Science: It's Electric!

How can a group of girls get a light bulb to light? They put it together with a battery and a wire to make a complete circuit! This was the way in which the girls began to learn about electricity. Though it took awhile to figure out to connect the pieces, they did it!

They conducted experiments to determine which materials were conductors and which were insulators. Then they used this knowledge as they made their own electronic games.

Playing their games with the 2nd grade students was great fun!

How does  a lightbulb light? Just ask your 4th grader!

After learning the difference between a series and a parallel circuit, the girls experimented by creating their own examples using a set of "Snap Circuits." 

Then they had a final challenge. Each girl added 2 lights and switches, wired in parallel, to the dollhouse she created last year in French class. The results were enlightening!!!

CHINA DAY

Welcome to China Day in Fourth Grade!

We had a wonderful celebration of the Year of the Monkey today in 4th Grade!  The girls dressed in traditional Chinese clothing as well as red, yellow and gold.  As you can see, everyone looked very festive!

The girls participated in five different activities - working with tangrams, making Chinese lanterns, listening to stories about China and Chinese New Year, learning to speak and write Chinese phrases, and painting a FU (good luck) sign. 

We had a delicious lunch together - pork dumplings, honey sesame chicken and broccoli, three types of rice, and of course, fortune cookies!  We ate in the science center, and each girl took home a red envelope with a lucky dragon coin symbolizing luck in the new year.

We ended the day by watching Kung Fu Panda together - what a fun celebration!  Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who helped us today!  We could not have done it without you.  

Gung Hay Fat Choy!  

French: La Chandeleur

Tomorrow is the French holiday la Chandeleur. It is somewhat similar to our Groundhog's Day. According to tradition: Quand la Chandeleur est claire, l'hiver est par derrière; Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte! Or, in other words, if tomorrow is a clear day, winter is almost over. Be sure to check out the weather, I know I will be keeping my fingers crossed!

The French celebrate this day by making and eating crêpes with family and friends. In French class, we had our own special celebration and the girls enjoyed crêpes au nutella and crêpes à la confiture!

International Visitors Speak with Fourth Graders

The international focus of our Fourth Grade Social Studies curriculum is quite unique, and so far this year the girls have been extremely excited to learn about each new country and culture that we have studied. We have been exceptionally lucky to have had a variety of visitors come to speak with the Fourth Grade girls over the last few months.  Last week, a visiting school teacher from Argentina came to talk to our girls about her life in the bustling South American city of Buenos Aires.  In late November, we had a UN aid worker speak with our girls about her life in Juba, South Sudan.  Her visit coincided perfectly with our class reading of the novel, A Long Walk to Water. In December, three visitors from Ghana came not only to speak to our girls about everyday life in this African country but also to teach them some traditional dances and games that school children play there. 

With each visitor that has come, the Fourth Graders have asked pertinent and probing questions.  They are curious about the geography of these countries, the common foods eaten by people there, the traditional clothing that men and women wear, and so much more.  Their questions and comments are both eloquent and sincere, and they have learned quite a lot from each visitor or visiting group.  Ask your daughter about her experience with one or all of these visitors, and enjoy the photos below from our experience learning Ghanaian dances and games! 

2016 Reading Challenge

Here is the official 2016 Fourth Grade Reading Challenge!  Even Mrs. Emala and Mrs. Gandhi are taking this challenge, too.  Parents - join us!

A 2016 reading challenge!!!!  By the end of the school year, can you………..

•       Read a book published in the year you were born.
•     Read a book that takes place in anther country.
•     Read a book with a color in the title.
•     Read a book by an author with your initials.
•     Read a book with a one-word title.
•     Read a book with a mostly blue cover.
•     Read a book that takes place during summer.
•     Read a book you can finish in a day.
•     Read a friend’s favorite book.
•     Read a non-fiction book about someone you admire.
•     Read a graphic novel.
•     Read a book in a genre you’ve never read before.
•     Read a book with magic in it.
•     Read the first book in a series. 
•     Read a Newbery award winner or honor book.
•     Read a book just because you like the cover.
•     Read a book written in 2016.
•     Read a book by your favorite author.
•     Read a picture book.
•     Read a book by a Maryland author.

Check off each item as you complete it.  Write the book title by the challenge.

Code!

In December, the girls began the coding unit by learning about Ada Lovelace, a famous, female computer programmer.  Next, the girls participated in the Hour of Code.  According to the Hour of Code website, "Launched in 2013, Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science, and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. Our vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science. We believe computer science should be part of core curriculum, alongside other courses such as biology, chemistry or algebra."  You can find more info about Hour of Code - even have your daughter do this at home - by clicking here.

The girls are now using Scratch, "a free programming language and online community where you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations" (https://scratch.mit.edu/).  We will continue to use this programming language through 5th grade, building onto their skills.  This year, in fourth grade, the girls learn the basics of Scratch:  creating animation incorporating movement and images, using xy coordinates to move sprites, alternating between different costumes, incorporating time and motion, importing pictures and sound, creating and recording sounds to use in projects, using the pen function, and using repeats to draw images. 

We use the downloaded version at school.  You can download this at home or create an account for your daughter (parents permission and email required) by clicking here.  Please be aware that if you don't download the program, your daughter will be on an online community that should be monitored by parents.

Art: Birds from Sudan

The girls are making small bird sculptures  inspired by a bird native to Sudan in Africa. They constructed the 3D form with newspaper and tape. Now they are adding color with tissue paper and texture with collage papers. Each bird is unique and the "flock" represents the great diversity of wildlife in Sudan.