Today students were able to participate in the Tall Cup challenge if they were finished with their Life Cycle section of their notebook. I was super impressed at their group work!! Students were given 40 cups, and they were told to build a tower. The tallest tower would win. Here are our groups and structures from the challenge!!
The picture below this was the tallest tower of the entire day!! It measured in at 92 cm!!!
This week we are doing things a tad different. It’s not fun to do the same thing all the time!! Students will leave their notebooks on Friday for me to grade pages 12 – 16. We will create 13 – 16 this week — students should already have NB 12 created.
Tuesday —
Throughout the year, we will be doing STEM challenges in Science. Today we will define STEM on notebook 13. Then, we will define the roles of a scientist and technican during a STEM lab.
Wednesday –
Today we are completing NB 15 where we are defining the role of the engineer and mathematician during STEM challenges in the classroom. We will also complete NB 16 where we will discuss the expectations during STEM challenges.
**Students will leave their notebooks in their class basket on Friday. I will grade 12 – 16.
Thursday –
Today we will begin our Plant Unit. We will view a PowerPoint together, and complete a booklet that will go on NB 17. This will be part of our next notebook check.
Friday –
Today we are reading 3 passages and completing a graphic organizer about the key details from each. This will go on NB 18 – 21.
** I’m excited!! We are starting to use Class Dojo in Science this week. This will allow students to win points for doing tasks — basically awarding our kids for good choices. Let us get used to it, and then I will do a big blog post. I think it is going to be a GREAT motivational tool in Science this year!!! 🙂
Superhero Day, Save Fred Day plus Draco got a new house for his terrarium … and I may have brought a selfie stick to school today. It may have been a CRAZY Friday!! At least we have a long Labor Day weekend to rest up.
Students were given their first Science test back and their first notebook check today. I will be sending a note home next week about my grading procedures in Science.
First up, I had a doctors appointment yesterday afternoon in Florence. Of course, I had to stop by Petco to pick up some superworms for my bestie Draco. I’ve been hearing lots about these worms, and I wanted to see if he would like them as much as as other dragons love them. He definitely does — I’ll record a meal session soon. I spotted a cute house for guinea pigs and decided Draco needed it. So far, he’s avoided it. But, if he decides he needs to nap it will be there. 
I had to stop by and visit with the baby bearded dragons. They are the cutest things!!! Look at these sweet little babies!!!
We absolutely love the Fresh Fruit and Veggie program here at HES!! We get it 3 days a week, and the kids miss it the other 2 days!! We tried honeydew melon, cauliflower, and strawberries this week. The melon and the strawberries were favorites hands down. Here are a few of our girls enjoying their strawberries today. Follow us @hes4thgrade on Instagram. I love to video the kids reactions to new foods!!
I feel so lucky to teach 4th grade!! I love the kids excitement to learn, and I absolutely love the people on tbe purple hall. We met at PE time today to discuss all of our fun events coming up in the next few weeks at HES. Love these ladies!! We are missing a few out of this shot — it’s hard to catch everyone!! Excuse my facial expression — hard to get everyone perfect!! 🙂
Next up, the Save Fred STEM challenge. This is a fun challenge that I do each year. Here is the background:
Homeroom winners:
Class selfie:
This selfie stick is a tad harder than you would think. Got it at the five and below store at Florence. Five dollars and you can pick blue, green, pink, or black.
2nd period had two groups finish at the same exact time so we declared it a tie.
Class selfie:
4th Period:
This class selfie was a blurry mess. We will retake sometime.
5th:
Class selfie:
7th:
Class selfie:
8th:
This class basically all finished at the same time. I just snapped them all 🙂
I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!!!
Ending with one more picture of my bestie, Draco. He was SO excited to see the fourth graders on Monday!! Look at that sweet face!!!
Love,
Mrs. Goggans
We’ve worked so hard in Science this year!! We’ve finished our Earth Science objectives yesterday so I declared Friday as a fun day!!
It’s been awhile since we’ve had a fun challenge so I thought this would be a fun one for the day!
Each group of students were assigned the task of designing a house for the 3 little pigs out of toothpicks. After their houses were designed, I played the part of the big bad wolf with my hairdryer to see if they would stand up to the wind blow!
This was a fun activity to see the kids work together!! Here are some pics I snapped throughout the day!! I found this activity and the sheet here.
Mrs. Goggans' 4th Grade Scientists 