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.

Marine Quest Open House: Saturday

Marine Quest is a fabulous event for the whole family this Saturday. Check it out.