Happy Birthday, Jacob!

Jacob turned 10 today! On Friday, he came to bring a birthday treat and share a short conversation. We really enjoyed our face to face time with Jacob!

Insulators and Conductors

In science, we reviewed the parts of a circuit, and how electricity flows in a circuit. We discussed the difference between a conductor of electricity and an insulator if electricity. Here, you can see the students using their circuits to test whether an object is a conductor or insulator of electricity. 

Electric Circuits

In science class last week, students studying the form of energy known as electric energy. We discussed the different parts of a circuit, and his electric energy travels. Below, you can see that everyone in our class was successful at making their circuit work!

Determining Theme

Determining the theme of a text is not an easy task. We have been hard at it all month finding evidence in the text to support the theme in different traditional literature texts. Here, you can see students reading the folktale of Johnny Appleseed, determining the theme, and finding evidence in the text to support their thinking. Today, students held a small group discussion sharing their thinking. 

We use lots of tools in writing!

Look at how hard these kiddos are working!! Students have been working their tails off writing their why/how stories (for example--Why Giraffes Have Long Necks). We have started the editing stage of our writing. Students are using a checklist and different writing tools to check their writing including highlighters, colored pens, and computers.

Sound Energy

Today, we did an experiment about sound energy. We have read and studied about vibrations creating sound, how sound travels in waves, pitch, volume, absorption of sound, and echoes. We did an experiment to show how volume level affects vibration with sound.

Marshmallow Shooters!

Science just keeps getting better! Last week, we discussed the concept of motion. Specific vocabulary included transferred energy, force (push/pull), gravity, and motion. Students created marshmallow shooters. They launched pon poms, marshmallows, and circle cereal, and then connected their understanding of motion and motion vocabulary. Let me tell you, these kids understood this lesson!

Kinetic and Potential Energy

While talking about mechanical energy, energy of motion, we discussed kinetic and potential energy in science. Kinetic energy--an object is in motion; Potential energy--object could be in motion if given a force. Below you can see our picture sort to practice our understanding of the vocabulary.

Comparing and Contrasting Cinderella Stories

This totally happened in reading last week! We watched the movie "Cinderella"! I promise it was educational!! We have been studying traditional literature in reading and writing (fables, fairy tales, tall tales, folktales, etc). For a week, we have been reading various Cinderella stories from different cultures. We have comparing and contrasting the different versions of the story, including the American version. Below, you can see us thinking while viewing, and our note-taking organizer.

Wrapping up Early Wisconsin history

On Friday, we wrapped up our unit of Early Wisconsin by learned about the path Wisconsin took to gain statehood. We discussed the Northwest Territorry, Wisconsin Territory, and our 13th state to the US. We finished the lesson with a little fun--a kahoot quiz about Wisconsin knowledge, including common Wisconsin symbols. They loved it!!....and learned quite a bit! 

Heritage Hill Field Trip

Thursday marked our first fourth grade field trip--Heritage Hill. Students spend the morning discovering the fur trade, and the afternoon living life in Fort Howard 1836. Much of what the students experienced connected to our learning and discussions from social studies class. Below are just a few of the snapshots I captured from the day (see a previous email from me that holds the entire album and photo slideshow!). Students portaged a canoe, saw traded furs firsthand, listened storytelling in a wigwam, re-enacted the Trial of Chief Oshkosh, and learned how to start a fire in the 1700s wilderness at our Fur Trade Era tour. Then, students learned about the life of a Fort Howard solider, learned how to follow marching orders, participated in a school session in a schoolhouse, learned about the hospital ways in the early 1800s, and "made medicine". The fourth graders made great connections to our lessons at school, and enjoyed their day!