Washington, D.C. May 15, 2012

Last week, fourth and fifth grade went on their much anticipated trip to Washington D.C. We left early Monday morning on the train and arrived in D.C. later that night. Throughout the week, we visited all of the war memorials and monuments, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the Botanical Gardens, Ford’s Theatre, the museums of Natural and American History, the White House, National Zoo, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Old Post Office, the Capitol, and even took a river cruise! We were able to experience so much during our week in the Nation’s Capitol! One of the highlights for many students was the reenactment we witnessed at Ford’s Theatre. Actors told the tragic story of Lincoln’s death. We learned a lot about the night of April 14^th as the play unfolded. Through our trip to Washington, we were able to reinforce all we had learned in the classroom, and brought our American history to life!

 

We toured the capitol and were able to sit in on Trey Gowdy debating finances!

 

Our class waiting to go through White House security!

Mother’s Day Celebration! May 4, 2012

Next week we will miss our school wide Mother’s Day celebration because we will be in Washington, D.C. In order to make our mothers feel loved and appreciated, we decided to invite them to the Temple Cafe. We took their orders, waited on them, and presented them with an individual crayon art canvas. The students did an excellent job selflessly serving their mothers and made them all feel very special!

Katelyn, Cole, and Shivam wrapping their Mother’s Day present.

Thanks for all you do, moms!

Welcome to the Temple Cafe!

Cole and Anna taking orders for breakfast!

 

After the moms left, we decided to dig into the leftovers!

 

My sweet, sweet kids even brought me birthday flowers this morning! I love my students!!

Broadway Beat April 20, 2012

This week, K4-5th grade practiced diligently everyday in order to prepare for their musical, Broadway Beat. Each grade dressed in costumes and performed songs from different Broadway musicals. Fourth and Fifth grade dressed up as Rent and narrated the musical. They did a spectacular job!

 

Fourth and Fifth grade on their way to Broadway!

 

Rent!

Roper Mountain April 11, 2012

Before Spring Break, fourth and fifth graders took a field trip to Roper Mountain Science Center. We went to the planetarium to learn about each planet’s unique characteristics, and how Earth is able to sustain life.  We also went to a tropical rain forest exhibit. We learned about the different layers of a rain forest and the plants and animals, which it inhabits. Students went on a scavenger hunt in order to classify different plants throughout the exhibit. At the end of the lesson, our guide brought out a hissing cockroach, a python, red-eyed tree frog, and horny toad for students to see and touch!

 

Wrap Up March 26, 2012

This week, we wrapped up several units including our reading unit, our Constitution unit, and our geomotry unit. We began a new novel this week entitled, Dear Levi.  This novel is about a young boy’s journey to Oregon in the 1800’s. The story depicts the hardships pioneers faced, as well as the adventures they had along the way! We also began meteorology in science. Students have really enjoyed learning about the different types of weather patternes and fronts. Next week, they will make a model showing the different layers of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Elvira Woodruff does a spectacular job of bringing historical fiction to life!

Kevyn, Eli, and Logan cut, fold, and tape their three dimensional geometric shapes in order to find the number of faces, edges, and vertices.

Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention March 9, 2012

This week, we learned about the Articles of Confederation and the State’s Constitutions. Students worked in groups to compare and contrast the two. They quickly recognized the weaknesses of the Articles and the need for a stronger central government.

Kevyn, Anna, and Shivam work together to find similarities in the Articles of Confederation and the State's Constitutions.

Fourth and Fifth graders also researched a delegate who was present at the Constitutional Convention. They researched their life, as well as the attributes that made each one qualified to attend the convention.

Katelyn researched George Read. She presented very interesting facts to show how he was important in the discussion of the Constitution.

Shivam discussed James Madison's intelligence and leadership.

Eli described the qualities that made Ben Franklin an asset to the Constitutional Convention.

Kevyn discussed how Thomas Mifflin's life experiences equipped him with a wealth of knowledge to contribute to the Constitutional Convention.

Logan discussed Washington's leadership and confidence he exuded throughout the convention.

Pocahontas, Geology, and Birthdays! March 5, 2012

This week was very eventful! Fourth and fifth grade students wrote and performed a play about the “true” life of Pocahontas. They were to use factual information as well as fictional ‘details’ to depict her unusual circumstances. The students did a great job! After a quick dress rehearsal, they performed it for Ms. Doyle’s first graders. They made backgrounds, boats, and costumes for their performace. We have such creative students here at CP!

Anna, Katelyn, and Cole making their backdrop for their England scene.

Group two creating their background.

Kevyn, Logan, and Shivam practice for the play. Kevyn brought PVC pipe and cardboard to make their ship!

As we finished up our Geology unit, students brought their own rock collections to share with the class. It was neat to be able to reinforce information that we have been learning about the past few weeks!

Katelyn described her rocks to the class.

Anna had her rocks labeled by type and origin.

Cole shared his rocks with the class. He had some beautiful ones!

Anna had her 10th birthday on Saturday. We celebrated with pizza and cupcakes! Happy Birthday Anna!

 

Birthday Girl!

The Earth’s Layers February 23, 2012

This week, fourth and fifth graders were assigned to make a model of the Earth’s layers. They were instructed to label the crust, mantel, inner, and outer core. The only other directions they had were to be CREATIVE! Their projects were outstanding! We had clay models, styrofoam models, a cake model, and a jello model! The students took pride in their work as they presented their projects and told the class about interesting information they learned about the different layers of the Earth.

Anna used a styrofoam ball to depict the layers of the Earth. She cut it open to reveal each layer and painted the continents and oceans on her model.

Shivam showed the layers of the Earth by using different colors of clay to make his model. He also showed the continents and oceans by using blue and green clay.

Katelyn baked a cake to show the crust, mantle, inner, and outer core. She used fondant to make show the continents and oceans.

Once Katelyn cut into her cake, you could see the different layers of the Earth.

Cole used modeling clay to reveal all the four layers of the Earth. He also showed the oceans and continents in blue and green clay.

Logan used a styrofoam ball and tissue paper for his model.

Eli depicted the Earth's layers by using a styrofoam ball and markers.

Kevyn made three different types of Jello and cut each one to fit inside a mold to show the Earth's layers. She used a glass dish in order to label each layer and covered the bottom in foil so it would have a "rocky" look.

Valentine’s Day! February 15, 2012

Fourth and fifth graders decided to support the Ronald McDonald House as a Valentine’s Day charity. They sold Scentsy bears, which have been used in scent therapy to help sooth patients, and raised additional money to donate.

Due to the children’s week immune systems, we were not able to visit the hospital. We delivered the bears and the money to the families at the Ronald McDonald House on Valentine’s Day. The students sold 25 bears and raised $150.

When we arrived at the Ronald McDonald House, we dropped off our items and toured the house. It was very warm and inviting! We were all extremely impressed with how nice the facilities were! After our tour, we watch a short film about the patients and the families who stayed there. It was a very inspirational and moving field trip. Our fourth and fifth graders have been researching different medical treatment and advances, and to see real people with the ailments they have been learning about was a real eye-opener for each of them. We all learned a lot and hope to continue to support the Ronald McDonald House charity.

Fourth and Fifth Graders outside the Ronald McDonald House after presenting their donations.

 

Of course, we HAD to get one with Ronald!

Fundraising! February 10, 2012

This week and last, our fourth and fifth graders have taken flower orders for our Valentine’s Day fundraiser. Every Wednesday and Friday, our students would go around to the primary school classrooms and fill out order forms and make change for students. At first, I thought this fundraiser would just instill a sense of responsibility and ownership for our Washington trip, but we have really been able to use prediction skills,  math skills, estimation, and deductive skills throughout this process. Students have really enjoyed being apart of this fundraiser and I have enjoyed coaching them through it!

 

Cole took orders in Mrs. Latham's second grade this week. He did a great job making change and writing orders!