Events Leading to the War of Independence Comic Life Projects Presented

Isabelle presents her Comic Life page on "The Intolerable Acts" one of sixteen events that led to the Declaration of Independence. I'll be posting the entire set soon.

Down Memory Lane: Electronic Portfolios

After much work the electronic portfolios that reflect each student's Shorecrest Lower Division experience were unveiled in a special session for families. DVD copies will be distributed soon to each family.

Zoo Trip

Evan Longoria: telling the truth?

Today we studied an article in the St Petersburg Times which examined a controversial YouTube video showing Rays star third baseman catching an errant baseball bare handed while being interviewed. We watched the video to see if we agreed with the paper's PolitiFact team. The article by Aaron Sharockman argued that the catch was faked. I wanted the students to see a different form of writing....a hybrid, part persuasive essay, part news report. I also explained that PolitiFact usually investigated the truth telling of our elected officials. Here's the link, see for yourself.

Eurovision Song Contest: Azerbaijan Wins But Still Not in Europe

I'm not a big fan of pop music but I love the Eurovision Song Contest. I've been following it ever since I lived in Belgium in the seventies. Then it was just for western European nations. The Berlin Wall hadn't fallen. The Cold War was still on. The people of my village would gather near the school to watch the finals on TV's set up for the crowd. This was also before cable and TV a common thing there. It was also before Azerbaijan, Armenia and Israel (not geographically in Europe) were participants. This year the song from Azerbaijan won best in show. Next year's contest will be held (as is the custom) in the winner's capital city Baku. See the link here to the website and links to all the songs.

This is a huge event....which I think we should try for the states. Forget American Idol...lets have an American Song Contest among our fifty nifty.

New Mexico Plate: Best in Nation

My state's flag wins awards for best design and now our license plate is so recognized. See this.

Colonial Food Reports: Apples to Wheat, Squirrels Too

Here are the colorful report covers for the Foods of Colonial America project. You can read these reports and explore the technology applications each student put together next week at our Tuesday celebration. Their electronic portfolios will be on display as well. See you then.

Portfolio & Author Share Event

We will be showcasing the work of each student for about 90 minutes on the morning of May 24th. Starting at 8:15 in the Computer Lab, students will present their electronic portfolios which highlight their years in the Lower Division. Following that we will return to the classroom to listen to each student read a selection from his or her collected writings these last two trimesters. We will also be celebrating several history projects including their colonial food report and Comic Life project about the events that led to the American War of Independence.

Zoo Trip Lunch Requests Needed

We need to know if your child needs a box lunch from Sage for our trip to the zoo on May 23rd. The deadline to let Sage know is upon us. If you have an account with Sage, we still need to know if you want them to provide the lunch. Thanks.

Splash Day Note from PE Coaches

We will be hosting the Lower Division Splash Day on Wednesday, May 18^th, 2011. The event will take place during each grade’s normal PE period and will last approximately 30 min. Splash Day consists of a variety of safe and fun water games and toys. Activities are designed to soak, spray, and splash. Students will not be swimming or submerging themselves in water in any capacity. Participants are sure to enjoy the large inflatable water slide again this year. A dry area, “The Beach,” will be available to any students not wishing to get wet or participate in Splash Day. Equipment, games, activities and supervision will be present for those students playing on the Beach.

What to bring/wear:

· Bring appropriate swimwear to school to change into or wear swimwear to school under their school uniform. Please keep in mind each child must wear their regular school uniform at all times except during their PE period.

· Sunscreen and/or Hat

· Towel

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

LD PE Team

727-522-2111

Ext. 442

Collections Classified

So what do batteries, erasers, stuffed animals, golf balls, Rays cards, ugly dolls, floppy disks, hair bands have to do with each other? Well these and others were collections of ten things that students brought in for us to figure out how the owner classified them. It's all part of our science unit on scientific classification and one of my favorite lessons of the year.

Classifying Backgammon Boards

They come in all sizes, shapes, construction materials....but they are all backgammon boards. This video ends with a sample dichotomous key we devised to classify them all. Each backgammon set was named for the student who was responsible for identifying the different traits for that board.

Dichotomous Keys

Here Aidan S. is presenting the dichotomous key he devised to classify fifteen of my backgammon boards (displayed in the background). Dichotomous keys use a series of dichotomies in an either or system to help bring order. Ask a fourth grader to explain further. Aidan on the first try was able to classify all 15 boards using 14 "steps." There should normally be one less step than number of items being classified.

Scientific Classification: Our Latest Science Unit

Students work with a set of "alien" images to sort their traits into categories. It took careful looking and thinking. This was one of a series of excercises to introduce students to the subject of how scientists classify things. Later these skills will be applied to classifying my backgammon collection, animals at the zoo and a collection of ten things from home.

The Merry and Busy Month of May

Our first week of May is a homework and test free time so students can be fully rested to do their best with the annual ERB standardized testing. Today we did 40 minutes of Math and 30 of Writing Mechanics. Two tests of about the same time continue first thing the rest of the week.

We begin our study of the novel "Fighting Ground." There's a study guide for this book as well. Also this week students begin a project to explore the various events that led to the American War of Independence. Each student will create a comic book page for one of these historic events.

The final full week of school this year will include the following: Monday the 23rd a trip to Lowry Park Zoo (part of our science unit on scientific classification); Tuesday all friends and family are invited for our final author share (students read from their latest writing projects) and a look at their spectacular Portfolios (instead of Colonial Day); Thursday is a rehearsal for the moving up ceremony that is first thing Friday followed by the traditional fourth grade bowling party lunch. Families are invited back in the early afternoon for an ice cream social celebration.

Oh and somewhere in the middle of the month, students will be visiting the Middle School for an orientation.