Fasten Your Seat Belts!

The fourth-grade team embarked on a cross-classroom 'road trip' across the U.S. this week and oh, what an adventure it was!

The 'road trip' served a dual purpose: it provided an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and understanding of map skills, and also allowed students to comingle with students from other classes while engaging with one another in an interactive community-building experience. In a time when we have access to sophisticated digital tools to navigate the world around us, learning basic map skills is an essential component of developing spatial reasoning skills. Spatial thinking helps us comprehend the phenomena related to spaces and places around us; it supports our ability to visualize and interpret data.

Students were provided a passport to explore and engage in a variety of interactive, self-directed, map-related learning experiences in each of the fourth-grade classrooms, including: 

• using a map grid (the entire floor was transformed into a giant map grid) where students followed directions on a map in order to arrive at specific landmarks on the map grid.

• using QR codes with links to Google Maps to experience some of the most unusual tourist attractions in the United States, while identifying the state on a map, and its cardinal direction within the U.S. 

• an integrated map experience where students used a map scale to measure the distance between two points on a map. 

• a fact-finding game related to interesting features about each of the states

This week's guest bloggers reflect on their adventures. Enjoy!

I learned how to use a map scale and a map grid. A map scale is useful because you can find out the distance between two locations. A map grid is useful because it helps you find certain locations on a map. I can use a map grid to help my family on road trips so that we know how many miles to get to our destination.    - @Coconut5

I learned that if you need to find where coal mines are located, you would need to use a resource map. If you want to go on a hike, you might want to use a physical map; and if you want to know what the climate is or temperatures are in a certain place, you would use a climate map.   - @Rosita

I have learned countless things from this experience and working in a group provides me with more opportunities to learn. One thing I learned is how to use a compass rose to find states on a map. We also practiced using a map legend so that we could locate different things on a map. Having these skills will help me be able to get to different locations.   - @Sn1p3r

I learned how to find the distance between states on a map. If I was ever driving in my car, without a cell phone or GPS, and wanted to go somewhere, I would need to know how to read a map and know what to do. Also, if I ever worked for a news channel, I would need to know how to identify important landforms.   - @CookieDog

One thing I learned from this experience is how to tell the distance between locations using a map scale. This will help me in life because I'll be able to tell the distance between cities and towns on long roads so I know how many miles I will be driving.   - @PotatoHead

I learned that maps aren't only used for navigation - you can use them to find almost anything! For example, if you need to find which states grow rice, you would use a resource map. I never even knew a resource map was a "thing".    - @ApplePie

I learned the distance between states on a map. If I'm ever going on a road trip, I will know how far away certain places are that I'm trying to get to.    - @iamadog697

I learned that maps can help you find anything. Maps can tell you where to find homeless shelters, and stores like TJ Maxx, Old Navy, and Target. Maps can also save lives. For example, maps can tell you where to find the closest hospital if you ever need one.     - @TheRing

I learned that elevation maps show how high mountains are. If I'm ever planning to hike a mountain, I could use an elevation map to help me figure out how high the mountain is and how far I might want to go.   - @McWhopper

Welcome To a New School Year!

Students are settling in quite nicely and are already experiencing that feeling of being part of a strong and special community. Those first-day jitters are evolving into smiles, laughter, and a sense of comfort and belonging.

We've carefully and deliberately spent our first weeks of school not just establishing routines and expectations, but more importantly, creating a classroom that is built on community; where students recognize and celebrate shared goals and experiences, are learning to trust one another, feel empowered to contribute, and who feel understood, valued and capable. Those important traits will be nurtured all year long as they provide an essential foundation for developing teamwork, cooperation, communication, flexibility, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

We asked students to reflect on their experiences over the last few weeks and write about which ones they found most meaningful, which skills they nurtured in the process, and why and how those skills are important. Here are a handful of reflections from this week's guest bloggers. Enjoy.

My best learning experiences over the last few weeks were the map skills escape room challenges. I needed to collaborate and work with my partner as a team in order to be successful. I also needed to have stamina because there was no time for a break. Working on these skills will be important for any job that I have in the future.   @PotatoPie

My best learning experience over the last few weeks was the map skill escape room. It gave me a chance to practice using cardinal directions. I needed to have patience and flexibility during this activity and needed to listen to my teammates' ideas, not just my own. These skills will help me collaborate with other people better and it lets me practice how to be flexible when there are disagreements.    @LoonDog1

My best learning experience over the last few weeks was the paper chain team-building activity. I had to listen to my partner and think about the problem differently when we made a mistake. If something goes wrong in life, you have to be patient, learn from it, and try something different.    - @Ruff

My best learning experiences over the last few weeks have been the writing activities. I am learning that if I stay focused and silent, I can create an amazing product. I worked on my stamina, focus, perseverance, and problem-solving during these activities and it helped keep me in my zone. If I keep developing these skills, I can stay in my zone and make the best possible outcome for my clients' cases (yes, I want to be a lawyer when I grow up).   - @ApplePie

My best learning experience over the last few weeks was the map skills escape room challenge. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. I needed to focus, be flexible, and work as a team. My partner and I may not have "escaped", but we did develop some important skills. Focusing helps me work harder and not be distracted. Flexibility helps me be better with change. Understanding how to collaborate with others helps me be a better teammate.   - @BlueBear

My best learning experiences over the last few weeks were the escape room challenges and the cards & castles activities. I had to be a good listener and communicator for both as well as be flexible and lean into the struggle. These skills help me be more open-minded and more productive.    - @HockeyGirl14

My best learning experience over the last few weeks was the cards & castles activity. It was very fun to build the castles, but it was very challenging. I needed to work on many skills during this activity, like teamwork, flexibility, focus, patience, perseverance, kindness, stamina, and leaning into the struggle. It's also really important to listen to others and understand them.    - @DollyParton101

My best learning experiences over the last few weeks were the friendship games. They taught me so much about my classmates and the importance of being kind, respectful, and patient. I learned that it's important not to rush people and let them have the time they need.   - @SODA

My best learning experience over the last few weeks was the map skills escape room challenge because I learned how to accept others' ideas and how to think outside the box. I really had to think during this activity and demonstrate perseverance if we wanted to be successful. Those same skills would be important if I were to play doubles in tennis - they're very winning qualities.    - @TennisMan18