Classroom Happenings

Math- We finished up Unit 2. Unit 2 covered many important benchmarks for 4th grade, including writing and solving equations, patterns, and factors and multiples.  When we return from winter break we will begin Unit 3, which covers strategies for multiplying and dividing whole numbers.  It is really important that we continue to practice our multiplication facts.  Below, you will see a few pictures of some friends creating a "Human Equation!"

 Science- We are finishing up a unit on the human body.  We have learned about the muscles and joints, the eye, the brain, and the heart.  When we return from winter break, we will be learning about the Rock Cycle, Weathering and Erosion, and Natural Hazards.  Below are some pictures of kiddos using computers to look up the meanings of important vocabulary words for our heart lessons.  You will also see some pictures from our lesson taught by Cari from Oakland Mills.  She taught us all about static electricity.

Sunny Brook: At our last visit to Sunny Brook, we made Santa Claus ornaments for our trees!

Cedar Rapids Art Museum

 Here are a few pictures from our field trip to the art museum in Cedar Rapids!!  If you haven't been there before, I definitely recommend going.

Math, Science, & Writing

Math- Recently, we have finished two lessons on factors & multiples and number & shape patterns.  The students used a manipulative to help them identify factors of numbers.  We also used a manipulative to help us create shape patterns and identify other patterns within the pattern.  Each student got the chance to create their own shape pattern and then test their elbow neighbor.

Science- On Halloween, we created "Witches Brew!"  There were mystery ingredients that they had to mix together in hopes of creating a chemical reaction.  We are also wrapping up our human body unit with the brain.  Students created a K-W-L chart.  They wrote down what they know about the brain, what they want to know about the brain, and what they have learned about the brain.  Below you will see them reading human body books and recording things that we learned about the brain on their chart.

Writing- We are beginning a writing project on Informational Writing.  We took some time to read some examples of different types of informational writing (newspapers, magazines, textbooks).  We discussed how informational writing answers the following questions about a topic or idea: who? what? where? when? why? how?  Students had to choose an article, identify the topic, and what questions it answered.

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week is a week dedicated to drug and alcohol prevention.  Below, you will see a lot of photos of our week and how we pledged to be drug free!  We signed a pledge, released balloons, watched videos, dressed up, and more!