Math & Science Stations for 4th Grade

Math Stations with a little bit of Science?  I am trying to do more and more math and science stations during my class.  I would love input from others that teach upper elementary grades. Years past I have simply had students work in groups of 4 on similar projects.  This past school year I am began doing 20 min. stations.  I have 2 hours to teach both Math, Science, and Social Studies, though Social Studies would not get taught each day as the other two subjects did.  I tried to use the B.U.I.L.D. Math method, and idea I got from Mrs. Thompson's Adventures In Teaching Blog.  So, this is how my stations worked and the resources I used in each station.

Station 1 :  Basic Fact Practice. (flash cards, games, etc...)

Station 2:  Science:  (guided notes, research project, hands on activity)

Station 3:  Math game to go along with skill being taught. (Deck of cards, board game, dice, etc...)

Station 4:  Usually some type of reading to go along with weekly Math skill.  Most of the time I would use Dyna Math magazine by Scholastic that was purchased for us by our PTO.  Most every skill was found in the magazines throughout the year.  Other times I would use the text for students to read and practice.  I did make students break up the reading and read sections of it to the group.

Station 5:  Technology.  I would have 2 students working on my Mimio Board with some type of interactive activity that also went along with the skill and two students on the 2 classroom computers that I assigned a Mega Math game (This is a site full of games that goes along with our HSP Math series) or a Study Island assignment.

Station 6:  With the teacher.  This is where I get to meet with each student.  Usually this may be using Accelerated Math or one on one with somewhere the student is struggling.  It is also where I can challenge my higher level students.  

The stations usually begin on Tuesday after I have gone over the skills for the week on Monday.  Tuesday and Wednesday we go through the centers.  Thursday we come together as whole group and find out where more understanding is needed.  As I said, each station I limit to 20 minutes, which never seems like enough time for them to finish.  I would love to hear input on what my fellow teacher peers from around the world do. So, let me know!!

Collecting Data to Drive Instruction:

When it comes to collecting data on what your students have mastered, what is the best resource you have found?  How do you do this at your school?  Do you use an app, software, or an online tool to help you collect data from students?  I am currently looking for a better solution.  I created the following using Excel.  I give students a pretest at the beginning of the 9 weeks and end of the 9 weeks and look at the data.  I would like to do it on a more weekly basis, but I don't feel as if I have time to plan due to keeping up with data or vice versa.  I would love a better solution or is time always going to be an issue as a teacher (which we know it will be).  Your input is greatly appreciated!!  Sorry for the blurry picture below, but it was the best I could post.  

I have really been enjoying our Solar System unit in Science.  Since I only teach Math, Science and Social Studies, I have been trying to do a better job of incorporating language arts into my content.  The students had just finished a poetry unit in their Language Arts classes so I had each student to pick a type of poem and a planet of their choice to create a poem about a planet.  Their information in their poem HAD to come from the resources they used.  If they did an acrostic poem and could not find a word to go along with their letter the had to find another way to say something about the planet by either using a synonym or wording the information differently.  They also had to illustrate their poem. I was so happy with the outcome I wanted to publish their poems in the hall.  My idea was to make my class door the sun and then put the planet poems in "planet" order from the sun down the hall.  As I began the adventure of decorating my door, my ELA teaching partner asked me if I was decorating my Dr. Seuss door.  Confused, I told her no then explained my idea.  She then explained that ELA teachers wanted the doors to be decorated for Dr. Seuss's birthday.  Needless to say I was heartbroken because I was so excited with my Solar System idea.  After a little pouting and fussing I figured Dr. Seuss had to have a quote about stars or something.  My student teacher, Brooke,  discovered, "There's No Place Like Space".  Yay!!! I was so happy with the quote she found during a Google search.  So here is how I was able to keep my idea and celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday at the same time!! My student teacher and I really enjoyed putting this together and the students are excited about their poems being placed in the hall.  Check it out!!

The Door says "There are 8 planets that circle the sun
and soon you'll be able to name everyone." -Dr. Seuss

 

 

 

 

The students really enjoyed this.  I loved reading their poems and really liked to see their creativity in their illustrations.  There are many more poems I have to display.  I look forward to reading each and every one.