Category: 3rd/4th Grade

Meet Our Director of Teaching and Learning

12/3/2018

By Science & Arts Academy

As Director of Teaching and Learning, Karen Boyle manages the day-to-day operations that relate to teaching and learning at Science & Arts Academy. For nearly 25 years, Karen has been working as a teacher and administrator in independent schools. Her belief that relationships are critical to a child's ability to learn guides her approach to education. “Our best learning occurs when we step outside of our comfort zone, challenge ourselves, and accept the risk of making a mistake. When children feel connected to their teachers, they are more apt to do these things."

Third & Fourth Grade Novel Study

1/9/2018

In the December 20th edition of the Des Plaines Journal, an article appeared documenting our culminating activity for the third and fourth grade novel study of the book Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. The text of the article is copied below.

Science & Arts Academy Students Spread Message of Kindness

Third and fourth graders from Science & Arts Academy in Des Plaines have just finished reading and discussing the book, Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. The main character’s experiences in navigating through childhood with facial differences deeply resonated with SAA students and helped them understand the importance of acceptance and empathy. They culminated their novel study with a field trip to the AMC Randhurst Theater on Thursday, December 7th to view a screening of the movie, Wonder. Students all wore specially created t-shirts with the words “CHOOSE KIND” on the front, in an effort to help spread this important message in and around our community. “Appearances don’t matter. It’s what the person is actually like once you get to know them that matters,” shared Nico Lopez, third grader at SAA. Students learned that the words of Mr. Tushman ring true, “Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.”

Elementary Science Olympiad (ESO)

5/19/2017

This past Saturday, May 13th, SAA hosted its first ever Elementary Science Olympiad tournament. Five teams competed in 12 different events including Anatomy, Bridges, Junkyard Cars, and Trajeggtory (an egg toss device to protect the egg). Our team earned medals in most of the events. The Elementary Science Olympiad team has been practicing Mondays after school with coaches Aaron Feinberg and Colleen Storiz since November. Students have been working hard to learn new Science concepts and prepare for the tournament.

We would like to thank all the parent and student volunteers that made the tournament such a huge success, we couldn't have done it without you. We would also like to congratulate all of our ESO students. Way to go, SAA!

Math Happenings

12/9/2016

A few weeks ago, forty 3rd-8th grade students from SAA participated in the Fall 2017 Noetic Learning Math Contest. SAA had seven 3rd and 4th graders who competed amongst 4,143 students at their grade level nationally. Among those seven students, Richie was not only the SAA team winner, but also earned a National Honorable Mention score. On the 3rd-4th grade team, Sela, Austin and Kaitlyn earned a National Honorable Mention score.

On our 6th grade team of ten students, Will earned a National Honor Roll score of 100%. He was one of only ten students from a pool national total of 2,543 6th grade students who participated in this meet and earned a perfect score. Congratulations to Will! Other 5th and 6th graders on the SAA 6th grade team who earned a National Honorable Mention Score include Jaden, Michael, and Linnea.

SAA was pleased to have twenty-three 7th and 8th grade students participate among a national total of 915 eighth grade students. 7th grader Julia was the SAA 8th grade team winner. Along with Julia, Thomas, Elizabeth, Ryan, Dashiell, Mary Catherine, Hadrian, Elia, Zeph, Elena and Gabe all earned National Honorable Mention scores.

Thank you to all 40 of the SAA students who participated. They will have a second meet in April for the Spring 2017 Noetic Learning Math Contest.

SAA Math Competition News

11/11/2016

SAA's Math Competition Season begins this month! Here's what's in store:

MS Math Team and a group of 3rd and 4th grade students will participate in the Noetic Learning Math Contest in November and April.
All Middle School students and fourth grade students in Pre-Algebra will participate in the national AMC 8 meet on Tuesday, November 15th during math class.
3rd and 4th graders, as well as Middle School Math Club and Math Team members will be starting the MOEMS in November. The first 3rd and 4th grade MOEMS date is Wednesday, November 16th and the first Middle School MOEMS date is Friday, November 18.
Ten 6th graders will represent SAA at the annual Latin School Math Contest on Saturday, January 28th. Practices for the meet began in early November and will continue through into January. Thanks to the students who are joining Math Team for this one meet and attending all of the practices to prepare for this great day.

Keep an eye out for math more math competition news in the new year with even more meets this winter and spring. Visit the Beyond the Classroom page for more information about the 3rd and 4th grade Math Club, Middle School Math Club or Middle School Math Team.

Annual TriMathlon
Mathnasium of Harwood Heights held their annual TriMathlon last weekend. Two SAA fifth grade students participated and placed in the top five! Congratulations to both of these students!

Research Sharing and Women on Money Project

5/4/2015

This past week 3rd/4th grade language arts students proudly read their books to the lower school students. The students wrote and illustrated books on an insect or animal that they had researched. Their books were based off of Doreen Cronin's "Diary of a ….." series. It was a wonderful experience for all!

6th grade Social Studies took a break from the French Revolution and shifted the conversation to Women and Money: What Women are on Dollars and Coins? Currently, the US Treasury is debating whether to change the $20 bill of Andrew Jackson to a woman figure from history. Thus, students were asked to design a new dollar bill with a woman to be on the front.

Earth Week 2015

4/22/2015

I'm sure you heard the announcement of Monday's trash collection of 24 kilograms (52.8 pounds) and that was JUST the lunch room. Yesterday, we reduced the total weight of trash at lunch by 11.22 pounds. Everyday, 7th and 8th grade students will be measuring the amount of trash in the lunchroom with the hopes of reducing the amount of trash collected on a daily basis. A chart has been made and will be hung in the lunch room!

Later this week, 7th and 8th grade students will be going out into the neighborhood to pick up trash. Last year, we filled an entire dumpster with collected trash just from around the Des Plaines River area.

SAA has recently "adopted a highway" which our students will be responsible for keeping clean, starting this week.

Mr. Bonecutter's Sixth grade students have been working on a sustainability unit. They are preparing a class trifold on Biogeochemical Cycles and one that describes related design considerations for a long-range spacecraft. They are also recording one-minute presentations to go along with the trifolds that they will share with our students.

Fifth Grade students will be working on an oil spill experiment and on water conservation throughout the week with Mrs. Maliwanag.

1st - 4th grade classes will be making their own recycled paper and looking at recycled plastics during their classes with Mr. Linder.

Kindergarten classes will be planting flowers along with discussing the importance of reducing trash, electricity usage, and water.

The Science Department has also ordered a composting unit for the entire school to start using that will accept any raw fruits and vegetables.

Please remind your advisory students to pack lunch carefully and THINK before they pack. Remind them to use cloth napkins rather than paper, reusable plastic containers for snacks and sandwiches rather than baggies, and to turn off lights when they're leaving a room at home.

Together, we can help this planet stay beautiful!
Happy Earth Week,
Mrs. Storiz

Third and Fourth Graders

2/24/2015

Third and fourth grade students are busy looking for and identifying textual evidence to support character traits such as loyalty, compassion, and generosity, found in Gregor the Overlander. Once they find all their evidence, they will be writing five paragraph essays to support their ideas.

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