Tackling Everest!

As some of you may know a high school friend of mine, Jake St. Pierre, will be headed to Nepal in March with a small team of scientific researchers to climb Mt. Everest and nearby peak Lhotse.  Please check out this article about Jake in the Concord Monitor...

http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/10846257-95/bow-police-officer-seeks-help-to-tackle-everest

Team News: Week of February 17-21

This Week:  We continued learning about the winter Olympics through a variety of activities.  We also began learning about the Iditarod which is starting on March 1^st.  Each student chose a musher to follow throughout the race.  We did a little research on our mushers to create a pennant that shows our support.  We also used “The Last Great Race” as a resource to answer some of the questions we had about the Iditarod.  In math we used this week to review some of the skills previously learned.  In science we began learning about how to classify living things and plant and animal cells.  We also had a special guest, Jake St. Pierre, come talk to the 4^th graders about mountain climbing.  He talked mostly about his experiences climbing Everest and other peaks over in Nepal.    We also did a STEM activity and built a ski jump.  We finally had our Valentine’s Day party on Friday!

Next Week:  In Literacy we will read a story called “My Brother’s Flying Machine.”  We will also continue learning about the Iditarod and do some fun activities around it.  Students will have to track their musher’s progress daily.  In math we will learn about adding and subtracting fractions.  I think everyone will do well with it.  We will continue on with science as well.

Olympics-Ski Jump Building STEM Activity Part 2

The kids did it!  It took a lot of thinking, manipulating materials, testing, and even a little bickering but they all did it!  Every group was able to work together to construct a working ski jump!!  It was fantastic to see the similarities in the ski jumps yet each one was different in its own way.  Many of the groups faced frustration during the building process but in true Olympic spirit they faced their struggles together and created a finished product that was amazing! 

Check out some pictures...

Olympics - Ski Jump Building STEM Activity

STEM Activities are hands-on, problems solving challenges that provide students opportunities to demonstrate the real-world application of science, technology, engineering and math.

In honor of the Olympics I am providing my students with a STEM opportunity to build a ski jump that will launch a marble (skier) the farthest.  

Today we read a little bit about the science behind ski jumping.  We learned about drag, gravity, lift, and speed.  Students learned that ski jumpers want to minimize drag and gravity and maximize lift speed.  They found it very interesting that ski jumpers can control these forces by their body position.

After reading about the science of ski jumping students got into groups of three to begin thinking about the design of their ski jumps.  They were given the materials that they were allowed to use and began thinking of designs that would launch their marble the farthest.  They DO NOT have to use ALL the materials given to them but they CAN'T use anything else.  It was fun to watch them explore with the materials and it was interesting to get a sneak peak at some of their designs.  Tomorrow we will build and test our ski jumps!

Take a peak at the exploration:

Climbing Mount Everest

     What is it like to climb the tallest mountain in the world?  The 4th graders have been finding out during library with Mrs. Coulter for the last few weeks!  Today they learned a little more about what it's like to mountain climb when Jake St. Pierre, an experienced mountain climber came in to talk about some of his adventures.  Students saw a power point presentation that included pictures of Mt. Everest and other peaks in Nepal.  They also saw pictures of familiar mountains like Kearsarge and Washington. The 4th grade students and teachers got a laugh when Jake made me put all his mountain climbing gear on (it was a great look for me...lol)!

     On March 21st Jake will be leaving for Nepal again, this time for 65 days.  He will be part of an 8 person scientific research team.  They will be climbing Lohste and Mt. Everest.  We will be lucky enough to follow this adventure!  We all wish him the best of luck!

     Check out some pictures from the presentation...

Team News: Week of February 3-7

This week:  In Literacy we read “The Life and Times of the Ant.”  We learned how ants interact socially, how they communicate, and that depending on their ages they have different jobs.  In Math, we continued working with equivalent fractions and began comparing fractions with like denominators.  We also talked a little about comparing fractions with unlike denominators.  In Science, we learned about different tools that scientists use to measure.  We also learned about the scientific method.  

Next Week:  In Literacy, we will read “Ima and the Great Texas Ostrich Race.”  We will focus on the comprehension skill of using text clues to draw conclusions.  In Math, we will review unit 3 and take our test.  We will also take our pretest for Unit 4 (adding and subtracting fractions).  In Science, we will begin learning about classifying living things.  We will also do a variety of activities around the Winter Olympics. 

Legacy Cheer!

Last night I went and checked out a performance by Legacy Cheer, a competition cheer team.  Two of my students are on the team.  I was so impressed with the talent of the team and even more impressed with my two girls!  They were amazing!!!!  I was so proud of them!

Music Presentation

Last Friday our students had a special musical presentation by one of their classmates and her mother.  They came in for about 30 minutes and played the cello and keyboard.  They also sang a couple of songs.  It was a pleasure to hear the talent of one of my students!

Mutlicultural Night

Thank you to everyone that came to Multicultural Night last Thursday.  The night was a huge success!  From what I hear we had over 600 people attend!!!!  I hope you were all happy with your child's work.  I think all of the presentations came out amazing.  They all worked really hard on researching and designing the presentations.  Now we are looking forward to following and cheering our countries on in the Winter Olympics!!!

Team News: Week of January 27-31

This week:  We started Unit 4, Working Together, in Literacy.  Our first story was an excerpt from A Cricket in Times Square.  We focused on the theme of friendship.  In Math, we began learning about equivalent fractions.  We learned that you can multiply the numerator and the denominator by the same number to make an equivalent fraction.  We worked A LOT on our multicultural night projects.  The slide show presentations were unbelievably good.  I am so proud of all the kids!  Thank you to all the families who came to Multicultural Night!

Next Week:  In Literacy, we will read a nonfiction story called “The Life and Times of the Ant.”  In Math, we will continue learning about equivalent fractions and begin comparing fractions.  Hopefully we will be ready for the unit test on Friday.  We also begin Science!  Our first unit is Life Science and we will be learning about classifying living things.