Our Learning Trip to Crater Lake

On September 18, 2012, Mark Sherbow's fourth grade class took a bus to Crater Lake.  We learned how the lake was formed and about how the animals adapt for the long winter with lots of snow. It was an amazing day!

Quad Bloggers Celebrate Equinox!

This is the Earth's position during the September equinox.

Hi all! In our class, we have been learning about equinoxes. An equinox is when the Earth is not tilted towards or away from the Sun, and the Sun's rays are hitting directly at the Equator. We decided this would be an interesting thing to write about because during an equinox, night and day are nearly the exact same length- 12 hours- all over the world. This is the reason it's called an "equinox," which in Latin means "equal night!"  Here in the northern hemisphere, this autumnal equinox marks the beginning of fall. Do you do anything to celebrate or acknowledge the equinoxes?

Our Second Learning Trip to Hobart Bluff

This is Pilot Rock.  When you hike on it, it gets tricky because it is all rock and you can't get good traction under your feet.  The view from Hobart Bluff was beautiful.  The walk up was very tiring because it was such a steep climb.  It took about an hour to hike up, and only about fifteen minutes to come back down.  ~  Milan

Our First Learning Trip ~ Ashland Pond

Checking out the Ponderosa Pines

On September 6, our class went to the Ashland Pond to learn about the Ponderosa Pine.  The Ashland Pond is a community and school project set up to rebuild the natural habitat that surrounds the ponds in Ashland, Oregon.  The Pond provides a unique learning experience in which we can be hands-on in teaching children about restoration, natural habitats, and community involvement.


Anissa ~ 9-10-12

We learned about a Ponderosa Pine.  We learned that in the winter the needles don't fall off of the trees.  I wondered how old the tree is.  I drew the tree upside down, and then changed my mind and drew the two top branches going up.  My favorite part was eating blackberries and going into a tunnel.


Kaila ~ 9-10-12

We walked to the pond on a very hot day.  We looked at the Ponderosa Pine in two groups.  It was an amazing tree because the bark looked like someone had painted.  It is cool, because in winter the needles stay where they are, so it is green year-round.  I drew the tree and added the detail of the bark.  My favorite part of the trip was eating the blackberries and going into a cave.  The tree was very beautiful to look at.

Isaac ~ 9-10-12

I got to measure the water temperature at the pond with a yellow stick.  We watched the red dye go up and it told us how warm the pond was.  We picked blackberries and ate them.  We learned that the Ponderosa Pine has pine cones on the very top.  The bark of the tree looks like puzzle pieces.  The weather was really warm, and we got to see a tree that had seeds inside pods that looked like a zucchini.  My favorite part was eating the blackberries.  They were kind of sour.

Gabe ~ 9-10-12

When we went to the ponds I got to see ducks, fish, and lots of algae.  We got to measure the water temperature. The pond temperature is 28 degrees. I drew a picture of the Ponderosa Pine, and I learned that it never looses it's needles and it's scientific name is pinus ponderosa.  On our way back to school a squirrel ran right through a group of girls and they all screamed.  It was pretty hilarious.

Schools on! Fourth Rocks!

September 6, 2012

Our fall student teacher, Teresa, and I have been working at school this week and we are getting excited. We want to welcome Peach and Skylar to our class!