Crayfish Experiment

 This week was such great fun. We had so many exciting things going on.  Not only did we go to the White River to collect and sample crayfish, but we also brought them back and did our very first scientific inquiry.

Students learned how to develop a scientific question that was investigable.  They learned how to think about the ethics of the question, whether or not we had the materials to do it, whether it was age appropriate, or if the question was too vague.

Once we had our question, "Do crayfish prefer open water or rock caves?" we began to plan a fair test.  Using a race between Mrs. Thompson and myself as an example, students learned that it is important that there is only one variable in a fair investigation, and that we would not get scientific data if we altered any other variables during the experiment.

Once we had all that amazing knowledge, it was time to proceed with our investigation. The entire fourth grade piled into my classroom on Thursday afternoon and did timed trials with the crayfish. We were abuzz with activity and excitement.

I must admit that the results came out different than most predicted, and so now in the aftermath we are analyzing our data and drawing scientific conclusions based on the information we collected.

Overall the experience was extremely positive for the students.  Now the students are ready to create their own investigations based on the animals that they find in their territories by the brook.  This coming week we will spend time planning and preparing for this next adventure!


Just a reminder: NECAPS START ON THURSDAY!!!!

Crayfish Field Trip

The fourth graders had an amazing day at The White River today. Thank you to the many parents who came out to help. What a wonderful community we have at DBS. Here are some photos from our day.

Learning on Site

  We are scientists!

What an incredible week. The fourth graders have come so far from the first week.  They have been observing animals, and even did an observation of real dragonflies earlier this week. Yesterday my little scientists went out and chose their territories by the brook.  We spent a half hour outside drawing maps and getting the lay of the land.  As you can imagine, being out in the field was exciting. 

 On Tuesday, Emily from White River Partnership  came to teach the class about crayfish. The class learned the four classifications and how decipher male vs. female. The students are excited to head to the White River next Tuesday to do some actual, real, data collection. We have five parents signed up to attend. If you are still interested, please let me know. The more the merrier!

Remember that the fundraising is due on Monday!
                                                                                                                   

Seeing the World Differently

   This week students have been transformed into scientists, mathematicians, writers, and readers. We are beginning to look at the world through different eyes.  We are seeing that everything can become is a story, and we all have stories to tell.  We are using people and places to inspire the stories within us.  We are looking at the woods and seeing them as a habitat filled with possible new discoveries. Rotting logs are now homes to ants, worms, beetles, and even a salamander or two! We have looked at area and seen that it can be measured not only in square units, but by using hexagons, rhombi (a new word we all learned), trapezoids, and triangles. We've started looking at our reading lives, and learning from past experiences. We have to ask ourselves what works for us and what doesn't? We even made new resolutions to improve our reading this year. The world of learning is opening up to us, and we are excited to jump in with both feet. What a week!

Some important things to remember for the coming week:
1) Students need boots or old shoes for their exploration of Dothan Brook.  Please put your child's name somewhere inside the shoe, and put the shoes inside a plastic grocery bag with their name on it as well. These will hang on their hooks for the next few weeks while we explore the brook.

2) Open house is Tuesday, September 10th. I encourage all families to come and share in their child's "home" for the next nine months. I look forward to meeting you all that evening.

3) The annual PTO Fundraiser was sent home today with your child. I can't stress enough how important fund raising is for DBS. I know it isn't much fun for anyone, however it is crucial in order for the PTO to continue to offer the many extras that benefit your children. Besides the many fun evenings such as Movie Night, Brain-a-mania, and the Ice Cream Social, the PTO also supports classrooms financially. If every child sold just one thing we would be able to start the year out strong and offer many more extracurricular opportunities for the DBS students.  Orders are due on September 23rd.  So, please look in your child's backpack for the packet that went home today.

The First Week- 2013/2014

      The first week of school is always filled with nerves, excitement, and a little anxiety.  Everything is new, and there is a world of possibilities at our fingertips.  New faces, new learning styles, new room, and new relationships make for a whirlwind of a few days.  It also makes for some exhausted students and a worn out teacher.
     This week was about learning the routines, reviewing Dothan Brook's expectations, and just getting back into the swing of learning. I was amazed at how quickly my fourth graders stepped it up.  In the matter of days, I saw them really following the rules, listening to directions, and already becoming higher level thinkers.
     Fourth grade is such a year of progression.  Most students are at the point of reading pretty confidently and so reading becomes a tool that they use to do more learning. We move from basic math facts and concepts to building upon their knowledge to make connections. Writing becomes a method of translating their thoughts and ideas. Technology is embraced in order to further students' thinking. Is this progression easy? No.  It requires work, stamina, and great effort on the part of your children.
    This first week we have been trying to form the building blocks to make this transition happen smoothly.  For example, students started to learn how to become "real" scientists.  We've been discussing observations, and what it means to really look at something through a scientist's eyes.  We have been on two nature hikes, and students have been discovering the world around them. In math class the fourth graders have been recalling their knowledge of the past four years of school to describe basic shapes as mathematicians would. I encourage you to ask your child to describe to you the qualities of a rectangle, square, triangle, diamond, or trapezoid.  Students have been pushing themselves to write and to be descriptive. They have begun to write their very first poems about themselves. These will be fine tuned and available to share at open house night. But above all else, they are learning how to be a community of learners, sharing thoughts and ideas in a safe and productive way.  In the picture above you can see an activity where students are putting post-it notes on each other's work. They are making comments and adding their own knowledge to help one another.
    Fourth grade is a time of discovery. It is an incredible journey, and I am so thrilled to be sharing it with your child.  Please help me make this the best year for your student. I encourage your comments, your thoughts, your suggestions, and above all else your discussions with your child about the importance of what we do every day in the classroom. Here is to a fantastic school year!

Theme iMovie Project

Check out theses awesome Theme Videos that my class made this week!  They have been learning about theme in reading class, and these videos mimic the Pass It On Campaign that I used to teach what theme was. Last Friday, Ms. Paquette came in and taught a lesson on how to use iMovie, and the kids just took off.  The videos really came out great!

Science NECAP Time

Students writing observations during a science experiment.

  Today the fourth graders are hard at work.  The wall is open and they sit in straight rows facing me.  Their pencils are moving, their faces are focused, and the room is deathly silent. It can only mean one thing, Science NECAPs.
  We have been working hard all year in preparation for these tests.  We've been doing experiments, we've kept science notebooks, we've learned how to observe like scientists, we've mastered the art of note taking, we have written scientific conclusions until we are blue in the face.  When I look out at the sea of students in front of me, I see confidence and assurance. Last week we practiced with some previous NECAP tests so even the format is familiar to them.  They've got this!
  Nothing is more rewarding for me as a teacher than to watch my students succeed.  I like the slight smiles that cross their faces as they know an answer. I like walking around the room and seeing them using testing strategies that we so carefully went over.  I like the look of their bodies when their brains are hard at work.  I am excited for them.