What We're Learning this Week (October 15-19, 2012)

On Monday in Math, we reviewed 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication yet again. Mrs. Elliott gave us a quiz and those of us who have mastered the concept got to work on the computers, iPads, and Kindle Fires while she worked in small groups with those of us who are still struggling a bit.

In Science, we picked up where we left off last week. We worked with partners on our Biome packets. We discussed how there are 6 different land biomes on Earth. These include the Desert, Tundra, Tiaga, Grassland/Savanna, Tropical Rain Forest and the Deciduous Forest. We located them on a map and read descriptions about each, including the types of wildlife, both plants and animals that live there, as well as weather conditions. We discovered that here in Kentucky, we live in the Deciduous Forest biome.

On Wednesday in Math, we began working on long division problems (3 digits divied by 1 digits) using the standard algorithm, which we refer to as the old school method. Mrs. Elliott showed us the "Long Division Cheat Code", which stands for divide, multiply, subtract, check, bring down and check to help us solve these problems. 

In Science, to continue our studying on ecosystems and how humans can negatively affect them, we simulated an oil spill. We had various different sorbents we had to use to help us clean up our polluted water ecosystem. When we were done with our investigation, we had to give our imput, ideas, and expertise, based upon what we had just investigated, to use to help the CEO and the head of the Disaster Control Team of a fuel company who had just experienced an oil spill. 

"Ecosystems" Science Song!

What We're Learning this Week (October 8-13, 2012)

This week is a short one and boy are we excited for Fall Break! That didn't keep up from getting down to business after an extended weekend, however. On Monday, in Math, we continued working with multiplication. We finished up our posters that we began last week. Working with a partner, we had to explain to and show a 3rd grader how to solve 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication problems. Check out some of our work!

In Science, we began studying ecosystems. We reviewed our new vocabulary for the first lesson, which included envirionment, ecosystem, population, and community. We discussed how one of a particular type of animal is an individual, while more than one of the same type of animal is a population. A community is a place where numerous populations co-exist, or live together. We also learned a new song that we love singing! (Check out the post above!)

"Circulatory System" Science Song!

What We're Learning this Week (September 24-28, 2012)

After an AMAZING field trip last week to 4-H camp, many of us were still recovering on Monday! (Teachers included, lol) However, it was back to business as usual. In Math, we began working on multi-digit multiplication. We started off by practicing multiplying 1-digit by 2-digit numbers. We observed that multiplying using the standard algorithm (the "old school" method) was actually very similar to addition. If you got an answer more than 9, you put the ones place answer down and carried the 10's. 

In Science, we began our study of chapter 4, which is over the human body. This chapter is LOADED with vocabulary words, many of which have definitions that are very similar, such as artery, capillary and vein. So, most of Monday was spent completing our V3 Vocabulary sheets and learning the definitions of our vocabulary words. 

On Tuesday in Math we continued working with multiplication. After reviewing and practicing 2-digit by 1-digit numbers Monday, Tuesday we were ready to move on to 3-digit by 1-digit numbers. 

In Science, we discussed how cells make tissues, tissues make organs, and finally how organs make organ systems. We also discussed how the digestive system works, including how it begins in the mouth the minute you begin chewing your food, before passing to the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. In groups, we began working on our human body models. We cut out, labeled, and identified the organs or parts discussed and what their function was within the digestive system. We will continue adding to our model as we discuss different body systems this week and next. 

On Wednesday in Math we worked with multiplication yet again. We conquered multiplying 4-digit by 1-digit numbers, which we decided was VERY familiar to 2-digit and 3-digit numbers like what we've worked with earlier in the week. 

In Science we continued our study of the human body. We discussed the respiratory system and it's important elements, such as the mouth, nasal passages, trachea, and lungs. We also talked about how oxygen travels from our mouth or nose, depending on how we breathe it in, to cells throughout our body. To add to our human body model, we again worked in our groups and labeled, cut out and identified key organs and parts, as well as their function within the respiratory system. 

"Adaptations" Science Song!

What We're Learning this Week (September 10-14, 2012)

On Monday in Math, we continued our work with subtracting multi-digit numbers. We practiced borrowing and regrouping across zeroes and are getting better at it with every day we practice!

In Science, we began our 3rd chapter over Adaptations. We discussed our first lesson and some new vocabulary words, including: adaptation, basic needs, and natural selection. We discussed different adaptations animals we are familiar with have that help them survive in their environment and how animals that are able to change their physical appearances, for example, to better blend in allow them to live longer and reproduce, the basic concept behind natural selection. And of course, it wouldn't be a new chapter without a new song to learn! See the above post to listen to our new song, "Adaptations"!
On Tuesday and Wednesday in Math we continued our quest to conquer subtracting whole numbers. Mrs. Elliott worked with some of us in small groups while others got to battle one another in a subtraction game.

In Science on Tuesday we did an experiment to test bird adaptations, specifically the adaptations of bird beaks. We tested a few different types of beaks (tweezers, spoons and clothes pins) on a variety of different types of "critters". These included worms (cooked spaghetti), grubs (rasins), caterpillars (twizzlers), maggots and larva (cooked rice), sunflower seeds, and water. We had to hypothesize which beak we thought would work best eating each food, take careful obersvations, and finally come to a consensus as a group as to the best beak for each food. We had a blast!

On Thursday in Science, we continued our discussion of our second lesson, which was about how animal behaviors help them meet their needs. We also created sets of "Rummy Cards", where students researched an animal, including information about their shelter, space, food, water and arrangement/habitat and labeled and illustrated each card accordingly. Below are some examples, cards for an Opossum and the American Crocodile.

What We're Learning this Week (September 3-7, 2012)

A 3-day weekend was just what we needed to rejuvenate! We came back, ready as ever to learn! On Tuesday in Math, we continued our work with subtracting whole numbers. We started small and only worked with numbers into the ten-thousands place to get the hang of regrouping when necessary.

In Science, we began our third and last lesson of the 2nd chapter, which discussed life cycles. We discovered that there are a variety of different life cycles animals go through. Mrs. Elliott taught us the acronym "ELPA" to help remember the order of the stages of complete metamorphosis: Egg, Larva, Pupa, and Adult. We also discovered that some animals, such as a grasshopper ors dragonflies, go through incomplete metamorphosis: Egg, Nymph, Adult.

On Wednesday in Math, we took our Fall 2012 MAP Test. (If you are unfamiliar with MAP testing, go to the "Links" page and scroll down towards the bottom. There is a link with a wealth of information about MAP testing.) To be considered proficient and on grade-level, students needed to score a 204 or better. Although our over-all scores weren't as high as Mrs. Elliott hoped (she wanted 100% proficiency! lol), we didn't get too discouraged, as this was our base-line and now we know where to go from here.

In Science, we began working on our Life Cycle Brochures. Inside, we had to list the stages of the life cycle of a flowering plant, an animal undergoing complete metamorphosis, incomplete metamorphosis, and direct development. We also had to draw each stage and give examples of other animals that undergo each type. Our brochures were looking great as we took them home to finish for homework and Mrs. Elliott can't wait to see the final products tomorrow!

"Photosynthesis" Science Song!

What We're Learning this Week (August 27 - 31, 2012)

In Math on Monday, we again worked with rounding. We played card games with a partner, similar to the game of "War", requiring us to round to the nearest thousand, ten thousand and hundred thousand. Before we could win the round and collect all of the cards, we had to explain to our partners how we rounded and they had to agree, then we compared numbers. The person with the larger rounded number won the round. It was a lot of fun and didn't seem like Math work at all!

In Science, we began our 2nd chapter over Life Cycles. Today we read and discussed heredity, traits, and genes and how they can be similar or different from person to person, even in the same family.  

On Tuesday, in Math we practiced writing numbers in various different forms: Base-Ten Numeral, Number Name, and Expanded Form. We worked with partners and our cards again to help us practice correctly writing numbers in all three ways. 

In Science, we continued our study of heredity, traits, and genes. We took an "Inventory of Our Traits", including 12 specific traits like being left or right handed, being able to roll your tongue, having hitch hiker's thumb, having a widow's peak, or being color blind. Once we gathered all of our data, we did a class comparision and graphed our results. We were able to easily see the dominant versus recessive genes present within our classes. 

On Wednesday in Science we learned a new song, "Photosynthesis", to go along with our new lesson and new vocabulary words: life cycle and photosynthesis! (See the above post!)

On Thursday in Math, we continued to work with adding whole numbers, up into the thousands and ten thousands place to help us become more proficient and make less "silly" mistakes when adding, such as not carrying or regrouping. 

In Science, we further discussed photosynthesis and the 5 components that are neccessary in order for photosynthesis to take place in a plant. We also created diagrams of "The Photosynthesis Process" to put into our Science Notebooks. Check out some of our WONDERFUL diagrams!

On Friday in Math we took our weekly quiz. This week, Mrs. Elliott's class outscored Ms. Deaton's class by a score of 92% to 90%. No matter the winner this week, Mrs. Elliott is VERY pleased with those scores. 

 In Science, we continued our discussion of plants, their life cycle and photosynthesis. We got to "disect" lima beans and identify their seed coat, the root and leaf inside, the embryo and their food storage.

"Cells From Other Cells" Science Song!

Although we didn't go into detail about all of the organelles mentioned in this song, we did discuss many! Go ahead, quiz your kid! (It's a good review for our test on Friday) They should be able to tell you about the cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria and vacuole in both the plant and animal cell and about the cell wall and chloroplast in the plant cell! :)

What We're Learning this Week (August 20-24, 2012)

In Math on Monday, we continued to review how to round numbers to a specific place value. We practiced underlining the digit we were to round to, looking "next door" at the number to the immediate right and deciding if it was a "High 5!" or a "Low 4!" to help us round. In Science we began our third and final lesson of this chapter, discussing how animals are classified. We also learned a new song called "Spineless" to help us remember the difference in the two major classifications of animals: vertebrates and invertebrates! (See the post below!)

On Tuesday in Math, we continued our work with rounding. We practiced rounding numbers to the nearest tens, hundreds, thousands and ten-thousands. Slowly, but surely, we are getting better at rounding numbers. In Science, we continued our classification of animals. We investigated how the sub-categories of animals were broken down. Vertebrates include mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians, while invertebrates include cnidarians (like jelly fish), porifera (like sea sponges), annelida (worms), mollusks (like clams and snails), echinoderms (like starfish), and last but not least arthropods (like spiders and crabs). And of course we jammed our to our newest Science song, "Spineless"! Also, Mrs. Elliott added the cell song, "Cells From Other Cells" that we like to sing so much as well to our blog for easy access! (See the above post!)

On Wednesday in Math, we again practiced rounding by playing a game of "I Have, Who Has" requiring students to actively participate in order to keep the game running, as well as round whole numbers to specific place values. In Science, we began by completing a Vertebrate & Invertebrate Sorting activity, where we had to organize animals according to major group, subgroup, names and pictures. 

Then, we began working on our Animal Matchbooks, where we had to identify the different groups of vertebrates and invertebrates and give examples of each group, along with an illustration. 

"Spineless" Science Song!

A Warm Welcome to Mrs. Elliott's Class Blog! (Formerly Ms. Goldy!)

Welcome!

Welcome to Mrs. Elliott's classroom blog! We are so excited that you have chosen to visit our class page! This blog was designed so that we could share what's happening in our classroom with you, our family and friends. As you explore our blog, you can see our daily schedule, view cool projects and activities that we've been working on and read about the special events and learning that take place in our room every day. We hope by visiting our blog, you can get a better idea of what we do on a daily basis as 4th grade Math and Science students at Owingsville Elementary School! Enjoy your journey and remember to check back often!

 

Blog designed and maintained by Mrs. Jessica Elliott

This is a personal blog that is in no way affiliated with my school, school system, or any other public or private organization. The thought and views expressed here are mine alone unless otherwise noted. 

All contents within this site is copywright (c) 2011-2012 Jessica Elliott. Materials are for personal and educational purposes only. If you use or share ideas from this site, please include the URL and give appropriate credit.  

Summer Vacation

So... Summer Break is flying by! We are already a full month into break and it's showing no signs of slowing down. I'm getting SUPER excited about the upcoming school year... a new group of kids, moving back to 4th grade, teaching SCIENCE again, this year's Academic team, I could go on and on! I've already got my class list, although my lips will remained sealed on who I have for now, and overall I think it's going to be an amazing year! Lots of changes in store!