What are learning differences?

On Monday, October 24th and Monday, October 31st fourth grade students were able to experience what it might be like for people who learn differently than they do.  Thanks to the efforts of the DASH program volunteers (Disability Awareness Starts Here), students were educated about invisible disabilities and challenged to think differently.

Thank you DASH volunteers for providing us with this eye opening learning opportunity.

How does heat move?

Team Gibbas students have been learning about thermal energy in science and the different ways that heat moves.  Last week students learned about conduction - the transfer of heat that occurs when one thing touches another.  Students explored which material is a better heat conductor, a metal spoon or a plastic spoon.  Students placed the spoons in hot water each with a bead attached with butter.  The spoon whose butter melted first was the better conductor.   Can you guess which spoon held the butter that melted first?

Students then learned about convection or the transfer of energy through liquid or gas.  Students watched a demonstration of how warm and cold water circulate.  A fish tank was set up in the classroom with a hot plate under one side and a cold pack under the other side.  Two drops of blue food coloring were placed on the cold side and two drops of red food coloring were placed on the cold side.  

Can you predict how the cold and warm water moved?

Here are a few examples of how the students captured their learning.

Grade 4 2016 Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework

4-PS3-2:  Make observations to show that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents. 

Navigating our way around the Topsfield Fair

How will students be able to find their way around the Topsfield Fair?  By using their map skills, of course!

On Friday, Team Gibbas students practiced their map skills in a fun way by using the official Topsfield Fair map.  Students were given a map story about visiting The Topsfield Fair and were asked to navigate to specific locations using the compass rose, the legend, and the index.

Click here for the official Topsfield Fair map

Grade 4 Common Core Standards

History & Geography

2.  Interpret a map using information from its title, compass rose, scale, and legend. (G)

It's almost here!

Hello Team Gibbas,
Our fourth grade shared adventure will begin in only a few more days!  I am so excited!  I wanted to tell you three quick things to help you prepare for our first day of school this coming Tuesday, September 6th.
1.  We will have gym on Tuesday so wear your sneakers!
2.  It will be warm in our classroom during the first few weeks of school and it is important to stay hydrated, so please bring in a reusable water bottle that you can refill daily and keep under your desk.
3.  Our specials are now listed under the "Schedule" tab on the blog, but here they are for a quick reference.

I am looking forward to meeting you all!

Warmly,

Mrs. Gibbas

Welcome to Fourth Grade

Hello incoming Team Gibbas members,

Are you starting to get excited about fourth grade?  I know I am!  I can't wait to meet you all and begin our fourth grade adventure together!  

During the first weeks of school we will be spending time on some fun activities to get to know each other, get to know the classroom, and get to know Proctor School.  As you prepare for "Back to School", try to gather a few things-

• 5 items for a "Me Bag" - these items will help you tell your teammates about you
• family photos and pictures of things you like which will be used to decorate your writing journal

I will post our schedule as soon as I have it, which will probably be September 1st.  In the meantime, if you have any questions feel free to email me at agibbas@topsfieldps.org.

See you on September 6th!

Mrs. Gibbas

Off to 5th grade!

After spending a wonderful year learning, sharing, and growing Team Gibbas students are ready to start their next adventure.... 5th grade!  Have a wonderful summer!

Summer Book Recommendations

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Explaining Everything about the Midwest Region

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the Midwest Region?  If so, you've come to the right place!  Click on the videos below to learn more about different Midwest Region topics.
During the month of April Team Gibbas students learned about the Midwest Region of the United States.  To showcase their knowledge, students chose one topic about the Midwest Region to teach an audience.  Students were then asked to use the Explain Everything app and add a map, facts, moving objects, and voice recordings to fully explain their topic.
Students did a fabulous job learning this new app and educating their audience about the Midwest Region!

Grade 4 Social Studies Standards

Regions of the United States

4.10 Identify the states, state capitals, and major cities in each region. (G) 

4.11 Describe the climate, major physical features, and major natural resources in each region. (G)

4.12 Identify and describe unique features of the United States (e.g., the Everglades, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, the Redwood Forest, Yellowstone National Park, and Yosemite National Park). (G)

What are the benefits of an Assembly Line?

As part of our study of the Midwest Region of the United States, Team Gibbas students have been learning about Henry Ford's method of production called the assembly line.  Today students learned first hand some of the benefits of an assembly line by pretending to be workers at Ford Motor Company "building" a Model T Ford.  Students were divided into three groups then asked to draw as many finished cars as they could in seven minutes.  For the first trial each student was responsible for the entire car.  For the second seven minute trial students participated in a mock assembly line whereby each student had only one part to draw and passed the cars down the line.  Then the class compared the results of the two trials.  Students learned first hand that job specialization and assembly lines are efficient production methods and that they decrease the time it takes to create a finished product.
During the second trial one student commented, "I'm getting faster at drawing my part."
Another student agreed, "Yes, I'm getting better the more I do it."
Another student said, "I don't even have to look at the directions anymore."

Fourth Grade Wax Museum

Essential Question:   How do good readers determine the main idea and details when reading non-fiction? During the month of February, Team Gibbas students read biographies. Students practiced their skills of determining the main ideas, or most important ideas in biographies by reading about a famous person depicted in the "Who is" "Who was" series of chapter books.  Students then wrote first-person speeches describing the most important events in the life of the famous person that they read about.  Finally, students brought these famous people to life on March 3rd at the fourth grade Wax Museum!  Students did a fabulous job becoming these famous people and describing the important events of their lives.
To see some of these famous people come to life, click the arrow on the images below. Julia Childs Elvis Muhammad Ali Amelia Earhart Steve Jobs Pablo Picasso Anne Frank J.K. Rowling Jackie Robinson Milton Hershey Fourth Grade Common Core Standard: RI.2:  Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.

Read In

What do Team Gibbas students want to do more than anything else?  
READ!
After earning 10 class compliments from adults at Proctor School for being a well-behaved, hard-working, and responsible group of learners, Team Gibbas voted to have a Read In on March 4th.

Keep up the great work Team Gibbas!

100 years old?

February 11, 2016 marked the 100th day of school for Team Gibbas students!

To commemorate this special day, each student was transformed into a one hundred year old by using the Aging Booth app!  Students then practiced their creative writing skills and wrote to the prompt, "Imagine that on February 11th you woke up and you were one hundred years old!  Write a story about your day as a fourth grader in a one hundred year old body."

Stay tuned.  Student hundred year old writing samples will be coming soon.

Ball Machine

Levers, Pulleys, and Inclined Planes... oh my! Team Gibbas students have been learning about Simple Machines in Science.  As a culminating activity for this unit, students created a ball machine which needed to have one or more levers, inclined planes, pulleys, and wheel and axles.  Students worked in groups of two or three on this intriguing challenge.  Students overcame many obstacles and design challenges along the way by utilizing their creative problem solving skills. 
 I'm sure you'll agree that the end results are quite impressive!

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Learning Standards:  Technology/Engineering Grades 3 - 5

1.  Materials and Tools

Central Concept:  Appropriate materials, tools, and machines extend our ability to solve problems and invent.

1.3 - Identify and explain the difference between simple and complex machines.

Gummy Bear Science

Essential Question:  How do we solve problems by using the Scientific Method?
What solution will make a gummy bear expand the most?
Team Gibbas students practiced using the Scientific Method and conducted an experiment to test which solution lemon juice, water, salt water, or vinegar would make a gummy bear expand the most.  Each student generated a hypothesis based on their prior knowledge of each solution then conducted an experiment to test their hypotheses.

So, what solution made the gummy bear expand the most?  Ask Team Gibbas students!

Massachusetts Science Learning Standards Skills of Inquiry, Experimentation, and Design Grades 3 - 5:  ·        Ask questions and make predictions that can be tested.

               ·        Keep accurate records while conducting simple investigations or experiments.

Change is Simple

Essential Question:  Why are some animals and ocean creatures endangered?

On Thursday, January 7th Team Gibbas students were treated to an interactive exploration of endangered animals by Change is Simple, an environmental education company.  Students were given photos of endangered animals and asked to identify something that they had in common with the endangered animal, then students learned about each animal's habitat, diet, and why it was endangered.  Finally, students played a game much like musical chairs, called "Shrinking Environment" whereby students raced to find a safe place to live on a large world map when available habitats kept shrinking due to factors such as pollution and global warming.

Thank you Topsfield Educational Foundation for bringing us this fabulous program!

Change is Simple from Andrea on Vimeo.


Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks- Life Science (Grades 3 - 5)
Adaptations of Living Things
7.  Give examples of how changes in the environment have caused some plants and animals to die or move to a new location (migration).

To learn more about Change is Simple and how you can help the environment,  Click here to visit the Change is Simple website