanderZwaag (kvanderzwaag@hollandchristian.org) to connect. Thanks!
Community Opportunities:
The below list of organizations are not necessarily affiliated with Holland Christian Schools but have requested the sharing of these community opportunities.
March 19 Writing Celebration Snack:
Dear Parents,
I am so excited to share that our 4th-grade students will be coming together for a combined Writing Celebration on March 19! This is a wonderful opportunity for the students across all sections to share their hard work, celebrate their growth as authors, and enjoy each other's "Books of Expertise."
Our class has the special responsibility of providing the snacks and drinks for all 50 students across the grade level.
If you are willing and able to contribute, we are looking for the following (enough for 50 students):
Individual Snacks (e.g., pretzels, popcorn, fruit snacks, or crackers)
Drinks (e.g., juice boxes or small water bottles)
Napkins/Small Plates (this is OPTIONAL)
Important Safety Note: We have a peanut allergy in the grade level, so please ensure all contributions are strictly peanut-free.
If you are able to help with any of these items—either for the whole group or by providing a portion—please reply to this email and let me know!
Thank you for helping us make this celebration a special and memorable event for our young authors.
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