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Monday, January 13, 2014

Bubble Bursting Project


Bubble Bursting Project- This week we are continuing our "Bubble Bursting Project"
We will be incorporating, Math, Social Studies, Science, Writing, and Technology during this project based learning!





Students will:
  1. Be in groups of 4.
  2. Create a KWL
  3. Investigate the history of bubble gum.
  4. Create a foldable of bubble gum facts.
  5. Participate in a bubble blowing contest.
  6. Measure bubbles.
  7. Graph results.
  8. Create a self portrait using pink balloons to demonstate their bubbles.
  9. Read related books on bubble gum.
  10. Write a discriptive essay on their findings about blowing bubbles. How was it? What happened? How did it feel?  What did you predict?  What was the outcome?  Was their a trick to blowing larger bubbles?

Timeline



How to blow a bubble gum bubble:



Awesome teachers who have done similar lessons:
http://theteacherwife.blogspot.com/2011/11/bubble-gum-fun-writing-and-math.html


Cool Videos








Books about bubble gum!





















4th Grade TEKS:
ELAR:
(1) Reading/Fluency. Students read grade-level text with fluency and comprehension. Students are expected to read aloud grade-level stories with fluency (rate, accuracy, expression, appropriate phrasing) and comprehension.
(15) Writing/Writing Process. Students use elements of the writing process (planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) to compose text. Students are expected to:
(A) use and understand the function of the following parts of speech in the context of reading, writing, and speaking:

(i) verbs (irregular verbs);

(ii) nouns (singular/plural, common/proper);

(iii) adjectives (e.g., descriptive, including purpose: sleeping bag, frying pan) and their comparative and superlative forms (e.g., fast, faster, fastest);

(iv) adverbs (e.g., frequency: usually, sometimes; intensity: almost, a lot);

 Math
(4.11) Measurement. The student applies measurement concepts. The student is expected to estimate and measure to solve problems involving length (including perimeter) and area. The student uses measurement tools to measure capacity/volume and weight/mass. The student is expected to:

(A) estimate and use measurement tools to determine length (including perimeter), area, capacity and weight/mass using standard units SI (metric) and customary;

(B) perform simple conversions between different units of length, between different units of capacity, and between different units of weight within the customary measurement system;

Science
(3) Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses critical thinking and scientific problem solving to make informed decisions. The student is expected to:

(A) in all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing, including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations, so as to encourage critical thinking by the student;

Social Studies
(21) Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from a variety of valid sources, including electronic technology. The student is expected to:

(A) differentiate between, locate, and use valid primary and secondary sources such as computer software; interviews; biographies; oral, print, and visual material; documents; and artifacts to acquire information about the United States and Texas;

(B) analyze information by sequencing, categorizing, identifying cause-and-effect relationships, comparing, contrasting, finding the main idea, summarizing, making generalizations and predictions, and drawing inferences and conclusions;

(C) organize and interpret information in outlines, reports, databases, and visuals, including graphs, charts, timelines, and maps;

(D) identify different points of view about an issue, topic, historical event, or current event
 



Bubble Bursting Project1


Bubble Bursting Project 2

Friday, January 10, 2014

Snowball Math

YES! January is so much fun... we are finally warming up around here. 
Today was a great opportunity for Snowball Math!
We used rounding, estimation, number patterns, measurement, comparing, and graphing.
In science we were able to use the scientific method-Predictions, Hypothesis, we asked questions, researched, etc.

I started by laying a long strip of blue butcher paper on the floor.  A few desk had to be rearranged but it only took whole 30 seconds to get prepared.  Next we label inches on the butcher paper using a yard stick.  We labeled the inches by tens.

We had two items to compare and analyze.  A cotton ball and a regualar copy paper crumbled up.

There were some rules: 
1. Students can not jump forward as part of their throw.
2. Students can not step on the blue butcher paper.
3. The snowball must land on the blue butcher paper.




Snowball Math

We also read "There was a Cold Lady who swallowed some Snow" by Lucille Colandro



Check it out!
Next week we are starting a PBL (Project based Learning) project on Bubble Bursting!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

This and That

  WOW! I am really feeling emotional about this blog post.  I miss my blog so much but time has been so scarce for me in 2013!  Masters degree , teaching a new grade level, and having a new baby boy has kicked my butt to say the least.  In 2014 I will be running my first 10K, turning the big THREE ONE, and I plan to blog more often.
 
 




So here it goes!

January is always so much fun!  Students come back from their long holiday break eager to learn and not only that but they have the classroom routines aced.  Just before we left for the holiday break we created a winter bulletin board inspired by Pinterest.  The bulletin board reads: Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow!  I don't think we really meant it.   Today in South Texas it felt like the high twenties with the wind chill... That is way too cold for us.  It did snow one Christmas Eve about 9 or 10 years ago and it was beautiful.  So many of my fellow Blogger, Facebook, and Instagram friends are at home either snowed or iced in.  YIKES! Stay warm my friends! Especially all the Texas teachers because we are not use to this frigid weather.


We are welcoming students back from winter break tomorrow and I am eager to hear all about their adventures over the holiday. 
On another note fourth grade has definetly been a big adjustment for me.  So many of you have messaged me or commented on some of my posts asking me who, what, when, and where I moved.  I am teaching in the same district and the same school in South Texas. From kinder to fourth grade is a giant difference, which I knew it would be, but I yearned for the challenge and learning experience.  Some days I am so overwhelmed with testing and fourth grade TEKS and just doing every lesson for the first time.  What helps tremendously is that I have awesome collegues that don't let me slip through the cracks.  The whole grade level including some great 5th and 2nd grade teachers have really helped me and encouraged me.  The closer this state assessment gets the more motivated and excited I am to teach, motivate, and ignite the learning in my fourth graders.

                           Fourth Grade "WRITE STUFF"

 
HoneyBADger Support Team!


 
I hope I didn't get too personal on this blog post but it is everything I am feeling and excited about right now!  I have so much more to say but time is running out!  I hope to blog again tonight and tomorrow!! Watch out WORLD!!