Visiting Scientists, Script Writing & Forget Me Nots

What a busy week it was in Room 310.  Some highlights included State Testing for Mathematics, revising craft stick bridges, a visit from local scientists, writing scripts based on a the story, "The Case of the Gasping Garbage" and filming of those very same scripts!  One other very important part of the week included making "Forget Me Not" cards for the local disabled veterans at the VA Hospital.

Each year, our class is visited by about six scientists who work at the nearby Siemen's Corporation.  Outfitting the students with lab coats, safety glasses and lab notebooks, the students become REAL scientists ready to work!  The visit starts with a review of information about the Water Cycle.  Students then observe a "Storm in a Box,"  replicate the sound of thunder,  learn how to make a thermometer and finally explore how filtration works.  Writing down their hypothesis and checking to see if they are correct, students go from passive to active participants.  It's an hour filled with wonder and wondering!

This visit couldn't have been more appropriately timed!  In ELA students were reading a story called, The Case of the Gasping Garbage! It's about two young detective/scientists who try to solve a mystery.  Vocabulary words included: beakers, analysis, precise, microscope and more (which they noticed the Siemen's scientists used too)! The two characters in the story go to their attic laboratory, make and test their hypothesis and solve the case!

After reading the story, students then created scripts based on the characters and the story. Working with a partner, students created their scripts using Google Docs.  Each student used a Chromebook (thanks to our Donors Choose Projects - please donate if you can we need a bit more to get one last chromebook!) and collaborated with their partner - each able to write on the document at the SAME time!

One of the challenges was to include at least 5 vocabulary words.  As an added bonus, once the scripts were complete, filming could commence! Using our green screen set up and the very-easy-to-use, DoInk App students donned their lab coats, grabbed their scripts and clipboards and they were ready to proceed.  After the film was created, we added it to the iMovie app and created the final product!

Be sure to check out one of our "Gasping Garbage Movies by clicking HERE, HERE and HERE!  Students LOVE making the green screen movies as they are learning all aspects of the process.

 

Probably the most IMPORTANT work of the week included the making of "Forget Me Nots" for our local disabled veterans!  Several times throughout the year we send notes or cards to those men and women who are at the VA Hospital in West Roxbury (you can read about some of what we have done HERE).  In honor of the upcoming Memorial Day, we decided to create "Forget Me Not" flowers (the symbol of the Disabled American Veterans).  One each of the petals, students wrote a simple, thoughtful yet powerful message for the vets making sure each person that received one would know it was made especially for them!

I am so proud of all the hard work and effort my class exhibited this week and every week!

What message could you send the students about their hard work and effort?

Creating a Sail Car

An opportunity arose this past week for the students to participate in an activity where they would be 'sail' car designers!


The class was given some supplies to test out (and review through me) for Scholastic's Instructor Magazine.  The materials were very simple: cardboard wheels, notched craft sticks, 6 inch dowels, elastics & straws.

The level of engagement & enthusiasm was high! There were fist pumps & "oh yeahs!" when student learned they would be building.  They first decided if they wanted to work independently or part of a pair or group.  Once that was decided the work began. Students were encouraged to make some sketches of possible models.   However, most wanted to get right to the building part of the project. (Students later reflected that next time they would take MORE time planning!). 

Due to the cold weather we had indoor recess.  Most students voluntarily continued working on the 'sail' car for BOTH recesses.  Still, more time was needed to complete their creations which was given throughout the week.  Along the way we learned about and discussed axles, axle bushings and the importance of planning.  We talked about sail designs & about wheel placement.  In the meantime, those working in groups learned about compromise and listening to others' ideas.  Even those working independently learned that sometimes collaboration is helpful.   I hadn't anticipated the level of learning this activity provided.

The day arrived that we were ready to test the cars to see which one would travel the furthest.  A START line was created and several tape measures were secured to the floor!  Students were only allowed ONE blow through a straw - then the distance was measured.  Each car had 3 tries.  Students all lined up along the start line and awaited their turn.  It really was fun.  You could hear the students discussing why someone's car worked well or didn't work as well.  The cars' distances ranged between 6 inches and 60 inches! Huzzah!

To wrap up the project students all discussed what they learned and wrote a "Sail Car Reflection".  “Awesome! Fun! Confusing! Hard! Challenging!” – these are the words my students used to describe the project.  They loved being able to “create something using their own ideas.” "Next time I'll take time to make a better plan." "I liked the materials because they were simple to use."
  
What's the next activity???? I'm not sure, but I do know that IT will happen again and SOON!




Students: What is ONE change you would make to your car if you were to do this again? WHY? 

2015 Drug Free Walpole Video/Poster Contest

Back in early February our students were given the opportunity to participate in the 2015 Drug Free Walpole Video/Poster Contest.  This contest which is sponsored by the Walpole Coalition for Alcohol & Drug Awareness is open to students who are in 4th-12th grade.  The idea: Promote "living a drug free" life.

 Class time was spent doing some research.  Before research began a quick introductory mini lesson on taking "Cornell style notes" was given. Students then partnered up and looked at a couple different websites that were on the class Edmodo page.

After students had gathered all their information we had a quick class discussion to answer any questions and clear up misconceptions.  Students were then ready to create their video or poster.
Students decided if they wanted to work alone or with a group and then got to work creating a story board for their video or brainstorming ideas for their posters.

 










It was really heartwarming to see the students working with a partner or in a small group discussing how best to deliver the message!


An award night for participants, families and friends will be held at the Public Library on March 23, 2015.  Even if their poster or video is not selected as one of the big "winners" my students are ALL winners for they surely worked hard on this project and learned something new.



However, YOU can help our video participants by VIEWING and LIKING their video HERE!  The more votes and likes they get, the better their chance of winning.  "Voting" is open until March 16th!  So PLEASE share the video with your family, friends and co-workers! Let's show these kids their work is appreciated!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HIr6QbzEVY

 Resources:
Say No to Drugs 
Top 8 Reasons Why Teens Try Alcohol & Drugs

State Fair Project

"Our State Fair is a great state fair
Don't Miss it don't even be late
(our state fair is great)
It's dollars to doughnuts at our state fair
It's the best state fair in the state!"  (State Fair Lyrics Written by Rodgers & Hammerstein)

This song by Rodgers and Hammerstein could have been written for the State Fair at OUR school which was held last Thursday in the Grade 4 wing.   The State Fair was the culminating activity for a research project that began in early January.  

To start each of the 80 students chose a state.  A lottery was held to decide who would choose first, second, third, etc.  There could be no more than 2 students studying a single state (mostly because we don't have an abundance of print resources.) 

Once the states were chosen, students were given their PSC (Portable Study Centers) which was made up of a sturdy pocket folder and an outline.  Books borrowed from the Media Center would also have a  home inside the PSC. Students were instructed to bring this to and from school each day.

Once the outline was reviewed, the process of learning how to 'research' began.  Using a table of contents, using an index to find information and note-taking were just some of the skills explored. Students had the option of completing the outline on paper or as a Google Doc.   

Next the "project" piece was introduced.  The State in a Bag from TpT (created by Amy's Smart Designs) was the focus.  It's a wonderful!  Students are given a bag (donated by the Good Food Store of Walpole) along with Amy's packet.  The packet includes instructions on how to complete the project (basically - decorating the bag and finding 3D items to represent different topics around the state - resources, history, tourism, etc.),  a checklist, object slips and a rubric.  Well worth the cost of two dollars!  

Snakes, coins, mountains, glaciers, busses, pots of gold, footballs, tractors, headdresses, masks, clay animals, maps, cans of corn are just some of the items that were in those fantastic bags! Students really used their imaginations to select, locate and create objects that would represent their state in a unique and appropriate way. It was great fun to see how students related these objects to classmates!

At the State Fair students set up their desks around the room and displayed their bags and items.  The rest of the school spent time visiting the 4th grade classrooms!  It was a huge success. Students not only got to share their work but got practice their presentation skills! 

Over the years our State Fair presentations have evolved and it's safe to say that we found a 'keeper'.  

Students: What did you like best about the State Fair?  

*Photos edited using BeFunky.com

 

Green Screen Makes Learning Real...Fun!

Bay Colony Educators - Tim & Carole

This week our school was visited by the Bay Colony Educators thanks to funding by our PAC.  This husband and wife team having been coming to our school for over 20 years.  Students learn what life would be like living in the 1760's in New England. Learning about colonial homes, chores, food, clothing, school and more makes this visit interesting as it is quite extensive.

Using a graphic organizer, students take notes during the hour-long presentation. Using those notes students then were able to compare and contrast Colonial life to the lives of the Pilgrims and our own lives today.

Technology certainly has improved since the eighteenth century, and we decided to capitalize on it.  Using a Green Screen app on the iPad, DoInk, students were able to share what they learned in a fun and unique way. Using their notes students wrote about what they learned, their opinion why they

DoInk App

would and why they would not have liked to live during that time period.  Then they chose one of those topics to create a mini video.  Placed in front of the "green screen" students choose a colonial background and shared the information by creating a video on DoInk.  DoInk is easy to use.  Simply choose a background image, clipart, or background video then create the overlay video.  Save the video to your camera roll.

After saving the video to the camera roll, we used the iMovie app to create a video that can be shared via Youtube!  It really is very easy and quick.  (Except this first time since we were learning how to use the app!).

Take a look at some of the creations! Using this type of technology is engaging for the students which makes learning REAL....fun!

 

 

Second Annual Science Fair

What is the effect of soda on teeth?  What is the effect of light on fish?  Do cats have a dominant paw? These are just a couple of questions that were being examined during our Second Annual Science Fair.

Using BrainPop, JP Taylor's Scientific Method Blues and other resources, students were given instruction around the Scientific Method.   To begin the process students explored a topic in Earth Science, Life Science or Physical Science and then learned about asking a question.  Following that came researching the topic, forming a hypothesis, testing that hypothesis and coming up with some conclusions. 

Students had the option of creating either a Google Presentation or a Tri-fold Board.  Most students in our class chose to complete the Google Presentation.  Some printed out some of the Google Presentation and included it on their tri-fold.  Others followed the tri-fold directions from the guiding packet.

On the day of the fair, students brought in items that helped create a visual for their project.  One student brought in the rocks she used to check for absorbancy, another brought in her moldy bread, while another brought in bouncy balls used in her experiment.

There was a buzz in the classroom as kindergartners through 5th graders learned from the fourth graders about chemical reactions which create rock candy, clean copper and cause soda to explode.  Others listened intently as students explained the amount of iron in cereal, where the most germs are located and how the temperature of water affects the time it takes to freeze.

When the Fair was all over the students completed a "Reflection" worksheet.  The last question on the reflection asked students to describe the Fair in one word:  Awesome! Amazing! Fun! Educational! were just some of the descriptions.

The 4th Grade Science Fair is here to stay!

Students: What advice would you give others about completing a science fair?

Others:  What parts of the Science Fair would you like to learn more about?

Using Models to Solve Math Problems

More and more we are asking students to solve complex math problems.  Along the way we do a lot to help them be successful.  We incorporate the use of many tools during the math classroom.

One of the tools we are using this year in the classroom is called, Thinking Blocks".  This website (there is even a 'free' app for the thinking blocks) poses problems around different types of models.  As a warm up before the regular math lesson we practiced solving addition and subtraction word problems using the "part whole model with two parts" and the "part whole model with 3 parts".

As a group we watch a quick 3 minute tutorial, practice several problems and then break off with a partner.  Using the chrome books, students access the website and begin discussing each new problem by first checking for understanding and then manipulating the blocks.  Working with a partner also gets the students used to 'talking' about math problems.  It's great listening in on conversations - students help one another understand why something is working or something isn't! 

These blocks help students identify the known and unknown quantities. Using these models students will gain confidence in solving problems while developing strong reasoning skills. They are also a great tool for students to use to 'discuss' math and explain their thinking.

Eventually, students will be making these types of models on their own.  But for now, it's a great tool help attain understanding.

What are some ways you talk about math at home?