Having fun in fourth grade

I love teaching fourth grade. While our curriculum may not be the most exciting, the kids are at such a great age. You can joke around and they get you, and they can work independently on tasks, but they're also young enough that you don't have to deal with all the hormonal stuff that I imagine middle school has.

During the last couple of weeks we have been exploring the human body. Last week we explored the digestive system, chuckled about the rectum and poop, and then got down to the nitty gritty and learned the function of the digestive system. My students embraced the learning and seem to have grasped the idea and function of the digestive system.

This week we are working on the respiratory system and today we completed some chest vests.  Here's what I can tell you: Fourth grade students are too big to fit into brown paper sacks.  Apparently anything that involves wearing brown paper grocery bags should be left to kindergarten and first graders. But the great thing about fourth graders is that they're not afraid to cut holes in brown paper grocery bags and try to make them fit despite the obvious size issues.  We laughed a lot today as we learned about the parts of the respiratory system and I have enjoyed their innocence and their adventurous spirits all day. I love that one of my students asked if he could wear his chest vest to recess today!

Next week we'll take on the circulatory system and hopefully dissect and investigate a cow heart like I used to. We'll also play some games and hopefully have lots more laughs!

So here's the finished project. I'll revisit this again next year, but I think we'll make ponchos instead of paper bag "vests."

DPP -- Day

I didn't think it was enough to get excited about, but the snowfall last night was enough to cancel school.

DPP -- Day 9

 Matthew spent most of the day yesterday in his skates, skating around the house and the front yard. When it was time for bed he put his jammies on, got his skates on again and rolled his way to the kitchen for a bedtime snack.

DPP -- Day 8

Matthew went hiking with his Boy Scout pack. Apparently sticks are exciting finds for 6 and 7 year olds on hikes. Matthew was also prepared if they saw any wildlife because he brought along his reptile and amphibian book. Unfortunately we didn't see anything exciting, just a duck, but it's always a good idea to be prepared! We had a great time hiking around, talking, laughing and enjoying a nice afternoon.

DPP -- Day 7

It was Bunco night last night!

DPP -- Day 6

Matthew and a neighborhood friend were in the backyard being boys. As the uniformed parents that we are, we thought they were out fighting zombies (that's what they're usually after). Turns out it wasn't zombies, but aliens. I tried a slow shutter speed to get the light from his "lightsaver" and to get some motion. Not great, but takes care of one of my "I'm behind" days.

DPP -- Day 4

One of our Christmas traditions is putting up an advent calendar my grandma made for us when we were kids. My mom passed it to me several years ago and it is adorned this year with candy and Christmas crackers. Christmas crackers are an English tradition and are decorative tubes with prizes inside. You pull on the ends and open the cracker to find your prize, a joke and a crown. Matthew looks forward to the nights he has crackers because it's exciting to find out what's hiding inside.