This week, we finished up a unit on Jim Henson.  Students learned that he was born right here in MISSISSIPPI!  We then learned that Henson was the creator of one of our favorite muppets, Kermit!  After talking about how Henson created the children’s show Sesame Street to make learning fun, we wrote our own scripts and created our own children’s show skit.  For the skits, students paired up had to teach their audience how to perform a simple procedure, such as making a sandwich or brushing their teeth.  Once the students created their skits, they each worked to create their own muppet and performed their show for their class!  They did an AWESOME job on these!!

This week the students became Botonists and learned all about plants and their life cycles. As a part of this study, the students read a fiction book called Plantzilla by Jerdine Nolen where a plant seems to come to life and becomes a part of a family. The students then created their own Plantzilla based on the book using the art elements of form and the principle of balance. Students had to create a 3D sculpture of their plant and had to use a variety of art techniques to create balance within their sculpture. The students also had to showcase the parts of a flower that they had been studying during the week. Make sure to come by our hall and see all of the great plants!

We are off to a great start this year in 4th grade!  One of our first arts integration lessons included students looking at the works of Wassily Kandinsky.  Students noticed that he planned out his works so that he could communicate through the colors.

Student have been studying place value.  They were given a four digit number and wrote the number in standard, word, expanded, and short form.  After showing that they could show the number in different ways, they replicated Kandinsky’s work.

The students then watercolor to crate a background similar to Kandinsky’s paintings.  They then created shapes from construction paper to represent the number that they were given.  They used 3D shapes for numbers in the thousands place and 2D shapes for the hundreds, tens, and ones.  Examples of students’ work can be seen below.

This week, students were introduced to the three types of rocks: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic.  We then held a discussion about what makes each rock different.  We learned that the sedimentary rocks are formed by layers.  The igneous rocks are formed when magma cools, and the metamorphic rocks form when layers are pressed with heat and pressure.  Students then created a visual representation of each type of rock.

We are getting ready for our annual 4th Grade Famous Artist Living Wax Museum on Wednesday, May 10th at 1:00pm in the gym. The students have been working hard writing biographies, reflections, timelines, scripts, and creating a LOT of artwork to showcase the styles of famous artists from the past. So, mark your calendars for this amazing event and catch a sneak peek in the pictures below!

Last week, the students learned about famous artist Dale Chihuly and his blown glass sculptures that are famous the world over. The students studied Chihuly’s style and technique and then used this knowledge to recreate some sculptures of their own. Of course the students couldn’t use real blown glass so we used plastic! The students also practiced their math and converted customary capacities based on the type of plastic bottle used in their sculpture. One group had gallons, one had quarts, one pints, and one cups. After converting all of their measurements, the students set out to recreate one of Chihuly’s famous sculptures. This took a lot of creativity and ingenuity. We think the students did a fantastic job! You can see the final results in the pictures below or come by the school and check them out for yourself. You can’t miss them if you take a stroll up the sidewalk. 

Today, 4th grade participated in the school wide multiplication bee.  The top five students were selected and will represent Nora Davis at the district multiplication bee after Spring Break.  The top 5 fourth graders were: Trinity Jones, Shamara Baker, Calvin McDonald (4th grade winner), Ashaunte Hughes, and Ariel Cox.

This week, students were introduced to measuring angles.  They learned that angles can be acute, obtuse, right, and straight.  After learning how to name them, students were taught how to use a protractor to measure angles.

In centers, students created a color block painting using angles.  They used washi tape to create angles across the paper.  Then, they named the angles and measured them.  Once the angles were named and measured they painted their shapes.  Once it dried, they removed the washi tape to create the color block.

The students created a composition this week to show the relationship of decimals and fractions. The students had to use only warm or cool colors to created their composition. The students began with a list of media that needed to be included within the artwork: a certain fraction or decimal of shapes and materials. The compositions were based on hundredths so whatever fraction and/or decimal the students used had to be converted in order to compare them. The students chose their own subject for their composition and titled it when they were finished. Make sure you stop by at the beginning of our hall to check out their work. The students did a great job!

On January 24, Nora Davis held their annual Arts, Math, and Science Night.  Parents were invited into their child’s classroom to participate in an arts integrated lesson previously taught to students.

We have been learning about multiplying fractions by whole numbers, so students were taught an arts integrated lesson with music.  Student were taught the names and counts of different notes.  They were taught based on a 4/4 time measure.  This means that the quarter note would represent 1/4, a half note would represent 2/4, and a whole note would represent 4/4.

Students and parents were then put into groups. They were assigned a note, and multiplied this note by the number of people in their group.  Then, they created a visual representation of the notes, as if composing their own song!  After practicing their songs, students and parents chose and instrument and performed for all!

Thanks to all the parents for coming and enjoying this special night with us!