Laura's 2-3 class.

The State College Friends School

4th Grade Class Page

Trs. Tim Austin & Grace Cho

Welcome to Tr. Tim and Tr. Grace's
4th grade class!

THEMES

Our theme for the 2007-2008 school year is machines. The class will explore how machines work and more importantly, the way in which machines have affected people and society over the course of history. The focus is on four main areas that have had a significant impact on modern civilization. These topics are; transportation/immigration, food production and preparation, communication, and entertainment.

Class field trip to a steam powered sawmill.

We explore these themes for understanding through a variety of hands-on activities, such as making and using levers, planes, wedges, pulleys, wheels, and gears. We will be designing, building, and using complex machines such as motors and radios. The class experiences in-class demonstrations of a variety of machines, including steam engines.

The class will take several field trips to explore the history of machines and see live demonstrations of both modern and antique machinery in action. The students will build and use simple and complex machines in class and participate in assembly line manufacturing on a field trip.

Classroom activity: Sailing aboard the
Mayflower!

The class begins the year with a simulation that emphasizes the hardships faced by the Pilgrims who settled the Plymouth colony in New England in 1620.

For a better understanding of the indigenous peoples of Central and South America, we will build a "time machine" and use it to visit the Mayans and Aztecs in Central America, and the Inca civilization in South America. Students will learn about the food, art, government, achievements, and culture of these ancient civilizations. Teachers' Grace and Hope bring personal experience to the class, both having lived in Central America.

READING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES

Writing with handmade quill pens
on handmade paper.

Our reading and writing activities are focused on integrating vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and grammar exercises into student's own writing. The children participate in weekly story writing workshops; in addition daily writing exercises include fiction, personal narratives, journaling, non-fiction stories, poetry, research reports, and essays. Students learn to draft, revise, stretch, and edit their work. Book groups will meet weekly to discuss assigned readings from recognized children's authors such as Madeline, Spinnelli, Paulsen, Lowry, Naylor, and many others. Students will also have the opportunity to select and read books of their own choice.

MATH PROGRAM

Testing an hypothesis in the community room.

The starting point for fourth grade mathematics curriculum is the Everyday Mathematics Program developed by the University of Chicago Mathematics Project. This program emphasizes conceptual learning through a variety of hands-on activities. Our goal is to develop and support understanding of geometry, measurement, algebra, addition, subtraction, multi-digit multiplication and division. Our program will be enriched and supplemented with daily problem solving challenges, mental math, and a variety of math games designed to strengthen students' computational skills.

GENERAL

Fourth grade students at The State College Friends School have weekly special instruction in Keyboarding, Yoga, Art, Physical Education, and Music and also receive Spanish lessons three times a week. Fourth graders are given the opportunity to take part in community service every week, including singing in the Peace Choir and providing many other services around the school. Students may also join the multi age soccer program after school. Time is given each day for both directed physical activities and time to just play.

Class visit to the Transfer Station.

Making observations in science.

Morning meeting.

There are several local field trips planned in and around Central Pennsylvania, as well as trips to Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Our year culminates with a class play that features student designed and built sets and costumes, and allows the children to develop public speaking and drama skills. The final week of the year includes an overnight camping trip with swimming, boating, games, skits, and of course a campfire with S'mores.

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