Fourth grade is AWESOME!

The last few weeks, fourth grade has been completely immersed in finishing projects, performing in a pop up strings concert, narrating and performing in the Spring Program, and creating and staging the Fourth Grade Fair for the Lower School. Without a doubt this WAS the busiest time of year but oh what fun we had!

Filming puppet adaptation of John Rankin and John Parker

Student recording her song of freedom accompanied by guitar

Filming puppet show of Thomas Garrett

Director making finishing touches on Lucretia Mott Lego movie

The students have been studying the inception of slavery and the abolition movement in the United States till the end of the Civil War. Each student was assigned a different topic or individual(s) to research. They were given age appropriate books or handouts and were tasked with creating a script that told the story of their topic. They were given complete artistic license. What this actually means is that they could use any form of expression to tell their story ~ a play, puppetry, stop motion animation, dance, music, or whatever their creative minds could think up. The one caveat was that they had to create a movie documenting their topic. The result was phenomenal. Each student's work demonstrates an understanding of their topic and a high level of creative competency in producing their film. The students had the opportunity to view all the films in chronological order. Below is a url to all movies.

                                                                         https://youtu.be/PTM5viPNrY4

Rehearsing for the concert

Performing in Stewart Lobby

Violins, violas and cellos were the instruments being played at the 4th grades pop-up concert in the Stewart Lobby of the Upper School. Under the direction of Franklin Niño, the students have been studying their instrument since the beginning of the school year. This was the first time they all played together in concert and the result was wonderful. The turn out couldn't have been better and the audience favorite was a tie between Hot Cross Buns and Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel. 

Post performance

As leaders in Lower School, the 4th grade students were given the opportunity to be the leads and transition musicians in the Spring Programs this year. The production was entitled The Story of the Great Wood ~ A Fairytale,  the students had fun portraying knights, wizards, elves, centaurs and other woodland creatures. They also had the opportunity to sing, choreograph and dance their hearts out. A phenomenal performance was given by all.

As a final gesture, demonstrating their leadership in the lower school and their ability to work together to create a day of pure fun, the fourth grade creates and runs The Fourth Grade Fair. The fair includes a bit of magic and face painting as well as interactive games and competitions. Fourth graders decide on what booths, games and competitions they wish to create and sponsor and then they run the show! The end result is pure joy and lots of endless laughter. It has been a great year. Thank you to all families and friends!