Blogs

Students wanted to know which type of biome our Lower School students would want to visit, if they had the chance to take a special vacation.  Students conducted a survey in K-5th grade and recorded the results.  Upon gathering the data, students then created a table where they converted the tallies to percentages.  Our fourth graders agreed that they thought we could best represent this data by creating a pie chart which would analyze categories (biomes) and groups (grade levels).  Using protractors, students then determined the degree in which each perc

This week fourth graders began wrapping up their study of the novel "The Family Under the Bridge" by Natalie Carson Savage. In an effort to gain a better understanding of the plight of the characters, students participated in a "Homelessness Simulation." Working in "families," they attempted to locate places in which they might seek shelter if they were homeless, taking into consideration such factors as weather, available food supply, security, etc. Afterwards, students attempted to survive a month on a limited budget, through the virtual reality game, "SPENT."

This week in science, we began our landforms investigations.  Students set up stream tables with "earth material" (a mixture of diatomaceous earth and sand) and a water source.  They ran a liter of water through the system and observed and recorded the processes of erosion and deposition.  They learned some of the vocabulary used to describe landforms that result from these processes.  The erosion observed in the stream table is related to the formation of the Grand Canyon.  In addition to our stream tables, we took a short field trip around the Allen Academy ground

Fourth graders are learning place value up to the millions period!  We are learning that you can use place value and period names to read and write in different forms.  We are learning to read and write in standard form, word form, and expanded form.  If you pass by our classroom you will pick up on our excitement in math as we play “The Price Is Right” to reinforce our skills!! 

We here in fourth grade are so excited to begin a new school year with a wonderful group students, including a few new additions to the Allen family! In the first week, in addition to becoming familiar with the policies, procedures, and expectations for fourth grade, students kicked off their Language Arts curriculum by writing Bio Poems as a way of introducing themselves to their classmates (and their teacher!). After drafting, revising, and editing their poems, students created a finished piece and put them on display in the hallway outside of the classroom.