Exploring Grade 4 with Mrs. Colhoun

This week in math, we have been exploring factors, multiples, and prime and composite numbers. Students are building their understanding of how numbers are connected and how we can break them apart or group them in different ways. A strong understanding of multiplication facts really supports this learning, so continuing to practice these at home makes a big difference. Quick recall helps students work more efficiently and confidently with these concepts. To keep things engaging, we used a variety of games to reinforce learning and even listened to a very catchy song—ask your child about the “prime rap”! It was a fun way to help these ideas stick.

This week, students shared their space research projects and Google Slides presentations in small groups. This format allowed everyone the opportunity to present their work in a timely and supportive setting. Students were highly engaged, asking thoughtful and insightful questions while listening to their peers. It was wonderful to see them show genuine interest in each other’s learning and discoveries about space. They took great pride in sharing their work, and it really showed in the effort, confidence, and curiosity they brought to these discussions.

This week in Social Studies, we began exploring the fur trade and its role in the development of Canada . Students worked on building their background knowledge and understanding of why the fur trade was so important in early Canadian history. To bring this learning to life, we participated in a hands-on simulation where students took on the roles of European traders and Indigenous peoples. Through trading furs for different goods, they experienced how trade works in a real-world context. Students quickly began to understand that trade involves: needs vs. wants supply and demand making choices based on what is available It was a fun and engaging way to deepen their understanding, and there were some great conversations and problem-solving happening throughout the activity!

  Math Update 🧮 This week, we focused on learning two strategies for multiplication: the standard algorithm and the grid method for solving 2-digit by 2-digit and 2-digit by 3-digit problems. Students worked hard to build their understanding of how numbers can be broken apart and multiplied in different ways. To make learning active and engaging, we did a “Scoot” activity where students moved around the room solving a variety of multiplication problems. This gave them lots of practice while keeping the energy high and encouraging collaboration. Great effort all around! A quick reminder that continued practice with basic multiplication facts is very important, as strong recall helps students tackle these more complex problems with confidence and efficiency. Flash cards are a simple and effective way to build speed and accuracy at home.

This week, our class launched an exciting new inquiry project all about space! 🚀 Students began by choosing a personal topic of interest—anything from planets and black holes to astronauts and space exploration. They are learning how to research using a variety of sources, including Epic Books , which offers both informational texts and videos. This is a shift from our previous research tasks, where materials were pre-selected, and students are doing a great job navigating these new resources more independently. Our focus is on gathering information in three key areas: General facts History Importance (Why it matters) Students are using prompting questions to guide their research and help them stay focused on key ideas. As we move forward, students will begin crafting clear sentences using transition words (e.g., first, next, also, finally) to organize their thinking. They will then use their research to create a Google Slides presentation to share their learning. It h...

🍀 St. Patrick’s Day STEM Challenge! 🐍 We had some festive fun in our classroom this week with a St. Patrick’s Day STEM challenge! Students were given a very important mission: help rid Ireland of snakes! Using only a limited set of materials, students worked in small groups to design and build a tool that could lift or carry pipe cleaner “snakes” out of Ireland —without using their hands directly. This activity encouraged students to: Think creatively and problem-solve Work collaboratively with their peers Test, adjust, and improve their designs There were many innovative solutions, and it was great to see students experimenting, learning from mistakes, and celebrating their successes together. A fun and hands-on way to bring a little STEM (and a little luck!) into our learning! 🍀