Skype for Global Read Aloud

Today we skyped with a 4th grade class in Delaware to talk about our global read aloud book, "The Fourteenth Goldfish."  We asked some great questions and gave thoughtful answers, and even got the chance to talk about our Halloween costumes!

Lowell Mills

On Wednesday, October 22nd, our class traveled to Lowell to visit the Boott Cotton Mills Museum.  Click here to visit their website.  There, we learned about the industrial revolution, including how it changed the area in this part of Massachusetts.  We visited a boarding house that served as the home for girls who worked in the mills, and had the opportunity to separate cotton and see a real weave-room at work.  It was a great field trip and we learned a lot!

Thank you to TESPTO for sponsoring this field trip!

Animal Adaptations

Today, our class went to CLIC for an introduction into animal adaptations. Some of our essential questions for this unit are:

-How do animals adapt to survive in their surroundings?  

-How do adaptations ensure an animal's survival?

Some things we found out about beavers:

-they have clear eyelids to see underwater

-they have split nails on their paws to comb oil through their fur to make it more waterproof

-they have webbed feet to help swim

-their teeth continuously grow to help chew wood

-they have flaps that cover their ears and nose to keep out water

To help us understand these adaptations, Mrs. LaRusa dressed up Owen (he became our birthday beaver) to show each adaptation! 

What adaptations do you know of? Comment below! 

Connects to MA Science Standard Adapations and Living Things: 6. Give examples of how inherited characteristics may change over time as adaptations to changes in the environment that enable organisms to survive, e.g., shape of beak or feet, placement of eyes on head, length of neck, shape of teeth, color.

Our First Mystery Skype!

Today, our class had our first Mystery Skype.  With Mrs. Klipfel's help, our class made contact with another 4th grade class, but we didn't know where they were located!  By asking thoughtful questions we were able to find out what state they were in.  Our guest blogger, Kallie, wrote an excellent summary of our experience:

"Just Right" by Kallie
    We let the other class ask the first question, then we asked a question.  After a lot of questions, we found out that they are from the United States.  Then we asked what region they were in and they said the Northeast.  They are not in Massachusetts like were are.  Then we found out that they live in Delaware.  They guessed our state first.  After that, we talked about the Fourteenth Goldfish (our Global Read Aloud book).  We might see them again tomorrow.  Our class had a blast!

Here are some photos of our class in action (taken by Kallie):

Our Filters, making sure questions are specific and relevant.

Our Think Tank, who used maps and resources to come up with questions about the other class's location.

The Think Tank in action!

Our Questioners, getting the next clue ready for our visitors.

Answering questions about where we live.

Filters laughing while our Answerer looks for help from his classmates.

MA Social Studies Framework: Use map and globe skills to determine absolute locations.

Wingmasters

Today, the 4th grade had a visit from Wingmasters, a cultural enrichment program about birds of prey. This ties in with our work on animal adaptations and food chains, helping to answer our essential question: what adaptations do animals have to help them survive? Children loved getting up close and personal with some amazing birds!

Connects to MA Science Standard Adapations and Living Things: 6. Give examples of how inherited characteristics may change over time as adaptations to changes in the environment that enable organisms to survive, e.g., shape of beak or feet, placement of eyes on head, length of neck, shape of teeth, color.