Demonstrating Poetry Poise and Decimal Dancing

Working in small groups creating decimal problem for each other.

Elizabeth and Caden worked together to create a poem about marimbas. The kids love music class with
Ms. Donohoe. These two entered their poem was in the annual Poetry Competition from the Pleiades Society.

 The talked in "mathease"-- cubes, longs, and flats to represent ones, tens, and one hundred or one whole. There is lots of equivalents practice right now between fractions and decimals and just now starting to add percents.

Keeahna's  cat is as much of a character as she is!!!! She wrote a funny poem about him.

Isaac loves soccer and that is what is so proudly speaking about with his poem. He is even showing
that he put the writing into the shape of a soccer ball. And, he kept rewriting the poem
to get it right--love that effort!

Double checking and explaining--they listen and treat each other
with such respect.

We walked with our eyes closed on morning as the
activity during Morning Meeting. Each student was led by another to
experience the sensations of the morning sun, wind, grass, bird calls, cars, laughter. Chesney was inspired by these sights and sounds and related them in a very lovely way in her poem. The kids
that entered their poetry in the competition did a fine job reading their works to their classmates practicing
presentation skills.

So sorry this picture of Cadence is blurry! She wrote a terrific poem and too, put her ideas into the shape
that gave it a lyrical twist.

More discussion around decimals...adding, subtracting, reinforcing...

Eilowny reflected that her poem idea was inspired by Chesney's.
It was so great how proud the poets were of their thoughts!

Keel Boat Models voted best in our class!

Caden and Cadence's work was brought on the field trip to show Ranger Greg

Learning to handle Clarissssa

Here you see Clarissssa getting to know 
Elizabeth and Cadence. This is the fourth week of introductions. The "Clarissssa Handlers" come in during lunch to meet and greet. This is an opportunity for two students at a time to talk to me, appreciate our interesting class pet, and get to ask questions. All of the students have been super-- careful, brave, inquisitive, and thoroughly excited!!!
Clarissssa was pretty active on this day too! When Traye and Eilowny came in, Clarissssa stayed all balled up--like her species--'ball' python. I will find all the pics and get them up! Soon!

Awesome video by Stephanie Roper of Field Trip to Lewis and Clark Discovery Center

 Spectacular weather with the Snake River meandering past us as Ranger Greg led us through and interesting full day of song, lessons, activities and exploration!

Thank you to all the parent drivers that made this extension of the 4th grade curriculum possible! 

Ms. Wappett, Ms. Bullers, Ms. Morgan, Ms. Wilson, 

Ms. Clary, Ms Ostvig, Grandpa Quinn, and Ms. Roper! 

   Check out the park that focuses on Lewis and Clark's time spent through the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho.

Lewis and Clark Discovery Center

There is also a fun video by Ms. Roper on MCS's  webpage. Check it out!

link to MCS webpage

Field Trip to Lewis and Clark Discovery Center

Tomorrow is the big day for the 4th. The final touches are going on to the keel boats and today they decide which to take-- a few or all. We experimented and found out the latex spray works great. Each will get a dousing and then we can float them!

The classroom looks like a tornado of thin cardboard right now as the finishing touches are getting done. With the final bits getting done, the kids had to judge their work based on a scale of 1 to 4. Those numbers represent 25% to 100%. Each student had to describe 4 examples that prove or support the score given with evidence from the keel boat construction. They are very accurate at assessing their work. It was turned in on loose leaf.

Here is the link for the Discovery Center.
Lewis and Clark Discovery Center

Also, yesterday I showed them two sculptures of Sacajawea that are in the Lewiston area. One is located in Pioneer Park and the other (pictured below) is down at the river at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater. It would be a fun trip in the summer to do--ride bikes and find them both.

Keel Boat Construction Some Pictures--- so much measuring, remeasuring, cutting and taping!!

Clarissssa is interested in all the activity!

NASA - Spot The Station--next couple of nights will be great!

NASA - Spot The Station



Here is the hyperlink to get the time and position for viewing the International Space Station. Our weather, though super odd for winter, is great for tracking the ISS around the earth. It is very clearly visible. You can get reminded about it coming over by downloading the ISS app on your phone and set the alarm. It will give a five minute ring and that will give you time to go outside and look up! Be sure to wave to the astronauts! :) Notice the miles away it is over head. Sometimes it is just the distance from here to Seattle. So cool. go to the NASA website and view lots of info about the station. Remember every 90 minutes it is passing over the western U.S.