3rd grade - Our word for today was Diaphanous. Diaphanous means translucent, transparent. The pilgrim of the day was Tom Cruise. As a boy, Tom struggled with reading, but was able to fit in school because of his athletic abilities. Tom still struggles with reading and has someone record his lines in order to memorize them. Our puzzle for the day was a Plexer. Plexers are critical thinking puzzles that require students to analyze the clues and solve problems through deductive reasoning. For more puzzles you can do at home, go to http://www.puzzles.com/index.htm.
During our trip to Crystal Pond Woods, students developed their own Plexer puzzles. They then tried to solve a neighbor's puzzles. Our Discoveries lessons have us studying the book Abel's Island. Abel has been left on a deserted island due to a hurricane. As we study survival skills, we discussed and observed through a potato experiment the reason people cannot survive on salt water.
5th grade - The word of the day was Runt. Runt means undersized; a small animal or person. It sounds like bunt. The inventor of the day was Tom Adams. After claiming a victory at the Alamo, Santa Anna ended up on Staten Island, NY with Tom Adams. Santa Anna suggested that Tom try inventing a new rubber using chicle, an abundant resource from Mexico. When the rubber idea didn't work, Tom broke off a piece and started chewing it. That led to the invention of chewing gum. This group also did Plexer puzzles. For more puzzles to do at home, go to http://www.puzzles.com/index.htm.
Our SOS project had us looking up different sea side cities and determining their warmest/coldest and average temperature. Students then had to decide why cities on the same latitude line were warmer or colder than the other. After a brief lesson on planes and joints, students left to enjoy their Accelerated Reading parties.
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