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4th Grade

Technology Newsletter
October 6, 2013

Contact Information
Phone: (202) 297-5097 Email: Danforsu@bc.edu

Dear Parents, I am pleased to inform you that this year we are incorporating two new math online computer programs into our study of integers. National Library of Virtual Manipulative and Destination Mathematics are full of wonderfully engaging math games that will supplement students learning of the math curriculum the year. Students will have time to explore games that are specific to our current area of study during math centers and during free time if they so choose. I also encourage you to take a minute and have your child tell you about the programs and suggest it as fun activity they can complete at home. They are welcome to play games that review past math concepts or that go beyond what we are working on in class if they feel comfortable. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Ms. Danforth

TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER

FALL 2013

Destination Mathematics
In Course IV of Destination Mathematics there is a series of activities called Essentials of Fractions that we will by using in our class to supplement our study of the numerical representation of fractions. This program gives a tutorial that students can use to review content covered in class. It defines the properties of fractions and describes the numerical representation of the fraction by defining the numerator and denominator. Students can also skip ahead to the activities section where they can practice building models of the numerical representation of fractions. These activities are useful for connecting students knowledge of the physical representation of a fraction to its numerical value. This is a good transition to working strictly with numbers because it each activity has a diagram that accompanies every numerical value but students have to practice connecting the numbers to the diagrams. This will help them develop a solid understanding of the properties of a number fraction that will later support their learning of adding and subtracting fractions. These activities are perfect for students to practice content covered in class in a fun and engaging way. There are a wide variety of activities ranging from selecting the appropriate fraction to match the numerical fraction, to fraction word games. This will appeal the students different learning styles and interests while reviewing important content. We are so much looking forward to incorporating these valuable pieces of technology into our classroom and our study of math!

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TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER

FALL 2013

National Library of Virtual Manipulative

NLVM has a series of activities and games directed toward 3-5th grade learning of numbers and operations that we will be incorporating in the 4th grade curriculum during our study of rational numbers. Using these applets, students can explore the properties of fractions and the relationship between a whole and its composite parts. This will provide them with a foundation of knowledge about the properties of fractions that will support them when we transition to studying the numerical representations of fractions. The program fraction bars draws on their prior knowledge of base ten bars that we used to study place value, and can be used to demonstrate the concept of many parts can add up to one whole. This specific activity will serve as a supplement to our introduction of fractions. Students can familiarize themselves with the properties of fractions before we advance to numerical representations of fractions. The program is easy to use and there are additional instructions that clarify any confusion. Students simply select the number of squares they want in their fraction bar then click new. Each fraction bar is a different color and the bars can be shifted around the screen so students can stack them on top of each other to show the fractional relationships. For example, students can use this digital manipulative to show the many different ways to build a 9 bar by combining different size bars. Students can familiarize themselves with this same concept using the fraction pieces program as well. It is the same general format but students experiment with the different ways to fill up a circle. However, this program includes an additional challenge for students because it requires them to use their judgment to decide what fractional pieces will fit to make the circle complete. These programs are appropriate for 4th grade students because they will supplement our completion of the NCTM standard for