We did a fun project for California history. Matthew is in 4th grade now, and so for social studies we are studying our state. The first thing was studying the geography of California - where it is located, and the different terrains and geographical forms, where the capitol is, and so forth. We made a relief map out of. . . cake, and chocolate chips, and blue and green frosting! It is complete with a compass rose and a key as well. We ate it - yes, almost the whole entire thing - the next day.
This will be an interesting year. I actually did this very same project with my 4th grade class I taught my first year of teaching way back when. It was MUCH more manageable with only 2 students :-). When I did it at school, I had it as a center, and groups of 6 students or so would rotate through. Aarbear was snoozing, so we got to do this without him trying to eat all of the chocolate chips or squirting frosting everywhere :-). I never did learn my CA history properly, though. Even when I had to teach it, I only did it that one year (and it was pretty here and there). The three other years that I taught 4th grade, I team-taught with my neighboring teacher so that he did all of the social studies and I did all of the science and health. It will be extremely educational for me to be teaching CA history again. Maybe I'll learn it for real this time :-).
What a great idea for a project! We're doing CA history this year too - our first time! We're doing lots of field trips & enjoying the read-alouds, but I'm not enjoying the Beautiful Feet IG so much (I bought an old version). I'll be glad to get back to SL! :)
ReplyDeleteHey Les,
ReplyDeleteWe are using a charter this year to support our homeschooling - that's why we are doing CA history. . . We are using Our Golden California, and I am not loving that either :-(. It's ok, but not great. So I am trying to supplement as well with lots of field trips and projects. Pass on any great ideas to us, ok?