Today was the second meeting of the 4th and 5th grade enrichment clusters. The students are already getting down to business, thinking as a professional within their interest area and coming up with product and service ideas. Next week, I am excited to tour parents around the enrichment clusters so they can see for themselves the engagement and learning that takes place during this time. I will also offer tour on Friday, October 28 and November 11. Please look in the LME E-news to RSVP for one of the tour. Until then, read below to find out what went on during our first enrichment cluster meetings.
Games! Games! Games!
The students in the “Games! Games! Games!” enrichment cluster generated a list of specific games and types of games they'd like to play. We also learned to play a dice game called Snake Eyes and divided into groups to play Spoons, a card game. Students began developing a calendar for what we'd like to do in the coming weeks. And, we also discussed making and producing a video that would teach other students how to play some of our favorite games.
Movie Maker Madness
The “Movie Maker Madness” enrichment cluster got off to a great start. Students feasted on popcorn as we learned about the process of making movies. Students shared their movie making experience and passions. The cluster group decided to create short films to illustrate the code of conduct for LME students, PRIDE (positive, respectful, independent, dependable, and engaged) to be shared with the school through KPAW. In the end, three groups formed around their production interests; one group is interested in stop action filming. A second group wants to incorporate acting. Finally, our third group will use animations as the characters.
LME Explorer's Guild
The “LME Explorer's Guild” had a great first meeting. A short Reading Rainbow segment hosted by LeVar Burton kicked things off on a spooky note. Next, we encouraged our guild members to look through some provided materials and think of a monster or mystery that they would like to investigate further. Next, we brainstormed products or services we could produce, what resources we will need, and what people with an interest in this topic do in real life. In the coming weeks, I'm going to encourage them to perform research and think critically as we look at the evidence. Are these monsters and mysteries real or fake? How did we come to that conclusion? We look forward to sharing our findings with you at the showcase in December!
Got Science!
Our first meeting of “Got Science!” was a great success. As a real world connection to Hurricane Matthew we created water cycle cups with shaving cream and food color. We found out that physics is one of our greatest interests so we challenged ourselves with balancing entwined forks on a a toothpick on the side of a cup. Chemistry was named as our second greatest interest so we combined baking soda and vinegar in a bottle to blow up a balloon. Our engineering challenge of the day was to "Save Fred" a gummy worm who capsized his boat and needed our junior scientists to find a way to get his gummy lifesaver on him and back on his boat only using paper clips. I can't wait to see what these budding scientists choose for their product and service!
It's All About Sewing
“It's All About Sewing” is an exciting group of young boys and girls eager to start sewing and creating their own projects using a sewing machine. Kristian Castro, senior at WWHS, was our guest speaker. She shared her story of how she learned to sew in an e-cluster when she was in fifth grade at LME, showed some examples of her projects, and how she plans to study fashion design in college. We also learned about parts of the sewing machine and how to use it safely. Next, we brainstormed ideas of sewing projects that we could create and the best part of all, we started sewing. Every student had an opportunity to sew. This group of young budding designers is ready to create!
I Dream of Paint!
This Friday the students in the "I Dream of Paint" enrichment cluster had an opportunity to use not a paint brush but a SLINKY & neon acrylic paint to create their very own masterpiece. That was just the start! Students decided they wanted to add more "color" to LME and the community around them. Seeing beautiful artwork sure does brighten up our lives and keep our spirits high! How are we going to boost the mood of the students and community of LME? Stay tuned!
The Traveling Lions
“The Traveling Lions” explored the GLOBE today. We had a giant blow-up globe that students walked around to discover one city, state, country, or continent that they had never heard of before. We also discussed the countries that each students' family originated from. We discussed what we want to study about different countries, how we want to study it, jobs or roles each person will take to showcase what we have learned. The students are especially excited to do segments on KPAW for “Where in the World Wednesdays”.
The Groundwork
“The Groundwork” enrichment cluster began with an introduction into Landscape Architecture, a field where only 22,000 professionals exist in the U.S. We learned a bit about hydrology, topography, and the design process, and viewed several large and small scale natural play-exploratory areas across the worlds which were designed by Landscape Architects, including our own Lady Bird Lake Wildflower Center Family Area. Students voted on their favorite design elements from 75 pictures of natural play-exploratory areas to start giving input on the natural exploratory area which will be constructed at LME before June 2017, thanks to funding from a sizeable (tier II) grant from RRISD. We practiced using architecture "scales" (like rulers) on topography maps of the Laurel Mountain area to be developed, to measure how much land space we have to work with. We look forward to creating plans and designs as a Student Advisory Council for this area, exemplifying Laurel Mountain's vision of developing talents, having fun learning, and using innovation to contribute and make decisions in the creation of a unique space on our campus that will serve LME students and our community for generations to come.
Easy as 1,2,3D
The first meeting of the “Easy as 1,2,3D” enrichment cluster began with a discussion of 3D printing and how it's currently being used in many industries, such as 3D printed human organs in medicine, chocolate art in the culinary field, and by astronauts to print tools they need in space. We also looked at a YouTube channel called Derpy Duck Animation (created by a former LME student - now at Canyon Vista), who animates Minecraft stories using a complicated 3D tool called Blender. We discussed Pixar's movies, and how artists often render a clay model of a character before moving into digital design. We then used Model Magic to make our own three-dimensional clay models, and brainstormed possible products for our cluster to create in future meetings.
Hello? Is Anyone Out There?
The “Hello? Is Anyone Out There?” enrichment cluster met on Friday. The students had a list of sixteen items and they had to decide if they were essential, helpful, or useless to take with them into space. Some of the items were a compass, air tank, matches, flare gun, etc. Next week, the students will begin researching different topics about space and decide on a product from there.
Girl Power Robotics
The “Girl Power Robotics” enrichment cluster showed their interest in robots by starting to build one. We welcomed several members of the Westwood High School Robotics Team, Claire, Jacqi, Parthavi, and Julia, who shared their interest in robotics with us. They shared a video of the challenge their team will be tasked with for this year. Then, we watched a video of 10 Amazing LEGO Machines using the LEGO NXT kits and lots of LEGOs. We were so excited that we wanted to build and got to work! In our cluster, we will explore and build using LEGO NXT kits to complete challenges and create machines. We can’t wait until our next Friday meeting!!!
To Be or Not to Be
In the enrichment cluster “To Be or Not to Be,” the students watched five different interpretations of that speech. We noticed the different settings and costumes. We talked about what that speech has to do with our cluster! We talked about all of the different aspects of putting on a play, including scenery, props, costumes, lighting, and sound. Students shared about their experiences and what they most would like to do--write a play, act in a play, do the costumes, etc. We began generating ideas about what our enrichment cluster showcase experience would be. We played a couple of Improv games and, most importantly, we had fun!!!!
Cupcake Wars
Our first meeting of “Cupcake Wars” was a ton of fun! We talked about the Cupcake Wars television show, and the students brainstormed possibilities for future challenges, such as mystery ingredients and themes. The students formed their teams, created team names and designed team aprons. We then practiced piping icing onto vegan and gluten-free chocolate and vanilla cupcakes and wrapped up the meeting by eating our creations. Next week, we will decorate our aprons, talk about our final product or service, and plan for our first baking day.
Fitness Fun 101
For our first meeting, we watched a short clip covering five amazing athletes from all over the world that are giving back in some way to their community. We created a list as a group of some struggles that people may have in our community and of the privileges we share (like our health, family support, shelter, and food). Mrs. Bretsch and Mrs. Shepardson described how we will be working with a local athlete on an upcoming event called Family Fitness Night that will be held on November 15th. Brainstorming was encouraged on how we may be able to help with the event.
To end the hour, we played two games. The first game all students were blindfolded, placed around the room, and instructed to come to the center of the room and form a square with their bodies in any way they could. Any form of communication was accepted without using their sight. The second game we played was Hungry Hungry Hippos on scooter boards. Everyone ended the hour with laughter as they were trying to capture as many foam balls as possible for their team. Next week, we will explore more about their ideas on how we can help give back to our own neighborhood through Family Fitness Night.
Lion Ledger Newspaper
After watching a video clip about the creation of a newspaper, our students creatively answered all of the "Key Questions". As the students sat on the carpet in Ms. Toewe's room they discussed the necessary jobs for LME's first every Newsletter: Editor in Chief, Sports Editor, Publisher, Feature Editor, Entertainment Editor, Creative Art Editor, and News Editor. The students worked in partners creating the newsletter logo, and discussing the potential name of the newsletter. What will the newsletter look like? How many pages will it have? What font will we use for headlines and copy? Will we use different fonts for headlines and copy? How many columns will we use in our newsletter? Next week Mr. Sparks will create and distribute the official press credentials for all the cluster students. Mrs. Schnier will assign job positions based on student interests. The first ever Laurel Mountain Elementary newsletter is underway, soon to be hot off the presses!
Clay Creators
Clay creators watched two reading rainbow videos for 20 minutes showing Dolly Naranjo and her family making coil pottery and an artist that lives near a volcano in Hawaii making pottery on the potter's wheel. They were interested and motivated by the videos. After demonstrating the pinch pot techniques student artists made their own pinch pots carefully trying to make the pot walls the same thickness. They are excited to move on to the next techniques using coil and slab techniques.
Inspiring Illusionist
The “Inspiring Illusionist” started with some visual illusions. After that, each of the students shared an experience or person who inspired them to learn more about illusions and we discussed some of the famous illusionists. We then created our first illusion; turning water into ice by placing a sponge in the bottom of a Dixie Cup then adding an ice cube. As the students poured the water into the cup, it was absorbed by the sponge and then they tipped it over and let the ice cube fall into their hand! Then they practiced the correct placement and demonstration technique so they could wow their audience. They were excited to share this illusion with their friends and family members.
Creating aprons for "Cupcake Wars"
Playing board games in "Games! Games! Games!"
Learning tricks in "Inspiring Illusionists"
Watercolor in "I Dream of Paint"
Practicing techniques in "Clay Creators"
Using a sewing machine in "It's All About Sewing"
Building with NXT Kits in "Girl Power Robotics"
Designing in "Easy as 1,2,3D"
Researching ghosts in "LME Explorers Guild"
Creating a cloud in "Got Science?"
Seeing where in the world we have traveled in "Traveling Lions"
Playing games to emphasize teamwork in "Fitness Fun 101"
