What makes amphibians (including this red eft from our field trip) special?

Today we asked our students three questions about amphibians. Here are excerpts from their answers:

Rebecca: Amphibians are important because they were the first animals that lived in water and then came out of the water. They are different from animals that came before them because they lay their eggs in water, but they can live on land as well as in water.

Hazel: Amphibians are important because they started the revolution of coming out to live on land.

Miles: Amphibians walked on land before reptiles, birds, or mammals. Amphibians crawled up onto the land to get food.

Brody: Amphibians need to stay in or near water because they lay eggs in the water. If they're not near water they're in trouble, because their babies need to be in water or they will dry up and die.

Caleb: Their skin needs to be moist so they can breathe through their skin.

Metamorphosis Video

metamorphosis video

Field Day '11

4th graders having fun together!

Poetry Interviews

Our students asked family and friends about their memories of reading and writing poetry when they were in school. They also asked people if they still read or write poems, and they asked for people's ideas about what makes poetry different than other kinds of writing. Here are excerpts from the responses we got:

"I remember finding the hidden meanings."

"You get a detailed picture out of a little bit of writing."

"Poems don't have to be a whole book, just a few words to tell a giant subject."

"Every word counts."

"I write poems to Nana, and I write poems for special occasions."

"Poems paint a deeper meaning that cannot be contained in words. Poems are like a piece of art."

"If you type poems they are centered and you can make up words."

"In poetry you're writing something with more detail and with more figurative language."

"I remember sometimes it was hard to understand the poems."

And a longer quote:

"I have not written any poetry since I've been married. I still love reading it. Virgil at night. Poe in the morning. You can say more with less. Consider the word 'blue.' It could mean: sad, cold, lovesick, fallen, or anything…I love that. There is a great deal of freedom."

Thanks to all of you who participated in our poetry interviews! If you have more to say, let us know. If you'd like to join us to read or write poetry, send us an email.

Dinosaurs Tracks!

In preparation for our field trip, our class took a crash course in the history of dinosaurs in the Pioneer Valley. We learned how dinosaur tracks become fossilized, and about how a young farmer boy brought forward the first tracks. We gained appreciation for the role that Edward Hitchcock played in the identification and collection of tracks from our valley and beyond. Here are a few pictures of our students visiting the Amherst College Museum of Natural History.

"What Did I Do?"

This week we took stock and made some changes. One tool we used was a chart titled "What did I do?" Students used the chart to reflect on their actions towards others. We also acknowledged others' kind and helpful actions, sharing them with the class and "moving a stone" for them. Finally, we posted a quote by Mahatma Gandhi, and, at the prompting of our principal, read a biography to learn more about his life and beliefs.

Here are some quotes from students' letters to me at the close of the week:

I think our class has changed a lot. We're not whining or complaining or snickering anymore and that "What Did I Do?" chart…really keeps the class helpful.

I'm lifting us up by not saying mean things anymore, and people are being nice to me so I'm being nice back.

I think the river stones are making kids want to treat all the kids like friends.

The friendships are going a lot better, and I am feeling a lot happier.

Everyone in the classroom seems to help one another, even if they are not friends. And because everyone is being nicer to me and all my friends, I feel like everyone is my friend! : )

I haven't been excluded from anything this week.

I don't think it is just one person lifting us all up. I think everybody is getting more control over what they were doing, including me.

I think one way I have changed is I think more about my actions. I feel bad and apologize if I do something wrong, and I am sincere and write them down on my chart.

How I've changed is that I've been feeling more friendly to every person in the world.

I think the stone thing really helps. I think we have been getting along better. People have been more helpful and kind. I have not seen anyone snap at each other. The Gandhi research has helped too. I think it influenced us to be better people.

Our fourth graders got their first glimpse of their next reading and writing unit today. Can you guess based on this photo?