LITERACY: Miss Labellarte
Students read survivor stories from the 2010 Haiti earthquake. They collaboratively listed impact that could result from earthquakes based on these personal survivor stories. It was awesome to also see students dipping into what they are learning in other content areas as well! As a class, we made a list of impact that can result from earthquakes.As a group, we analyzed this list and determined the relationships and interdependence of everything we listed. Students then created a mind-map, showing all interdependence between the earth, earthquakes, and the impact that results from these natural disasters.
MATH: Mrs. Weinstein
At the end of last week, all 4 math classes completed the 100 Coin Flip Challenge. They analyzed their results to see how many students followed the principles of probability. Probability states that if you flip a coin 100 times, you should land on heads 50 times and tails 50 times. Ask your child about his/her results! Students also created their own graph depicting the results of our 4th grade predictions about which continent has the most earthquakes per year. Asia was the winning continent was 53 votes.
MATH: Mrs. Petlak
Mrs. Petlak continued application of data and graphing this week by having students use Educreations app to display and explain in detail the results of our 1 story tests using both bar and line graphs. Have your child log into his/her Educreations accounts and show you their recording!
STEM: Mrs. Petlak
Students spent the end of last week and one day this week testing earthquake technologies on 1 story buildings and then applying the data gathered to their final designs for their 4 story models. As an added challenge, students had to use at least 2 earthquake technologies in their model, but not exceed the $15,000 budget. In teams, they brainstormed, debated, and came to a group conclusion about the final combination of technologies to be added to their 4 story models. When testing time on the shake table came, students had to add cardboard floors and 8 weighted bean bags to their model to simulate furniture, people, and industrial materials that would be present in a real building. Success was modeled by both square cm moved & number of beanbags that fell out of the model. Students recorded engineering design and budget breakdown using the Educreations app. Ask your child to log into MY account and show you their creation. Have them describe why they chose the earthquake technologies they did to support their model. Bravo, earthquake engineers!