Category Archives: Social Studies

Vote For Me

Posted on by
Reply

Do you want a honest and fair student body president of Heathcote’s 5th grade? Well, introducing [drumroll please] Lainey! Hello, I am Lainey and I am running for student body president of Heathcote’s 5th grade. I am honest, fair, and about everything else you want in a student body president of Heathcote’s 5th grade. My birthday is in May and I enjoy doing poetry, art, playing tennis, and more! My main goal is to hear you out and make what you want happen. So, please vote for me!

The first thing I would like to change is how we care for the environment. I would like to organize a school cleanup. Also, I would like to focus on this matter a bit more so students can realize whats happening with pollution. For instance, on the playground I spot bags of chips and pieces of paper and, with a little help that won’t happen anymore. The more people realize whats happening, the less pollution the planet will face.

The second thing I would like to change is the amount of homework given each day. I think that your teachers should give you the homework for the week for you to plan what to do each day. For example, there are some days where students have longer afterschool activities then others so students can plan to do more homework one day rather then others. Also, this would benefit as a way to teach time management to the students.

In the end, how we care for the environment and the amount of homework given each day are only some of the things I would change, and with me the school can be a better place. I would love to hear your ideas. So, don’t be a painey vote for Lainey!

A Day At The Board Of Legislators

Posted on by
Reply

 

I would have never guessed that the first chairman of Westchester County is about to be 100 years old! Did you know this? A couple of weeks ago my class went on a field trip to the board of legislators and thats where I learned all these fun facts! I learned so much facts from this trip from big to small. I knew from the begigining this trip would be full of surprises… So, get ready to read about them!

During  this trip we had many new experiences that I really enjoyed. Some of these experiences were meeting our legislator so he could tell us about what it is like to be a legislator, going to the chamber room to do a mock vote on a fake law, and entering the conference room to discuss another fake law. While we were meeting the legislator he told us about his job, the process to become a legislator, and lots more. He introduced himself as Benjamin Boykin II and even called us legislators! Our class was very lucky because he wasn’t supposed to be at the board of legislators, but for some reason he was there so we got to meet him. He told us lots of interesting facts and I was thinking, how come I didn’t know that? Additionally, we got to go to the chamber room and take a photo with him! Speaking of the chamber room, we all got to go into it and we all got a job. There were four jobs. The clerks, the legislators, the public speaker, and the chairman. I was one of the clerks. I got to do roll call and discuss a law. Furthermore, I got to speak into the microphone. I was thinking, when do I get to speak into the microphone, when do I get to speak into the microphone? But, when they finally turned it on it was so cool to hear my voice loud and clear. At the end we also got to bang the gavel and say, “this meeting is now adjourned.” It felt like I had so much power! At the end I was fooling around and saying it with an accent. I was like, “ Theese meetin’ eez now adorned.” It was so funny! Next, we went to the conference room. While we were in the conference room they split us up into two groups. As a result, each table had a chairman/woman but I wasn’t one of them. The chairman/woman lead the meeting, discussing another fake law. I got the table with the chairs that turn. I was thinking, I am glad I got the chairs that turn! At the end of our fake meeting at the conference room they passed out lifesavers, they were very yummy! While going from one room to another, we passed a lot of offices. I thought it was pretty cool to look into the offices. One even had a treadmill! When we left, we each received a certificate and a pin with a golden apple because, well, Westchester is the golden apple. Right now as I am writing this, I am wondering, why gold? Why not blue, yellow, or green? Anyway, this trip was so fun and I enjoyed every part of it.

On this trip I got the experience to learn a lot on the legislative branch. Sure, I learned a lot in school but, I got to experience learning from the legislator that represents district five and a lot of Westchester County and learn about how it feels to be a lestislator. When he told us there were about 1.3 million people in westchester and 20,000 people in Scarsdale, I couldn’t help it but let my mouth drop wide open. I couldn’t believe it! In addition, I learned [as I said in my introduction] the first chairman of Westchester County is about to be 100 years old! Benjamin Boykin II showed us a picture of him. I thought to myself, Um, isn’t that kind of old. I wonder what it was like back then. Did you know that there is 17 representatives of Westchester County? As a result I was honestly surprised by this number and I thought there would be less. I learned so much from this trip and I hope to learn lots more interesting facts.

To summarize, this field trip was awesome. I had an amazing time. From the first second I walked into that building I knew this trip would be better than I thought. So, come one, come all, to the amazing [drumroll please] Board Of Legislators!

Blog Post #3 AmRev!

Posted on by
Reply

Yes, relieved is the word. I’m well, relieved!  I walked out of that room relieved and came in thinking I will be relieved when I walk out of it. I enjoyed making my movie most. I loved adding in the pictures! Also knowing that all those hours I put into it were for something when I shared my project. It was most challenging to cut off clips, they were too long! If I had to give advice to future fourth graders I would say, it’s all worth it. During the project I put so much time and effort into it. I was questioning myself, is it really worth it? I mean, hours for a couple minutes? When I heard the applause it answered my question, it was all worth it.

Blog Post #2 AmRev!

Posted on by
Reply

I selected a WeVideo to present my information. I chose this because I thought it was really cool to put my narration while you see the pictures. It also sounded professional but not only that, unlike the other choices you get to watch the movie too, and best of all you don’t really have to talk! While writing my narrative and all throughout the process I was excited about seeing my final product. Writing my narrative was kind of easy because I just took all of my research and put it into a narrative. The script was fun. I liked adding pictures. The copying and pasting part of the script process was easy though. The hard part of the script was the timing. Most of my clips were too long and a couple clips were too short. So I did a lot of editing throughout the process. While creating the project I like adding pictures, and words. When I finished it, I was really happy about my finished product. In conclusion, The Declaration of Independence is an amazing document and I hope you like it as much as I do!

Blog Post #1–AmRev!

Posted on by
Reply

I wonder how I might have felt if one day I was part of great Britain and the next day I’d have to choose a side. When I first started my pre research I knew what I didn’t want to do but not exactly what I did. Then I tried researching something that spoke to me, and then, bam, it clicked. I chose something that changed all of our lives, the declaration of independence. This year in fourth grade we are doing our Causes of the American Revolution project. I used all different sources to find my research including Britannica Online School Edition, Explora, Pebble Go, Pebble Go Next, Epic, True Flix, Fact cite, World Book Kids, Ducksters, and Brainpop. I also used books. No, it wasn’t challenging finding information but eventually when I looked at all the sources and I didn’t know what to do next, that’s when my teachers recommended some books for me and then I was ready to start a narrative. If I could go back to the beginning of the project I think I would change the way I researched and organized my information.  I have to admit I couldn’t even read my own research! I had research all over the place, and I didn’t have enough room to fit all my research. If I used another piece of paper for my research I probably would have read my research better, so I probably would have used more research for my narrative. As we move into the next phase of the project I’m feeling excited to see where my project will take me.

The Southern Colonies

Posted on by
Reply

I can’t imagine living in colonial times, it is so different from today. When I started the project I didn’t notice how amazing colonial times can be! When I first started I wasn’t exactly sure what colonial region I wanted to choose but then when I learned about the Southern colonies it popped out and stuck with me. 

I chose to take notes in the organizer packet because I thought it was the best choice for me ; it helped me organize without having to do it myself. I chose the infographic because I liked the way it organized my information. I used a lot of helpful websites, I used Epic, Ducksters and Trueflix to help me research. It wasn’t challenging finding the information I needed, but it sure was challenging cutting out information! I put my information into six groups: geography, daily life, economics, jobs, chief products, and an interesting fact. I chose to organize my facts this way because I felt it really hit the overall point of my research. I think the biggest challenge in creating this project was cutting out information, all of my facts were important! 

The part of the project I enjoyed most was making it into an infographic. I loved the way it looked! If I could go back I think I would change how I organize it. I felt the “daily life” section could be broken up into many parts. For example, clothing, food,women, men, children, etc. When I saw my finished piece I was really proud of the time and effort I put into it.  It was amazing! 

Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!