Friday, December 18, 2015

3rd Grade - Our vocabulary continues to center around the government. Today's word was Preamble which means an introductory statement; preface; introduction. The investigator was Whoopi Goldberg who was a make up artist at a funeral home before she got her big break in Hollywood. Students quickly solved the Stories with Holes problem for the warm up activity. Students were introduced to Divergent thinking today in Crystal Pond Woods. In particular they focused on brainstorming and trying to come up with as many ideas as possible. The final activity was to learn some more about their individual Polynesian Islands.

This afternoon students enjoyed a concert by one of the middle school orchestras and holiday parties.

Have a great break and we will see you in two weeks.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

2nd Grade - This morning we enjoyed watching the 5th Grade perform their musical.

5th Grade - The word of the week for this group was Soporific which means sleep inducing. Thomas Alva Edison, today's investigator, not only invented the lightbulb but also gummed paper. The Stories with Holes problem was quickly solved for the warm up activity. Making good decisions was the focus of the affective lesson. The rest of the afternoon was spent working on the Exploravision contest.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

2nd Grade - This group worked on holiday rotations in their classrooms.

3rd Grade - These students had class yesterday due to a scheduling conflict.

5th Grade - The word of the week for this group was Soporific which means sleep inducing. Thomas Alva Edison, today's investigator, not only invented the lightbulb but also gummed paper. The Stories with Holes problem was quickly solved for the warm up activity. Making good decisions was the focus of the affective lesson. The rest of the afternoon was spent working on the Exploravision contest.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

2nd Grade - Today's lesson focused on the social/emotional (affective) needs of gifted students. The focus for this lesson was responsibility and respect. Students then began drawing cartoons to demonstrate what they could do when they got bored.

Due to schedule changes tomorrow, the third grade Wednesday group switched to today for this week.
3rd Grade - Our vocabulary continues to center around the government. Today's word was Preamble which means an introductory statement; preface; introduction. The investigator was Whoopi Goldberg who was a make up artist at a funeral home before she got her big break in Hollywood. Students quickly solved the Stories with Holes problem for the warm up activity. Students were introduced to Divergent thinking today in Crystal Pond Woods. In particular they focused on brainstorming and trying to come up with as many ideas as possible. The final activity was to learn some more about their individual Polynesian Islands.

4th Grade - This group learned that Predilection means a preference for something. Their investigator was Walt Disney who developed the first full length animated film in 1937-Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This group also solved the Stories with Holes problem for the warm up activity. The focus of the affective lesson today was using humor and knowledge to make symbolic perspectives. The final activity was for each team to build a "robot."

Monday, December 14, 2015

2nd Grade - Our learning began with the word Accumulation which means to gather or collect. The investigator, John Quincy Adams, was caught swimming in the Potomac River without his clothes. Students were able to solve the Mystery Object that we started several weeks ago for the warm up activity.

3rd Grade - Our vocabulary continues to center around the government. Today's word was Preamble which means an introductory statement; preface; introduction. The investigator was Whoopi Goldberg who was a make up artist at a funeral home before she got her big break in Hollywood. Students quickly solved the Stories with Holes problem for the warm up activity. Students were introduced to Divergent thinking today in Crystal Pond Woods. In particular they focused on brainstorming and trying to come up with as many ideas as possible. The final activity was to learn some more about their individual Polynesian Islands.

4th Grade - This group learned that Predilection means a preference for something. Their investigator was Walt Disney who developed the first full length animated film in 1937-Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This group also solved the Stories with Holes problem for the warm up activity. The focus of the affective lesson today was using humor and knowledge to make symbolic perspectives. The final activity was for each team to build a "robot."

Friday, December 11, 2015

3rd Grade - This group learned that the word Constitution means the system of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state, corporation, or the like, is governed. The investigator today, George Gershwin, was a famous composer and musician yet when he was younger he didn't care for music. This class quickly solved the Quotation Quizzler warm up puzzle. The affective lesson drew a close the Take 5 program on which we have been working. Students completed an evaluation of the program and received a certificate of completion. In Crystal Pond Woods, students solved each other's logic puzzles. The final activity was to research a Polynesian Islands.

5th Grade - Students learned the word of the day, Ligature, means bonds used to tie or bind. The Smith Brothers, inventors of the cough drop, received the recipe from a customer who couldn't pay for his meal. These students quickly solved the Quotation Quizzler puzzle that was the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on what students believe about right and wrong. The rest of the day was spent beginning the Exploravision project. The goal for today was to research the present technology and history of their ideas.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

2nd Grade - Today's lesson provided students the opportunity to practice convergent thinking with manipulatives while paying attention to several attributes.

Dr. Rains spent the rest of the day working with small groups throughout the building.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

2nd Grade - These students had the opportunity to finish the stories they created last week on the iPads.

3rd Grade - This group learned that the word Constitution means the system of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state, corporation, or the like, is governed. The investigator today, George Gershwin, was a famous composer and musician yet when he was younger he didn't care for music. This class quickly solved the Quotation Quizzler warm up puzzle. The affective lesson drew a close the Take 5 program on which we have been working. Students completed an evaluation of the program and received a certificate of completion. In Crystal Pond Woods, students solved each other's logic puzzles. The final activity was to research a Polynesian Islands.

5th Grade - Students learned the word of the day, Ligature, means bonds used to tie or bind. The Smith Brothers, inventors of the cough drop, received the recipe from a customer who couldn't pay for his meal. These students quickly solved the Quotation Quizzler puzzle that was the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on what students believe about right and wrong. The rest of the day was spent beginning the Exploravision project. The goal for today was to research the present technology and history of their ideas.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

2nd Grade - We finished off the Quotation Quizzler warm up activity this morning. Students then learned and practiced how they could "put their best foot forward" for the affective lesson.

4th Grade - Today's vocabulary word, aversion which means a strong dislike toward something began our learning. The investigator, I.M. Pei is a famous architect. Students worked together to complete the Quotation Quizzler puzzle for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on obnoxious behaviors and how to deal appropriately with them. This afternoon students finished their electricity units and drew what they want their "robots" to look like which they will build next week.

Monday, December 7, 2015

2nd Grade - Our learning today began with the word Precipitation which means fallin products of condensation in the atmosphere, as rain, snow, or hail. Today's investigator, Sacagawea, was an interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition but spoke no English. We just got started on the Quotation Quizzler warm up puzzle when students had to return to their regular classes.

3rd Grade - This group learned that the word Constitution means the system of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state, corporation, or the like, is governed. The investigator today, George Gershwin, was a famous composer and musician yet when he was younger he didn't care for music. This class quickly solved the Quotation Quizzler warm up puzzle. The affective lesson drew a close the Take 5 program on which we have been working. Students completed an evaluation of the program and received a certificate of completion. In Crystal Pond Woods, students solved each other's logic puzzles. The final activity was to research a Polynesian Islands.

4th Grade - Today's vocabulary word, aversion which means a strong dislike toward something began our learning. The investigator, I.M. Pei is a famous architect. Together they solved the Quotation Quizzler puzzle for the warm up activity. The affective lesson focused on obnoxious behaviors and how to deal appropriately with them. This afternoon students finished their electricity units and drew what they want their "robots" to look like which they will build next week.

Friday, December 4, 2015

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.

5th Grade - Today's learning began with Rapacious which means raptor-like, preying on others. The investigator for today, Ada Lovelace, invented a computer program back in 1843. Students worked together to complete a logic puzzle for the warm up activity. The focus of the affective lesson was how we demonstrate our feelings by what we wear. The rest of the time was spent learning how to create a bibliography for the Exploravision contest. Students also brainstormed some more ideas they could develop as future products.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

2nd Grade - Students wrote stories about the creatures they made yesterday using the iPads.

Dr. Rains spent the rest of the day working individually with students.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

2nd Grade - The affective lesson for today focused on creativity. Students were given some materials and had to make an animal. Later we will further develop our creativity by writing a story about the animal.

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.

5th Grade - Today's learning began with Rapacious which means raptor-like, preying on others. The investigator for today, Ada Lovelace, invented a computer program back in 1843. Students worked together to complete a logic puzzle for the warm up activity. The focus of the affective lesson was how we demonstrate our feelings by what we wear. The rest of the time was spent learning how to create a bibliography for the Exploravision contest. Students also brainstormed some more ideas they could develop as future products.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

2nd Grade - Students worked together to complete the logic grid puzzle that was this week's warm up activity. There was then time to spend solving some Plexer puzzles.

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.