3rd Grade Students Visit the Library for Robo-Sauce

Authors Adam Rubin & Daniel Salmieri pose as robots with 3rd grade students at the Washington Heights Library.

Recently, students from 3rd grade classes visited the Washington Heights Branch Library to meet the authors of a new book!  Robo-Sauce is a new book written by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri!  During this KidsLIVE! program, students learned about the process used to write the book and got to meet the authors.  "This book talk reinforced what we're doing in the classroom", said Ms. K. Cabral (3rd grade Bilingual Teacher).  "The authors explained the writing process and they were very engaging...the students had a lot of fun".

Special thanks to Amy Chang (Senior Librarian of the NYPL Washington Heights Branch) for the invitation and Penguin Books for providing our scholars with this great opportunity.  After the event, teachers given ten (10) books to take to their classroom!  To see pages of this book, click here!

Senior Trip to Sportime USA

5th grade students from Ms. Marmolejos & Mr. Nycz's class at Sportime USA.

Congratulations to the graduating girls and boys of the 5th grade who went to Sportime USA in Elmsford, New York!  They enjoyed 4 hours of unlimited games, roller coasters, laser tag and bumper cars!  They even got a $10 game card!

Thanks to Kenya our party host who made sure we had a lot of fun.  Special thanks to Jackie Rivera (Sales and Marketing) and Jay Matthew (Sportime President) for making sure our students had an opportunity to participate in all that Sportime had to offer.  Take a look at the slide show below for some highlights from the festive occasion!

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PS4 Celebrates Black History: Learning Through Art

Artwork depicting African-Americans demanding equal right created by Chrismaldy D.. (class 521).

Black history and culture is such a part of America.   Established as Negro History Week in the 1920's by Carter G. Woodson, February was chosen for the celebration because Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were born in this month.  Extended to a month-long celebration in 1976, Black History Month is an opportunity to emphasize the history and achievements of African Americans.

Class 521, led by Ms. Cabral, celebrated Black History Month through art.  Students spent weeks learning about and reviewing facts about leaders in the Civil Rights Movement and investigating life in the South during the time of segregation.  To see more artwork created by class 521, visit the 4th floor, room 402.

Wall of art  from students in Ms. Cabral's 5th grade class.

Tar Wars Comes Back to PS4

Recently, physicians and medical students returned to PS4 for our annual Tar Wars presentation for students in 5th grade.  Led by Dr. Anita Softness, who coordinates Tar Wars, the program has been a hit at our school for more than seven years! 

Tar Wars is a tobacco-free education program for students in 4th and 5th grade students.  The program is designed to teach kids about the short-term, image-based consequences of tobacco use, the cost associated with using toacco products, and the aderttising techniques used by tht toacco industry to market thier produts to youth.  A follow-up post contest is conducted at the school, state, and national level to reinforce the Tar Wars message.  After a visit from doctors to her classroom, Ms. Cabral said, "I'm sure after experiencing 'Tar Wars', my students will encourage members of their family to stop smoking".  For more information about this program and the poster contest, click here!

Special thanks to Andrea Hausel, from Columbia University and Dr. Anita Softness, Tar Wars Coordinator, for making sure our school is always at the top of the list for receiving this great program!  Check out the photos below from the Tar Wars presentation at PS4!

Free picture collage created with Smilebox

Design in the Classroom

Last Friday, 5th grade students were given an opportunity to explore design as part of everyday life. Design Museum Educator, Pamela Lawton, taught an introductory workshop intended for all audiences including those who are new to design thinking. Students were engaged in conversations and participated in a hands-on design activity as a vehicle for project-based learning about designing. 

Students were only given a few art materials and a scenario in which they needed to design an object for a specific purpose. In one particular 5th grade class, students presented their finished design project as if it was a real product!  A spokesman for one of the teams acted out how groceries would be brought up several flights of stairs with their product! "What makes design and art different is that designers generally work in teams", explains Ms. Lawton. "I was really impressed with how PS4 students collaborated in teams and role-played", she says, "they went above and beyond what I've seen in other schools".

Students in 520 admire their design.

Krisnel A. using her design.

Museum educator Pamela Lawton keeps an eye on the young designers.

Ms. Cabral, co-teacher of class 521, found the workshop very informative.  "It made me realize that designers really have to think about the user", she says.  "This workshop developed my students imagination and allowed them to think deeply about the cultural differences between the Dominican Republic and the U.S....media plays a big role in our students creativity".

For more information about the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, located in Manhattan, click here!