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!

5th Grade Students Receive Certificates

Awarded students from the 5th grade.

During a recent monthly assembly, twenty-six students from the 5th grade received certificates for their hard work.  Certificates included:

• Math Masters
• Accelerated Reader
• Project Wisdom's Golden Rule (showing kindness, responsibility and overall good character)
• Student of the Month (overall academic progress)

"You and your teachers have been working very hard", said Mr. Batiz (Assistant Principal).  "It is important that you show progress...go from a 2 to a 3...from a 3 to a 4".  Each month, Mr. Batiz listens to the presidents and vice presidents of each class discuss what they have been learning.  Teachers are then given a chance to distribute certificates to those students who deserve to be recognized.

Congratulations to those students who have been recognized for the month of January!  Keep up the good work!

Four-In-A-Row Competition

For two months, students have been practicing their multiplication facts at home, in class and even during lunch!  Recently, three teams competed in the Four-In-A-Row Competition!  Here are the winning teams:

First Place: Team 401 (Ms. Daniels) - Abigail C., Isis A., Carlos S., Ashley M., and Brianna P.
Second Place: Team 523 (Ms. Anderson) - Byron M., Aleya B., Carolina C., Naa M., and Anthony M.
Third Place: Team 324 (Ms. Schwartz) - Armando R., Nathaniel P., Vanessa P., Elijah C., and Francis D.

1st Place Team from class 401.

2nd Place Team from class 523.

Assistant Principal, Mr. Batiz, leads the competition.

Students in these teams each received a medal.  The first place team received a trophy and certificates.  Congratulations to all participants!  Your hard work did not go unnoticed!

To play your own four-in-a-row multiplication game online, click here!

5th Grade Goes To Yankee Stadium

On Tuesday, 5th graders visited Yankee Stadium in the Bronx!  The new home of the New York Yankees opened on April 2, 2009.  Students were able to visit the museum and sit in the dugouts.  Tour guides shared lots of facts of the stadium and gave a lot of information about famous baseball players, including Derek Jeter.  Naa M (class 523) was very excited about the trip.  "I have to start watching baseball", she said, "now that I'm learning about the history of Yankee Stadium, I'm interested."  Five parents also took the trip to Yankee Stadium and enjoyed taking pictures of their children.  Everyone was given a key chain to take home.

We are very thankful to the Yankee Stadium staff for being so kind to the boys and girls of PS4.  Go Yankees!