Week of June 12-June 20, 2023

Today we are going to complete the Slide Show called The Most Awesome Things About Fourth Grade.   

The Slide Show will have a minimum of 5 slides, each slide describing ONE thing you liked about 4th Grade this year! 

Be creative- use transitions, animations, etc.  We will continue working on this project next week!  Have fun!

Once I have looked over your work, please share it with your teacher.  Then, you may have CHOICE! I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful and safe Summer Vacation!

Week of May 30-June 9, 2023

Today we are going to complete the Slide Show called The Most Awesome Things About Fourth Grade.   

The Slide Show will have a minimum of 5 slides, each slide describing ONE thing you liked about 4th Grade this year! 

Be creative- use transitions, animations, etc.  We will continue working on this project next week!  Have fun!

Once I have looked over your work, please share it with your teacher.  Then, you may have CHOICE!

Week of May 15-May 26, 2023

Today, students may have choice of any of the following websites as a review: Math Playground,  Scratch (Code your own game, do not search for a game others created), Typing Games, Code.org, Brain Games or Fun4theBrain (multiplication or division).  These are the only websites students will be allowed to use! 

Week of May 1-May 12, 2023

Today, students will spend the first 15 minutes keyboarding, using the websites Typingtest.com or Typing Pal.  There will be no Technology the week of May 8-May 12, 2023 due to the NJSLA Testing.

After, students may have choice of any of the following websites as a review: Math Playground,  Scratch (Code your own game, do not search for a game others created), Typing Games, Code.org, Brain Games or Fun4theBrain (multiplication or division).  These are the only websites students will be allowed to use! 

Week of April 24- April 28, 2023

Students will be introduced to the Math Toolbar for the NJSLA Test coming up in May.  The website that the tutorial can be found at is https://nj.testnav.com/client/index.html# .  Students will learn how to use the navigational tool bar, along with the equation tools that are integral within the test.  NJSLA Math testing will be the week of 5/15-5/19/2023.

Week of April 3- April 21, 2023

Students will be introduced to our newest technology, graciously provided to us by the WEF, the Sphero Bolt and the iPad App. We will make a track/maze using pool noodles and then students will figure out as a team how to program their Sphero without leaving the boundaries of their maze.  Speed, Direction and Color will be introduced in the area called Drive.  We will also be creating our maze in the Blocks area of the Sphero EDU app.

While you are waiting your turn,  please enjoy one of the educational games below:

Scratch - Code your own game, do not search for a game others created.

Code.org

Math Playground

Brain Games

Fun4theBrain (multiplication or division)  

You may not go on to iMovie, PhotoBooth or YouTube! 

March 27-March 31, 2023

Today students will be introduced to our newest technology received from the Wyckoff Education Foundation (WEF)-the Sphero Bolt and the iPad App. We will make a track/maze using pool noodles and then students will figure out as a team how to program their Sphero without leaving the boundaries of their maze.  Speed, Direction and Color will be introduced in the area called Drive.  This is not an easy challenge so you have to be resilient and have fun at the same time!

March 20-March 24, 2023

Today, please click on the NJSLA Tutorial for Online Testing. We are going to work together and go through each feature that you will encounter on the test.  Whatever we don't finish this week, we will complete next week.

Once finished, students will be introduced to our newest technology the Sphero Bolt and the iPad App. We will make a track/maze using pool noodles and then students will figure out as a team how to program their Sphero without leaving the boundries of their maze.  Speed, Direction and Color will be introduced in the area called Drive.

Week of March 13-March 17, 2023 

Today, we will be reviewing the NJSLA tools for taking the English/Language Arts test online.  It's very important that you are familiar with the navigation of the the test and are aware of all of the features before the actual testing dates in May.   We will review the Math tools at another time.

Today, please click on the NJSLA Tutorial for Online Testing.   We are going to work together and go through each feature that you will encounter on the test.

Week of March 6-March 10, 2023 

Today, if we haven't done so last week, students must go to www.typingtest.com, change test to EASY and I or your homeroom teacher will record your score once you feel it's the best you can do.  This is NOT a competition!

After, you will be introduced to a new website called Animated Drawings.  After today's lesson students should be able to:

1.  Upload a picture to their computer and find it.

2.  Crop and/or edit their drawn pictures after they're uploaded.

3.  Create an animated drawing.

Week of February 27- March 3, 2023

Today, students must go to www.typingtest.com, change test to EASY and I or your homeroom teacher will record your score once you feel it's the best you can do.  This is NOT a competition!

Then you may stay on that website or go to  Typing Game Zone.   In honor of Read Across America Week, you may also go to Room Recess and play only the Reading, Language or Typing Games.

Week of February 20- February 24, 2023

Have fun and enjoy the February Break!  See you next week!

Week of January 30-February 17, 2023

This week we will complete and share our first iMovie. We learned how to use the editing tools to change your backgrounds and make your set appear more realistic.  You searched backgrounds that you thought would work well with your creations and then saved the picture to your desktop.  Then you went to "import media" found in iMovie.  You also imported the photo of your object. 

Once in iMovie you replaced the green screen with your chosen background.  You also added a text box with a title and your name, as well as a sound clip. I hope you enjoyed working with iMovie.  

After we watch the videos, students will be able to have CHOICE of any link posted on this website. 

I hope you have a fun and safe February Break!

Week of January 16-27, 2023

Last week students worked in teams of two (2) to create a claymation set (made out of PlayDoh).  After you created your objects, we took a picture and I uploaded it to a shared folder in your Google Drive.

This week we will learn how to use iMovie to change your backgrounds and make your set appear more realistic.   Search backgrounds that you think will work well with your creations and then save the picture to your desktop.  Then you will "import media" found in iMovie.  You will also import the photo you will select of your object. 

Watch closely and I will show you how to replace the green screen with your chosen background.  This should be a lot of fun!

Week of January 9-13, 2023

 Today, students are going to work in teams of 2 to create a claymation set (made out of PlayDoh).  Here are some examples of what you can make:  you can create a bunch of different types of fish and then choose an ocean or aquarium background, you can create the solar system and then put your planets in Space, you can produce a football or sports game and put your characters in an arena.  These are just suggestions and the choice is all yours!! 

Once completed, you will take a picture of your set in front of a Green Screen.  We will upload the photos to a common drive folder.  Next week, we will learn how to use iMovie to change your backgrounds and make your set appear more realistic.  Have fun!  

Week of January 2-6, 2023

Happy New Year to Everyone!  I hope you had a safe and wonderful Holiday Break.  Now we are ready to get back to work in the STEAM Lab with so many exciting projects coming your way.  First, as a class, we will explore the differences between Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) and how they exist in today's world.  We will discuss what the future holds for both of these processes, before watching a short video that explains the differences AR and VR. Then you will explore what Virtual Reality (VR) is and experience it yourselves via the following videos- Skydiving, African Elephant Tour, Grand Canyon from Space, Journey into the Deep Sea, Superman Roller Coaster, etc.  Have fun and enjoy the ride!

Week of December 19-23, 2022

This week as my Holiday Gift to you, students will  have choice of the following websites: Scratch, Code.org , Pixton (see email for link), Math Playground, Brain Games, Fun4theBrain (multiplication or division) , Coding Activities, etc.

Wishing you and your families a safe and happy holiday season!!  I'll see you in the New Year!

Week of December 12-16, 2022

Last week was the Hour of Code and this week we will be finishing up our Coding Unit using  Scratch to create a Graphic Design project using the Pen tool. We will keep coming back to coding at other times throughout the year,  coding other games integrated with the curriculum.

First, as a class we will review  vocabulary to make sure everyone understands what is meant by the words: algorithm, blocks, bug, debug and sequencing. Then, students will complete their 4th grade Coding project.   Once finished, students will have a choice of working on another game using Scratch (Pong game or Pop A Balloon). 

If you rather try out one of the coding puzzles, you can play  Minecraft- Voyage Aquatic or Creating Art with Code,   Finally, students can select any of the activities found at the link below:

Many Other Coding Activities

I hope you enjoyed this Coding Unit and have learned a lot about Computer Science and programming! 

Week of December 5-9, 2022

Welcome to the 2022 Hour of Code!   The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to take the mystery out of "code" and to show that anybody can learn the basics of computer science.  Today we celebrate this special week!

You can continue on your "Graphic Design" project using the Pen tool in Scratch, go on to make a Pong game, or you can explore a coding game called Minecraft- Voyage Aquatic found in Code.org

Many Other Hour of Code Activities

I hope you enjoy these Computer Programming activities this week as we celebrate the International Hour of Code!

Week of November 28-December 2, 2022

This week we will continue working on a unit on Coding that will take us through the International Hour of Code, December 5-9, 2022.   

Today, we will review vocabulary learned such as Sequence, Bug, Debug, Algorithm and Computer Programmer.  Then students will sign on to their Scratch accounts which we created last week using their gmail username and passwords.  If you haven't already changed your password, you must do that before you begin! 

Students will be re-introduced to the basic blocks in Scratch including Motion, Looks, Events, Control, Operators and Pen. Finally, students will have an opportunity to begin working with Scratch on their 4th Grade project which is to create a drawing using a Sprite and the drawing tool.  I will first model how this is done before the students sign on to their accounts and work independently.  Next week we will continue this project while celebrating the Hour of Code.

I hope you enjoy working on your Computer Program!

Week of November 21-25, 2022

This week we will begin a unit on Coding that will take us through the International Hour of Code, December 5-9, 2022.  First, we will watch a BrainPop, Jr. video on Computer Programming, review the video with the Easy Quiz (go over vocabulary such as Sequence, Bug, Debug, Algorithm, Computer Programmer)  and answer the Pop-A-Joke. 

Then students will sign on to their Scratch accounts which they had experience with last year. The first thing you will do is change your passwords.

Then, students will be re-introduced to the basic blocks in Scratch that we used last year, including Motion, Looks, Events and Control.  Finally, students will have an opportunity to work with Scratch and try out some of the tutorials on their own.

Another coding option for today includes:
Minecraft Voyage Aquatic-https://studio.code.org/s/aquatic  

Next week, we will be introduced to using the Pen tool and beginning our 4th Grade coding project. Have fun! 

Week of November 14-18, 2022

This week you are going to complete your Pixton Comic Strip about being a Super Digital Citizen (see  10/24-11/11 below).  Once that is done you will go into Scratch.  Everyone will need to change their Passwords this year.

As a class we will first review the basic blocks found in Scratch.  These blocks include Motion, Looks, Events Control and Sensing.  
Once you go to your computer you will:
1.  Complete your Pixton comic. 
2.  Sign into Scratch and change your password.  

3.  Once you are signed into Scratch, you will review the Program by choosing one of the tutorials and experimenting. 

Remember the only way to learn to code is by making mistakes and continuously de-bugging!  Next week, we will begin our 4th grade Coding project and get ready to celebrate the Hour of Code during the week of December 5-9, 2022.

Week of October 24-November 11, 2022

This week we are going to continue our Pixton Comic Strip about being a Super Digital Citizen.  However, before we do that we are going to review inserting a photo into a Slideshow for a class project you are working on.

After, you will sign on to my Pixton account using the link I sent you in your email.  Then, you will continue working on a digital comic strip titling it Super Digital Citizen. 

Your project should contain either a scene of someone being cyberbullied and how you could be a good "upstander".  You might want to demonstrate "empathy" in your comic.  How would you deal with a situation if you were being Cyberbullied?  Make sure you check all of your spelling and use correct punctuation.  Take this seriously, because it is a very serious topic.  Have fun!

Once you are done, you can sign into Typing Pal.
Room Recess- Typing Games 

Week of October 17-21, 2022

 Today we will spend the first part of the period talking about how to be a "Super Digital Citizen", see a very short video and discuss the differences between being an upstander and a bystander.  By the end of our talk, you should be able to define what is meant by CyberBullying and what it means to be a good digital citizen.

After, you will sign on to my Pixton account using the link I sent you in your email.  First, you will create your Avatar and we will produce a class picture.  Then you will begin working on a digital comic strip titling it Super Digital Citizen.  This project will be completed next week.

Week of October 10-14, 2022

Last week we celebrated the Week of Respect by creating an Acrostic Poem that  goes along with the idea of "respect".  You could use the words Respect, Kindness, Friendship, Caring, Etc.

Some of you completed this project last week- your poems all should have had a full sentence for the first letter of the line.  You could change the font, text size, color, alignment on the page and insert a photo or image after the poem was complete.   Finally, once the project was done , you shared the poem with me and your homeroom teacher.

If you did not yet share your poem with me, you need to work on it today.  If you are finished you can do the following:

Typing Pal (For at least 15 minutes)
Typing Test (For at least 15 minutes)
Then, you can go to:
Typing Games Zone- Over 25 games to play!

Week of October 3-7, 2022

 Welcome back to the STEAM Lab! -This week we will review some really cool Google ChromeBook Shortcuts that you learned in 3rd Grade!

1.  Copy- Ctrl C
2.  Paste- Ctrl V
3.  Select All- Ctrl A
4.  Bold- Highlight, Ctrl B
5.  Italicize- Highlight, Ctrl I
6.  Zoom In- Ctrl +
7.  Zoom Out- Ctrl -
8.  Reset to 100%- Ctrl 0
9.  Undo- Ctrl Z
10. Create a New Tab- Ctrl T

Let's try them out on a blank Google Doc.

After we review the ChromeBook shortcuts, we will celebrate the "Week of Respect" by beginning our next project which is creating an Acrostic Poem, using Google Docs.

This project will review the tool bar and its functions as we go.  All poems must have a full sentence for the first letter of the line.  Your poem will celebrate the "Week of Respect".   You can use words like Respect, Kindness, Caring, Friends, Etc.

This week and next week we will review how to change the font, text size, color, alignment on page and insert a photo/image after the poem is complete.  Finally, once the project is done , you will share the poem with me and your homeroom teacher.

Week of September 19-30, 2022

Welcome back to the STEAM Lab! Here are the objectives for the day...

1.  Last week we added and deleted bookmarks.  When you click the star, make sure you are saving your bookmarks to the Bookmark Bar.

This week we are going to learn about our Gmail account.

2. Click on gmail and look at all of the mail that you have in your "inbox".  If you do not need it any longer, we are going to "delete" it or put it in the "trash can".

3.  Explain the terms inbox, sent, draft, spam and sent.

How to Send an Email
4. Click on "Compose"
5. Type in the gmail address you want to send the email to. Remember, your school email can only be sent to people that have the extension @wyckoffps.org
6. Type in a "Subject".
7. Type your email in the space below.   Notice the  tool bar.
8.  When finished, click "Send".
9.  When you get an email.  Click to open. Type your response. Click "Reply" or "Reply All" to send. 
10. Very IMPORTANT- Your email should only be used for school purposes.  If you are not using your email appropriately, there will be consequences.
11.  If time allows, sign into Typing Pal.

Week of September 12-16, 2022

Welcome to the STEAM Lab! -Introduction to the website found at... https://sites.google.com/wyckoffschools.org/welcometothe4thgradesteamlab/home to see objectives for the day

1. Bring ChromeBook to STEAM Lab

2. Go to assigned Computer Seats

3. Sign into AimsWeb (via Test Nav) on ChromeBooks

4. Manage Bookmarks (Add and Delete needed or unnecessary Bookmarks). Organize bookmarks on Bookmark Bar.

5. If time allows, sign into Typing Pal.

KeyBoarding Games

Typing Games Zone- Over 25 games to play!

Week of September 5-9, 2022

Welcome to your first week in the STEAM Lab! Today, we will do a number of things:

1. Get acquainted and go over expectations in the STEAM Lab.

2. Be assigned computer seats.
3. Go over ChromeBook rules and take handout home to be signed.

4. Review how to log in to your Username and Password and log out on the Desktop.
5. Bookmark this website on your Desktop and it will appear on your ChromeBook when you are signed into your Username.
6. If time allows, sign into Typing Pal.