The Water of Life

Here we are, hot weather, a packed schedule, and our last few weeks of 4^th grade… I am just going day by day so it doesn’t seem like it is almost over. We have been very busy, and the days speed by.

What have we been doing? We had a terrific Grandparent Day turn out. It was a treat to teach a class and give our guests a chance to see these fabulous kids work together to solve a problem and play a game in pairs. The kids shared their interests, read from their writing portfolios, and showed off their artwork on display. We had an assembly and 4^th graders sang “Country Life”. It was a memorable day complete with adoration, generous laughter, and sincere attention from our TGS extended family.

We are finishing up the math book and doing problem solving every morning.  We are working with integers, learning vocabulary and concepts of 3D geometry and how to solve volume of rectangular prisms, and practicing/reviewing all our skills to be prepared to take an end of the year test. This group is very strong in math and will be well prepared for next year. They are good at sharing and communicating solutions and helping each other understand new concepts. I am lucky to have had such a gifted group my first year teaching at TGS.

Our Egypt Unit is winding down. Students are working on a non-fiction research project by creating a 6-page book on a topic of their choice. We will finish these next week and celebrate our study with a fun culminating activity. We will end the year by exploring some natural history and current uses of the Connecticut River.

Our main agenda these past two weeks has been planning, practicing, and filming our medieval movie, The Water of Life. It is a motivating group project. I see students helping each other, being supportive, problem solving, and working for the greater goal.  It is student driven, essentially, each has specific roles and is contributing to a common project. It is a very engaging story with lots of twists and turns in the plot. Making a film is a very different experience than acting on stage. In our latest discussion the consensus was that film is much more forgiving. Mostly it is a lot of fun to wear costumes and be outside making a story come to life. Students are editing and adding sound and transitions to the film under the direction of Matt, our chief editor. We will show the film to the school at the last All School Meeting (6/13). Be there to see it on the big screen!

Everything is set for our end of the year overnight in the Path of Life Garden. It will be a fun way to celebrate a great year. Thank you for all the encouragement, compliments, and appreciation throughout the year. I love doing what I do and your good feedback helps me do the best I can. The students at TGS are really the greatest joy. A teacher is granted so much interaction with exuberant, curious, and energetic young minds and hearts. I learn right along with everybody.

Many thanks, Emily

Dates to remember:

Monday, May 28- No School, Memorial Day

Thurs. May 31- June 1—Overnight rafting/ camping trip

Tues. June 12—trip to TransCanada Hydro- electric dam and CT River (need a    driver—leave 9:00- 2:30)

Wed. June 13- Film presentation at ASM 2:15

Fri. June 15 – Last day- noon dismissal (graduation at 4:30)

Ancient Egypt…

The last three weeks have been immersed in our study of ancient Egypt. It is a rich topic that lends itself to be inspired by amazing artwork, design, and story telling. Linda and I each led focus groups—where we split the ¾ graders into 2 groups and each held two classes on a topic. Both groups did each focus group classes. Linda had the students research “every day life” in ancient Egypt and make a beautiful “Tomb Painting” on real papyrus paper. The artwork is Egypt-inspired and depicts scenes of people doing crafts, creating art, writing hieroglyphs, farming, building, and fishing. These are hanging in the hallway. I led a series of lessons called, “Myths, Gods, and Death Rituals”. We read some mythology and saw some short videos about the creator god, Ra and the story of Osiris and how he becomes the god of the afterlife. These myths are the foundation of the Egyptian’s belief system. We studied the significance of the important symbols and students made watercolor pictures of the “Eye of Ra/Horus” and the scarab beetle. We also made amulets out of colored clay, which were used for protection and as magic charms for one’s trip to the afterlife.

Last week we traveled to the Boston Museum of Fine Art to see the fabulous Egyptian collection. There were 8 rooms of artwork, both large and small. The favorite room, Funerary Arts, had dimmed lights and beautiful sarcophagi, coffins, mummies, statues called ushabitis, amulets, and canophic jars. Everything we had seen in books was there to view and read about. Our kids did a great job looking at everything, finding things for the scavenger hunt, and sketching artifacts. It was a long day and a terrific experience.

This week students are making a “mummy mask”. Students work in pairs and cover each other’s faces with plaster gauze to make the mask. It is a calming and trust building experience. The person being masked had to close his/her eyes and be wrapped like a mummy and wait until the mask dries. It is an unusual experience to lay still with eyes closed and be attended to as your face is being molded to a mask.

The musical is a real treat. Both casts do a spectacular job and what a fun adaptation of Shakespeare! The schedule has been very different but we carry on 4^th grade with the academic routine. In math, I introduced integers and how to add and subtract with negative numbers. We played a very successful game called Credits/Debits where kids add or subtract positive or negative numbers according to a coin toss and card pick. It was great practice of a new skill with the excitement of winning the lottery.  In literacy, students are learning how to express their opinions and write a persuasive essay on a topic. This is a great assignment for this age because kids are so committed to their opinions on things. I will guide each student to explain his/her reasons tactfully and knowledgeably in order to be persuasive. Topic ideas range from environmental issues, making healthy choices, taking a stance on the tax laws, to having less homework. We will create drafts and go through the revision process to create a revised and finished essay.

That’s all for now…

--Emily

May 31- June 1- overnight rafting/ camping trip

Field Trip addition: Tues. June 12 (the last week of school)- we will go to Bellows Falls to learn about the hydroelectric dam, see the fish ladder, and go down to the CT River to study water quality and then have a picnic. I will need 2-3 drivers- 8:30- 2:30.

Happy Spring!

It is green and gorgeous and time is flying like birds in migration or a frisbee overhead. Ultimate Frisbee has been an ultimate success! After practice and playing in zones, the kids are staying open, passing, and enjoying a game where everyone gets some action. There is an Ultimate game at Putney School this Fri. at 4:00- Putney vs. Compass. Go check it out if you want to watch a game.

We are finishing up an important Math Unit. It covers concepts of Fraction, Decimal, and Percent, as well as multiplying and dividing with decimals. We played a game called 4-Corner Spinner as an experience to apply fraction/percent to a probability experiment. We surveyed people and compared data analysis of fractions and percent to understand that when there are different denominators in fractions it is better to compare the percent value to make statements about the data. This week we will gain a conceptual understanding of multiplication and division with decimals. I teach kids to multiply the numbers as if they were whole numbers and then use estimation to place the decimal point in the answer. We practice using similar problems like:

11* 2.8 =

110 * 2.8 =

11 * 0.28 =

It forces students to relate numbers to their place value and think of decimal/ fraction equalities. With division it is important to think of “number stories” or real-life scenarios of when numbers with decimals would be divided. For example, 4.2 divided by 7---- a story might be: suppose you had a ribbon that was 4.2 meters long and you had to divide it into 7 equal pieces. This paints a picture in our minds of a division experience. It also asks kids whether or not to convert the meters to cm. or not; and look at how the answer comes out both ways. Again, the importance of number value is reinforced conceptually and logically.

We played with Limericks and wrote several limericks, even one about a classmate. It is a fun study of rhyme and rhythm pattern. Students will illustrate their favorite Limerick to share.

It has been exciting to team teach and learn with the 3^rd grade in our study of Ancient Egypt. We began with a study of archeology and Egyptology. I am reading a biography of Howard Carter and his archeology work in the Valley of the Kings. He is just about to discover the tomb of King Tut—wouldn’t you know, it is in the last place anyone ever looked! The kids are enthralled and never want me to stop reading, which is great especially for a biography. We had a lesson on geography and everyone made a relief map. We are having focus groups to study Egyptian life and Mythology and death rituals with artistic projects for each study. We are also learning a lot of important vocabulary in preparation for our trip to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. (NEXT THURSDAY!)

I look forward to meeting with you for our final parent/teacher conference. This is an exceptional group of individuals. It is a pleasure to have gotten to know each 4^th grader so well.

Until then… Yours in partnership, Emily

~OUR TRIP TO BOSTON’S MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS!~

Dear Parents of Third and Fourth Graders,

We have enjoyed planning and preparing for our shared unit on Ancient Egypt. We start this week introducing the concept of archeology/Egyptology and giving the children time with the wonderful resources available in our classroom and school libraries. We think it will be an exciting and very full unit: scientific method (mummification of zucchini slices), virtual tours of various museums’ Egypt exhibits, research (e.g. creating research booklets, classification of relevant facts), art projects (e.g. tomb paintings and mask making), salt and flour relief maps of the region, Egyptian writing activities, folk literature from this culture, pyramids activities, etc. This letter pertains to a field trip that plays a key role in our Ancient Egypt studies.

WHEN? April 26,Thursday

HOW? BY TGS SCHOOL BUS

Please note that we will leave TGS by 7:45 a.m. and return to TGS by 5:00p.m.

While the Boston trip is an important part of our studies about this ancient culture, it also is an important time for us to be together as a whole group. Granted favorable weather and traffic conditions, we hope to have one or two opportunities in the park (across the street from the museum) for outdoor games and a picnic lunch.

There will be no trips to the shop and no need to send money. We do request that electronic games/devices be left at home. Travel games, drawing supplies, and books are encouraged.

Please make sure your child has ample beverages and food for the long day of travel (morning and afternoon snacks as well as lunch).

In split groups students will tour the gallery’s Ancient Egypt exhibit rooms and complete a set of questions, as well as a sketch of an artifact of choice toward the end of their visit. Soon we will begin to prepare the children with our expectations for all aspects of this day.

We are excited about heading to Boston together. It has traditionally been a positive experience for all, and we expect that this year it will be a great day of traveling and learning together!

Sincerely,

Emily and Linda

Eyes on a plate? Yes, we did that.

Spring is making its way to our part of the planet and the warmer season brings new energy and enthusiasm to 4^th grade. Everyone seems so happy to be outside whenever we can. Our PSD classes are focused around frisbee skills (when it is not windy), track and field challenges, and new field games. We hiked our favorite trail today and played a few rounds of Fox and Hound- a hide and chase game that is loved by all. Recess breaks and other outside surprise breaks keep these energetic students moving and enjoying being together. Every day the grass is a little greener.

We have almost finished our class novel, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. This is a favorite book for teachers because the themes are compelling and the story is written with wonderful figurative language and vivid imagery. It is a great story for students to reflect upon. I keep asking, “What would you do in that situation? What choice would you make and why?” The main character, Winnie, meets a family who is “ageless”-- they stay the same age forever and are caught in a timeless yet endless reality. It begs the question- Do you want to live forever, but never grow? Our character changes and grows profoundly in the few days that the story takes place and learns the value of the cycle of life and the wheel of time. I am in heaven sharing this book. Students are writing focus paragraphs every day responding to each part of the story- reading and thinking, expressing opinions and reasoning, wondering and examining. It is a fantastic book to teach and learn from.

We are exploring area and perimeter of polygons and understanding the formulas for area and why they work. We have done lots of mapping and scaled drawings to put these skills to use. The final assessment had students draw irregular polygons on graph paper and find the area by dividing the shapes into parallelograms and triangles, using the formulas for areas, and finding the total area. Today, students made a “hexa-flexa-gon”- a paper folded puzzle. The careful precision folding it takes to make this impressed me.

For science, we studied the anatomy and function of the eye for the last two weeks. Students did some reading, conducted several sight and light experiments, drew diagrams, and looked at a cow’s eye to examine the parts and understand what they look like. Anatomy and body systems are complex and amazing. Everyone got to appreciate how specialized and diverse living cells are and how these parts work together as a system. We celebrated our study by making “edible eyeballs” out of munchkin donuts! See photos of the fun we had.

Dates and Reminders to take note of:

March Reading Challenge contracts due- ASAP

April- Global Education Fundraising- student services for hire!

Fri. April 6- Stephen Brooks will show us a 3D microscope

Mon. April 9- No School -faculty visiting other schools

Fri. April 20- Ken Burns film at Landmark- bring the kids for a great educational experience.

Sunday, April 22- Earth Day Festival at Putney School- this sounds fun-- see for posters around town for info.

Thurs. April 26- trip to Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to support our study of Egypt- details in a letter this week

TBA- Trip to CT River with natural science teacher, Beth Roy,From the Grafton Museum (June)

May 31- June 1- rafting and overnight

Parents need to come up with an Auction Item for the Spring Fundraiser. Get some ideas going around and we can think of ways to involve the kids.

---Emily