Monday, November 30, 2015

2nd Grade - Today students learned that Condensation is the process of changing a gas or vapor to a liquid or solid form. James Monroe, today's investigator and the fifth President of the United States, was so poor in his old age that his daughter had to support him. Student started to solve a logic grid puzzle, but time ran out before we could complete it.

3rd Grade - This group learned that a generalization is a result of a process; a general statement, idea, or principle. Today's investigator, Harrison Ford, performs real life rescues not just on the silver screen. Together they were able to solve a logic grid puzzle for the warm up activity. In Crystal Pond Woods students created their own logic grid puzzles. After learning about how big our balloon grew from the experiment two weeks ago, students learned that there are a number of fields that require a scientist. Finally, students chose a Polynesian island and began research information about the island/s.

4th Grade - These students learned that Gloat means a person who is happy about another person's failure. Today's investigator, Roberto Clemente was a hero on and off the baseball field. Together students solved the logic grid puzzle for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on identifying what made a previous assignment successful and breaking it down to be able to use that information on a future assignment. The afternoon was spent researching a planet for the solar system project.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Enrichment classes were canceled today for Dr. Rains to attend meetings.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving break.

Monday, November 23, 2015

2nd Grade - This group was working on their Thanksgiving rotations with the rest of 2nd Grade.

3rd Grade - Class canceled due to the short week.

4th Grade - Today, students learned the word Sullen means someone who is sulky or quietly in a bad mood. The investigator for today, Mary Cassatt, became a famous impressionist painter in spite of the fact that she was a woman. Students continued to develop their creativity and following direction skills for the warm up activity as the drew a Surprise in the Middle picture. The affective lesson focused on choices, lifestyle, responsibilities and time. During the afternoon, students worked as teams to complete a See, Run, Do poster. This project helped lay the foundation for building the annual robots that will be exchanged with another school in our district.

Friday, November 20, 2015

3rd Grade - The final of our three branches of government, the Judicial Branch, was today's vocabulary word. The Judicial Branch is the branch of government charged with the interpretation of laws and the administration of justice; the judiciary. This group was able to solve the Mystery Object/20 questions warm up activity. The focus of their affective lesson was to evaluate where they are currently in regards to the five characteristics of gifted people and determine where they want to be in the future. They then set goals to meet that success. We then acted a scientists completing an experiment using sugar, water, yeast, a water bottle, and a balloon. The final activity was to research information about hurricanes.

5th Grade - These students learned that Sedulous means industrious. Today's investigator, Samuel Colt, did not have people lined up to buy his first revolver until the army began using them. Students completed Plexer puzzles for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on peer pressure and how to avoid it. The afternoon was spent brainstorming ideas and researching to see if the ideas had already been invented. This was to set the stage for the Exploravision contest.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Dr. Rains was providing enrichment activities in regular classes today.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

2nd Grade - This group played Attribute Dominoes in Crystal Pond Woods as they continued to expand their Convergent thinking skills.

3rd Grade - The final of our three branches of government, the Judicial Branch, was today's vocabulary word. The Judicial Branch is the branch of government charged with the interpretation of laws and the administration of justice; the judiciary. This group was able to solve the Mystery Object/20 questions warm up activity. The focus of their affective lesson was to evaluate where they are currently in regards to the five characteristics of gifted people and determine where they want to be in the future. They then set goals to meet that success. We then acted a scientists completing an experiment using sugar, water, yeast, a water bottle, and a balloon. The final activity was to research information about hurricanes.

5th Grade - These students learned that Sedulous means industrious. Today's investigator, Samuel Colt, did not have people lined up to buy his first revolver until the army began using them. Students completed Plexer puzzles for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on peer pressure and how to avoid it. The afternoon was spent brainstorming ideas and researching to see if the ideas had already been invented. This was to set the stage for the Exploravision contest.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

2nd Grade - Today we covered the affective (social/emotional) lesson. The focus was on motivators to complete a task.

4th Grade - This group learned that the word excessive means something that goes beyond the usual limit. Today's investigator, George Washington Carver, came up with more than 300 uses for the peanut. These students quickly solved the Mystery Item for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on social and emotional safety mechanisms people use. Students worked solving electrical math problems using a formula. The rest of the day was spent completing the Munracks.

Monday, November 16, 2015

2nd Grade - Today these students learned that Evaporation means to change from a liquid or solid state into a vapor. Sybil Luddington, today's investigator, was a female Paul Revere warning others that the British were coming. This group tried unsuccessfully to figure out the Mystery Item for the warm up activity.

3rd Grade - The final of our three branches of government, the Judicial Branch, was today's vocabulary word. The Judicial Branch is the branch of government charged with the interpretation of laws and the administration of justice; the judiciary. This group was able to solve the Mystery Object/20 questions warm up activity. The focus of their affective lesson was to evaluate where they are currently in regards to the five characteristics of gifted people and determine where they want to be in the future. They then set goals to meet that success. We then acted a scientists completing an experiment using sugar, water, yeast, a water bottle, and a balloon. The final activity was to research information about hurricanes.

4th Grade - This group learned that the word excessive means something that goes beyond the usual limit. Today's investigator, George Washington Carver, came up with more than 300 uses for the peanut. These students quickly solved the Mystery Item for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on social and emotional safety mechanisms people use. Students worked solving electrical math problems using a formula. The rest of the day was spent completing the Munracks.

Friday, November 13, 2015

2nd Grade - Due to the special Veterans Day celebration Wednesday, these students came today. They completed the logic puzzles they started yesterday.

3rd Grade - These students began today's lessons by learning that the Legislative Branch is the branch of government that has the power to make laws. Their investigator, Walt Disney had his cartoons rejected by the Chicago Tribune. These students solve the "What in the World" puzzle for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on Mother Teresa because she exhibited all five characteristics of a successful person. The rest of the morning was spent trying to solve double logic elimination puzzles in Crystal Pond Woods.

5th Grade - Today's learning began with the vocabulary word Opprobrious which means shameful, infamous. The investigator, John Pemberton, invented a popular brain tonic until wine was banned in Atlanta. After selling his formula and a few changes made to the original recipe, the drink became known as Coca-Cola. Students solved a Mystery Item/20 question puzzle for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on the many "pieces" that go together to make a person who they are today. The afternoon was spent becoming informed about the Exploravision contest that students will begin working on next week.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

2nd grade - Students traveled to Crystal Pond Woods where they worked on solving convergent thinking puzzles with manipulatives.

Dr. Rains spent the rest of the day providing small group enrichment opportunities to Kindergarten-2nd grade students.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Happy Veterans Day to all of those who have served or are currently serving our country in the armed forces. We appreciate all you do so we can have a free country.

2nd Grade - Class was postponed until Friday for a special Veterans Day celebration.

3rd Grade - These students began today's lessons by learning that the Legislative Branch is the branch of government that has the power to make laws. Their investigator, Walt Disney had his cartoons rejected by the Chicago Tribune. These students solve the "What in the World" puzzle for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on Mother Teresa because she exhibited all five characteristics of a successful person. The rest of the morning was spent trying to solve double logic elimination puzzles in Crystal Pond Woods.

5th Grade - Today's learning began with the vocabulary word Opprobrious which means shameful, infamous. The investigator, John Pemberton, invented a popular brain tonic until wine was banned in Atlanta. After selling his formula and a few changes made to the original recipe, the drink became known as Coca-Cola. Students solved two Mystery Items for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on the many "pieces" that go together to make a person who they are today. The afternoon was spent becoming informed about the Exploravision contest that students will begin working on next week.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

2nd Grade - Last week students learned how to set goals they wanted to accomplish. This week they worked out the steps necessary to reach those goals. They then read a story together and completed pictures to go with the story from Tangrams.

4th Grade - The vocabulary word for this group today was Benevolent which means kind and caring. Jimmy Carter, today's investigator and 39th President of the United States, helped bring about peace in the Middle East.These students solved the "What in the World" puzzles for the warm up activity. The focus of today's affective lesson was how confidence and insecurities affect performance. Students tried to use a formula to figure out the conversion of watts to amps or volts. We will work on this project some more next week. The final activity was to finish creating their Munracks.

Monday, November 9, 2015

2nd Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Forecast which means a prediction, especially as to the weather. James Madison, today's investigator, was small in stature but a mental giant as he is known as the "Father of the Constitution." Students solved a "What in the World" puzzle for the warm up activity.

3rd Grade - These students began today's lessons by learning that the Legislative Branch is the branch of government that has the power to make laws. Their investigator, Walt Disney had his cartoons rejected by the Chicago Tribune. These students solve the "What in the World" puzzle for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on Mother Teresa because she exhibited all five characteristics of a successful person. The rest of the morning was spent trying to solve double logic elimination puzzles in Crystal Pond Woods.

4th Grade - The vocabulary word for this group today was Benevolent which means kind and caring. Jimmy Carter, today's investigator and 39th President of the United States, helped bring about peace in the Middle East.These students solved the "What in the World" puzzles for the warm up activity. The focus of today's affective lesson was how confidence and insecurities affect performance. Our class was a little bit shorter so we could visit with Miss Oklahoma.

Friday, November 6, 2015

3rd Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Executive Branch which means the branch of government charged with the execution and enforcement of laws and policies and the administration of public affairs; the executive. They learned that Tom Cruise, today's investigator, was a struggling reader but persevered to become a famous actor. Students drew a Loosen Up drawing for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on caring. Students had to tell different areas of their day where caring could be demonstrated. Students had the opportunity to solve some more complex puzzles using a double matrix logic elimination grid.

5th Grade - These students learned that Tantamount means equivalent to, virtually the same and Diaphanous means translucent, transparent. Ruth Wakefield, today's investigator, invented the chocolate chip cookie on accident. Students solved a What in the World puzzle for the warm up activity. The focus of today's affective lesson was what kids learned the hard way and how they would describe themselves. The afternoon was spent building Conestoga wagons. The final activity was an introduction to the ExploraVision project we will be working on until the end of January.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Dr. Rains spent time providing enrichment activities to the regular classrooms while their teachers spent time completing professional development with their grade level colleagues.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

2nd Grade - This group did not have class today because we were attending the 4th grade music program.

3rd Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Executive Branch which means the branch of government charged with the execution and enforcement of laws and policies and the administration of public affairs; the executive. They learned that Tom Cruise, today's investigator, was a struggling reader but persevered to become a famous actor. Students drew a Loosen Up drawing for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on caring. Students had to tell different areas of their day where caring could be demonstrated. Students had the opportunity to solve some more complex puzzles using a double matrix logic elimination grid.

5th Grade - These students learned that Tantamount means equivalent to, virtually the same. Ruth Wakefield, today's investigator, invented the chocolate chip cookie on accident. Students solved a What in the World puzzle for the warm up activity. The focus of today's affective lesson was what kids learned the hard way. The afternoon was spent working to finish up their Oregon Trail timelines. Conestoga wagons which had been built a couple of weeks ago were repaired and retested. The final activity was an introduction to the ExploraVision project we will be working on until the end of January.

Tuesday, November 4, 2015

2nd Grade - This group completed the Loosen Up drawing for the warm up activity. The affective lesson this week focused on setting goals.

4th Grade - The vocabulary word for this group was Loquacious which means someone who talks too much. Today's investigator, Rachel Carson, was instrumental in having the use of DDT stopped. Students completed a Loosen Up drawing for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused negative tolerance and the effect it had on student behavior. The Systems study had students learning about watts, amperes, and circuits. The final activity was to begin putting their Munrack on paper.

Monday, November 2, 2015

2nd Grade - This group learned that Predict means to declare or tell in advance. Lydia Darragh, today's investigator, was not a blabbermouth because she was a spy for General Washington during the Revolutionary War.

3rd Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Executive Branch which means the branch of government charged with the execution and enforcement of laws and policies and the administration of public affairs; the executive. They learned that Tom Cruise, today's investigator, was a struggling reader but persevered to become a famous actor. Students drew a Loosen Up drawing for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on caring. Students had to tell different areas of their day where caring could be demonstrated. Students had the opportunity to solve some more complex puzzles using a double matrix logic elimination grid.

4th Grade - The vocabulary word for this group was Loquacious which means someone who talks too much. Today's investigator, Rachel Carson, was instrumental in having the use of DDT stopped. Students completed a Loosen Up drawing for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused negative tolerance and the effect it had on student behavior. The Systems study had students learning about watts, amperes, and circuits. The final activity was to begin putting their Munrack on paper.