Geography Gameshow

On Thursday, November 20th 4th graders learned United States geography and historical facts in a fun and interactive way.  Cape Cod artist Neal Nichols captivated our 4th graders by drawing a map of the United States and included interesting facts.  Then students had the chance to participate in a gameshow that tested their newly acquired knowledge.

Long Division the Math in Focus way

Here is a video that I created that shows how to divide a 4 digit number by a 1 digit number the Math in Focus way.  I hope this helps!

http://safeshare.tv/w/PwMHgYVuKK

DASH - Disability Awareness Starts Here

Today Team Gibbas got the opportunity to learn about invisible disabilities in the first of two one hour sessions with DASH volunteers.  Students investigated four different activities where they applied their people smarts, math smarts, word smarts, and picture smarts.  Students learned that everyone has different strengths and what one person found easy was difficult for another.




Students had to use their people smarts to try to get someone on the other side of a divider to build a Lego configuration.  They learned the importance of asking very specific questions.

Students practiced their word smarts by constucting sentences.

Students tested their memories,
and their abilities to decipher optical
illusions at the picture smart station.

The teddy bears have arrived!

"They're here!" the students chorused as Mrs. Gibbas opened up the box filled with the long awaited teddy bears.  

Today marked the official beginning of the Teddy Bear project, a long standing tradition at Proctor Elementary School.  By taking part in the Teddy Bear project, students get the opportunity to learn about the regions of the United States in a unique way.  Students' teddy bears travel to different regions of the United States and send back postcards, souvenirs, and letters to describe their travels.

The Teddy Bear Project addresses the following Massachusetts Social Studies standards.

Wingmasters

On Thursday, October 2nd Wingmasters, a partnership dedicated to increasing public awareness of birds of prey, provided a special presentation to the fourth graders at Proctor Elementary School.   Students have been learning about food webs, food chains, and animal adaptations in science.  This program brought many birds of prey to students for up close viewing.  Students even got to see a barred owl expel an owl pellet!  This was especially meaningful since students had dissected owl pellets in the CLIC lab a week before the presentation.

All School Assembly

On Thursday, September 25th fourth grade students participated in our first all school assembly of the year.  Students in all grades have been reviewing our anti-bullying strategies and brainstorming ways to "be a buddy, not a bully."  Fourth grade students shared their feelings about being a buddy by performing the song "True Colors" at the assembly.  Check out the video of the performance by using the link to http://safeshare.tv/w/tWMRzJwXZY

Team Gibbas was the blue part of the human rainbow!

September 17th - Constitution Day Virtual Field Trip

On Wednesday, September 17th students took a virtual field trip to the National Archives in honor of Constitution Day.  Students were able to see the darkened viewing room of The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, and The Declaration of Independence.

Here's what some students had to say about what they learned from this virtual field trip.

"I was shocked that they let people use some of the records kept at the museum for research." -A.G.

"I can't believe they let kids sleep at the place in sleeping bags!" -C.M.

"I learned that they hang up letters that were sent to the presidents of the United States." -M.T.

"I saw Mrs. Obama's dress, a signed football, and a signed jersey." -M.D.

Where does an owl get its energy?

This week in Science we have been exploring how energy is transferred from the sun to various living organisms in our study of Food Webs and Food Chains.  We had the opportunity to investigate what barn owls eat by dissecting owl pellets, looking at bones under microscopes, and reconstructing mouse skeletons!

Welcome Back!

August 30, 2014

Dear Students and Families,

It is with great excitement that I write this note knowing that we will be beginning a shared learning adventure in only a few short days!  I am really looking forward to our first day of school this coming Wednesday, September 3rd!  Our first few days will be full of getting-to-know-you activities but soon after we will be following the schedule posted under the schedule tab.  Gym days will be Wednesdays and Fridays so remember to bring sneakers on those days.

Warmest Regards,

Mrs. Gibbas

Cereal Box Book Report Commercials

After reading the book The War with Grandpa by Robert Kimmel Smith students created Cereal Box Book Reports.  To add a bit more fun to our projects, students then created short commercials to advertise their cereals using Chatterpix.  Check out these great commercials by clicking on the link below!

Mrs. Gibbas's Cereal Aisle

Cereal Box Book Reports

     Students in the Socks reading group shared their "Cereal Box Book Reports" today in class! 

After reading the book The War with Grandpa students created a cereal based on the story.  Students did a great job coming up with creative cereal names, prizes, and games for their cereals!  Wouldn't you want to try a cereal called Frosted Grandpas, War Puffs, Mini War Waffles, Frosted War Flakes, Honey War Bits, or Prank Puffs?

The Geometry Street Maps have arrived!

It was so exciting to see all the Geometry Street Maps arrive at school today!  Students worked really hard and came up with some fun and creative town names such as Animal City, Mountainville, Dessert Town, and High Tide Town.  Great job guys!  You should be proud!