Ecosystem Simulation

The fourth grade scientists brought the local ecosystem alive today and saw how we are all interconnected.

News and Notes 5/29

News and Notes

From Fourth Grade

Mathterpieces

The fourth grade mathematicians have begun work on a creative geometry assessment.  Instead of taking a test on the different vocabulary and concepts related to geometry, the fourth graders have been tasked with creating a geometry "mathterpiece."  Using a checklist to keep track of all their geometry vocabulary, the fourth graders are using their creativity and their knowledge of geometry to create a visual presentation of their math content.  From parallel lines to right angles, the fourth graders are creating artwork that also teaches about math.  It is fun to see how creative the fourth graders are being in relation to this assignment.  It is also a great opportunity for us to use some of our important math tools, including rulers and protractors.  In the end we will have a whole gallery full of beautiful and creative artwork that shows just how much we know about fourth grade geometry! 

Simulation

This week the fourth grade scientists took on the role of a local organism.  They collected information about the organism, its classification, its habitat and food, and how it relates to the other living things in the ecosystem.  By the end of the week we were full of knowledge of how our small organism fit into the larger ecosystem.  Using some string and some imagination, we created a model of the local ecosystem.  We created a web to show how all of these living things rely on each other.  We discovered how different factors that influence an individual organism or group of organisms can have a domino-effect on the larger ecosystem.  We found how organisms count on each other for food and shelter, and how there are all kinds of other symbiotic relationships between living things in a given ecosystem.  This knowledge helps us better understand ecology in general and also how it is lived out everyday in our local ecosystems.  When we take our upcoming trip to The Fells, we will get an opportunity to explore these relationships between living things in an up-close fashion!

Just So Stories

As we continue reading the Junior Great Books series, this week we started work on Rudyard Kipling's The Elephant's Child.  Before we discussed the story, we read one of Kipling's poems entitled "Six Serving Men."  We found that this poem is all about the power of questions and how children are uniquely gifted in asking questions to learn about the world around them.  We found that the main character in the story, the Elephant's Child, is described as having an "insatiable curiosity."  The story's theme of honoring the ability to question is so important in a classroom setting!  Often times it is not great intellect or opportunity that make for a good learner, but rather it is the one who holds onto that innate curiosity and wonder that learns more about the world around them!  We will keep pursuing knowledge in fourth grade and try to instill that insatiable curiosity as we persist with our learning adventures!

Mrs. Pellettieri is Retiring!

The only principal these fourth graders have ever known is retiring.  We're sad to see her go, but wish her all the best!  In honor of her retirement, the fourth graders thought of some creative ways she may spend her retirement...

The fourth graders imagined that when 

Mrs. Pellettieri retires...

Ecosystem

The fourth grade scientists have done some research on organisms in our local ecosystem.  We used a fun new tech tool called "Morfo" to create these silly little videos with basic information about our organisms.  This information will help us with our upcoming ecology simulation.

Classroom Guidance

Every year the students at Simonds School participate in "classroom guidance."  Led by our beloved school guidance counselor, Mrs. Cermak, this is a time for students to work together as a class on social and emotional issues.  The main topic of focus for the fourth graders is the transition to fifth grade.  In the past few weeks Mrs. Cermak has worked with the class on the qualities of a leader as they prepare to become the oldest students in the school, and will inevitably take on the position of "role model."  With fun activities and meaningful discussions, classroom guidance is a favorite time of year for these students!

Memorial Day Flags

The fourth graders joined some of the local veterans at the Pine Grove Cemetery today.  They helped replace the old, worn flags with new, bright flags in preparation for Memorial Day.  It was a really great time of Warner community!

News and Notes 5/22

News and Notes

From Fourth Grade

Inquiring...

The fourth grade scientists were faced with their first ever standardized science assessment this week.  The state of New Hampshire asks that all 4th, 8th, and 11th graders in the state take the "Science NECAP" testing in the spring to demonstrate how they are progressing in their study of science.  The first three days of this week were full of fourth graders digging around in their minds for all of their science knowledge.  This test is unique because the third day provided the students with the opportunity to show off not just their science content knowledge, but also their inquiry abilities.  They worked through the steps of the scientific process to ask a question, make a hypothesis, follow the steps of an inquiry task, and then reflect and form conclusions.  What an unusual picture to see the "TESTING!" sign posted on the door of a classroom that is full of students talking and exploring through a hands-on science experiment.  Nobody can pretend that this spring hasn't been very full of assessments for these fourth graders, but it is so encouraging to see them continuing to put forth good effort!  It is certainly evidence of their great love of science to see how hard they were willing to work on this assessment!

Remembering

One of the great privileges of being a fourth grader at Simonds School is having the opportunity to help the local veterans prepare for Memorial Day.  Each spring the fourth graders walk down Main Street to the Pine Grove Cemetery.  They meet with local veterans and learn about the traditions associated with Memorial Day.  They work in small groups to replace worn and faded flags on gravestones.  The fourth graders show such great respect for the veterans and do an amazing job of showing self-control during our time in the cemetery.  If we are really lucky, the veterans will share some of their own stories about Memorial Days gone by and their life experiences.  It is a really sweet time of community and gives our fourth graders a chance to say thank you to those who have served their country in this unique way.  So, on this Memorial Day in Warner, when you see the bright red, white, and blue placed on the gravestone of a veteran, you can know that there was a generous local veteran who helped a fourth grader thoughtfully and respectfully place it there!

Editing and Revising

We are in the home stretch!  The majority of the fourth grade writers are working through the "edit and revise" stage of their research papers.  You can see the enthusiasm grow as final drafts are finished and students begin "fixing up and fancying up" their writing.  We hope that by the end of next week we will have a class of published research writers.  This is by far the most involved writing assignment of the fourth grade, and it is encouraging to see just how dedicated and motivated these fourth grade writers have been through the whole writing process!  They have worked step-by-step and are eagerly awaiting the moment when their papers and bibliographies are finished and they can declare that they have indeed published a true research paper. 

Finish Well

As the spring quickly zooms past and the summer approaches, we remember that this fourth grade experience won't last forever.  As we near the end of the year, we have been spending time refocusing our minds and attitudes on our three school rules: Be safe.  Be respectful.  Be responsible for learning.  Before we know it, these students will be fifth graders!  As the oldest kids in the school, they'll need to be dedicated to following these school rules for their own benefit as well as to set an example for all the younger students who are looking up to them.  So, our challenge now is to finish well and look ahead!

Sound in Focus

The students (and teachers) at Simonds School have been having a lot of fun with sound this week!  We have had a special artist-in-residence program with Mr. Mike Alberici who is a music teacher who won the 2014-2015 Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical Fellowship.  He has taken this year to share more about the science of sound.  As a part of the program, he shared things like a vortex canon, decibel meters, sound maps, surveys of listening habits, the amazing zombie snot and dancing salt.  As the pictures and videos below show, it sounds like all of Simonds School enjoyed their study of sound!