Connecting with the California That We Know and Love
4th graders all over California spend the school year learning about the beloved state in which they reside. Some may have been born in California, have multi-generational Californian families, or have moved here from another place that they once called home. Though these students all have different connections to California, most recognize that this is a place that they know and love. Throughout the school year 4th graders examine what makes California a desirable place to live, how California became the powerhouse state that it is today, and dive deeply into its multilayered history. This is no different for our students at Brandeis!
Brandeis 4th graders began the school year learning all about where California is in relation to the rest of the world. They zoomed in from the largest pieces of land on Planet Earth, the continents, and our state, to the tiny peninsula of San Francisco. Along the way they learned about the geographical features of California, how these affect the population of cities and the daily lives of their residents. One student wrote, “The largest cities in California are found by the coast because oceans and rivers offer an easy way to move people and goods. This helps businesses and settlements grow.” Another student stated, “Population density is different from place to place because the terrain affects how many people want to live there and the size the city can be. In small places like Bridgeport people can live in houses that are spread out but in cities like San Francisco it is very crowded and many people live in apartment buildings.” Students also determined that the location of different cities can put their populations at risk of falling victim to Natural Disasters!
Currently in Reader’s Workshop, 4th graders are using their research skills to identify the different types of Natural Disasters that people in California could be negatively affected by. These included Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Wildfires, Drought, Blizzards, Floods, and Erosion. They are determining who might be most at-risk, based on where they live in California, and are creating infographic posters to warn those people, while demonstrating their learning. Students are using common infographic features to present information, utilizing tools such as subheadings to give readers a quick overview of what could be found below and photographs and charts to capture their readers attention.
Lastly, students will put on their engineering hats and think about how they could prevent Natural Hazards from becoming Natural Disasters. They will also create preparedness kits for a variety of natural hazards.

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