Instruction and Assessment
Biography Unit ~ Green Screen Videos
Through this biography unit, my students researched influential people, learned how to take notes, and shared their findings with the class by creating folders and green screen productions.
Watch our productions below, then learn how to implement this project in your own classroom here.
Watch our productions below, then learn how to implement this project in your own classroom here.
Blogging Across the Curriculum
Students use safe-blogging across the curriculum. These classroom blogs are only accessible to people with direct links and passwords. This is a fun, safe way for us to explore one of the positive uses of social networking. The students started by blogging about book club books, but the blogs quickly expanded to social studies and writing.
Ancient Egypt - Cross Curricular Unit
Social Studies:
During Social Studies, the children learn about the geography of ancient Egypt, Gods and Goddesses, famous pharaohs, mummification, a timeline of the dynasties, pyramids and tombs, and much more. Scroll through the photos below to see and read about how this study comes to life!
During Social Studies, the children learn about the geography of ancient Egypt, Gods and Goddesses, famous pharaohs, mummification, a timeline of the dynasties, pyramids and tombs, and much more. Scroll through the photos below to see and read about how this study comes to life!
Nonfiction Reading and Writing:
Throughout the unit, students are immersed in reading and writing about ancient Egypt. In fact, they write their first research papers! Process is always in the forefront of my teaching. To set the the children up for success, I make each child a research folder. Each folder contains: the assignment outline, library pockets to collect fact notecards, instructions to guide each step of the process, and revising and editing checklists. To learn more about the steps in this process, view the photos below and read the captions.
Throughout the unit, students are immersed in reading and writing about ancient Egypt. In fact, they write their first research papers! Process is always in the forefront of my teaching. To set the the children up for success, I make each child a research folder. Each folder contains: the assignment outline, library pockets to collect fact notecards, instructions to guide each step of the process, and revising and editing checklists. To learn more about the steps in this process, view the photos below and read the captions.
Sample: Student Finished Paper | |
File Size: | 698 kb |
File Type: |
Rubric | |
File Size: | 204 kb |
File Type: |
Sample: Student QR Codes | |
File Size: | 185 kb |
File Type: |
Experiential Learning - Native American Study
Using nonfiction texts to springboard conversations, the children were broken into groups to study 5 different native California tribes. They studied location/language/population, housing and settlements, food, clothing, trade, tools, ceremonies, beliefs, and more. In addition to teaching nonfiction reading skills and having the children create lap books, I integrated experiential, project-based learning. Students colored graffiti posters about housing/settlements, completed See, Think, Wonders to compare and contrast the different clothing worn in each tribe, wove baskets the native Yurok people used for gathering, beaded clamshell disk to resemble the monetary system of the Maidu, assembled rain sticks, and even created miniature bows and arrows after the hunting tool used by the Achumawi tribe. Hands-on projects are so important in helping children to learn at this age. The fourth graders’ engagement and curiosity is always inspiring to watch.
See Think Wonder | |
File Size: | 836 kb |
File Type: | doc |
How did you get to Chicago?
After studying geography and mapping their own neighborhoods, I posed the next big question: “How did you get to Chicago?" To begin this immigration unit, I kicked off the unit with a five day immigration simulation. Then, read The Matchbox Diary, by Paul Fleischman. In this story, a little girl finds her great-grandfather’s collection of matchboxes, containing small objects that hold memories. These objects tell his story from Italy to America. We learned how a memory associated with an artifact or family heirloom teaches us about someone’s personal/family values. Next, we read the book Keeping Quilt, by Patricia Polacco. We made our own quilt using the app WordFoto. Students brainstormed words that could be used to define their unique selves, and these words were then sprawled out over their photos. The quilt we created represents the unique individuals in this classroom and the community of learners we make up together.
Math Rotations
Working with other teachers, I have spent a lot of time revamping the way I teach math over the past several years. Following Everyday Math as a roadmap, my students have Mathematician Notebooks for each unit, containing pertinent vocabulary, journal writes to articulate mathematical thinking, exit slips to check in on Math Boxes, and a choice menu with games to reinforce concepts. There are also many supplemental activities each unit. In my classroom, most days consist of 3 math rotations. The students move from station to station, learning through interactive SmartBoard lessons, writing and reflecting in their Mathematician Notebooks and Everyday Math Journals, as well as applying what they know in activities individually and with partners.
Multiplication Screencasts
Students learn by teaching. My fourth grade students explained their favorite multiplication methods using a screencast app.
Math Lesson: Introduction to Division
Before learning division, we studied the words dividend, divisor, and quotient. Using these terms, we wrote story problems with basic division facts. Then, the kids engaged ins a fun hands-on activity using one bag of marshmallows, one bag of gumdrops, and toothpicks. Students were put in partnerships to answer the following four questions:
1. How many marshmallows will be needed for each class member to make one snowman?
2. How many class sets of snowmen can be made from one bag of marshmallows?
3. How many snowmen can be made from the remaining marshmallows?
4. Each snowman needs a gumdrop hat. How many class sets can you make from a bag of gumdrops?
Having not learned division beyond basic facts, students used a variety of mathematical strategies to solve problems before and after this wintery investigation. This fun activity warmed our winter day!
1. How many marshmallows will be needed for each class member to make one snowman?
2. How many class sets of snowmen can be made from one bag of marshmallows?
3. How many snowmen can be made from the remaining marshmallows?
4. Each snowman needs a gumdrop hat. How many class sets can you make from a bag of gumdrops?
Having not learned division beyond basic facts, students used a variety of mathematical strategies to solve problems before and after this wintery investigation. This fun activity warmed our winter day!
Math Project: Area and Perimeter Mini-Rooms
Upon finishing Everyday Math Unit 8 (focusing on perimeter and area), the students were given a 1 inch: 1 foot scale and asked to measure items at home in scale. Then, the students were given project expectations, floor plan and measurement guidelines, and ideas for collecting “junk.” First, the students measured their boxes. Next, we taught them how to create floor plans, to scale. The students took the boxes home to paint and cut doors/windows with adult help, then they brought them back to school to complete. Donned with a hodgepodge of stuff and a ruler, they were ready to begin. They were told they needed a place to sleep, somewhere to store clothes, and a place to sit, as well as anything their imaginations could think of for a dream bedroom. The students continued to add to their floor plan, just like architects. With the help of several hot-glue experts (parents and teachers), the students carefully created mini-rooms to scale to match their floor plans to a “T!” Below are several examples of mini-rooms and the rubric used for assessment.
Mini-Room Rubric | |
File Size: | 50 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Math Unit: Financial Literacy
One of my favorite math units is a unit I created on financial literacy. In this cross curricular unit, students integrate
reading, math, writing, technology, and when appropriate other subject areas,
as they study and learn about the financial literacy topics: financial responsibility and decision making,
planning and money management, credit and debt, and saving and investing. Through literature, multimedia sources, and
real-life activities, students will explore their financial lives, make goals,
and grow a better understanding of personal responsibility for their finances.
Unit Plan | |
File Size: | 835 kb |
File Type: |
Flip the Classroom | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Cost | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | docx |
How We Spend | |
File Size: | 25 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Writing Workshop Unit: Hybrid Science Stories
The purpose of the hybrid story was for the children to have an opportunity to write a fiction story while incorporating some facts they learned about Midwest ecosystems. We started this study by using mentor texts (published versions of hybrid stories mixing facts and fiction). Then, the students all brainstormed which ecosystem they wanted to write about and also conducted some research on animals from that ecosystem. After that, they started writing their rough drafts. Revising and editing followed the rough draft in order to make the piece ready to publish. During teacher conferences, the student's were given mini-lessons on grammar and narrative structure. Below are 3 samples. Each is one page from a different student's story.
Sample 1 | |
File Size: | 148 kb |
File Type: |
Sample 2 | |
File Size: | 161 kb |
File Type: |
Sample 3 | |
File Size: | 152 kb |
File Type: |
Writing Workshop Unit: Persuasive Opinion Articles
To start, the children were asked to respond to the statement, “There should be zoos.” The students responded with “I definitely agree,” “I kind of agree,” “I kind of disagree,” or “I completely disagree. Then, the children read 4 persuasive articles FOR zoos and 4 AGAINST zoos. They kept notes on large sheets of paper. After further education and debates as a class, the children answered the same statement again. We spent time discussing what makes an article persuasive and effective. Students then read many persuasive article mentor pieces and began crafting their own. Below are several photos, papers, and an assessment rubric.
Persuasive Example 1 | |
File Size: | 203 kb |
File Type: |
Persuasive Example 2 | |
File Size: | 168 kb |
File Type: |
Persuasive Rubric | |
File Size: | 333 kb |
File Type: |
Reading: Tea Talk - A Multicultural Integration
In my classroom, we have Tea Talk once a month. This book club experience is unique to fourth grade and a treasured activity students will remember for years to come. 6-8 picture books based around a theme are selected at the beginning of the month, and the children are expected to read one and complete a Tea Talk form. This is a great way to organically bring multicultural and diversity conversations into discussions. At the end of the month, the children meet in small groups and discuss the books they read while enjoying tea.
Sample Tea Talk Form | |
File Size: | 306 kb |
File Type: |
Monthly Reading Projects
Monthly Reading Projects are designed to encourage nightly reading and deep literature analysis. Each month, a new monthly reading project is assigned based on a theme related to the curriculum. As a way to help develop time management skills, we go through a monthly preparation calendar as a class, and the children begin to make a plan for the work they will need to do at school and at home. In addition to reading, each monthly assignment has a project component. Children manage this project mostly at home and present it in front of the class. This helps build public speaking skills. Below is one example of a monthly project on friendship.
Friendship Reading Project | |
File Size: | 504 kb |
File Type: |
Instructions for Character | |
File Size: | 352 kb |
File Type: |
Rubric | |
File Size: | 115 kb |
File Type: |
Making Reading Meaningful
In my classroom, literacy is an important part of each day. From nonfiction magazine and newspaper articles to fantasy, students read from every genre and think deeply about what they're reading in a variety of ways. Through mini-lessons, classroom discussions, written reading responses, guided reading group conversations, reading partnerships, and book clubs, the fourth graders are heavily immersed in literature. Below, students are reading and writing about literature. We even have Kindergarten "Book Buddies" and a special DEAR Day!
Partner Reading Materials | |
File Size: | 506 kb |
File Type: |
Word Study
For the first half of the year, we follow the Words Their Way program, by Donald R. Bear and Shane Templeton. This program helps teach students to look critically at words, therefore building a deeper understanding of how spelling works to represent sounds and meaning. This is accomplished by sorting words into like-categories based on the features they share.
For the second half of the school year, word study expands. Because older students need to learn to decode larger (polysyllabic) words, not only do the children learn the spelling of words, but they also more deeply study prefixes, root words, and suffixes. English is a complex language, therefore students need to learn a core vocabulary to help them make sense of unfamiliar words. In addition, we formally study high frequency words, and I continually integrate word games, like Boggle and Bananagrams!
For the second half of the school year, word study expands. Because older students need to learn to decode larger (polysyllabic) words, not only do the children learn the spelling of words, but they also more deeply study prefixes, root words, and suffixes. English is a complex language, therefore students need to learn a core vocabulary to help them make sense of unfamiliar words. In addition, we formally study high frequency words, and I continually integrate word games, like Boggle and Bananagrams!
Science Explorations
Hands-on science experiments and explorations provide our young scientists with a dose of what working in a real lab is like. I have helped fourth graders learn the scientific process, weather and climate, the human body, models and designs, magnetism and electricity, and more.