Tuesday, March 31, 2015

4th Grade - The vocabulary word for today was Exploit which means a daring or heroic act. There were two explorers for today, Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. Due to an illness at a young age, Helen Keller was deaf, blind, and unable to communicate until Anne Sullivan started working with her. Students worked together to solve the Plexer puzzles for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on kindness and how to treat other people with respect. After watching a brief video about the circulatory system, students finished creating a menu that would meet their nutritional needs. The final activity was further exploration of ocean currents.

Monday, March 30, 2015

1st Grade - Today we learned that Theodore Roosevelt did not lead the Cavalry up San Juan Hill. Students worked together to complete Plexer puzzles for the warm up activity. In Crystal Pond Woods, students used their analytical thinking skills to analyze and sort items into groups.

2nd Grade - These students added the word Ceremony, which means a formal act or event that is a part of a social or religious occasion, to their vocabulary. Their explorer, William Henry Harrison, was cursed along with the rest of the Presidents elected to office in a year ending with 0 by Chief Tecumseh. Students worked together to solve the Plexer puzzles for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on the range of emotions people go through every day. Students decoded ciphers in Crystal Pond Woods.

Friday, March 27, 2015

4th Grade - Our learning today began with a new vocabulary word, Instill which means to put a feeling or idea into someone's mind slowly. Today's explorer and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, died on our country's 50th birthday. Students had to listen to directions as they completed the Loosen Up drawing for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on motivators. We began exploring our nutritional habits and then discovered more information about ocean currents.

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Occlude which means to obstruct/block. The explorer for today was Percy Spencer who accidentally invented the microwave oven. These students also completed the Surprise in the Middle drawing for the warm up activity. The focus of the affective lesson was empathic/understanding listening. We took a quick look at exploring our nutritional habits which will be completed next week. The final activity was to explore ocean currents.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

3rd Grade - Students learned that a nobleman is a man who is a member of the nobility. Louis Pasteur, today's explorer, was an average student until he went to the Ecole Normale school. Following the directions to complete the Surprise in the Middle drawing was today's warm up activity. Evaluative thinking was the focus of the trip to Crystal Pond Woods for this week. The final activity was to discover the power of ice.

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Occlude which means to obstruct/block. The explorer for today was Percy Spencer who accidentally invented the microwave oven. These students also completed the Surprise in the Middle drawing for the warm up activity. The focus of the affective lesson was empathic/understanding listening. We took a quick look at exploring our nutritional habits which will be completed next week. The final activity was to explore ocean currents.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

3rd Grade - Students learned that a nobleman is a man who is a member of the nobility. Louis Pasteur, today's explorer, was an average student until he went to the Ecole Normale school. Following the directions to complete the Surprise in the Middle drawing was today's warm up activity. Evaluative thinking was the focus of the trip to Crystal Pond Woods for this week. The final activity was to discover the power of ice.

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Occlude which means to obstruct/block. The explorer for today was Percy Spencer who accidentally invented the microwave oven. These students also completed the Surprise in the Middle drawing for the warm up activity. The focus of the affective lesson was empathic/understanding listening. We took a quick look at exploring our nutritional habits which will be completed next week. The final activity was to explore ocean currents.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

4th Grade - Our learning today began with a new vocabulary word, Instill which means to put a feeling or idea into someone's mind slowly. Today's explorer and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, died on our country's 50th birthday. Students had to listen to directions as they completed the Loosen Up drawing for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on motivators. We began exploring our nutritional habits and then discovered more information about ocean currents.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Welcome back! I hope everyone had an enjoyable and restful break.

1st Grade - Students learned that Mary Harris Jones led 100 children who had been injured working in factories to the home of Theodore Roosevelt. She did this so he would change child labor laws. For the warm up activity, students had to follow directions to draw a picture. This was a very challenging activity and took most of the hour to complete. We visited with Sybil the Scientist briefly in Crystal Pond Woods and learned that she likes to sort and classify things.

2nd Grade - Today we learned that archaeology is a science that deals with past human life and activities by studying the bones, tools, etc., of ancient people. Belle Boyd was a teenage spy and pickpocket during the Civil War. These students also completed the Loosen Up drawing for the warm up activity. In Crystal Pond Woods, students combined visual thinking and storytelling to solve figural nursery rhymes.

Friday, March 13, 2015

4th Grade - Learning today began with the vocabulary word, Plausible. Something that is Plausible seems reasonably true but may not be. The explorer, Langston Hughes, was knows as the Harlem Renaissance Man. He traveled around during the Great Depression speaking to African American groups sharing his poetry to encourage his people during a difficult time. The warm up activity had students discovering the Mystery Object which students were able to figure out. Creativity and Courage were the focus of today's affective lesson as students created shields to demonstrate an act of courage. Students then shared their ocean projects. The final activity was to figure out where the bottle was found that washed up on shore. This is part of a simulation about survival that we are starting.

5th Grade - These students learned how to create Seirpenski Triangles. Then spent the afternoon in the Hall of Heros.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

3rd Grade - The third graders learned that a Millennium is a period of 1,000 years. Their explorer, Bill Gates, was a college dropout, but he created Microsoft. Each student participated in the drawing of a house of another student for the Loosen Up warm up activity. The affective study had students focused on their valued gifts as we discussed The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. Students continued to practice the creative problem-solving process in Crystal Pond Woods.

5th Grade - This afternoon students learned that Spurious means false, counterfeit. Today's explorer, Elijah McCoy, invented a lubricating system that could oil machines while they were moving. It was named "The Real McCoy". Each student participated in drawing a small part of everyone's picture of a house for the warm up activity. The affective lesson had students thinking about things that were most important to them. Our space exploration lesson had students learning about towers and bases then using what they learned to construct their own tower. The final activity was the beginning of the SOS simulation. Students were given a found bottle and had to locate where the bottle had been picked up.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

3rd Grade - The third graders learned that a Millennium is a period of 1,000 years. Their explorer, Bill Gates, was a college dropout, but he created Microsoft. Each student participated in the drawing of a house of another student for the Loosen Up warm up activity. The affective study had students focused on their valued gifts as we listened to The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. Students continued to practice the creative problem-solving process in Crystal Pond Woods.

5th Grade - This group learned two vocabulary words today: Sojourn which means a short stay, brief residence; and Spurious which means false, counterfeit. The "Real McCoy" was invented by today's explorer, Elijah McCoy. Mr. McCoy was an African-American who could only find work on the railroad. He invented the "Real McCoy" so machines wouldn't have to stop to be oiled. This group also completed the drawings of a house for each other in the Loosen up warm up activity. The focus of today's affective lesson was ethics and character and helping students prepare for the future. The afternoon had students learning and building radio telescopes and towers. The final activity was to find the location of a bottle that had "washed up on shore" as we began our ocean study simulation.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

4th Grade - Learning today began with the vocabulary word, Plausible. Something that is Plausible seems reasonably true but may not be. The explorer, Langston Hughes, was knows as the Harlem Renaissance Man. He traveled around during the Great Depression speaking to African American groups sharing his poetry to encourage his people during a difficult time. The warm up activity had students discovering the Mystery Object which students were able to figure out. Creativity and Courage were the focus of today's affective lesson as students created shields to demonstrate an act of courage. Students then shared their ocean projects. The final activity was to figure out where the bottle was found that washed up on shore. This is part of a simulation about survival that we are starting.

Monday, March 9, 2015

1st Grade - Students learned that Benjamin Harrison, today's explorer and our 23rd President, was known as the sandwich President. Mr. Harrison was elected President between President Cleveland's two terms. Our warm up activity was to play 20 questions. The students couldn't figure out what the object was. Students continued to practice their inventive thinking in Crystal Pond Woods. Students played a game where they had to find specific shapes in various places.For our Patterns lesson, students learned about predictable patterns from the book There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Pam Adams. We discussed the difference between fiction and nonfiction. There was also a discussion about living organisms and nonliving objects.

2nd Grade - We learned that mineral is a substance (such as quartz, coal, petroleum, salt, etc.) that is naturally formed under the ground. Today's explorer, Martin Van Buren, presented his first case as a lawyer at age 15. The affective lesson focused on stress busters. Learning to use visual thinking was the focus of our trip to Crystal Pond Woods.

Friday, March 6, 2015

4th Grade -  Today's learning began with a new vocabulary word. Candid means someone who is honest and sincere. Our explorer, Milton Hershey, failed many times until he found the right recipe for caramels. Mrs. Rains shared a Hershey's kiss with everyone in honor of our special explorer. For the warm up activity, each student participated in drawing a small part of everyone's picture of a house. The affective lesson focused on creativity by having students develop a creative way to teach area and perimeter. Time was spent finishing our research projects about the ocean. The final activity was to take a pretest for our ocean simulation project.

5th Grade - This afternoon students learned that Spurious means false, counterfeit. Today's explorer, Elijah McCoy, invented a lubricating system that could oil machines while they were moving. It was named "The Real McCoy". Each student participated in drawing a small part of everyone's picture of a house for the warm up activity. The affective lesson had students thinking about things that were most important to them. Our space exploration lesson had students learning about towers and bases then using what they learned to construct their own tower. The final activity was the beginning of the SOS simulation. Students were given a found bottle and had to locate where the bottle had been picked up.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Due to inclement weather school was canceled today.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Due to inclement weather, school was canceled today.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

4th Grade -  Today's learning began with a new vocabulary word. Candid means someone who is honest and sincere. Our explorer, Milton Hershey, failed many times until he found the right recipe for caramels. Mrs. Rains shared a Hershey's kiss with everyone in honor of our special explorer. For the warm up activity, each student participated in drawing a small part of everyone's picture of a house. The affective lesson focused on creativity by having students develop a creative way to teach area and perimeter. Time was spent finishing our research projects about the ocean. The final activity was to take a pretest for our ocean simulation project.

Monday, Marcy 2, 2015

1st Grade - Today, students learned that Susan B. Anthony was not dragged through town but a stuffed dummy with her name on it was. This was because Ms. Anthony didn't think women were treated fairly. We worked together to solve a quotation puzzle for the warm up activity. In Crystal Pond Woods, students had the opportunity to use their imaginations and turn several small shapes into finished pictures. Students found patterns in nursery rhymes, in poems, in how the sun rises and sets, and in rhythm.

2nd Grade - These students learned that Debris means the pieces that are left after something has been destroyed. Our explorer, Clara Barton, was a repeat. Students remembered the bullet hole she received, she never mended that hole, and she started the American Red Cross. Students worked together to complete the Quotation Quizzler puzzle for the warm up activity. After listening to Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henke, we discussed what to do when people teased us. Students continued to developed their divergent thinking skills. When given a verb and a noun, student put the two together to create a new invention. Our final activity was to review Abel's Island, discuss the difference between primitive and civilized, and infer what we knew about Abel's friend Gower.