About my class

In fourth grade, our students dive deep in to nonfiction reading skills and research. For the past few years, we have used EXTREME WEATHER as a focus topic to engage students in research, utilizing the 鈥淩eading the Weather, Reading the World鈥� unit of the Teacher鈥檚 College Reading and Writing Project Units of Study. Simultaneously, the Next Generation Science Standards in fourth grade teach the principles of plate tectonics and system interactions in the form of earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. The two subject area units tie in perfectly, with learning in each one supporting the other. As special education teachers, we have seen our students become fascinated by the weather-related topics we cover, including earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, and floods. Their research has led to great insights and great understanding. However, this fun unit has also been a source of frustration for many students. Some of our students read significantly below grade level. With this grant, we will provide engaging books that are on topic and readable but not 鈥渂aby-ish." Hands-on activities such as the "Survive the Quake Engineering Kit" will allow students to learn by doing, deepening their understanding of scientific topics.