NR Field Trip

We went up the Canyon yesterday to the campgrounds where we were met by Rangers, Wildlife Conservationists and USU students. They were able to model and teach us about the plants and animals of Utah, rocks and soil, and our water. The students had a GREAT time learning and playing. (Sorry if the pictures are sideways... I can't get them to change.)

Wildlife:
We played a game where the students were birds and had to try to migrate from Canada to Mexico, finding food along the way and avoiding predators.




We did a lap sit where they had to understand how important each part of the circle was in order to be successful. The students represented water, food, shelter and space. All things animals need to survive.




Then they got to touch and feel animal hides and skulls according to each of the different environments found in Utah: desert, forest, and wetland.





Our next station was about bugs. We dressed up Johan as a bug to see all the adaptations they have to survive.


Then they got to try bug eyes!


Next we got to actually look at and play with bugs native to Utah. We first found ones in the tubs and got to look up close using petri dishes and magnifying glasses.







Then over to river to find our own!




After lunch we headed to a plants station. At first they learned about the different elevations and adaptations plants have to survive at those elevations.







Then we learned how to identify which type of plant one is: a forb, shrub, bush or tree. They used classification keys to figure it out.





Then off to our final two stations: soil. The students got to make a student profile, showing them the four layers of soil. Starting from the top, there is topsoil, subsoil, transition layer and bedrock.






Then a matching game...


Then we were hurrying home before the bell rang. All in all, a fun and productive day!

Jenga Fluency

One of our fluency centers is a modified version of Jenga. The students build the tower then take turns removing a block. In order to keep the block, they must read all the high frequency words written on it. They had a great time learning and playing on Friday!

The Important Book

We read a book called The Important Book in which we read about things and what makes them important. The students had a chance to write one about themselves. Here are a few:

The important thing about Mrs. Bagley is that she is smart.
She is funny
and she loves the color pink
and she loves to eat chocolate.
But the important this is that she is smart.

The most important thing about Robert is that he doesn't like it when people get hurt.
He likes football
and he likes ice cream.
But he doesn't like it when people get hurt.

The important thing about Aaryn is that she has a great mom.
She is fun,
her favorite food is pizza
and she loves her dog Molly.
But the important thing is that she has a great mom.

The important thing about Mawla is he is a good boy.
He is good at soccer
and every other sport.
He is good at math
and good on his bike.
But the important thing is that he is a good boy.

The important thing about Sierra is that she is funny.
She likes pizza
and she likes the color blue.
But the important thing is that she is funny.

The important thing about Johan is that he likes sports.
He likes ice cream
and he likes to sleep.
But the important thing is he likes sports.

The important thing about Shalyce is she is funny.
She is fun,
she is good at getting friends.
She loves chocolate
and she loves to get messy.
But the important thing is that she is funny.

The important thing about Justin S. is that he likes to drum.
He likes the piano.
He likes candy
and he likes apples.
He likes sour candy.
But the important thing is that he likes to drum.

The important thing about Jahir is that he is a nice kid.
He's a good actor,
he runs fast,
he can shuffle.
But the most important thing is that he is a nice kid.

The important thing about Max is that he's a good racer.
He loves vanilla ice cream,
he likes gliders and bikes.
He likes his family.
But the important things is he's a good racer.

The important thing aobut Nevaeh is that she likes things that she lkes.
She is beautiful,
she is smart.
She is a nice big sister.
But the important thing is she likes things that she likes.

The important thing about Jade is she is smart.
She is hilarious
and her favorite color is blue.
And she loves candy,
she loves math
and she plays the piano.
But the important thing is that she is smart.

The important thing about Mason is that he's smart.
He's funny
and he's cool
and he's an athlete.
and he's tight.
He likes chocolate.
But the most important thing is that he's smart.

The important thing about Juliana is she is nice.
She does her homework.
She includes others to play with her.
She loves to play soccer.
She loves to sing.
But the most important thing about her is she is nice.

The important thing about Dallin is that he can do weird voices.
He is also smart
funny,
and good at games.
But the important thing is that he can do weird voices.

The important thing about Jayse is that he is awesome.
He is fast.
He is smart.
He likes building.
But the important thing is he is awesome.

The important thing about Sadie is she is helpful to other people.
Her favorite color is purple.
She has her own room.
She goes to school.
She was second place in the spelling bee twice.
But the important thing is that she is helpful.

The important thing about Halle is she is nice.
She likes the color pink
and she loves track and field.
She loves candy.
But the important thing is that she is nice.

The important thing about Rhexi is that she is the best big sister.
She's funny
she's pretty smart,
She likes to have fun.
She's good at jump roping
and she loves tests.
Her mom loves her.
But the important thing is that she is the best big sister.

The important thing about Jorge is that he has a great family.
He is funny
and awesome
and nice.
But the impotant thing about Jorge is his family.

The important thing about Daxtan is that he loves art.
His favorite color is all of them.
He loves animals
and he loves his family.
But the important thing is that he loves art.

The important thing about Neyen is that if you fall, he will come pick you up.
He has a colorful personality.
he is a great athlete.
But the impotant thing is that he's there for you.

The important thing about Elijah is that his is living a good life.
He likes the color black,
he is nice,
and he loves food.
But the important thing is he is living a good life.

The important thing about Kaya is that she is a gymnast.
She is funny,
she is cool,
and she likes candy.
But the important thing about her is that she is a gymnast.

The important thing about Fatima is she is friendly.
She is awesome
she is nice,
and she loves pink.
But the important thing is she is friendly.

The important thing about Thomas is he is smart.
He is good at games,
he is fast,
and he loves carmel.
But the important thing is that he is smart.

The important thing about Jordan is he doesn't fall on his bike.
His favorite color is black,
he is cool,
and he is funny,
but the important thing is he doesnt' fall on his bike.

Shooting Rockets

As part of our first week, we learned good strategies for working in groups, an essential skill they need to have in fourth grade. So to practice, they got to work in their groups to build rockets and then shoot them. They each got to shoot twice, once to see who could shoot the furthest and once to see who could shoot it inside a hoop. They did a great job!
(If you do not see your child, they probably were part of a group with a child whom I cannot post. I am sorry! I will make sure to do better next time to find ways to include all the children. Thanks for your understanding!)

Here We Are!

It's going to be a great year! These are from the first week of school. We have 30 amazing students in our class and I am so excited for this upcoming year! (A few students will not be featured in this blog due to parent request. Everyone else is here!)