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Friday, June 4 2021 — an amazing publishing party!

Hebrew with Rimma

It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of the year.

In our Hebrew class we are wrapping up our unit about Music. Students developed their vocabulary on this topic and practiced their speaking, listening and writing skills. They learned how to change the direct to indirect speech by using reporting verbs like ‘say’, ‘tell’, and the word ‘that’ to introduce the reported words. Students learned declensions of the prepositions and practiced these rules in speaking and writing. We read a few fables that deliver important lessons and morals and how it’s relevant in our own lives.

We also studied new vocabulary through jokes. Jokes are vehicles for different cultural aspects. Students realised, for example, that some jokes can be funny in one language but unhumorous in another language. It gave them the opportunity to use Hebrew in everyday settings and provided an excellent chance to practice intonation as well.

 

Israel class with Rimma 

Students researched relevant and important information about Jerusalem. With a partner, they created google slides presentations and by sharing what they have learned and letting their peers ask questions, they were able to dive deeper into their research and expand their learning. Traveling“virtually” to Jerusalem is an exciting prospect of the trip to Israel. Students explored many places in different quarters and created different games such as kahoot or Google survey where they asked questions about different areas of their research. It made their learning meaningful, engaging and fun.

 

Music with Heidi

Fourth Graders are completing their study of powerful songs. This week, after finishing up their own powerful song presentation materials, they enjoyed exploring the techniques used in several Hamilton songs.

 

Humanities with Hilary

These kids ROCKED IT, yesterday, in their publishing party! Their writing was in-depth, specific, and just so stupendous.

In this writing, they started by picking a topic from one of our units of study: explorers; settlers; 13 Original Colonies; American Revolutionary War; Westward Expansion; Slavery; Civil War; The Great Migration; and the Harlem Renaissance. Students used pre-approved websites to find out more about a specific historical figure OR historical event who they felt helped shape America into what it is today. Next, students reviewed their notes to pick  three different reasons for why/how that person/event helped shape America, as well as a specific example to prove that reason. When the students began writing, they organized their notes, deciding which pieces would be included in their writing and which pieces of information did not fit the theme. After writing their first draft, students self-revised their writing and then worked on their peer revision skills. With a final edit, students created a front and back cover to represent their essay.

With the year coming to a close, and the publishing party in our back pocket, we now have time to learn about different aspects of Social Studies and do more projects. A majority of the class had asked what “pangea” was, so we did a puzzle project learning about the theory of Pangea. A scientists, named Alfred Wegener, was convinced that “all of Earth’s continents were once part of an enormous, single landmass called Pangaea” so we tried our hand at trying to figure out what that one, “enormous” landmass might have looked like! Students reviewed our continent/ocean unit from 3rd grade, trying to remember where each one is placed. Then, in partnerships or trios, students worked together to try to put this map together.