Kid Inventors

As our unit end project, students in 4th grade purple were asked to make an invention.  Each student was responsible to create a drawing of their invention, list the materials needed, do a TAG activity where they discussed their invention with their peers and received feedback which they could then turn and use in making the final product, and create a model of or the actual invention.  4th grade purple has some wonderful inventors in their mix and we had all sorts of interesting projects: from mobile cat beds to a full rain cover, from a fishing tool to keeping your shoelaces tied, and more!  We are hoping to display our inventions the week after the break to share our creativity with our school community.  Great job students!!

Easter Fun

As our upcoming Easter holiday looms near, students are getting into the spirit with various activities at school.

In class, students are making cards for their Kindergarten buddies.  Using their creativity and various materials, students have shared Happy Easter wishes with their younger peers.

On Thursday, students participated in a Easter scavenger hunt hosted by the PTA.  In small groups, students read clues, solved them and had fun doing many activities that included hula hooping, bunny dancing, tug-of-war, egg spoon race and more!  Thank you moms and PTA for setting this up for us.  We had a great time!

Cloze Reading

Students were practicing cloze reading skills today during our Language Arts period.  First they read their article/story aloud with a partner.  Then they read it to themselves.  Next, they went through and highlighted any words they still didn't know.  We waited until this point to do this as we discussed that many times we learn words in context after rereading so gave ourselves time to see if this would happen while reading our articles/stories.  Then, the students proceeded to work on activities based on their readings.

Math Review

In anticipation of our math assessment tomorrow, students did some review work in class today.  One activity was a quick matching activity whereby we were renaming mixed numbers as improper and vice versa.

Technology Jigsaw

During IPC today students participated in a jigsaw activity with technological inventions.  In groups of 4, students read and elicited information about a specific technological invention.  They then formed an independent opinion of whether that invention makes life better or not and why.  Next they jigsawed.  So one person from each group came together to make a new group: a person with a different invention comprising each group.  The inventions and information were shared as well as the perspectives on if this technology made life better.  I was pleased at how most groups really took well to this task and held some focused discussions.

TAG for Inventions

Students are creating their own inventions for IPC.  A week ago they were given their task with specific outline of events and a couple of different due dates.  Today, students had to bring a visual design, list of materials and be prepared to share their invention idea with others.  In small groups, students shared their inventions and then they with their group members participated in a TAG activity: Tell one thing you liked about the design, ask a question, give a suggestion.  At the end of the period, students had talked about their design with two other people and were give value feedback and suggestions to consider that they may use in the next week as they prepare a model of their invention to share with the class next Wednesday.

Proper Commenting

Responding to other students' work is a skill that is important in today's society.  Being able to read, critically and concisely respond with statements and questions (as opposed to one or two word phrases) and give feedback are some of the things 4th Grade Purple is working on.  Today, students read each other's blogs and practiced good commenting skills.  It's always nice when we can read responses to our writing, knowing that we have an audience for our work.

Rainbow Poems

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, 4th Grade Purple is thinking about things green, leprechauns, pots of gold, rainbows, and more!

Today during one of our language arts pods, and then continuing into some of our writing time, students wrote a colour poem using the colours of the rainbow.  We discussed what good grade 4 writing (sentences) look and sound like, using adjectives and extending with detail.  Those with time to spare recalled how to upload an image into their post (or utilized the help of many of their classmates).

We hope you enjoy our poems --> Rainbow Poems

Busy Little Writers

4th Grade Purple has made tremendous strides in their writing.  We are currently finishing our creative narratives - a 5 paragraph fictional writing piece.  We have taken great pride in our writing and each student has diligently worked through the writing process from start to finish.  I hope you will enjoy reading our stories just as much as we enjoy sharing them.

Fraction Fun

With Salty Cats being cancelled, 4th Grade Purple put into place their back-up plan for the day.  Part of the plan included.....Fraction Fun!  In 3 pods, students practiced making fractions with dice and cards, comparing fractions, and using fraction pieces to create mixed fractions for which their partner needed to represent with numbers and symbols.  This was a great way to continue to practice our fraction knowledge in various settings that felt more like fun games than learning. ;)

Mixed Fractions on a Number Line

Today we took our knowledge of number lines & fractions, and combined them to put mixed fractions on a number line.  Working in teams of two (doctors and prep surgeons) one student had to accurately prepare the number line for the doctor to come in and do surgery (place the number on the line).  So far, many lives have been saved today.

Adding & Subtracting Unlike Fractions

Students are learning how to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators.  This can be a tricky tricky process.  We've used both fraction strips and numbers & symbols to do these processes.  We are only looking at changing one fraction to have a similar denominator as the other, where the larger numbered denominator is a multiple of the smaller numeral (ie 1/2 to 3/6 - sixths, as opposed to 1/2 and 1/3 to a common denominator).

By using two different methods, students: a) develop better conceptual understanding, and b) show how they can prove their answer is correct.

Here are some links that we've used in class:

Virtual Fraction Strip manipulatives

Adding Fractions Notes - Math is Fun website

Subtracting Fractions Notes - Math is Fun website

Collaboration

4th Grade Purple is really working hard at collaboration skills.  We're learning to listen to everyone's ideas, allow everyone the time to present their thoughts, and how to come up with a single answer for a questions through constructive discussion, especially when there's a disagreement.  Some of us have it already!  Way to go!

Summary Performance

As our chapter 3 activity for Leonardo da Vinci that we're reading, the students were given a hands-on activity that was structured to utilize their creativity.  In groups students needed to first write a summary for chapter 3 of the story, then, using a narrator, find a way to enact their summary.  I enjoyed seeing the various interpretations of events that the students did.