Mrs. Schaefer's 4th Grade Class

10/09/2026

My students are Rock Stars! We learned all about the rock cycle and practiced classifying rocks and minerals. We’re finishing up our geology unit this week and moving on to Building a Democracy next week.

10/01/2026

🧡 Learning, Listening, and Celebrating Culture 🧡

Yesterday, our fourth graders learned about the meaning behind Orange Shirt Day and its message that Every Child Matters. We learned about the history of Indigenous children who were sent to boarding and residential schools, where many were separated from their families, languages, and cultures. Today, many of our students chose to wear orange as a way of showing that they listened, learned, and cared.

This morning, our learning became even more meaningful when two of our fourth-grade students shared a little of their Lakota culture with us. The girls wore their beautiful powwow regalia and taught us about powwows, explained the meaning and significance behind parts of their dress and designs, demonstrated how they dance, and patiently answered many questions from their classmates.

What made the morning especially powerful was the connection between the two days. Yesterday we learned about a time when Indigenous children were discouraged or even prevented from speaking their languages and practicing their cultures. Today, we had the privilege of watching two of our own students proudly share and celebrate theirs.

09/21/2026

Our Be the Expert project has come to an end. Here are the last few demonstrations. What a fun and educational project this has been!

09/13/2026

09/10/2026

Today in our Be the Expert demonstrations we learned how to make scrambled eggs, pancakes, paper airplanes, Lego bots, and bead art, and do coin tricks! What skills will tomorrow bring?

09/10/2026

Want to learn how to juggle a soccer ball, pitch a softball, care for a rabbit, drive an RC car, do a card trick, or throw a football? Just ask our experts! Our first Be the Expert presentations are in the books. Stay tuned for more.

08/28/2026

Welcome to Mrs. Schaefer’s science classroom, where the magic happens! We’ve been learning about plate tectonics and the history of planet Earth.

08/19/2026

Sitting by the fire tonight, I find myself thinking about all the school years that have come before this one—and wondering what stories this next one will hold.
Tomorrow, a new group of fourth graders will walk through our doors carrying their own personalities, worries, excitement, talents, quirks, and possibilities. And once again, I get the privilege of being part of their story for a little while.
After all these years, I still get nervous. I still wonder if I’m ready. I still think of things I should have done. And I still feel that little spark of excitement about starting fresh. Tomorrow, the adventure begins.

07/27/2026

T-Shirt Delivery Day is almost here!👕🚌📬

On Wednesday, August 12, starting at 1:00 PM, staff will personally deliver a Norse t-shirt to every enrolled student! It is one of our favorite back-to-school traditions and a fun way to kick off the new school year with a little Norse pride! 🧡🖤

If your child will be somewhere OTHER THAN the home address we have on file during delivery, such as a grandparent’s house or daycare, please fill out this form with the address where they will be located:

🔗https://shorturl.at/4s5vj

Please submit alternate addresses by Monday, August 3 so we have time to plan our delivery routes.

Questions or prefer to provide the address by phone?
Call Katie Johnson at (715) 538-4364 ext. 163.