Paper Doll Bulletin Board

This photo shows you the colorful bulletin board in the Elementary Center featuring all of the fourth-graders' paper dolls.  Each figure represents the traditional dress of a country studied by one of our students.

Science: A Journey in the Space Shuttle

Though the Space Shuttle may not be actively flying now, we have resurrected it for action here at Bryn Mawr. The fourth graders took a simulated journey in the shuttle and found that they were expected to complete many experiments while they were orbiting the earth. Since it costs about $10,000 to send a pound of weight into space, one of their tasks included calculating the savings when dried Tang was taken rather than hydrated Tang. They did many other activities, which included planting seeds using a glove box, testing their skill at landing the shuttle, and choosing a personalized (and well balanced) set of meals for one day using NASA's menu of tasty offerings. Needless to say, the girls made the most of their time away from earth! In the spirit of true astronauts, they worked hard to accomplish their assigned tasks and completed a Mission Sheet showing the results of their efforts.

 Eating a meal in space is easier when the food containers are held in place with velcro.

Using tools with these thick gloves gave us an idea what it would be like to do work outside the space shuttle to repair a satellite or do other jobs.

This glove box was used for planting radish seeds.

It is fun to plan your own meals for your space journey.

French: Monsieur Garnier Joue au Ballon

The girls are almost finished with our Marc et Sylvie reader. In one of our final stories, the family has a picnic on the banks of the river Garonne. Monsieur Garnier clumsily throws a ball into la salade de tomates. This story provided a great context to review food vocabulary and the girls enjoyed acting it out (and getting to jouer au ballon in French class). A picture of one of our dramatic reenactments is included below.

Ms. Strouss's Language Arts

This week, we will begin our next novel, Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. For the last few weeks, we prepared ourselves for this unit on World War II. Part of that discussion involved asking the girls what they knew about this war, and surprisingly enough they knew a  fair amount. We set up a timeline of events leading up to and during this critical time in our history. We will be discussing many delicate issues but appropriate for fourth graders. Each student has been asked to read three novels about World War II for her independent reading.

Art: Chinese Landscape Paintings

The girls have been practicing their brush and ink technique and are ready to paint their final landscapes.  They are focused on using value, space, and texture to achieve contrast, movement and balance.  They are painting a setting from a book they read during their China unit.  

Internatinal Bazaar Information

April 14, 2014

 

Dear Fourth Grade Parents:

 

The International Bazaar is an exciting culmination of our study of other countries. Our International Bazaar will be held on Friday, May 16th, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon. The Bazaar will begin with a musical program by the fourth graders for parents, Lower School students, and friends. The Bazaar will then open for all Lower School classes, as well as for students and faculty from the Middle and Upper Schools. One adult must stay with each student to help sell the crafts and food during the course of the morning.  Here is some information you will find helpful in planning:

 

1.  Each girl should make approximately 30 small craft items to sell at her booth that are representative of her country. In the past, appropriate successful projects have been hair ornaments, bookmarks, and small pieces of jewelry.  These items will be sold inexpensively, so materials and time should be taken into consideration. We have shown the girls items that have been made for previous Bazaars, so they should have a clear idea of what is appropriate.

 

2.  During the International Bazaar, each student should dress as if she were going to attend a folk festival in her country.  No one should go to a great deal of trouble or expense.  A simple hat, shawl, cape, long skirt, or fancy blouse will lend a festive appearance.

 

We are very grateful for your assistance and cooperation.  We will send you more information as we approach May 16th!

 

 

                                                                   The Fourth Grade Teachers

                           

                                    

   MAY 16^TH        MAY 16^TH                MAY 16^TH         MAY 16^TH          MAY 16^TH 

From the Library

Fourth graders have been reading favorite stories from many countries including Martina the Beautiful Cockroach (Cuba) - ask your daughter about Abuela's advice to spill coffee on the shoes of a suitor, The Crane Wife (Japan) - what was the wife's secret ?, Martin de Porres, the Rose in the Desert (Peru)- how quickly did the lemon tree grow?, and Uri Shulevitz's How I learned Geography-what did the father bring home for supper instead of bread?
We read Neil Gaiman's newest novel Fortunately, the Milk, in which the father goes out for milk and has a wild story about why it took him so long to get home. The girls then enjoyed reading the melancholy Jane, the Fox  and Me by Fanny Britt and Isabelle Arsenault. We then read The Bathing Costume, another story by an author with a French name, Charlotte Moundlic, in which a character fusses about a swimsuit. We squeezed in a quick scavenger hunt in which one clue card led to the next. It was a fun way to remind ourselves of what's where in the library and to review call numbers and spine tag information. Ask your daughter about "PB", "SC" and "ICR" books.

Math: Geometric Transformations

After working through a unit on symmetry and transformations, the students used patterned paper to demonstrate their knowledge of reflections, rotations, and transitions.  The results are beautiful AND mathematical!