Grinding Wheatberries for 1 loaf of Wholewheat Bread!
Each student only gets to do 1 tablespoon of berries since it takes so long to use the mortar and pestle. This has been a great lesson in what human labor is all about!
Here Ezra shows off 15 minutes of working with the wheatberries!
Winnowing the Wheat with Mr. Mike
The kids will get to use a mortar and pestle to grind 1 cup of wheatberries that they can bring home to make a loaf of bread. We have been thinking about the steps in the process and what is inside these powerful seeds. The Social Science, Math, and Life Sciences have a true intersection with so much agriculture on the Palouse.
The Celebrity of 4th Grade-- Clarissssa🐍
The second half of the class got to come in during lunch recess to hold our class pet. The kids were able to calm down and so Clarissssa was handled carefully. To say that they love her is to mispresent how they all really feel about her-- she is adored!!
Elliot and Ezra led our Morning Meeting!
They were well planned and the activity was charades with the kids broken into groups of triads. They are learning a lot about nonverbal communication and enjoying the fun that makes this game great-- it is hard!
Clarissssa meets half the class today-- tomorrow the rest of 4th grade!
At lunch, the kids came in and get to hold Clarissssa for about a minute each. They had been prepped for what it would be like in our Morning Meeting. here Katherine really appreciates how Clarissssa moves.
The kids were so excited, and gentle. It was wonderful to watch how careful they were as they passed her, and how much they learned from just getting a chance to hold this special ball python who is now 16 years old.
Once a month, we unload the trailer and take our MCS plastic film that has been stored in there over to the Moscow Recycle Center.
We loaded a full pickup of plastic Saturday morning while Ethel, our family dog, panted in approval!
Just think, all the 4th graders have really helped to take care of the class job of collecting the plastic. On Thursday and Friday, 71 pounds came in! They are learning that we do things-- big things-- to make good changes for ourselves and our world.
Thank you kids!
In the thick of making multiplication arrays for showing partial products.
Yesterday, the kids were given graph paper to make arrays. Today, they spend time creating arrays to learn the steps for multiplication using a model. This work helps them to understand the traditional algorithm.
Understanding and applying the strategy takes practice. Four students came and put their models on the board and then explained their thinking. Jorja, Kha, Hawk, and Luke did a very good job telling and showing their work!
Middle Schooler Sophia Helping Gather Plastic this Monday Morning!
It was so wonderful to have help this morning as I checked the Trex boxes by the front doors. Sophia jumped right in to help and we were able to get a few other kids as we carried all the material to the Elementary school for the 4th grade to pack up and weigh.
It is so amazing that this program is in its 3rd year!
Our school is collecting a consistent amount and right now, we have over 3400 pounds that we have sent off to be recycled! 👏
Next Steps in Preparing for Everyone Together!
Yesterday, I spent the day designing the dividers and getting them secured to the tables. The State of supplied these for free so we are using them!
OY! And YAY! They are done and this is how the kids will sit when we come together.
Cohort B has done a fine job today being flexible-- like standing up to see, not leaning on the plastic, and learning how to share this space.
I am really looking forward to seeing all the kids together on March 23 after Spring Break and know they are excited too!
Creating the table that explains the rule-- patterns are being understood!
These three 4th graders, Luke, Elliot, and Mila did a fine job with creating three different examples to explain a rule. Problem Solving is really taking on a new understanding for the class as they see math facts are the tools for bigger and more interesting thinking.
Another wonderful part of the class has been the way the kids are learning to discuss ideas in all content areas. From each Cohort, I have seen such growth.
They are all learning together so well!