Dissecting Owl Pellets

The fourth graders spent the past two days dissecting owl pellets. At first we were all a bit apprehensive...

...but, soon, the excitement of our discoveries overtook all of us!

Everyone had a great time learning as we explored the secrets of the owl's dinner menu.

 Finally, we identified...

...sorted...

...and labeled our findings.

Millipore Sigma Visits Fourth Grade

As you all know, a team of scientists from Millipore Sigma recently visited our school. Our fourth graders were lucky enough to participate in a chemiluminescence lab.

The scientists began each day with a slideshow presentation explaining what chemiluminescence is...

...how it's used, and lab safety.

Then, the scientists conducted a demonstration, during which a clear liquid and a blue liquid were poured into a funnel, then wound their way through a clear tube, and emptied into a large flask.

The entire time the liquid was moving, it glowed bright blue. Just seconds after, it stopped, the liquid turned a dark brownish black.

Next, the students got suited up...

...and the experiment began!

The students mixed two clear solutions which reacted and gave off blue light energy. After the atoms stabilized again, the solution turned yellow. 

I think it's safe to say the students truly enjoyed Millipore Sigma's visit. What a wonderful learning experience for all! Thank you to our new friends in the scientific community. We look forward to continuing our partnership in the future.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, the fourth graders completed a small project at home that required them to reflect on what they are lucky to have.

They each received a large blank shamrock and were given the direction to fill it with pictures, words, and/or magazine cut outs that explained why they were lucky.  The students did a wonderful job being creative and adding their own touches to their shamrocks.

Before they were hung up for everyone to see, the students presented them to the class.  It was great to hear them share all of the wonderful things that they feel lucky to have in their lives.

Also, since today is St. Patrick's Day, a little leprechaun visited the fourth grade and dropped off some homework passes!

I can only imagine that the students will be excited to come in to that treat this morning!

February Book It Participants

I cannot believe it is already the second to last month for our Book It Program!  It always seems to go so fast.  Many students are working hard to read a minimum of 100 minutes a week and earn their free personal pan pizza.

I just want to say a big thank you to all the students who are reading and turning in their calendars. Another thanks has to go out to those of you at home who continue to encourage your child to read! It really does make a difference and I appreciate all of the effort being put forth.

Don't forget March is the last month for Book It so be sure to Read Your Heart Out!

January Book It Participants

Winter is the perfect time to sit inside and read!  I hope you are all enjoying whatever you have chosen to read at home whether it is a chapter book, magazine, or comic book.  Reading is reading no matter what you happen to pick up from the library or bookstore.

I want to again thank the students who participated in Book It last month.  I appreciate the reading that you are doing at home.  Thank you to those of you who are encouraging them and taking them out to redeem their pizza coupons!  Only two more months left for this year's Book It Program!

Reading Centers

This last week in reading we worked on a variety of centers.  The big topics we discussed were biography, Latin and Greek root words, author's point of view, and opinion writing.  We began on Wednesday by going over our checklist and getting all the directions necessary for class.

Our leveled reader this week was a biography on Nellie Bly, a reporter from the 1800's.  It was a very interesting story and discussed what she did with her life that lead to change.

 

We also worked on Latin and Greek root words.  The students completed a 'folder center' that I have had for many years.  They had 48 words that they had to sort into categories based on the root of the word.  They did a nice job working together!

We have also been working on author's point of view.  This week I used some great resources that I purchased from Teachers Pay Teachers.  Thank you PTO for the mini grant!  The students worked on a nonfiction point of view piece where they worked together to answer questions about an author's point of view.  They then worked on their own to respond to a paragraph that gave an author's point of view and they had to decide if they agreed or disagreed.

Our last center this week was on opinion writing.  The students read a paragraph and had to respond by writing their own paragraph that gave their opinion on the topic of pop machines in schools.  This was put on google classroom so the students were even able to do a little research on the internet to help support their opinion.  They also had the opportunity to practice their typing skills!

Opinion Paragraph

This week in reading class we focused on writing an opinion essay.  We began the lesson by looking at an example from our text series which was a great model for what the students would be doing.

The students were then given the question:

Should our school get rid of physical education?

This really got them thinking!  There were some strong opinions about this topic and it was great to see the students feel passionate about what they were writing.

We went through each step of the writing process beginning with prewriting.  In order to support an opinion, some facts and reasons are needed.  We used the chrome books to do a little research and complete a graphic organizer.

Once the research was complete, we moved on to the next steps in our writing process, drafting.  We began class by looking at a second example of an opinion essay and discussing the parts of that essay. We talked about what that author did and how she organized her ideas.  The students then spent time writing their drafts.

  

The following day in class it was time to revise and edit.  We again began by looking at a model and editing together.  The students then spent time peer editing.  Most were able to edit with two or three of their peers.  They enjoyed reading each other's ideas and helping each other during this process.

The students then rewrote their draft with all of their new edits.  They took it home to edit with a parent (thank you for your help at home with this!)

The last step of the process was to publish.  The students used their second draft and wrote their final copy in their neatest handwriting.

When we return to school next week students will be reading their paragraphs to the class.  Another important part of writing is sharing with others and speaking to a group.  The students are excited to share their opinions with each other!