Week 7 Distance Learning

One of the things the kids have taught me is that learning is still possible despite the distance. We have pushed ahead in math with  students applying what they know about multi-digit addition and subtraction to metric conversations. For example 10 kg – 3 kg 268 m. Other students have secured multiplying using the standard algorithm and are now practicing dividing with remainders. We are working on animal reports, revisiting work on forces, and answering text-dependent questions. Moreover, lots of people have come to visit to witness what the kids can do including Trustees Katy Simon-Holland and Andrew Caudill.

We played Pictionary, did PE with Ms. Knuth and ended, as has become our new habit, with a directed draw.

MicrosoftTeams-image (17)

Week 5 Distance Learning

The kids continue to impress as a routine is taking root in our digital classroom. We are working with more fourth grade standards, especially in math with some student tackling multi-digit rounding and others being introduced to the partial products algorithm. We reintroduced our Benchmark reading program and used Microsoft Forms to share answers. We did some work with prefixes and abstract nouns and ended the week with a directed draw of Flamemallow.

Near and Far

For this lesson, students selected a building they have visited or wanted to visit one day. To do this, they used Google Maps and the Street View. After drawing their building and adding details, they mixed colors to create a mood in the background. This was followed by selecting and applying analogous and complimentary colors for their building.

Patterns and Motion

We continued to explore motion through a series of experiments. Students built wheel-and-axel systems, slopes, and twirly birds. As students did this, they refined their understanding of different forces, developed and tested predictions, and manipulated variables. These important core ideas will be further developed with additional experiences.

 

Motion and Matter

This week we began our investigation into motion and matter. During the launch we explored two forces, magnetism and gravity, with a specific emphasis on the terms attract and repel.

Among the investigations was understanding how a magnetic field works. Students manipulated this phenomena with studies around magnets and paperclips.  In the coming days, we will participate in an engineer design challenge.

 

Totem Animals

For this art lessons, the students completed a series of careful observations of art made by indigenous cultures. They learned that Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest believed an animal could represent a person. In turn, they reviewed images of different animals before selecting one, created multiple quick sketches, painted a full representation, and added textures.