Transformations

The students created a short video using PhotoStory3 (a free download), Word and PowerPoint.

Here is a link to student examples.  Directions below.  http://mrscooksfantasticfourthgrade.blogspot.com/2012/02/transformations.html

In Word we wrote a few sentences explaining translation.  After we wrote the sentences we used an animal figurine (we used a chicken or rooster) to demonstrate translation on a grid.  Then, using italics, we added the information about pictures we wanted to add to the paragraph. 

1.       Example Paragraph:

Translation is when something moves from place to place.  It means to slide.  I can remember slide and translation are the same by the sl in both words.

2.        

After the paragraph, the students figured out how to show slide with the animal and the grid.  They added this information to their paragraph in italics.

Translation is when something moves from place to place.  It means to slide.  (Picture one:  chicken on (4,4))  (Picture two:  chicken on (5,4))  I can remember slide and translation are the same by the sl in both words.

Now for the fun part!  Take the pictures of the chicken using the directions determined earlier

.

(When the pictures were inserted into PowerPoint, they were edited using picture tools.)

5.        

Repeat the process with reflection, then with rotation.

6.        

Open PowerPoint and create a title page.  Then type the transformation information on a slide or copy and paste from the Word document.  Leave a blank slide for each picture. Insert pictures in the correct places.  Draw a red line to show the movement.  Do this for rotation and reflection.

 Then save the powerpoint as jpeg files.

 After files are converted to jpeg files, open PhotoStory3 and import the pictures.  Once the pictures are imported you will want to change the motion (transitions) on the pictures.  We left the first two slides alone and allowed the defaulted transitions to happen, then we fixed the transitions on the rest of the slides. 

If you don't do this, your movie will look like this.  We think it is distracting.

This movie has the transitions fixed.

Gallon Man Project

To help students understand the relationship between cups, pints, quarts and gallons each student made a gallon man.

 

I wanted students to show off their knowledge so they made a postcard using a template from Publisher.  They took a picture of their gallon man and pulled it into the postcard.  

page 1

page 2

The above pictures show the template we used and what page 1 and page 2 looked like.  Below shows the final project (page 1 only) and how to print on both sides.  We printed it so that two printed on a page.  Students cut the postcards out.  Each student took one home and the other one is hanging in the hallway.

Final Postcard Project

Butterfly Final Projects

The students have completed their research and are compiling all their notes into a paper.  Students typed notes into Publisher as they read and researched.   The notes were written as a list of information.  Students printed the notes, cut them apart and sorted them into categories.  Then they glued them to notebook paper.  Each category was glued to a page.  Students know that each page will be a paragraph in their report.  In addition to the information the students have compiled, they will include a quote or two about butterflies from a classmate. 

They are excited to use the pictures we've taken as we watched the life cycle take place in our classroom.  We feel fortunate to have captured a butterfly emerging using a flip video camera.  We have some still pictures of butterflies emerging, too.   Not only will the students be able to enhance their reports with actual pictures from our experiences but they will also have diagrams they have drawn and scanned.  They have to have two labeled diagrams for their reports.  One diagram has to show the body parts of a butterfly and the other must show the life cycle.

I can't wait to see their final products!  Once the paper report is done, we'll start on glogs and add some of the video.

Butterfly Research

Since we have butterfly larva and are getting to witness the life cycle of a painted lady butterfly firsthand, we are researching butterflies.  We've already read one short book, currently reading Butterfly Battle, a Magic School Bus book, and have read a couple of web sites.  The students will compile all their notes into a paper complete with bibliography.  They will also create a glog about butterflies.  We were lucky enough to catch some larva turning into chrysalis today with the time elapse camera set at 30 seconds.  We have some fabulous pictures to use.  The bibliography is being compiled as we research and the bibliography is easy thanks to www.easybib.com.

Time Elapse Photos Update

It worked!  I have 770 pictures from the weekend.  We caught on "film" 4 larva turning into a chrysalis.   I set the camera to take pictures every minute over night tonight.  I hope I don't run out of space on the hard drive before the group being filmed tonight transform into chrysalis.

Time Elapse Photos

Trying something new over the weekend.  We have butterfly larvae in our classroom.  They are getting close to creating their chrysalis.  We put a light on six containers and we are using our document camera to take a picture every five minutes over the weekend. I have a new external hard drive saving the pictures.   We'll see if we "catch" anything.

Newsletter

I usually write a newsletter to send home each week.  This week the students are going to write it.  I picked a format from the templates Publisher offers.  They'll title it and the content will be information about state testing tips.  I hope this helps them remember what to do and I hope they share it with their parents since it will be authored by them.

Update:  We had a lot of disruptions to our day and I was concerned we wouldn't have time to get the newsletter done so I created some text boxes in Publisher containing reminders of tested concepts.  The students picked one of their pictures or a picture from one of the projects to put in the newsletter and wrote an article about test taking strategies.  The students enjoyed creating the newsletter and seemed excited to show them to their parents.