Explore In Grade Four With Mrs. Pols

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!

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 constellations and solar systems. They are learning how to research using a variety of sources, including  Epic Books , which offers both informational texts and videos. They also had the opportunity to utilize the internet, learning how to determine if a website is credible. 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. In addition, we learned about how to cite a source any why this is an important step in research as it shows where we found our information, gives credit to the author and shows that our research is trustworthy. Our focus is on gathering information in three key areas: General facts History Importance, why it matters Students are using prompting questio...

This week, we focused on learning two strategies when multiplying two and three by one digit numbers: the standard algorithm and the grid method. Students worked hard to build their understanding of how numbers can be broken apart and multiplied in different ways. To make their 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 both while keeping the energy high and encouraging collaboration. They demonstrated a great effort all around! In this weeks home folders the students are bringing home a check in assessment on both methods. You will notice the titles are underlined in green, yellow or red. This represents if they feel the method feels challenging, they could use a little more practice or they feel confident with the method. The students also starred the method that they feel most comfortable with. A quick reminder that continued practice with basic multiplicat...

Our classroom has been exploring the beauty of seasonal change through Indigenous calendars, using literature, art, and discussion to guide our learning. This work has helped students better understand how the land, animals, and people are deeply connected throughout the year. To support our learning, we read When the Trees Crackle with Cold , a story that explores the changing months and the natural signs that mark each season. This helps us begin to see time not just by dates on a calendar, but by what we observe in the natural world around us. We also read This Is How I Know , which explores the seasons in the Great Lakes region of Canada. This book encouraged students to think about how people notice seasonal changes through everyday experiences — the feel of the air, the movement of animals, and the transformation of the land. Together, these stories helped students understand that the land teaches us, and that careful observation helps us learn. In February, we learned about the ...

  🍀  St. Patrick’s Day STEM Challenge! 🐍 We had some festive fun in our classroom this week with a St. Patrick’s Day STEM challenge! After reading a legend about St. Patrick's day, students were given a very important mission:  H elp 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! 🍀

Our Grade 4 scientists have been exploring how national parks help protect the plants and animals that live there. As part of our science unit, we learned about the important work done by Parks Canada and how parks are carefully managed to keep ecosystems healthy. One of the big ideas we explored was the “trickle effect.” Students learned that even small human actions can have a much bigger impact over time. For example, something that seems simple like leaving food behind, littering, or walking off the trail, can start a chain reaction in nature. Animals may begin relying on human food instead of finding their own, plants can be damaged when people wander off paths, and litter can harm wildlife. What starts as one small action can trickle outward and create many problems for the living things that depend on the park. To show their understanding, students became environmental journalists with a creative twist. Each student selected a human action that can harm a park and wrote a ne...