Multicultural Fair - 2017 (VIDEO)

Our Multicultural Fair was a success!  Students in all grades worked with their classmates and teachers to create presentations and poster boards representing a specific culture or country that students spent time learning about. Our Multicultural Fair took place in the gymnasium. All classes visited the fair during the day and parents were invited to see all the presentations after school.  Take a look at the slideshow below for some highlights from the fair!

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Cluster Teacher Awards Ceremony - 2015

Attendees at the Cluster Teacher Awards Ceremony on December 8, 2015.

Congratulations to all the award winners that received certificates at the Cluster Teacher Awards Ceremony! Nearly fifty parents and guests attended the ceremony to see their child receive an award from PS4's Cluster Teachers!  The Cluster teachers work with all PS4 students each week to teach Science, Technology, Social Studies, Physical Education, Reading, Music and Math.

Upon careful consideration of classwork, effort, character and citizenship, fifteen students were selected to receive an award in the auditorium.  On behalf of all Ms. McLeod (Reading), Mr. Means (Music),  Ms. McArdle (Physical Education), Ms. Baez (Science), Mr. Cesani (Technology) and Mr. Harris (Social Studies), congratulations to all the award winners!  Take a look at the slideshow below for more photos from the event.

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This Week In Social Studies: A Word From Mr. Harris

This week in Social Studies, I am preparing the Kindergarten and 1st grade classes for their next holiday; Thanksgiving!  Most people think of food and family at the end of November. I thought it was important for the students to know two things about thanksgiving that hey may not have known or perhaps forgotten.

1. Thanksgiving celebrations in America date back to the Pilgrims and the Native Americans sharing a meal in the 17th century.  The Pilgrims were new to America and did not know how to grow food or live in the cold environment of Plymouth, Massachusetts.  The Native American men and women already living in the area felt sorry for the Pilgrims and taught them how to survive!  They taught them  how to plant crops and how to build shelters.  The harvest that they produced became the food that they ate together.  That was how Thanksgiving began!
2.  Thanksgiving means more than food and that people should remember to "give thanks" for the things that they do have in their life. Giving thanks means to be happy with what you have.

Thanksgiving is a special time that we should all give thanks for the things we have.  Happy Thanksgiving!

This Week in Social Studies with Mr. Harris

Social Studies is the study of history, the land and people who have lived on lands for thousands of years. Social Studies is also the study of governments and how the laws they make affect the people that live under those laws. Understanding Social Studies is also about understanding the culture of men and women that lived in the past so that the men and women of today can learn more about their own culture. This is why I take social studies so seriously and why I want my students to do the same. Each and every week I will update you on what our students are learning and hopefully this can encourage you or a parent to do some additional research.

This Week in Social Studies our third graders have been learning how to label a map of the world. They have been taught how to construct a map using a map key with colors, a compass rose and how to identify the 7 continents and 5 oceans. After finishing their project, students will know the names of the seven continents, the names five oceans, and the roles of the equator and the prime meridian on a map.

Social Studies With Mr. Harris

All year long, our 3rd Grade students will be learning about various cultures of the world.  This month, Mr. Harris (Social Studies teacher) will be teaching lessons about the history of Nigeria!  Nigeria is a country on the continent of Africa. There are at least 250 languages spoken in Nigeria and possibly more than 400!  Music and art spring from strong tribal roots.  To see a video about Nigeria, click here. 

Nigeria's capital city of Abuja.

Students will be asked to create a timeline charting the ancient days of Nigerian civilization up to its current government that exists today. The students will also learn about the colonization of Nigeria to European countries and its move towards an independent government that exists today. Third graders are looking very forward to tying together all of their past lessons that will give them a complete comprehensive understanding of the country of Nigeria.

Social Studies with Mr. Harris

This year in Social Studies, our 3rd Grade students will be learning about various cultures of the world. By learning about different countries and its citizens, students will have a better understanding of the outside world and a better appreciation of the world that they live in. In this video, produced by the BBC, David Attenborough discusses all of the wonders of the continent of Africa, the continent that the third grade is currently learning about. In this Youtube video (not accessible in school),  he mentions geographic areas that Mr. Harris has discussed in 3rd grade classes; the Rain Forests in Africa and the deserts in Northern Africa. Enjoy the video and take notes!

To go to the BBC website, featuring the full video about Africa, click here!  For more information about the continent of Africa, click here!

Presidential Inauguration Essay Contest

What Is The 5th Learning About?

After the Social Studies Quiz Bowl, the 5th grade is changing their focus from The United States Government to the expansion of America. Students will be learning about the Louisiana Purchase, explorers like Lewis and Clark and the history of Native Americans living in this country. Look forward to the students gaining their knowledge by constructing timelines, Venn Diagrams and completing a research paper about the expansion of America. "I think our students will be ready for the challenge", says school's Social Studies teacher, Mr. Harris.

For great resources to help you learn about the expansion of America, check out these websites!

• History.org - Westward Expansion
• PBS.org - Lewis and Clark Trail Interactive Map
• Bookrags.com - Timeline of Westward Expansion Events
• Westward Movement

Social Studies Bowl - 2012

Recently, each 4th and 5th grade class celebrated their knowledge of Social Studies in front of family members and friends as they competed for class prizes in a Social Studies Bowl!  Hosted by Ms. Thomas and Mr. Harris (Social Studies teachers), students answered questions related to American government, geography, history and facts about the recent presidential election.  Each student was given an opportunity to answer a question with support from classmates in teams of three or four.  "Our students really had to study", said Ms. Martin (Assistant Principal), "and they were prepared for this challenge - I'm  proud of them".

The final round consisted of one member of each class reciting the preamble of the United States Constitution:

In the end, classes 401 and 501 received gifts for their class.  However, each student should be proud the the amount of effort they put into studying.  Congratulations! See the photos below for some of the highlights below!

Members of class 501 - the winning team.

4th grade students who recited the Preamble!

4th grade students from class 421.

5th grade winners who recited the Preamble.

Social Studies with Mr. Harris: November

Mr. Harris working with 5th grade students.

Before school was interrupted, due to Hurricane Sandy, Mr. Harris has been teaching the upper grades about our Nation's constitution and how it was created to make a better government. The nation's first plan of government was a document called The Articles of Confederation. Unfortunately, for the government at the time (1783), the document made the country weak because the country's citizens didn't respect the laws. Because of that, the nation's leaders decided to create The Constitution (1787)!  What the constitution did was make America a stronger country with laws that people respected. It also set the framework for the way American citizens vote for the President.  Those are the same basic rules that Americans still follow today!

For more information on our Constitution look in the back of your Social Studies textbooks or click here!

Presidential Election - 2012

Presidential elections have been held since 1789. Since 1792, the U.S. Constitution has required that presidential elections be held every four years. This year’s election will be the 57th presidential race in U.S. history!  The debates are one of the best ways for voters to see the candidates defend their voting records and explain their position on issues that voters are concerned about. Doing well in a debate can help put a candidate above his or her competition, and doing poorly can help end a campaign.

For the next two weeks, PS4 students will learn about the candidates and important issues that are discussed during the debates. Here are a list of kid-friendly websites to help you learn more about the 2012 presidential elections:

• Scholastic - Election 2012
• Time for Kids - Election 2012
• Fact Monster - Presidential Campaign 2012
• Gallopade - Elections for Kids
• PBS Kids - Meet the Candidates

Monday Is Columbus Day!

Schools and offices will be closed on Monday, October 8th, in observance of Columbus Day.  Read Columbus's letters about his 1492 voyage, compare the world before and after his arrival and more at Ed.gov.  Click here to watch a video about this famous Italian explorer!

Social Studies with Mr. Harris: Famous African-Americans

This month, Mr. Harris (PS4's Social Studies teacher) will be highlighting Jackie Robinson; the first African-American baseball player signed to Major League Baseball (MLB). Robinson broke the color line when he started with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. As the first black player to play in the major leagues since the 1880's, he was instrumental in bringing an end to racial segregation in professional baseball. For sixty years, African-American players were forced to play in the Negro Leagues. Over ten seasons, he played in six World Series' and contributed to the Dodgers 1955 World Championship Game. He was the recipient of the 1947 NMLB Rookie of the Year Award and won National League's Most Valuable Player Award in 1949-the first African-American player to do so. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 and in 1997 Major League Baseball retired his uniform number, 42, across all Major League Teams.

As we celebrate the achievements of African-Americans, feel free to check out these great websites:

• FactMonster.com (Hip-Hop Quiz)
• Scholastic.com (Black History Month Activities)
• PBSkids.com (Matching Game)
• History.com (Videos)
  

Social Studies with Mr. Harris: The American Revolution

This month, students in grades 3-5 are learning about early American history, the thirteen colonies and The American Revolution. Throughout the many lessons, they will learn how America became independent, how George Washington became the first President of The United States and how the founding fathers created The Constitution (the document that all of our laws are based on).

For games, videos and information on these important historical events, click the links below:

• Exploration of North America; 1492-1700 (Interactive Map)
• Social Studies for Kids; American Revolution
• George Washington
• The Constitution of the United States