Past projects 2
Pioneer Life Tour on the Oregon Trail
Funded Mar 6, 2014Thank you so much for funding our field trip to Philip Foster Farm. My 4th grade students LOVED the experience and said it was their favorite field trip this year! They had a great time learning outside of school, and we were fortunate to have picked a gorgeous sunny day!
This field trip was the perfect way to wrap up our Oregon History unit. After learning about the Oregon Trail and pioneer life, this trip gave my students the opportunity to experience it in person. Upon arrival at the farm we were greeted by "pioneers" who gave us a brief history lesson and explained the significance of the Philip Foster Farm, which was one of the first pioneer settlements in Oregon. Then we visited several fun and educational hands-on stations including corn grinding, hay pulleys, wood cutting, blacksmith welding, laundry (by hand), log cabin building, and wagon loading. Students also toured an actual pioneer home and a general store replica.
In just a few hours, students learned many new skills and vocabulary words. While they had fun, they now have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the slow, difficult life that pioneers endured when they arrived in our state. For several days after the field trip, we wrote about our experience and had discussions about our connections to what we had been learning.
I'm sure students will remember this trip for years to come. Thank you again for your generosity and support.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Good
Enhancing Literacy Instruction with Scholastic News
Funded Dec 15, 2013I cannot thank you enough for your generous donations that allowed us to purchase a subscription to Scholastic News for my 4th graders. My students were so excited to receive their first copy of the magazine and to learn how to utilize the online resources that come with the subscription. Each week they are eager to read the newest edition in class and then take it home to keep, which provides families in poverty with educational reading material. The articles and photos are engaging and at a 4th grade reading level, making them both fun and educational to read.
My class reads Scholastic News to themselves each week on Fridays. Students then answer the comprehension questions on the back and check their answers with a partner, which is excellent practice for reading assessments. We often use the online informational videos to practice including evidence from reliable sources in our non-fiction writing. Additionally, many students access the online, interactive version of the magazine at home, which has extra features and past issues available to read.
Our Scholastic News subscription has not only improved students' motivation to read non-fiction text, it has greatly improved their English reading skills and vocabulary while keeping them informed about current events. In our 90/10 Spanish/English dual-immersion program, 4th grade is the first year of formal English reading instruction. Despite their recent transition to English reading, 92% of my students met or exceeded on their state English reading test! Amazing! I am confident that reading Scholastic News has helped them become better readers.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Good