M A TH
Fourth Grade 2014-2015
M A T T E RS
First Nine Weeks Volume 4, Issue 1
Math Resources and Ideas for Families Welcome!
During these nine weeks, fourth graders will be learning to:
Compare two multi-digit numbers and use > (greater than), < (less than), or = (equal to) when recording comparisons. A child would recognize 5,405 > 4,503; 3,940 < 9,845; 2,345 = 2,345.
Explain how the value of a digit in a multi-digit whole number relates to the value of the digit to its right. This means that a digit in the tens place will have a value ten times the same digit in the place to the right. For example, in the number 444, the 400 is ten times the 40, and the 40 is ten times the 4.
To determine factors and multiples of numbers. For example, what are all the numbers that produce 30? (1 x 30, 2 x 15, 3 x 10, 5 x 6). The factors of 30 are 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, and 30. Multiply a number up to 2-digits by 1-digit using strategies based on place value and properties of operations. See “Strategies for Multiplication and Division” for more information. Fluently add multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm. The standard algorithm is the traditional method of adding numbers with “Carrying.” It is important to note that carrying is really regrouping.
Find the whole number quotient of a division problem with up to 4-digit dividends and a 1-digit. See “Strategies for Multiplication and Division” for more information.
This newsletter will be sent home to families every nine weeks. It will provide information on what your child is learning in math, activities you can do at home to reinforce the content, and suggestions for books and resources you can use to help your child with math.
Online Activities to Try
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mat hgames/placevalue/FSCompareNumbers .htm Choose level 3 and practice comparing numbers by shooting fruit.
http://www.math-play.com/footballmath-place-value-game/football-mathplace-value.html Throw the football to complete a pass and practice place value. Touchdown!
http://www.toonuniversity.com/flash.a sp?err=503&engine=15 Practice reading and writing numbers as well as place value with this fun game!
http://www.dositey.com/2008/addsub/ add3dig.htm Practice adding 3-digit numbers using the standard algorithm with this train game.
Add and subtract fractions with like denominators. For example, 3/8 + 4/8=? See strategy below. Strategy 1: Use a visual model. 1) Draw a picture to represent each fraction. 2) Now add.
3/8 + 4/8
8/18/2014
=
7/8
QR Code – scan our QR code and visit our site for more information, activities, and apps. Visit at: www.jcpsmath.weebly.com
Math Resources and Ideas for Families
Check Out These Books!
Visit the Louisville Free Public Library to check out these books which connect to math content students are learning this month.
How Much is a Million? By David Schwartz Dazzling Division by Lynette Long Multiplying Menace: The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin by Pam Calvert Coyotes All Around by Stuart J. Murphy Sir Cumference and All the King’s Tens by Cindy Neuschwander
Questioning
Ask your children questions about math so that they can explain their thinking and how they got their answer. Here are some examples of questions to ask: How do you know? Why do you think this? How did you solve this? What is another way you could solve this?
Activities to Try at Home
Have your child practice rounding at the store. For instance, if you are at Target and see a video game that costs $75 ask your child to round it to the nearest ten or nearest hundred. Explain how you use rounding when shopping to estimate cost.
Allow your child to look through newspapers and magazines to find multi-digit numbers. Have your child practice reading them and writing them in words.
Review addition and subtraction facts using flashcards. Fourth graders should have basic addition and subtraction facts memorized at this point without the use of pictures or objects such as fingers. Flashcards can be purchased at stores such as Dollar Tree or you can make your own using index cards.
Using multiplication to solve division - If solving a problem such as 72 4, a student can use known multiplication facts to help them arrive at an answer. 4 x 10 = 40 72 – 40 = 32 4 x 8 = 32 4 x 18 = 72 See the video below for another example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrii6UnWbM
Using an array - Students can also use an array to help them solve math problems. Fourth grade students may need to draw the squares to help them solve. See the video for an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4H0JWL1DI
Sometimes children will say they just knew the answer or they did it in their head. Even if they got the right answer, have them explain their thinking. If a child comes up with an incorrect answer, still have him explain his thinking. This might help you see what the problem is so you can help him fix it.
Multiplication Strategies
Break Apart Strategy—Students using this strategy will break one of the factors apart creating easier problems to solve. For example, if given 8 x 15, a child may break apart the fifteen and change the problem to (8 x 10) + (8 x 5). This can easily be solved as 8 x 10 is 80 and 8 x 5 is 40. Add the 80 and 40 together to arrive at the answer of 120. See this video for another example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRRsKSDZ rjQ
8/18/2014
Division Strategies