Picture Day Tomorrow! No Gym Clothes Required.

It's Time To See RED! FEAR FEST 4.4 in 4D Coming SOON... 10/31/2014

Estimating with Rounding and Compatible Numbers

Darth Laura

Hey all!
I'm Darth Laura and I will be observing Mr. Crame's 4th grade classroom every Wednesday until Thanksgiving break!  I attend Roosevelt University and I live in the Loop.  I grew up in Southeastern Michigan and moved to Chicago in the fall of 2012 for school.  At home I have 2 dogs and 3 cats.  I love spending time with my pets and my family.  One of my biggest inspirations for wanting to become a teacher is my mom.  She was a substitute teacher throughout my childhood, and through my many years of observing her, I decided that I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up.  I'm very excited to get to know the 4th graders over the next couple months!

Engineers in Action

Today my nine brave engineers went over the design template for their engineering projects.  We discussed the "Empathize" step in greater detail.  Drafts of the empathize slides are due Monday.

James' Mouse

Andre's Big Teeth

Elizabeth's Dolphin

Cyrus Aardvark

Saniyaroo

Design Template Preview: We'll go over this tomorrow.

Science Fair Update

For those doing Experimental Projects:
A Science Fair Project Proposal Sheet  has gone home today.  This sheet will be due Wednesday, October 15th.  We spoke briefly about the independent and dependent variables during intervention today.  A description of these ideas is listed in the post below.  We will continue to work on these in class next week.  If you are capable, please attempt to fill out what you understand on this sheet at home.

For those creating design projects.  I have created a digital template to help guide you through the process.  I will forward the digital copy to you via Google docs.

Independent Vesus Dependent Variables

Taken from Science Buddies:Science Buddies

Scientists use an experiment to search for cause and effect relationships in nature. In other words, they design an experiment so that changes to one item cause something else to vary in a predictable way.

These changing quantities are called variables. A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types. An experiment usually has three kinds of variables: independent, dependent, and controlled.

The independent variable is the one that is changed by the scientist. To insure a fair test, a good experiment has only one independent variable. As the scientist changes the independent variable, he or she observes what happens.

The scientist focuses his or her observations on the dependent variable to see how it responds to the change made to the independent variable. The new value of the dependent variable is caused by and depends on the value of the independent variable.

For example, if you open a faucet (the independent variable), the quantity of water flowing (dependent variable) changes in response--you observe that the water flow increases. The number of dependent variables in an experiment varies, but there is often more than one.

Experiments also have controlled variables. Controlled variables are quantities that a scientist wants to remain constant, and he must observe them as carefully as the dependent variables. For example, if we want to measure how much water flow increases when we open a faucet, it is important to make sure that the water pressure (the controlled variable) is held constant. That's because both the water pressure and the opening of a faucet have an impact on how much water flows. If we change both of them at the same time, we can't be sure how much of the change in water flow is because of the faucet opening and how much because of the water pressure. In other words, it would not be a fair test. Most experiments have more than one controlled variable. Some people refer to controlled variables as "constant variables."

In a good experiment, the scientist must be able to measure the values for each variable. Weight or mass is an example of a variable that is very easy to measure. However, imagine trying to do an experiment where one of the variables is love. There is no such thing as a "love-meter." You might have a belief that someone is in love, but you cannot really be sure, and you would probably have friends that don't agree with you. So, love is not measurable in a scientific sense; therefore, it would be a poor variable to use in an experiment.

Math Topic: Rounding Decimals

Today we practiced the skill of rounding decimals to the nearest place value.  We discussed the steps and practiced with word problems.

See the Face of Fear...

Oscar Got Too Close to the Copy Machine

Science Fair Update

Today Mr. Vernola and I met with all students.  We have helped them to finalize their science fair choices and directed them to different resources for research.   New design proposal and experimental project proposal sheets will be developed and distributed to be completed over the weekend.

Newsela Tonight. Fear Fest Drafts Due Friday.

Check your Newsela accounts tonight.  I have assigned an article for you to read and carefully complete the quiz.  Here is a link: https://newsela.com/  Don't forget to adjust your Lexile level.

You may also continue your rough daft for Fear Fest.  If you are working in a group, you may work together on a shared document through Google Drive.  You can work at the same time if possible.  If not, then you can add edits when you are available.  Be sure not to delete any work.  You can add edits in different font colors and save all changes.

Alladin: Fine Arts Performance

Fear Fest Draft Creation

Today we began creating our first drafts for the upcoming Fear Fest performance (October 31st, details to come).  Students have investigated examples of "good writing" from established authors.  We have studied story elements and plot development.  We have extrapolated the six traits of writing and have identified those traits in authentic literature.  The young authors of 217 have also brainstormed their initial ideas and chosen their focus for the final Fear Fest Idea.  There is still grey matter on the walls from our fierce brainstorm session.

Now, we are putting it all together to create our first draft of the scripts, songs, poems and stories.  They are working in small groups and individually.  Rough drafts are due this Friday.  Work can continue at home via Google Drive or in notebooks.

The initial stories are truly creepy.  They are also full of great writing traits and story elements.  Stay tuned for the fright of your life.