Grade 4 Category
SAVY 2019: Session 5, Day 4 – Dabbling with DNA (Rising 3rd/4th)
Jul. 18, 2019—Today we began our studies of biotechnology. We started with a review of the structure of DNA, then looked at examples of restriction enzymes and figured out where the different restriction enzymes would cut a piece of DNA. This led to DNA electrophoresis and DNA profiling. The students determined the sizes of different pieces of...
SAVY 2019: Session 5, Day 3 – Solving for the Unknown (Rising 3rd/4th)
Jul. 17, 2019—Hello SAVY parents! I can’t believe we are almost halfway through our session here at summer SAVY. I was excited to hear all the students tell me how they were able to work their “magic” at home last night with the card trick. Thank you so much for allowing them to show what they’ve learned...
SAVY 2019: Session 5, Day 3 – Makings of America (Rising 3rd/4th)
Jul. 17, 2019—Dear SAVY Parents, Today was the most challenging content so far, and I think it can be argued that it is no coincidence that it was the most rewarding and joyous day so far as well! We may talk tomorrow about cause and effect in relation to our productive struggle. In a learning environment, does...
SAVY 2019: Session 5, Day 3 – Dabbling with DNA (Rising 3rd/4th)
Jul. 17, 2019—It was another high-energy day in Dabbling with DNA. We tackled the topic of evolution by first revisiting the crazy creatures from the previous day. We discussed the various traits that the creatures have (antenna length, ear size, body color, etc…) and brainstormed on how each form of the trait could be adaptive. Next up...
SAVY 2019: Session 5, Day 2 – Solving for the Unknown (Rising 3rd/4th)
Jul. 16, 2019—Hello SAVY parents! I’m very excited for another successful day here at summer SAVY. The students were still curious about the number trick that was performed during yesterday’s session. We continued that lesson as they came in asking many questions about how the trick worked. We were able to discuss as a group what information...
SAVY 2019: Session 5, Day 2 – Makings of America (Rising 3rd/4th)
Jul. 16, 2019—Hello SAVY Parents, Thank you so much for sending your child to engage in this tremendously thought-provoking student research and to be a part of these amazing discussions. Today, as our studies moved through understanding the context of the issues and attitudes of colonial America, we were driven to understand more about the “sacrifices of war”...
SAVY 2019: Session 5, Day 2 – Dabbling with DNA (Rising 3rd/4th)
Jul. 16, 2019—After starting the day with a GYKY activity of four corners we reviewed what we had learned yesterday about cells and DNA. It was then time for Mendelian genetics. We examined pea plants and brainstormed on the various traits that pea plants exhibit and considered the traits that Mendel studied. We learned about genotype and...
SAVY 2019: Session 5, Day 1 – Solving for the Unknown (Rising 3rd/4th)
Jul. 15, 2019—Hello SAVY parents! Our first session flew by so fast as we learned all about how symbols are used to represent unknown numbers in Algebra. Students are encouraged to approach the study of variables, expressions and equations using their number sense, logical reasoning and problem-solving strategies. Students were introduced to these concepts through interesting problem-solving...
SAVY 2019: Session 5, Day 1 – Makings of America (Rising 3rd/4th)
Jul. 15, 2019—Dear SAVY Parents, What a great start to our week! The student patriots (maybe a few loyalists too) jumped right in with the existing knowledge they had of some unrelated people, places, dates, and events, but they showed their readiness for new knowledge and deeper understandings of the events leading up to the American Revolution. ...
SAVY 2019: Session 5, Day 1 – Dabbling with DNA (Rising 3rd/4th)
Jul. 15, 2019—It was a busy and energetic day in Dabbling with DNA. The children expressed a lot of enthusiasm for the topic and immediately started with many questions and comments about DNA. After providing a few answers, Madeline (the TA) and I had the class brainstorm about the proper way to behave in class so that...