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!