A Short (Yet Fruitful) Week
News from the 4th Grade classroom
Kenny grows frustrated with the amount of sniffling and noseblowing that he encounters in class.
Well, it was a short week, but a fun week! While our normal five days were trimmed down to three, the Fourth Grade didn’t lack for things to do! In three days we managed to get a lot of writing done on our stories, learn a bit about the different regions of the United States, and plan our Star Wars Hero’s Journey Movie night!
Keeva contemplates the Corn Belt. Because really, shouldn’t we all contemplate the Corn Belt more?
In Social Studies, the Fourth Grade class started exploring regions of the United States, taking a look at what defines a region, how they are created and what they are used for. Regions are about more than just political boundaries, and in the photo above, a student considers the ‘Corn Belt’, a region of the United States where corn is the main crop. Other categories that define regions include, but are not limited to, population, government and religion. Additionally, we learned that regions are often used by governments to keep track of resources and keep track of the needs of people.
Taking a look at the Ups and Downs of a typical novel (in this case, Wolf Brother, by Michelle Paver).
Last week, Fourth Graders worked on ‘sketches’ and ‘studies’ for their stories, as well as rough outlines, and this week they turned their attention to writing out them out. Part of that writing process involved the analysis of other stories and a comparison of that structure to their own. In the photo above, you see a timeline detailing the events of Wolf Brother, a novel by Michelle Paver. The timeline illustrates key events in the story such as the Call To Adventure, the Meeting With the Mentor, the Crossing of the Threshold, and the Hero’s Death & Rebirth. Students discussed what they meant to Wolf Brother’s Hero, and also discussed what they meant for several students’ stories.
In the photos below, you see students busily at work, typing away at their stories. You may notice that some students are wearing headphones, some earmuffs, and some nothing at all. Well, each person has a different way in which they focus and the Fourth Graders are encouraged to experiment to find what way works best for them. (On a more personal note, the Fourth Grade teacher writes best with movie soundtracks, though when he was in Fourth Grade he was more motivated by the musical stylings of AC/DC.)
Planning for the Star Wars Hero’s Journey movie night continues apace, and this week Fourth Graders used their artistic skills to create posters and flyers to promote their event! Fourth Graders created several ‘rough draft’ posters, judging them on how eye-catching, clear, and colorful they were. (Look for the final designs to be revealed next week!)
Additionally, several representatives from the Fourth Grade class met with Mrs. Hoeffer, PNA’s head of school, to hammer out final details. In the meeting, it was decided that the event would be held on Friday, November 3rd from 3:30 PM until 7 PM. The night would begin with a short class to introduce the Hero’s Journey, continue with a screening of Star Wars, and then end in games and activities geared toward the film and the Hero’s Journey.
AND, ONE MORE THING…
Can you caption this photo? Send an email to myancik@pacificnorthern.org and I’ll include the best captions in next week’s blog!
Hush Hush & On The QT
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FIELD TRIP!
The Fourth Grade will be going to the PAC on Wednesday, November 1st to watch a performance of Journey To Oz. Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately in proper dress attire.
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HALLOWEEN PARADE!
On Tuesday, October 31st, Pacific Northern Academy will hold its annual Halloween Parade! Children are encouraged to dress up for the day and have fun! In addition to the parade, we’ll have games and activities geared toward spooky fun! Additionally, the Fourth Grade will have its own party at 2:40 PM in our room! There is a signup sheet (for food and snacks) near the classroom door!
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