Friday, October 28, 2011
Pictures of Robots
Here are a few pictures of the "Star Trek" doors that Mrs. Sorrell's Superstars built this week.
Blogger Fever!
I am so excited that one of our 4th and 5th grade enrichment clusters has decided to start their own blog!
Our "Cooking with Zeek" enrichment cluster has started to write a blog. They love to eat and they love to cook. And what do people in the real world do who love to eat and cook? They share their passion and knowledge with others. A blog is a perfect way to do this.
The blog is called "Cooking with Zeek". Please check it out:
http://cookingwithzeek.blogspot.com/
Our "Cooking with Zeek" enrichment cluster has started to write a blog. They love to eat and they love to cook. And what do people in the real world do who love to eat and cook? They share their passion and knowledge with others. A blog is a perfect way to do this.
The blog is called "Cooking with Zeek". Please check it out:
http://cookingwithzeek.blogspot.com/
Mission Accomplished!
Today, the Sorrel Superstars finished building and programming their doors. Today, the students got a chance to showcase their robots to the class. And it was a big success. MOST of the doors, worked like they were suppose to. Some did not, but that gave way to a great discussion about how every invention does not work the first time, the second time or even the tenth time. Engineers are problem solvers and part of the fun working with the building and programming of the robots is working through the problems. We are thinking like scientists.
We had a variety of models and versions of the door. Some worked by pushing the touch sensor. Others were triggered by sound or distance. Some doors had lights to add to the design of the door. Some students decided to relocated the touch sensor on the door, so it made more sense when opening the door. Some students wrote music that played when the door opened. Other doors had fun commands. There was even one door that was a trick door, it pretended it "malfunctioned" and then laughed and opened the rest of the way. The students were creative and had fun.
I was very impressed with all of the students and the quality of work they put into their robots. I look forward to working with Mrs. Sorrell's class in the spring when we get to build and program a truck!
Continuing to develop the whole child....
We had a variety of models and versions of the door. Some worked by pushing the touch sensor. Others were triggered by sound or distance. Some doors had lights to add to the design of the door. Some students decided to relocated the touch sensor on the door, so it made more sense when opening the door. Some students wrote music that played when the door opened. Other doors had fun commands. There was even one door that was a trick door, it pretended it "malfunctioned" and then laughed and opened the rest of the way. The students were creative and had fun.
I was very impressed with all of the students and the quality of work they put into their robots. I look forward to working with Mrs. Sorrell's class in the spring when we get to build and program a truck!
Continuing to develop the whole child....
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Doors are Built!
Today, all of the Sorrell Superstars finished building their Star Trek doors. Now they are all working on programming "version one" of the door. Version 1 means that the door opens when the touch sensor is pressed. As the door opens , music plays. The light sensor will tell the motor to stop when a certain level of reflected light is read by the sensor. The door stays open for a specific amount of time (decided on by the students) and then the door closes. Then, repeat!
Once the students have shown mastery of this program, they are allowed to program the door on their own. Some students are choosing to program using the distance sensor. This means that the door opens when an object gets to a certain distance in front of the door (like a door at HEB or Target). Some students are programming the door to open using the sound sensor (like "The Clapper"). And some are adding more music for special effects.
On Thursday, the students will finish programming their Star Trek doors, so we can share on Friday. Then unfortunately, the students will have to disassemble their doors and clean up. The students are not usually too happy about this last part. It is sad to see their hard work and effort being taken apart. But we have to be ready for the next class.
Continuing to build the whole child...
Once the students have shown mastery of this program, they are allowed to program the door on their own. Some students are choosing to program using the distance sensor. This means that the door opens when an object gets to a certain distance in front of the door (like a door at HEB or Target). Some students are programming the door to open using the sound sensor (like "The Clapper"). And some are adding more music for special effects.
On Thursday, the students will finish programming their Star Trek doors, so we can share on Friday. Then unfortunately, the students will have to disassemble their doors and clean up. The students are not usually too happy about this last part. It is sad to see their hard work and effort being taken apart. But we have to be ready for the next class.
Continuing to build the whole child...
Monday, October 24, 2011
New Friends
This is a shout out to my new friends from Coppell ISD. :)
This past Friday, we were so thrilled to have visitors from Coppell ISD, which is outside of Dallas, Texas. Earlier in the school year, I was contacted by a representative from the district. She had found my name from the LME website. She shared that Austin Elementary School in Coppell was interested in SEM. They have sent 16 staff members over the past two years to Confratute at the University of Connecticut. Confratute is the conference/institute that occurs every summer that Dr. Renzulli, Dr. Reis and UConn staff plan and organize. I told them that they were more than welcome to visit and we made the arrangements.
In all, Coppell ISD sent the principal, assistant principle, TAG teacher, Dyslexia teacher, Technology Specialist and grade level teachers from Austin Elementary School, along with the Director of Elementary Education and Director of Strategic Initiatives.
Jan Richards and I took our new friends on a tour of the school while E-slot and Enrichment Clusters were happening. They were so impressed with our students, teachers, hallways, student work, bulletin boards and the overall positive atmosphere of LME. During the tour they were recording with their FLIP camera, taking notes on their i-pads, taking pictures with their i-phones and tweeting about their experience. It was so fun to see their excitement and enthusiasm. The assistant principal promised that he would send us a copy of the video that he is going to make with the footage of their visit (just a little reminder).
After the tour, we had a panel of several students from our Leadership Team, one parent and three LME teachers available to answer questions and talk about what SEM looks like at Laurel Mountain. The students were fabulous and had valuable insight on what SEM means to them. The staff from Coppell were able to ask honest questions to our teachers. My hope is that we were able to give them useful information that they can take back to their staff.
I look forward to having further conversations with our new friends from Coppell and maybe even taking a trip up there to say hello! It was inspiring and really fun to share all of the fabulous things that we do at LME to make this such a remarkable school.
I was very proud and honored to show our visitors around and represent our amazing staff. And it was very encouraging that these teachers from Coppell ISD found uour school, read about what we are doing and wanted to visit to find out more. I think that is a huge compliment to the great work that is accomplished at LME everyday. And that is thanks to our teachers, staff, students and parents.
Continuing to develop the whole child, by building a Texas community...
This past Friday, we were so thrilled to have visitors from Coppell ISD, which is outside of Dallas, Texas. Earlier in the school year, I was contacted by a representative from the district. She had found my name from the LME website. She shared that Austin Elementary School in Coppell was interested in SEM. They have sent 16 staff members over the past two years to Confratute at the University of Connecticut. Confratute is the conference/institute that occurs every summer that Dr. Renzulli, Dr. Reis and UConn staff plan and organize. I told them that they were more than welcome to visit and we made the arrangements.
In all, Coppell ISD sent the principal, assistant principle, TAG teacher, Dyslexia teacher, Technology Specialist and grade level teachers from Austin Elementary School, along with the Director of Elementary Education and Director of Strategic Initiatives.
Jan Richards and I took our new friends on a tour of the school while E-slot and Enrichment Clusters were happening. They were so impressed with our students, teachers, hallways, student work, bulletin boards and the overall positive atmosphere of LME. During the tour they were recording with their FLIP camera, taking notes on their i-pads, taking pictures with their i-phones and tweeting about their experience. It was so fun to see their excitement and enthusiasm. The assistant principal promised that he would send us a copy of the video that he is going to make with the footage of their visit (just a little reminder).
After the tour, we had a panel of several students from our Leadership Team, one parent and three LME teachers available to answer questions and talk about what SEM looks like at Laurel Mountain. The students were fabulous and had valuable insight on what SEM means to them. The staff from Coppell were able to ask honest questions to our teachers. My hope is that we were able to give them useful information that they can take back to their staff.
I look forward to having further conversations with our new friends from Coppell and maybe even taking a trip up there to say hello! It was inspiring and really fun to share all of the fabulous things that we do at LME to make this such a remarkable school.
I was very proud and honored to show our visitors around and represent our amazing staff. And it was very encouraging that these teachers from Coppell ISD found uour school, read about what we are doing and wanted to visit to find out more. I think that is a huge compliment to the great work that is accomplished at LME everyday. And that is thanks to our teachers, staff, students and parents.
Continuing to develop the whole child, by building a Texas community...
PETS times 3
I am so excited to start the Primary Education Thinking Skills (PETS) lessons in 3rd grade this week. This will be the first year continuing these lessons into the 3rd grade. Therefore, all students in grades kindergarten through third will be getting the enrichment thinking skills lessons every other week in the classroom.
For the next two weeks in third grade, I will review the friends and types of thinking from Crystal Pond Woods. Then, we will move on to an activity where we will practice convergent thinking. Dudley the Detective and Sybil the Scientist both use convergent thinking. In convergent thinking, you find and organize clues, take time and reflect on those clues, put clues together and finally determine the correct answer. The students get practice using their convergent thinking skills as we solve some "Puzzler's Club" puzzles together.
In second grade, Sybil the Scientist is showing Dudley the Detective the system she uses to classify objects by their attributes. This system is a Venn Diagram. When we classify objects by their attributes, we are using analytical thinking.
In first grade, the students are practicing the deductive thinking solving some different problems and puzzles. We are learning to think like Dudley the Detective by reading the clues, thinking about the clues, never jumping to conclusions and finding the one correct answer.
Having fun in Crystal Pond Woods and we continue to develop the whole child....
For the next two weeks in third grade, I will review the friends and types of thinking from Crystal Pond Woods. Then, we will move on to an activity where we will practice convergent thinking. Dudley the Detective and Sybil the Scientist both use convergent thinking. In convergent thinking, you find and organize clues, take time and reflect on those clues, put clues together and finally determine the correct answer. The students get practice using their convergent thinking skills as we solve some "Puzzler's Club" puzzles together.
In second grade, Sybil the Scientist is showing Dudley the Detective the system she uses to classify objects by their attributes. This system is a Venn Diagram. When we classify objects by their attributes, we are using analytical thinking.
In first grade, the students are practicing the deductive thinking solving some different problems and puzzles. We are learning to think like Dudley the Detective by reading the clues, thinking about the clues, never jumping to conclusions and finding the one correct answer.
Having fun in Crystal Pond Woods and we continue to develop the whole child....
Programming with NXT
For the past two days, Mrs. Sorrell's Superstars have spent their NXT time building the Star Trek doors and learning to program using the NXT software.
We discussed the different commands, or blocks, of the software. Each block tells the computer in the NXT brick to do a certain command. The blocks we concentrated on are the "move" block, the "wait for sensor" block and the "sound" block. We talked about what happens when we leave out a step in our programming (the robot does not know what to do since it cannot read our minds). The robot is only as smart as the programmer.
Mrs. Levitan then taught the students how to use the light sensor to read the amount of reflected light the light sensor is giving off. The amount of reflected light will tell the robot when to stop the motor when opening the door.
Lots of doors are not built the correct way, which means there is LOTS of problem solving going on, along with a little frustration. Oh, the joys of thinking like an engineer.
More building and programming tomorrow. We are looking forward to it. :)
Continuing to build the whole child.....
We discussed the different commands, or blocks, of the software. Each block tells the computer in the NXT brick to do a certain command. The blocks we concentrated on are the "move" block, the "wait for sensor" block and the "sound" block. We talked about what happens when we leave out a step in our programming (the robot does not know what to do since it cannot read our minds). The robot is only as smart as the programmer.
Mrs. Levitan then taught the students how to use the light sensor to read the amount of reflected light the light sensor is giving off. The amount of reflected light will tell the robot when to stop the motor when opening the door.
Lots of doors are not built the correct way, which means there is LOTS of problem solving going on, along with a little frustration. Oh, the joys of thinking like an engineer.
More building and programming tomorrow. We are looking forward to it. :)
Continuing to build the whole child.....
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Robots and Star Trek Doors
This week I started teaching the LEGO NXT Mindstorm lessons to Mrs. Sorrell's 5th grade class. The class was very excited and enthusiastic to start this new adventure. The first thing we discussed was "What makes a robot a robot?" The students learned that there are three things that make a robot a robot. They are: #1 body, #2 control and #3 behavior. Then, we discussed input, process, output, hardware and software.
The next step was to give the students their assignment. The students are building a "Star Trek" door. The door will be programed to open automatically when a sensor is triggered. Music will play as the door opens. The door will stay open for a specific amount of time and then close automatically. Then, the process will repeat.
Currently, the students are busy building with the hardware, which are the LEGO NXT Mindstorm kits. The room is busy and noisy, but that means there is a lot of teamwork taking place, purposeful communication and problem solving.
Some comments I have heard:
"OK, now you need a 13 module beam and 2 connector pegs..."
"I am confused. What does this mean?"
"We are taking turns. I am reading the directions and she is building."
"We are working on the transmission."
"I connected all the 8 stud beams so I do not lose them."
"We are on the motor part."
"Oh, it is flipped around...I get it now!"
"We are on the third step. We had to start over because we were doing it wrong."
On Thursday, we will start to learn how to program our Star Trek door using the NXT software. The adventure continues.
Continuing to develop the whole child...
The next step was to give the students their assignment. The students are building a "Star Trek" door. The door will be programed to open automatically when a sensor is triggered. Music will play as the door opens. The door will stay open for a specific amount of time and then close automatically. Then, the process will repeat.
Currently, the students are busy building with the hardware, which are the LEGO NXT Mindstorm kits. The room is busy and noisy, but that means there is a lot of teamwork taking place, purposeful communication and problem solving.
Some comments I have heard:
"OK, now you need a 13 module beam and 2 connector pegs..."
"I am confused. What does this mean?"
"We are taking turns. I am reading the directions and she is building."
"We are working on the transmission."
"I connected all the 8 stud beams so I do not lose them."
"We are on the motor part."
"Oh, it is flipped around...I get it now!"
"We are on the third step. We had to start over because we were doing it wrong."
On Thursday, we will start to learn how to program our Star Trek door using the NXT software. The adventure continues.
Continuing to develop the whole child...
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
First Meeting of Our 4th and 5th grade Enrichment Clusters
This past Friday, was the first meeting of our 4th and 5th grade enrichment clusters. This is always a very exciting time when the students find out Friday morning which enrichment cluster they are going to be in for the 8 weeks. The enrichment clusters will meet for one hour every Friday from October 7 through December 2, 2011. The enrichment cluster showcase will be on December 9, 2011.
A lot of work goes into getting the enrichment clusters ready and the students sorted into the 17 different clusters. First of all, the 17 enrichment cluster topics were based on the results of the 4th and 5th grade interest surveys that they completed in class at the beginning of the year. During class time, the 4th and 5th graders ranked their top four enrichment cluster choices. Mrs. Levitan entered their preference data into an Excel spreadsheet, which she sent to Mr. Eric Deal, one of our fantastic Laurel Mountain parents. Mr. Deal has written a computer program that sorts the children into their clusters based on preferences.
The computer program randomly assigns students to clusters, attempting to give every child their first cluster choice. When that’s not possible, the program then moves the student into his or her second choice, then third choice and finally fourth choice. This year, we will able to look at the selection history from last year. We took the time to make sure that the students who got their 3rd or 4th choice last year, received their 1st or 2nd choice this year. Also, with some of our very popular enrichment cluster topics, like sports and clay, we made sure that different students this year are participating in those enrichment clusters. Therefore, more students get a chance to explore a large area of interest.
This year, 197 students were placed in their first cluster choice. 43 students were placed in their second choice. 18 were place in their 3rd choice. Zero students were placed in their 4th choice. We are excited that all of our 4th and 5th grade students are given the chance to explore and learn in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd enrichment cluster choice.
Below, you will find the summaries from the first enrichment cluster meetings.
Fitness Fun The “Fitness Fun” enrichment cluster discussed ways to be healthy and fit. Mr. Hance explained the 10 foundations of fitness, we reviewed basic, functional movements of like squatting, lifting and pressing, and then the students did a baseline workout, which will be measured again at the end of the cluster. Our goal is to learn how to be healthy eaters, improve our overall fitness, and to have fun making it a part of our life.
Landscapes, Portraits, Still Life, Oh My! “Landscapes, Portraits, Still Life, Oh My!” enrichment cluster had a fantastic first meeting. The students created amazing works of art using paintbrushes, sponges, watercolors, and pointillism techniques. Most students designed landscapes, but a few pieces were abstract. Students left the cluster meeting brimming with ideas about their future creations and what types of materials they would like to try. Next week, we will enjoy a presentation from Mrs. Monica Araoz, a LME parent and artist.
Draw Me a Story We had Mrs. Monica Araoz, a LME parent and artist, come in to the “Draw Me a Story” enrichment cluster. She showed the students how to make their drawings look more 3-dimensional. We drew a lizard cake, a treasure box full of mashed potatoes and many other 3D pictures.
Instantaneous Experiments We were scientists today! We did three experiments. We learned that citric acid can produce bubbles and that an entire piece of flash paper will be consumed by fire in a split second. Our favorite part was making and touching the slim we made.
Monsters and Myths During our first meeting of the enrichment cluster Kurt Wheeler (Mrs. Wheeler's husband), a monster/zombie expert, came and gave a presentation on monsters, myths and legends. The children were very engaged. During the presentation, Mr. Wheeler, pretended he was ill, which Mrs. Jackson knew about this ahead of time. At the end of his presentation, he left unexpectedly to return in a werewolf mask and gloves. The kids were laughing and had a great time. The children have mixed interests with some loving monsters and some wanting to study mythology. We will see what the next step is in the enrichment cluster this week.
LME Crisis Response Team We started our cluster by discussing the definition of a crisis and brainstorming types/examples of crises. We then simulated a crisis in our community--we used props and costumes to dress as fire, police, medical, school, and media responders. Mrs. Justice read the scenario to the students for them to act out how they would respond to this situation. We even had changing circumstances as the simulation continued! Afterwards, we were able to discuss our experience of the simulation. We felt energized about our topic at the end of our first meeting, and are looking forward to learning more about crisis response in the upcoming seven meetings!
Claymation The "Claymation" enrichment cluster rolled off to a great start. We watched examples of claymation films. Some were created by professionals, like Wallace & Gromit and others were examples of student created stop-motion films. We discussed the characteristics of a claymation type film and the steps needed to complete the process. They discovered that these films are collections of multiple frames, or snapshots, combined by software to create movement. Then they used post-it notes to create flip books. They took a simple sequence and broke it down into individual scenes with movement portrayed by slightly adjusting the repetitive scenes. Some examples included: a person jumping on a trampoline, eating an apple, and throwing a ball.
Lights…Camera…Action! It’s Movie Time! Today was our first meeting and we began by seeing a few movies that former students and Mrs. Castro had made. Next, we got out the laptops and went straight to work. What’s the best way to learn how to make movies on Movie Maker? By jumping in and exploring the program. Mrs. Castro reviewed the program and showed us what we needed to do. Then we took pictures of our friends, downloaded the pictures and got right to work. Before we knew it, we were creating our own movies. We are very excited about learning to make movies on Movie Maker. Cut…that’s a rap!
Is There A Doctor in the House? Today in the "Is There A Doctor in the House?" enrichment cluster, the students learned about simple first aid procedures. Each medic in training cared for a wounded patient - an apple or a tomato. They examined puncture wounds, splinters, blisters, cuts and abrasions. Then they administered fruity first aid by cleaning the wound and applying bandages, gauze or moleskin. These enthusiastic students are looking forward to learning about the medical profession and acquiring age appropriate life saving skills.
SEW? You Want to Change the World? We met in the music room and played “Recycle Jeopardy” and learned that people use way too many plastic bags. We also learned that only 5% of the bags get recycled and 95% go into the landfill, so just recycling will not solve the problem. We would like to explore making cloth bags and getting the message out to our audience that they can make their own bags very easily. We are considering email surveys, classroom presentations and advertisements on KPAW! We had a lot of ideas for 8 meetings.
Power Point Productions In the “PowerPoint Productions” enrichment cluster students viewed some power point stop-motion videos to get an idea of what is possible in this medium. We discussed our purpose and who might be the audience for our creations. Then, we got to work brainstorming ideas and putting together a story boards to guide our projects.
LME Photographer's Society The first meeting of the “LME Photographer's Society” was a big success! Everyone introduced themselves and each child shared why they were interested in photography. Using the projector and document camera, we had a brief lesson on the basics of digital photography. Mrs. Kelley, the assistant principal, asked students to begin thinking of products and services we could generate with our photos. Mrs. York, our ITS, shared some technical details of how cameras work. Then, we broke up into small groups and started taking pictures! Finally, we connected the cameras to the computers and unloaded our photos to our personal folders. It was a busy hour!
Exploring the Rocks Beneath Our Feet We have decided to create a rock, mineral and fossil display in the outdoor display cases in the preserve. Our service will come from the research we do on the pieces that are in the display cases. The information will be researched and we will share information for others to learn. The second product will be for the enrichment cluster showcase. We will create a large box display of fluorescent rocks. The students will research each of the pieces in the display and provide information for each rock.
Cartoons and Comic Strips In our enrichment cluster we had fun, fun, and . . . oh, yeah, fun! We learned that you don’t have to be much of an artist to be able to create a cartoon or comic strip. Whew! We looked at a bunch of cartoons and comic strips using the projector and we discussed our favorite ones. We analyzed what made them “work” and what the point was. We even created a cartoon character of our own. And, the highlight?—we started creating a comic strip!
You've Got Me in Stitches! The girls in the “You've Got Me in Stitches!” enrichment cluster enjoyed looking at some completed cross-stitch samples and then choosing some projects to begin working on. After brainstorming some ideas for possible service projects, the members learned how to place the hoop on the cross stitch fabric and also how to thread a needle before starting to stitch. We are all looking forward to becoming cross stitch masters!
Lionhearts Peer Mediation The Lionhearts Peer Mediation enrichment cluster is off to a great start. After playing the game "Who's Your Neighbor?" to help students get better acquainted and feel comfortable taking risks, students engaged in a lively discussion about conflict from a 4th and 5th grade perspective. This led us to the conclusion that the best solutions are "win-win", which is what the Peer Mediation process is all about. We ended our first session by watching a brief video of a role play of a Peer Mediation session and students sharing their observations, ideas and feelings about what they had been able to learn about the process so far. There was much enthusiasm about being able to get the LME Peer Mediation program off the ground. One student commented that we were going to be like the "Dr. Phil Show".
Clay, Clay, Clay Today we learned the basics of clay creations. We found out that there are different types of clay, there are many places where clay is obtained and there are some wonderful ceramic artists all over the world. We were taught how to make a clay creation that will stick together. We learned how to score and slip to make our creation stick together. Our first creation is based around a pinch pot base. It is amazing to see all the imaginative variations our cluster created. We also started our potter’s wheel rotation. Each student will get a turn to learn the potter’s wheel and to create their very own pot. We had a squishy fun time!
Cooking with Zeek “Cooking with Zeek” got off to a great start with our guest chef, Mrs. Christine Jovanovic, a LME parent. Mrs. Jovanovic’s main focus was teaching the students about flavors and how they complement each other. She had a wide variety of foods for the kids to taste and enjoy. The students helped Mrs. Jovanovic prepare the many samples she brought along. Who would have thought mango and hot chili pepper would taste so great together?
A lot of work goes into getting the enrichment clusters ready and the students sorted into the 17 different clusters. First of all, the 17 enrichment cluster topics were based on the results of the 4th and 5th grade interest surveys that they completed in class at the beginning of the year. During class time, the 4th and 5th graders ranked their top four enrichment cluster choices. Mrs. Levitan entered their preference data into an Excel spreadsheet, which she sent to Mr. Eric Deal, one of our fantastic Laurel Mountain parents. Mr. Deal has written a computer program that sorts the children into their clusters based on preferences.
The computer program randomly assigns students to clusters, attempting to give every child their first cluster choice. When that’s not possible, the program then moves the student into his or her second choice, then third choice and finally fourth choice. This year, we will able to look at the selection history from last year. We took the time to make sure that the students who got their 3rd or 4th choice last year, received their 1st or 2nd choice this year. Also, with some of our very popular enrichment cluster topics, like sports and clay, we made sure that different students this year are participating in those enrichment clusters. Therefore, more students get a chance to explore a large area of interest.
This year, 197 students were placed in their first cluster choice. 43 students were placed in their second choice. 18 were place in their 3rd choice. Zero students were placed in their 4th choice. We are excited that all of our 4th and 5th grade students are given the chance to explore and learn in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd enrichment cluster choice.
Below, you will find the summaries from the first enrichment cluster meetings.
Fitness Fun The “Fitness Fun” enrichment cluster discussed ways to be healthy and fit. Mr. Hance explained the 10 foundations of fitness, we reviewed basic, functional movements of like squatting, lifting and pressing, and then the students did a baseline workout, which will be measured again at the end of the cluster. Our goal is to learn how to be healthy eaters, improve our overall fitness, and to have fun making it a part of our life.
Landscapes, Portraits, Still Life, Oh My! “Landscapes, Portraits, Still Life, Oh My!” enrichment cluster had a fantastic first meeting. The students created amazing works of art using paintbrushes, sponges, watercolors, and pointillism techniques. Most students designed landscapes, but a few pieces were abstract. Students left the cluster meeting brimming with ideas about their future creations and what types of materials they would like to try. Next week, we will enjoy a presentation from Mrs. Monica Araoz, a LME parent and artist.
Draw Me a Story We had Mrs. Monica Araoz, a LME parent and artist, come in to the “Draw Me a Story” enrichment cluster. She showed the students how to make their drawings look more 3-dimensional. We drew a lizard cake, a treasure box full of mashed potatoes and many other 3D pictures.
Instantaneous Experiments We were scientists today! We did three experiments. We learned that citric acid can produce bubbles and that an entire piece of flash paper will be consumed by fire in a split second. Our favorite part was making and touching the slim we made.
Monsters and Myths During our first meeting of the enrichment cluster Kurt Wheeler (Mrs. Wheeler's husband), a monster/zombie expert, came and gave a presentation on monsters, myths and legends. The children were very engaged. During the presentation, Mr. Wheeler, pretended he was ill, which Mrs. Jackson knew about this ahead of time. At the end of his presentation, he left unexpectedly to return in a werewolf mask and gloves. The kids were laughing and had a great time. The children have mixed interests with some loving monsters and some wanting to study mythology. We will see what the next step is in the enrichment cluster this week.
LME Crisis Response Team We started our cluster by discussing the definition of a crisis and brainstorming types/examples of crises. We then simulated a crisis in our community--we used props and costumes to dress as fire, police, medical, school, and media responders. Mrs. Justice read the scenario to the students for them to act out how they would respond to this situation. We even had changing circumstances as the simulation continued! Afterwards, we were able to discuss our experience of the simulation. We felt energized about our topic at the end of our first meeting, and are looking forward to learning more about crisis response in the upcoming seven meetings!
Claymation The "Claymation" enrichment cluster rolled off to a great start. We watched examples of claymation films. Some were created by professionals, like Wallace & Gromit and others were examples of student created stop-motion films. We discussed the characteristics of a claymation type film and the steps needed to complete the process. They discovered that these films are collections of multiple frames, or snapshots, combined by software to create movement. Then they used post-it notes to create flip books. They took a simple sequence and broke it down into individual scenes with movement portrayed by slightly adjusting the repetitive scenes. Some examples included: a person jumping on a trampoline, eating an apple, and throwing a ball.
Lights…Camera…Action! It’s Movie Time! Today was our first meeting and we began by seeing a few movies that former students and Mrs. Castro had made. Next, we got out the laptops and went straight to work. What’s the best way to learn how to make movies on Movie Maker? By jumping in and exploring the program. Mrs. Castro reviewed the program and showed us what we needed to do. Then we took pictures of our friends, downloaded the pictures and got right to work. Before we knew it, we were creating our own movies. We are very excited about learning to make movies on Movie Maker. Cut…that’s a rap!
Is There A Doctor in the House? Today in the "Is There A Doctor in the House?" enrichment cluster, the students learned about simple first aid procedures. Each medic in training cared for a wounded patient - an apple or a tomato. They examined puncture wounds, splinters, blisters, cuts and abrasions. Then they administered fruity first aid by cleaning the wound and applying bandages, gauze or moleskin. These enthusiastic students are looking forward to learning about the medical profession and acquiring age appropriate life saving skills.
SEW? You Want to Change the World? We met in the music room and played “Recycle Jeopardy” and learned that people use way too many plastic bags. We also learned that only 5% of the bags get recycled and 95% go into the landfill, so just recycling will not solve the problem. We would like to explore making cloth bags and getting the message out to our audience that they can make their own bags very easily. We are considering email surveys, classroom presentations and advertisements on KPAW! We had a lot of ideas for 8 meetings.
Power Point Productions In the “PowerPoint Productions” enrichment cluster students viewed some power point stop-motion videos to get an idea of what is possible in this medium. We discussed our purpose and who might be the audience for our creations. Then, we got to work brainstorming ideas and putting together a story boards to guide our projects.
LME Photographer's Society The first meeting of the “LME Photographer's Society” was a big success! Everyone introduced themselves and each child shared why they were interested in photography. Using the projector and document camera, we had a brief lesson on the basics of digital photography. Mrs. Kelley, the assistant principal, asked students to begin thinking of products and services we could generate with our photos. Mrs. York, our ITS, shared some technical details of how cameras work. Then, we broke up into small groups and started taking pictures! Finally, we connected the cameras to the computers and unloaded our photos to our personal folders. It was a busy hour!
Exploring the Rocks Beneath Our Feet We have decided to create a rock, mineral and fossil display in the outdoor display cases in the preserve. Our service will come from the research we do on the pieces that are in the display cases. The information will be researched and we will share information for others to learn. The second product will be for the enrichment cluster showcase. We will create a large box display of fluorescent rocks. The students will research each of the pieces in the display and provide information for each rock.
Cartoons and Comic Strips In our enrichment cluster we had fun, fun, and . . . oh, yeah, fun! We learned that you don’t have to be much of an artist to be able to create a cartoon or comic strip. Whew! We looked at a bunch of cartoons and comic strips using the projector and we discussed our favorite ones. We analyzed what made them “work” and what the point was. We even created a cartoon character of our own. And, the highlight?—we started creating a comic strip!
You've Got Me in Stitches! The girls in the “You've Got Me in Stitches!” enrichment cluster enjoyed looking at some completed cross-stitch samples and then choosing some projects to begin working on. After brainstorming some ideas for possible service projects, the members learned how to place the hoop on the cross stitch fabric and also how to thread a needle before starting to stitch. We are all looking forward to becoming cross stitch masters!
Lionhearts Peer Mediation The Lionhearts Peer Mediation enrichment cluster is off to a great start. After playing the game "Who's Your Neighbor?" to help students get better acquainted and feel comfortable taking risks, students engaged in a lively discussion about conflict from a 4th and 5th grade perspective. This led us to the conclusion that the best solutions are "win-win", which is what the Peer Mediation process is all about. We ended our first session by watching a brief video of a role play of a Peer Mediation session and students sharing their observations, ideas and feelings about what they had been able to learn about the process so far. There was much enthusiasm about being able to get the LME Peer Mediation program off the ground. One student commented that we were going to be like the "Dr. Phil Show".
Clay, Clay, Clay Today we learned the basics of clay creations. We found out that there are different types of clay, there are many places where clay is obtained and there are some wonderful ceramic artists all over the world. We were taught how to make a clay creation that will stick together. We learned how to score and slip to make our creation stick together. Our first creation is based around a pinch pot base. It is amazing to see all the imaginative variations our cluster created. We also started our potter’s wheel rotation. Each student will get a turn to learn the potter’s wheel and to create their very own pot. We had a squishy fun time!
Cooking with Zeek “Cooking with Zeek” got off to a great start with our guest chef, Mrs. Christine Jovanovic, a LME parent. Mrs. Jovanovic’s main focus was teaching the students about flavors and how they complement each other. She had a wide variety of foods for the kids to taste and enjoy. The students helped Mrs. Jovanovic prepare the many samples she brought along. Who would have thought mango and hot chili pepper would taste so great together?
Continuing to develop the whole child....
Monday, October 10, 2011
Primary Enrichment
The 4th and 5th grade enrichment clusters started this past Friday, on October 7, 2011 (more on that later). Here are some updates on the enrichment happening in some first grade classrooms and kindergarten during our E-slot time last Friday.
Mrs. Hall’s 1st grade class: This year, several Hoppers expressed interest in airplanes on their interest survey. Today we learned all about how planes fly, different types and parts of planes and how to make our own. We tried out several styles of planes, the "Loop" and the "Tube", and compared their flight. We also tried making an airplane move using the force of the air leaving a balloon. It was amazing to watch it push through the air. One of the Hoppers brought a book about how to make paper airplanes. We experimented with different folds and practiced different throwing techniques. After many trials and errors, we lined the hallway for the first annual Hopper Air Show. Hoppers stood on the line and threw their airplanes. We measured with a tape measure and took pictures. The longest flight was 17 feet, 9 inches. Our excitement soared as we learned about airplanes!
Mrs. Clements 1st grade class: The Clements Cubs turned ordinary paper into extraordinary art during our origami E-slot on Friday! A fun "Reading Rainbow" taught us about Japanese culture and the origin of origami. We even got to see special paper made out of blue jeans! We used books and a great website http://www.en.origami-club.com/ to show us how to make origami art. The room was busy as students made giraffes, ninjas, flowers, swans, trees, frogs, and sailboats, just to name a few. We had origami experts and students who developed a new love. We can't wait to keep exploring our interest next week!
Kindergarten: In Kindergarten, we're interested in learning more about Community Helpers. Mrs. Fox invited Fireman Herman to come visit all six Kindergarten classes. He is a community helper and a LME dad! Below is a photograph of him demonstrating how he can get completely ready in his fire fighter gear in less than 90 seconds! Mrs. Donna Lee timed him. He did it in 85 seconds! Way to go Fireman Herman! We had really good questions for him: "Why do fire fighters use dogs to help them?" "How does the helmet protect you?" "On average, how many fire trucks do you have at each station?" "When did you know you wanted to be a fire fighter?" Kindergartners are full of questions! E-slot gives us a chance to explore our interests. Thanks Fireman Herman!
Mrs. Hall’s 1st grade class: This year, several Hoppers expressed interest in airplanes on their interest survey. Today we learned all about how planes fly, different types and parts of planes and how to make our own. We tried out several styles of planes, the "Loop" and the "Tube", and compared their flight. We also tried making an airplane move using the force of the air leaving a balloon. It was amazing to watch it push through the air. One of the Hoppers brought a book about how to make paper airplanes. We experimented with different folds and practiced different throwing techniques. After many trials and errors, we lined the hallway for the first annual Hopper Air Show. Hoppers stood on the line and threw their airplanes. We measured with a tape measure and took pictures. The longest flight was 17 feet, 9 inches. Our excitement soared as we learned about airplanes!
Mrs. Clements 1st grade class: The Clements Cubs turned ordinary paper into extraordinary art during our origami E-slot on Friday! A fun "Reading Rainbow" taught us about Japanese culture and the origin of origami. We even got to see special paper made out of blue jeans! We used books and a great website http://www.en.origami-club.com/ to show us how to make origami art. The room was busy as students made giraffes, ninjas, flowers, swans, trees, frogs, and sailboats, just to name a few. We had origami experts and students who developed a new love. We can't wait to keep exploring our interest next week!
Kindergarten: In Kindergarten, we're interested in learning more about Community Helpers. Mrs. Fox invited Fireman Herman to come visit all six Kindergarten classes. He is a community helper and a LME dad! Below is a photograph of him demonstrating how he can get completely ready in his fire fighter gear in less than 90 seconds! Mrs. Donna Lee timed him. He did it in 85 seconds! Way to go Fireman Herman! We had really good questions for him: "Why do fire fighters use dogs to help them?" "How does the helmet protect you?" "On average, how many fire trucks do you have at each station?" "When did you know you wanted to be a fire fighter?" Kindergartners are full of questions! E-slot gives us a chance to explore our interests. Thanks Fireman Herman!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Botanical Bats
Check this out!
Ms. Rumpf's Respectful Bats have been researching bats. As a class, they have taken note facts on a book and video source. They organized their note facts. They have spent a couple of weeks working on products. The Bats made a variety of products: play, puppet show, game, poster, cross word puzzle and quiz. As a class they made a brochure with the bat facts. Their products will be displayed at Zilker Botanical Gardens this weekend. Please come and visit to learn more about bats on October 8 and October 9 from 1 - 4 pm.
Ms. Rumpf's Respectful Bats have been researching bats. As a class, they have taken note facts on a book and video source. They organized their note facts. They have spent a couple of weeks working on products. The Bats made a variety of products: play, puppet show, game, poster, cross word puzzle and quiz. As a class they made a brochure with the bat facts. Their products will be displayed at Zilker Botanical Gardens this weekend. Please come and visit to learn more about bats on October 8 and October 9 from 1 - 4 pm.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
New PETS Lessons
This week in 1st and 2nd grade, I started a new Primary Education Thinking Skills (PETS) lesson. In both grade levels we reviewed Dudley the Detective, who uses deductive thinking. The students remembered that when we use deductive thinking we look for clues, think about those clues for a long time, NEVER jump to conclusions and find one right answer.
In 1st grade, the students practice their deductive thinking by working on some practice sheets, "Who is Mary?" and "Which Dog Belongs to Mary?" 1st grade parents, be on the look out for these completed sheets in your child's Monday or Daily folder over the next two weeks. Then, we worked some more our detective, or deductive, skills. The students were shown a scene from a party. Looking for clues in the picture, the students had to answer different questions, like "What type of party is it?" and "Who is the party for?" The first graders had to remember to look for clues and that we cannot jump to conclusions. It was a little bit of a challenge, but fun.
In 2nd grade, we used logic elimination grids to practice our deductive thinking. The students learned that a logic elimination grid is a system that we can use to organize and eliminate clues. Did you know that you can use "X" and "O" for more than just tic-tac-toe? We talked about the process of elimination and how we use it to help us find one right answer. We practiced solving mysteries together as a class using the logic elimination grids. I left some practice sheets with the 2nd grade teachers so the students can practice their deductive thinking using elimination over the next couple of weeks.
We love Crystal Pond Woods. Continuing to develop the whole child.....
In 1st grade, the students practice their deductive thinking by working on some practice sheets, "Who is Mary?" and "Which Dog Belongs to Mary?" 1st grade parents, be on the look out for these completed sheets in your child's Monday or Daily folder over the next two weeks. Then, we worked some more our detective, or deductive, skills. The students were shown a scene from a party. Looking for clues in the picture, the students had to answer different questions, like "What type of party is it?" and "Who is the party for?" The first graders had to remember to look for clues and that we cannot jump to conclusions. It was a little bit of a challenge, but fun.
In 2nd grade, we used logic elimination grids to practice our deductive thinking. The students learned that a logic elimination grid is a system that we can use to organize and eliminate clues. Did you know that you can use "X" and "O" for more than just tic-tac-toe? We talked about the process of elimination and how we use it to help us find one right answer. We practiced solving mysteries together as a class using the logic elimination grids. I left some practice sheets with the 2nd grade teachers so the students can practice their deductive thinking using elimination over the next couple of weeks.
We love Crystal Pond Woods. Continuing to develop the whole child.....
Enrichment
Here is another sampling of the wonderful enrichment activities that take place in the classroom and during our Friday E-slot at LME.
Mrs. Rung’s 2nd grade class: Today, students explored the school grounds and found a just right magic wand. We decorated our wands and made them magical! Next, we learned a magic floating cup trick. The children are quite impressive. They are so excited about the tricks they have learned so far and the wands they made that one student suggested making a magic box to store all of their tools of their new trade. That will be next week’s project!
Mrs. Wheeler’s 4th grade class: Over the course of the last four weeks, Wheeler's Wranglers have researched a famous American of his/her choice using the Independent Investigation Model. A variety of products have been created: posters, dioramas, models, power points, paintings, and figurines. Students will share their products and what they have discovered about their person with the class next week.
Mrs. Myrick’s 5th grade class: The Myrick Mustangs listened to Latin music and learned a little about Mexico. They were then given 3 ingredients: flour tortillas, salsa, and cream cheese. Each group was responsible for making their own recipe! The Mustangs created many different dishes using only 3 ingredients!
Mrs. Rung’s 2nd grade class: Today, students explored the school grounds and found a just right magic wand. We decorated our wands and made them magical! Next, we learned a magic floating cup trick. The children are quite impressive. They are so excited about the tricks they have learned so far and the wands they made that one student suggested making a magic box to store all of their tools of their new trade. That will be next week’s project!
Mrs. Wheeler’s 4th grade class: Over the course of the last four weeks, Wheeler's Wranglers have researched a famous American of his/her choice using the Independent Investigation Model. A variety of products have been created: posters, dioramas, models, power points, paintings, and figurines. Students will share their products and what they have discovered about their person with the class next week.
Mrs. Myrick’s 5th grade class: The Myrick Mustangs listened to Latin music and learned a little about Mexico. They were then given 3 ingredients: flour tortillas, salsa, and cream cheese. Each group was responsible for making their own recipe! The Mustangs created many different dishes using only 3 ingredients!
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