Gubblegum Fractions

The students loved making these fraction displays. This was a great activity as half the class was away at choir and the ones not in the choir were having to do fractions. The students were so proud to show them off when everyone else came back.

Phonics

This is the way I like to construct my Phonics lessons.

As an extra activity students can draw pictures of their words they come up with, or my favourite, create a silly sentence using one word from each grapheme box.

Grammar

One Grammar lesson I did in the class was working on making more interesting sentences.

Integrating Science and Literature

I split my science lesson into two parts, one part was interactive and the other was silent individual work. First the students interacted using a game on BBC2 which explores materials and their properties. The students used their show me boards to predict what would happen with each material.

In the second half I had the students write a story about a paper classroom. In this story they were required to write about the positives and negatives of a classroom being made out of paper. After their first drafts, the students edited their work and then produced a good copy. They included a picture of their story and their work is displayed in a plastic display folder. This allows all the students to read each others work, encourages accountability and provides students with a purpose for their writing.

"Iron Man" by Ted Hughes

Here are a few examples of the work that was completed during our lessons on "Iron Man."

PLOT GRAPH:
We constructed a Plot Graph and then the students made their own in their  workbooks. I then had several students draw their graphs onto the class graph. As a class we discussed the results of the graph and what they meant. The students than wrote a sentences or two onto their graph to summarize the results.

IRON MAN PREDICTIONS:
After reading the first chapter of Iron Man, students wrote what they predicted would happen in the novel and why they thought this. I also had them write down if they would be disappointed if something happened or didn't happen in the book and what this might be. After completing the book the students then went back and reviewed their prediction and wrote if they were correct or not.

DRAWING IRON MAN:
As a class we read the first two pages of the novel. We then reviewed how the author described Iron Man. The students then drew a picture of Iron Man and label his different parts using the language used by the author.

IRON MAN COMIC:
After reading each chapter the students drew the main events in a comic. They used the technique of Omneopodea, which is what the author uses through out the novel.

IRON MAN VENN DIAGRAM:
The students constructed a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the main characters in "Iron Man"

 

 

Pen Licence

I was busy creating a Pen Licence for the students in my prac class when my children asked if I could make one for them too. This is the version I made for them. I made the template in word so its as easy as copying and pasting their photos and typing in their names now. I have put in the school logo for the students on my prac as I don't have photos of the students. My children love them, but I can't wait to see what my mentor teacher thinks of them. Pen Licence's wont be used in the classroom until next term but I thought this would be a nice goodbye gesture as I complete my prac next week. If they go down well the other year 4 classes might use them too.
What do you think?

Front and back view of the Pen Licence. Laminated and then signed by the students in permanent marker.

Morning Pictures

I found these pictures on google. I have been using them on my morning powerpoint. I put up a different picture each day and next to the picture I write up the days timetable. The students enjoy coming in and seeing what picture they get each day and the cleaver way the animals are created. I often see them trying to shape their hands to replicate the images. It makes for a good warm up for the day and introduces art and design into the classroom.

 

History Word Cloud

I created a word cloud to conclude the unit the class

has been studying on Early Explorers. I took the words from the Early Explorers brainstorm and the word wall to create this. I also used words from the students sticky notes reflections. This activity involved students writing down one thing that they learnt from someone else's Early Explorers report onto a sticky note and placing it on the sticky note board. These three areas provided lots of interesting words for our word cloud.

I used an anchor shape because it linked in nicely with the work we have been doing. I also printed three word clouds using the same words as there were different words highlighted in each word cloud. This looks great up on the classroom wall.

 

 

 

My Blog Word Cloud

History Year 4 - Early Explorers

 

This unit focused on the early explorers who came to the coast of Australia in the 1700's and 1800's. The unit started with the students brainstorming everything they knew about early explorers. These brainstorms were placed up on the display board in the classroom. The students also began a word wall so that they could write up all the words that were new to them along with their definitions. (the words are a little hard to read on the window)

 

 

After being introduced to early explorers the students undertook a research project which saw them investigate particular explorers. They completed this task in groups. After a few lessons of research and note taking they began working on their Report. These reports have also been put up in the classroom for everyone to see.

 

To conclude the unit on early explorers students were given a post-it note. On their post-it note they had to write their name and one thing that they learnt about an explorer. This had to be about an explorer the students did not research themselves. They were given five minutes to read the different reports. Then they wrote on their post-it note and stuck it up on the sticky note board. I collected these after the class.

 

A lot of students wrote about the work they were doing in history in their Friday Diary. They would often approach me telling me things they had read or learnt at home about different explorers. It was great to see the students take ownership and pride in their work. The class was always noisy during history but everyone was engaging so it was worth it. 

 

 

Decorated Door

 Over the past two weeks my class have been decorating their classroom door using the theme "Storm Boy" as they have just finished reading the novel.

 

The students drew their favourite scene from "Storm Boy" at to draw it as a polaroid photo. They then added a caption on the bottom of the photo to give their drawing some context. These were then laminated and placed around the edge of the door and along the bottom.

The students worked on the door in small groups and each group had a certain responsibility. Once group completed the water and the fish, another the hills and trees, one group completed the sand and another the pelican.

 

The students absolutely loved this project. They are a very arts and crafts loving classroom and were enthusiastic to contribute. Many students bring their parents into the class in the mornings or afternoons to show off their marvellous creation.

 

 

Well done kids, it looks fabulous!!

  

Organizational Ideas

Sticky Note Board -

 

This is an A3 piece of paper pinned up on the board. In the middle I have taped a piece of paper which has been laminated and features a question mark which is made up of smaller question marks. I have students write things on sticky notes and put them on the sticky note board after a lesson. I find it a good way to get student reflections on a lesson or idea. It can also be a good assessment check at the end of a lesson.

 

So far I have used it after introducing the Friday Diary. I had students write on a post it note what they think their parents would write back to them in response to their diary entry. They stuck their sticky notes up on the way out the door at the end of the lesson. Then I collected up the sticky notes and put them into my daily notebook.  Now I have a permanent record of student responses to the Friday Diary.

 

there are so many way to use this sticky note board and sticky notes are so cheap, colourful and versatile.

 

 

 

 

 

Power Point Print Outs -

 

In my classroom we have a chalk board and a projector. I find power points useful to put up information about what students can do once they finish or to show how I want pages to be ruled up in their workbooks. I also have a welcome slide up on the board in the morning for when the students come into the class. This has the date, the class schedule for the day, workbook that students need to get out ready for the day, and a funny animal picture to kick things off. (great for students who are beginning to use inferring during lessons) - ask what are the animals doing - why is it funny.

 

so that I can keep track of what I have planned on the power point I print out my slides. I find this a great reminder of what is going to be happening during the week or the days ahead.



 

 

Classroom Management

 

For positive reinforcement in my class I really like to use the raffle box. It is a cheap way of rewarding good behaviour and the students really love it.

I buy a book of raffle tickets, you can get these for as little as 60c from the newsagent. I hand them out to students who are displaying positive behaviour, such as getting on with their work, listening well or following directions properly. the students write their names on the raffle ticket and place it into the raffle box. This is a box I made by cutting a hole in the top and covering it in bright fabric. I managed to pick this up from the off cuts basket at Spotlight for a few dollars. At the end of the week I draw out four names. These students are able to select a prize from the prize box. this means that every student have the opportunity to chose a prize as long as they earn a ticket during the week. Those students who earn more tickets increase their chances of earning a prize at the end of the week.

 

Because the students write their names on the tickets I can use both sides which reduces the cost more. I have a range of prizes in my prize box. I don't buy anything over $1 and most of the prizes come from the Reject Shop, Red Dot or Kmart. they are mostly stationary based, but some small toys are in there also. I hand out as many as 20 tickets a day so the students have plenty of opportunities to earn tickets and they are constantly rewarded during the day.

 

Set up cost - $30 to fill the prize box, fabric $3, box $5

 

Running cost - 60c a weeks worth of raffle tickets, $3 to top up prize box.

 

Cost for a term - $36 approx. (all tax deductable by the way)

Having a well behaved classroom - priceless

 

 

 

My counter bell. I picked this bell up for around $10 from the newsagency. I stuck a few stars on it so it didn't look too boring. I leave it on the table next to my desk. It has a really clear ring. You can gently tap the top or give it a hard slam depending on what sort of response you want to get from your class. I really like it, and have had a few reliefs come into the classroom and they have found it works well too. This is now the primary bell used in the classroom. However, I don't have to use it much as the class is pretty well behaved and I can get their attention quite easily. 

  

The pop stick idea was given to me by another student teacher. I have written the names of the students in the class on one end. On the other end I have placed a purple do on the other end so I can easily recognise which ones have not been selected yet. When it comes to asking students questions I pull out a name from the cup and turn it around and place it back. I provide the students with the option to pass so they don't feel stressed if they can't answer a question. In this case I just place the pop stick back in with the name down ready to pull out at another time. This gives the students motivation to listen and shares to responsibility of answering questions evenly amongst students. (However, I tried this with a brainstorm and it didn't work)... but works great in other question/answer situations.