This week we have been learning about the different parts of a flower. After reading the fantasy story “Plantzilla” our students got into groups and were able  to build their own plants using all of the parts that we studied. Being able to build their own anthers, sepal, and pistol really helped them understand where each part is located and how it functions.

While learning about food chains and food webs, the students put their knowledge to practice in this exciting lesson. Each student was given a sticker to wear with the name of a producer or consumer from a food chain. The students then used yarn to connect themselves to others in the room according to what they would eat or if they would be eaten. By the end of the lesson, we had a spidery web going all across the classroom. This really helped the students to see how connected organisms are in nature.

We are learning about different adaptations that plants and animals have in order to survive in their environment. Today we got to see the challenges that different types of birds encounter because of their different types of beaks. The students had a great time practicing with chopsticks!

The first few days of school have gone great! The students have been doing a lot of art. Make sure you ask your child about the Tree of Traits, Kandinsky Numbers, Color Wheels and more. Also make sure you stop by our hall to check out all of the wonderful artwork going on. More will be coming soon!

art museum Click here for a performance by Van Gogh

Here’s what the students have done over the past few weeks:

• Researched the artist using the internet, encyclopedias, and various informational texts.
• Wrote a biography and a critique about the author and his/her work.
• Created a timeline illustrating important events in the authors life.
• Created a partial list of the artist’s work.
• Written a first person point of view script based on important events and the significance of the artist.
• Created a visual background to host the above materials.
• Recreated one of the artist’s pieces of work individually.
• Recreated one of the artist’s pieces of work as a group where all opinions were considered.

We hope everyone that attended was truly blessed at how amazing the children are at our school.  They worked really hard and did an awesome job!

The students had to showcase their knowledge of electrical circuits by performing a dance. The students had to work together as a group to show each part of either a simple, series, or parallel circuit. Each circuit had to use a switch and use movement to show what occurs when the switch is moved from the open position to the closed position and vice versa.

This week the fourth grade will be taking the snapshot test in Language Arts on Tuesday and Math on Wednesday and Thursday.  This test will be the last practice test given before we begin our state testing in March.  The fourth grade has worked extremely hard all year in preparation for these test.  Please help encourage your child to do his or her best on these test.

Come join us this Thursday, January 29, 2015 for Math and Arts Night. We will have a performance in the auditorium along with a few reminders from Ms. Read then we will come to the classrooms so that parents can experience a true math arts integration lesson. This is always a fun time to get to see what your students get to experience on a weekly basis here at Nora Davis. Can’t wait to see everyone!

During an infusion lesson with Mrs. Lanier, the fourth grade was an event planner.  Our responsibility was the music for a birthday party.  We were required to choose ten minutes of music to be played at the party.  The students chose a variety of songs and recorded the length of each.  The students continued this until they had the required ten minutes of music.  This tied into our math lesson of adding and subtracting with decimals.  The students had to learn a total new concept of lining of the numbers. The students had to understand that the decimals had to line up and that’s a fact!!! By the end of the lesson the students were diggin’ decimals.

We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year! See you guys in 2015!!