Humane Society of Palouse talks about helping their animals!
The kids wanted to help out in our community so we contacted the HSoP who came in and had a great discussion with the kids and helped them learn what they can do-- like how to volunteer or donate items. It was so neat to hear how much the kids want to learn about what they can do.
Thank you Lauren and Sierah!
Testing Minerals for Hardness and Streak
These two kids are deeply studying minerals! It is a good sign when you only see the tops of their heads! :)
Using one of the kits that have 15 minerals and the tools to learn how to test the minerals inside for hardness, luster, streak. Working together, they figured out which minerals are harder than our fingernails, but not as hard as a nail or glass. It is a a process to see that doing the science has steps for discovery.
Karissa and Clarissssa finally meet!
Karissa has been so excited all year and finally when January started, she knew this was the month. Every day she has asked, "When are we going to hold Clarissssa?"
You can tell that Karissa is reallllllly happy!!!
Meeting our class pet, Clarissssa!
The kids have been ready to meet her and now that they are all used to each other, today was the day!
With the help of Ms. Miller, the kids pet and then held this lovely creature.
During our Morning Meeting, the kids shared thoughts and emotions about snakes, being scared, and what they learned. It was interesting as usual and eye-opening for all of them.
The ideas that are connected to MLKJr.
We started Social Studies listening to excerpts from the 1963 I Have a Dream Speech and discussion about the people and ideas that have to do with freedom and human rights. They clapped many times during the speech.
Then I put six words up on the board MLKJr, Rosa Parks, Equality, Civil Rights, or Abraham Lincoln that they could research in Newsela. They had time to read a bit, and then brought the article title forward on the web of ideas.
Each student had a chance to share what more they learned about one of the articles.
Learning to use Newsela as a research tool specifically for certain ideas is important because they saw the connections of the ideas.
From the Mountain of Despair a Stone of Hope.
Sums and Differences Crossword Puzzle
The kids worked with their job partner to practice math facts doing 4 digit equations. Then after they had filled in the puzzle, they go over their work practicing with a calculator.
Here, Clover and Karissa discuss their work. It is important for them to have time to work through problems and figure out how to talk about them.
MCS Plastic Film Collection
5000 pounds or 2 1/2 tons for this school year!
Spencer and Emily are holding 19 pounds of plastic that came in yesterday during the school day.
Just this week, and it's Wednesday, our total so far is 45 pounds.
The City of Moscow collection total on Saturday was 2400 pounds!
Is Snow Colder than 0 Degrees Celsius?
Working with their job partner, a 10-minute sand timer, and a thermometer, the kids chose 4 locations to test. They sang Happy Birthday 3 times and then took a reading.
Once everyone was done-- with time to spare, we took one more reading at the front of the school.
When we returned back to class, the kids sorted the data, wrote results, and drew a few conclusions. They also noted what was easy and hard about doing the science.
They worked together really well!!
❄Playing Inside a Snowglobe!❄
The weather was perfect at recess this afternoon for all kinds of fun. It was so nice-- and felt so warm, it was the perfect day for a picture. Everybody was present!
These kids are really coming along together socially and academically.
👏A good way to start 2022!
Enchanted Elf Escapades!!
The Exchange was so fun! Each elf gave and received a gift! They were gracious and fun all together, just like a good elf group!
Each has an elf name now too!
Thursday will be fun as they give homemade gifts.
Ely and Lila create the Square Number 64
In celebration of having my birthday on Thursday, I gave out to the kids my 'working stash' of Skittles for math. Each pair needed to create one of the square numbers on the multiplication chart. Helping create models is a process that allows for foundation building. It is really necessary for every content area.
They started it the number 9 (Those Skittles were edible and my treat to share for my birthday) since that is the day of the month that was were celebrating! I told them that I love Skittles because all the colors are included-- just like what we want for people in life. They appreciated that comment; to my surprise, they clapped in agreement. That was a great birthday present!
Feel the Light in the Darkest Night
This is the theme that our door shows!
The kids expressed that a lot has happened over the past 20 months and it has been hard and scary. We talked about how knowing difficult times is part of life and so is knowing that deep inside is the light of hope that keeps us going!
The little elf ornament that each person created fits with our Enchanted Elf Escapades Gift Exchange. The lightbulb has a quote from Elizabeth Barrett Browning who lived when Lewis and Clark did. It reads."Light Tomorrow with Today." The cloud that those two items are hanging from represents the cloud of sadness and confusion from these past months.
Enchanted Elf Escapades is underway!!
These fun helpers, Declan, Wyatt, and Medora, are reminding us all that we have started our class game. It is a fun one!
The kids filled out information about themselves to share with others--things like favorite color, etc. Another classmate elf will get the name next week and the third week, the gifts will be exchanged. It is really a nice way to show how we have grown together!
Everyone is keeping the name of who they get deep inside their 4th-grade brains! That way the game is fun and inexpensive (A $10 only budget for both gifts.)
Tis the season of merriment and light! 😁
P.S. The theme they worked together on to create for our door was "Feel the light in the darkest night."
