This year in 4th Grade we studied the Butterfly life cycle, using live butterflies. Students were able to observe them in their caterpillar, eating and growing phase (The Hungry Caterpillar was so true). See them forming into a chrysalis (where the true metamorphosis takes place). Finally, watching them emerge as a beautiful Painted Lady adult butterfly. After more careful observation we released them, and stood spellbound as they soared into the sky. When we returned to the classroom we then made a Writing-Science Connection, by writing poems about the butterflies’ life cycle that had to include at least 2 stages.
Miss Laforest
4th and 5th graders learned a lot about themselves this year in art. They had to create “All About Me ” boards. this helped them to be creative by finding magazine pictures that fit them and the tings that they liked.
Mrs. Colon
The students danced for the Christmas Program and the Spring Program. For Christmas they danced to Christmas in Black and White and for the spring they danced to A Beautiful Day.
Ms. Rosario
Nature
In Science we have been studying extreme natural events, the Earth layers and weathering and erosion. We have done numerous hands-on labs to explore such things as why a volcano explodes, how sedimentary rocks are formed, and how erosion affects soil and sand.
Miss Laforest
Class Elections
In Social studies we have been studying the formation of the Government of the United States from the Declaration of Independence to the formation of our State and National Constitutions. We have also been taking part in the branches of government. For the executive branch we had a class Presidential and Vice Presidential election (Congratulations Josh and RJ!). For the legislative branch we passed bills through “Congress” to make into classroom laws. And finally for the Judicial branch we had a mock trial.
Miss Laforest
Terrific Kids
The Kiwanis Club of Hollis presented certificates to the 4th Grade class and they celebrated with ice cream. These certificates are part of the National Terrific Kids Program and recognize the effort each student made during the year to learn. Kiwanis is an international organization with the goal of helping children both locally and throughout the world.
Jump Start
This year we concentrated on a program called Jump Start. Using this program the students learned the following:
• Math: Addition, Subtraction, Money Fractions, Tally Charts, Time
• Reading: Parts of Speech, Comprehension, Antonyms, Word Building
• Critical Thinking: Problem Solving, Patterns, Attributes, Classification
• Social Skills: Preparations, Perseverance, Cooperation
Mr. B
Read, Read. Read!
It’s hard to believe that our 2012-13 school year is over. I’m happy to share that through the use of the research-based reading program and our students’ hard work all our students have excelled and went up at least two reading levels since September. Some went up five reading levels. Kindergarten through 5th grade were challenged in the reading lab to implement the following reading strategies as they read their weekly story selection and leveled readers.
Students were encouraged to summarize what they read, predict what will happen in the story, clarify and monitor what they read, ask questions while reading, visualize what they have read in their mind, and make connections with the text.
I would like to thank the parents for their efforts at home. As we look forward to the coming school year, I trust that as we continue to work together we will see greater success in the coming years. Please continue to encourage your child to Read, Read. Read!
Yvette Jimenez
The students in elementary enjoyed learning about music this year in its entirety . They learned how to cooperate with each other for when we had to move/dance to certain music. They have learned different aspect of music from the tempos in Italian to how to fine tune their social and motor skills.
Mrs. Colon
Music and Art
What an awesome year. We have learned so much in what seems now to be a little time. Students completed a lot work this year. They did so well in everything they learned that we were able to join art and music together. They made beautiful guitars with designs of their own imagination.
Mrs. Colon