One of my favorite things to do is have my students write across the genres.  I like to give them one general topic and then assign three different writing prompts that align with that topic.  This results in 3 writing pieces that I inevitably want to display in my classroom somewhere.  The problem, though, is that as the students become better writers, and the writing becomes longer and more detailed, it takes up much more space than a single sheet of paper on a bulletin board.   So this go around, when I assigned them a 3-genre writing about axolotls, I also had them type the essays on a "step book" template.  It was rather easy to make on Google Slides.  I set up one slide and put a 1/2 inch black box on the bottom.  Then, on the second slide, I moved that box up so the bottom of the 1/2 inch box was touching the top of the first one. Then, on slide three, I moved the 1/2 inch box again so it was again touching the top of the previous one.  I ......

We have just begun the Geology unit in CKLA.  One of the first things the students learn about it Pangea, the idea of continental drift, and plate tectonics.   Super heavy for a 4th grader!  Though they really do seem to be into learning about geological theory, it is a bit hard for them to conceptualize.  To make it a bit more engaging and real for the students, I thought I would bring in a bit of food into the mix. While reading about the three types of plate boundaries, and the geologic formations that appear because of them, I gave the students three Oreo cookies.  For each cookie, I had them twist the two halves apart.  The top part represented the crust.  The creme and bottom cookie represented the magma inside the Earth.  Then I had them carefully break the top crust in half. As we read the information in the book, we used the Oreos to demonstrate each of the three boundaries.  Here is what we did for each boundary: Divergent --......

As of late, my class has been less than kind to each other. I have noticed them leaving each other out, ditching partners, having unkind inside jokes at the expense of others, and just generally being mean to their classmates.  At times, I am sure some are unaware of how unkind they are being.  They are just following along with the rest of the class.  But there in lies the problem.  So I decided to do a 5 day mini-unit on kindness.  Using picture books as our start, the intention of these lessons was to refocus us all on how our actions affect others and how being kind/nice/polite to others is an intentional choice that we make. Day 1:  Empathy and How it Feels to be E xcluded Book:  The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig Goal of the lesson:   For students to recognize that exclusion and ignoring others is hurtful, even when it isn't loud bullying. I began by telling the students that I had noticed that in our class people were being left out. that th......

One of the big ideas in 4th grade science is looking at how plants (and animals) have various structures that help them to survive.  We have looked at videos and read textbooks, but I thought we could use a little hands-on experience with it.   In my classroom, we are lucky enough to have a Lettuce Grow Farm Stand.  Since this planting season they each are observing one of the plants we have in the stand, I had them cut one leaf off of their specific plant to observe, diagram, and measure in a science journal.  I wanted them to look at the *structure* of the leaf, not only focus on the color and feel.  So I whipped up this little science journal template for them to use that would keep them on track with their observations. Since they were journaling, I had them start off with the basics.  They drew their leaf as accurately as possible, keeping in mind to keep the picture big so that they could label with proper vocabulary.  I walked them through the ......

I have really be into using my windows as an additional project display.  Taking what is otherwise dead space and making it something pretty is just up my alley as of late.  So, using clear contact paper and sharpies, we created this amazing art project that really had some awesome WOW factor!  Honestly, there isn't much to this project. The kids looked at the original painting (we did a narrative writing project with it) and then drew their best rendition of it on a 12" x 17" piece of clear contact paper.  They then used colored sharpies to color it in.  Since we don't have white sharpies, I did buy white paint pens.  Those weren't super successful (they peeled off when I put them on the window) but the rest of the colors looked great! Would you like to know more about the narrative writing assignment my students did in connection with this art project?   You can read what we did, as well as pick up the printables, here. ...

One of the typical, and very specifically Californian social studies units we learn about in 4th grade is the Mission System.  Here are a few things we have done these past two years since I moved back into the grade level. In class, we learned about the mission system, how and why it was started, and how it affected the native Americans who were living there.  We spent a great deal of time on the impact the entire system had on the indigenous people while discussing the system as a whole.  This year, because of time, we went simple and to the point.  We read the social studies book, watched a few videos, and did a little research on the mission system itself.   We also did a small research report and accompanying art project on the individual missions.   Each student was assigned a mission to learn about.  I gave them this report template to help them gather their information.  This was actually rather difficult for them, which I wasn't prepared......