AWESOME AUTHOR SKYPE!

AUTHOR SKYPES WITH FOURTH GRADE David A. Kelly, author of the Ballpark Mysteries Series, skyped with the fourth graders today to celebrate World Read Aloud Day. What a treat and an excellent learning experience 1

 Mr. Kelly explained about the books he has written, his writing experience and the process of writing. The boys and girls heard an important message: Writing is a process that takes TIME! Mr. Kelly said he often gets back his manuscript with up to 29 edits on ONE PAGE! He revises his books 3 to 4 times AFTER he thinks he has completed them.

After Mr. Kelly's presentation, he spent even more time answering our questions. He also sent an autographed memento for every student in fourth grade!

What a great experience we had today.

EXCELLENT ECOSYSTEMS!

The group, Change Is Simple, worked with our class again today. They helped us see how each ecosystem is a delicate balance of living and non-living things and that people have control over the impact they have on the balance within each of these environments. We worked in three groups to learn about the animals who are endangered in each of three ecosystems--Arctic, Rainforest and Ocean. We also learned how we take very small steps that have a big affect on improving the balance in each of these areas. For example, just playing outside and cutting back on our use of electronic devices can have an impact. How easy is that to go outside and play? We also learned that there are four ways animals can become endangered: 1. habitat loss 2. pollution 3. hunting 4. disease We learned that three of these are within human's control.

GUMBALL MACHINES GALORE!

As the culminating activity to our study of simple machines, 4K worked in the CLIC Lab to make "Gumball Machines." Each group was given the challenge to design, construct and rework a "Gumball Machine" that uses multiple simple machines. The students learned a great deal about not only simple machines, but also the design process. They had to sketch their ideas, build prototypes, test them and then rework things until their machines did what they wanted them to.  In the videos below, you will hear the students describe how they created their machines. Please notice how creative their designs are and how well they understand how simple machines can be used.

HANDS-ON SIMPLE MACHINES

We had a wonderful experience today when a volunteer named Mr. Woodley came in to demonstrate simple machines. He also taught us about Archimedes and the original simple machines. In fact, the first list of simple machines included only: inclined plane, wedge, wheel, lever and screw. He then showed us how the first screw was actually a pump. It was used to draw water from the river to irrigate fields. 

Mr. Woodley also showed us how a sexton works. It is a series of levers and that helped mariners to pinpoint their location when out to sea.

He gave us many hands-on experiences with each simple machine so we could actually feel how they trade distance for effort.

Then he showed us some real life compound machines that use multiple simple machines to work.

Thank you Mr. Woodley. We learned a great deal from you.