Our Mentors

Meet the mentors Holly and Shelly. 
We have another one but he was in class.

Regional School

The fourth grade has partnered up with the Regional School for the Deaf and Blind for our philanthropy.  We will collect items for the school as well as visit with the students.  Our first visit will be September 25.  To prepare our students about the school and the students, two teachers came and spoke about the disabilities their students live with.  Braille books, cochlear implants and various other items were passed around.  At the end of the discussion, the students were partnered up and provided a walking cane and goggles that were blacked out.  The students were given the opportunity to experience seeing as if they had a disability and to act as a guide. 

 

Sea Turtle Presentation

A representative from the Sea Lab came to speak to our students the last week of school.  The fourth graders presented her a check for $500.  The students got to participate in an activity demonstrating the probability of a sea turtle egg actually hatching and then how long a young sea turtle might survive.  The students learned that only 1% of the eggs laid will actually mature into an adult sea turtle.

Mrs. McCullough presenting the Sea Lab representative with a check.

Elizabeth and Alex looking at sea turtle eggs and a preserved baby.

Showing off their ping pong ball eggs.

Justin, Zach and Franklin checking it all out.

Holding their eggs  carefully as to not lose them.

Camille was one of the two eggs that survived until adulthood, 8 years.

Our class after the presentation.

Spring Garden

Mrs. Carley helped us prepare the garden for the Spring.  Students spent time pulling up the Fall garden, leaving a few plants behind, and tilling the soil.  Mrs. Carley taught the students about prepping the beds for planting, watering, fertilizing the soil, and amounts of sunlight.  We added corn, tomatoes, new herbs, and other yummy veggies.  A strawberry plant that has already begun to produce two strawberries was also added.  The students look forward to Mrs. Carley's visits and hopefully we will have a spring tasting before school gets out. 

Dr. Washburn Visits Our Class

Dr. Washburn visited our class a week ago to observe the writing stylus program.  Dr. Washburn has done several things with brain research and it was an honor to have him come visit us.  Mrs. Robinson did her usually great lesson as I monitored the class.  I always brag about how great my students are but they were unbelievable.  Dr. Washburn sat at a table of students and completed every activity along with them.  They analyzed a piece of writing looking for personification, sang a personification song, wrote in the Writing on Demand journals, and completed a writing activity as seen in the picture above.  He was so impressed that he mentions a conversation he was involved in on his blog.  Go check it out. 

http://blog.clerestorylearning.com/what-teaching-can-be

It's All About Herbs

Mrs. Carley came on Monday and showed us all kids of different
plants and we also got to try some foods.
Pictures and caption and Sage V.

Fresh pesto to sample on and off noodles.

Mrs. Carley debating fresh vs dried herbs in cooking.

Finding Kind

Today we went to the theater.  We got to listen to people talking about finding kind.  First, for the opening, two girls sang "Mean" by Taylor Swift to let everybody know not to be mean.  Then two other girls have traveled all around the country talking to girls about their new movie "Finding Kind" and to be nice to others.  We got to write apology notes, thank you notes, and what you will improve.  It was cool meeting them because they made a movie.  It was also fun because only girls got to see it.  It was a really cool day.

Written by Sage V.

Meeting a Blind Artist

The fourth grade students had the opportunity to meet a local blind artist.  They listened to his life story, saw the materials and tools he uses on a daily basis.  The class even watched in awe as he demonstrated how he paints daily even though he cannot see the canvas.  The students were amazed at his accomplishments and enjoyed "feeling" his paintings.  Every student took a picture and painted it.  Two artists working on one canvas, amazing!

A 3D braille poster to show students.  Fabric paint is used to feel the canvas.

A demonstration of drawing the turtle.  He feels where the crayon has been so he knows where to draw next.

Victoria, Grace, Camille, and Sage.

Natalie, Mikhaila, Isobel, Elizabeth, Alex, Lilli

Matthew, Wilkes, Zach, Myles, and Max B.

Zach, Justin, Lucas, Max J., and Ross.

Mrs. Carley's Chicken Cut-Up

Mrs. Carley visited the fourth graders to demonstrate how to cut a chicken and to show the bones.  She brought in a roasting chicken, tools, safety equipment, and yummy pieces of fried chicken for each student to enjoy.

 Students listened intently as she described how to locate the joints of breast bone.

 Students recording in their notebooks.