“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
– Dr. Seuss
– Dr. Seuss
Engineering Design
Our class has worked on the sequence of the scientific method, so now we are moving on to learn about the engineering design process. After some time comparing the two models, we began an engineering challenge called "Life Guard Chair." The engineering design challenges always begin with a potential "real world" problem that students need to develop a solution for. The chairs will need to be at least 35 cm tall, strong enough to stand on their own, and hold a "toy life guard" for at least 20 seconds without falling or collapsing. You can see some of our progress below. We hope to test each team chair when we return from Labor Day.
Our class has worked on the sequence of the scientific method, so now we are moving on to learn about the engineering design process. After some time comparing the two models, we began an engineering challenge called "Life Guard Chair." The engineering design challenges always begin with a potential "real world" problem that students need to develop a solution for. The chairs will need to be at least 35 cm tall, strong enough to stand on their own, and hold a "toy life guard" for at least 20 seconds without falling or collapsing. You can see some of our progress below. We hope to test each team chair when we return from Labor Day.
Father Robert Visits Third Grade
Last year, students in second grade wrote letters back and forth to Father Robert's school in Tanzania, Africa. He came to the elementary today with Mrs. McIntire. His goal was to meet the kids that had corresponded with his school last school year, and invite them to continue the connection that they had started. Students will have the chance to be pen pals again this year with their distant friends across the ocean!
Last year, students in second grade wrote letters back and forth to Father Robert's school in Tanzania, Africa. He came to the elementary today with Mrs. McIntire. His goal was to meet the kids that had corresponded with his school last school year, and invite them to continue the connection that they had started. Students will have the chance to be pen pals again this year with their distant friends across the ocean!
RACE DAY!!!!
Mr. Carpenter placed everyone in the "pit" and began his job as the race official. He graciously made race brackets for everyone and explained how they would move thier puff mobiles. He then instructed contestants to line up at the starting line, gave the signal, and zoooooom! Some designs worked well and others did not. We discussed that if the design did not work well, could there be any changes that could help improve the performance. Our class is learning that the process of learning is more important than the product! Everyone had a lot of fun, but we did have four designs that were the fastest. They were created by Preston, Aiden, Willa, and Ernest. Great job to our fantastic designers and a thrilling race!
Mr. Carpenter placed everyone in the "pit" and began his job as the race official. He graciously made race brackets for everyone and explained how they would move thier puff mobiles. He then instructed contestants to line up at the starting line, gave the signal, and zoooooom! Some designs worked well and others did not. We discussed that if the design did not work well, could there be any changes that could help improve the performance. Our class is learning that the process of learning is more important than the product! Everyone had a lot of fun, but we did have four designs that were the fastest. They were created by Preston, Aiden, Willa, and Ernest. Great job to our fantastic designers and a thrilling race!
Learning about the scientific method
Third grade has started to learn about the scientific method in science. Our class had fun learning about the scientific method by making paper airplanes. Step one was to think of how a paper airplane would be constructed to fly the farthest. Students thought about what they had observed in real planes and ones that they have seen made out of paper. Each person made a hypothesis, or guess about what design would be best, planned how to make it, made the plane, then tested it. After flying all of the planes we analyzed the outcomes and discussed how to redesign them to retest! This helped us learn the method. Our class then practiced it further when they moved on to designing "Puff Mobiles." Check out our talented designers in the following pictures! We will race each mobile in the gym next week!
Third grade has started to learn about the scientific method in science. Our class had fun learning about the scientific method by making paper airplanes. Step one was to think of how a paper airplane would be constructed to fly the farthest. Students thought about what they had observed in real planes and ones that they have seen made out of paper. Each person made a hypothesis, or guess about what design would be best, planned how to make it, made the plane, then tested it. After flying all of the planes we analyzed the outcomes and discussed how to redesign them to retest! This helped us learn the method. Our class then practiced it further when they moved on to designing "Puff Mobiles." Check out our talented designers in the following pictures! We will race each mobile in the gym next week!
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Class Dojo
Our classroom uses Class Dojo to help students set individual goals and track progress. Students also like to use it to work towards rewards, but it is not used as punishment. Families typically like knowing if their child is turning in homework, staying on task, showing PRIDE, or if they are having trouble with self control. Keep in mind, Class Dojo is a simply a snap shot in time, but that trends are sometimes helpful to realign goals! We also use it as a tool to improve learning with lessons in "Growth Mindset." Click on the Class Dojo banner to the left to see a short video on how it works. If you had an account with Class Dojo last year, it should connect with our class this year. If you did not have an account, I will send instructions home during our first full week of school for you. You are not required to sign up or connect to this app. I do post special events and reminders from time-to-time. If you are only interested in school delays and closings, I send these out on an app called "REMIND" (information below). The school also has a phone call/text notification for these circumstances, so you are not required to sign up with REMIND if you are satisfied with the other notifications. |
Xtra Math & Moby Max
Our class uses Xtra Math & Moby Max to help students with fact practice in our classroom. These programs help students to learn facts along with building their speed and knowledge of facts. Students can access these math activities just we do in our classroom by going to our class webpage, selecting the program desired, and then logging in with your student username and pin (Student Usernames and Pins are kept on homework folders). The nice feature to these programs is that parents can also log in and check on progress. These links test the student and then moves them through adding, subtracting, multiplication, and division facts based on the child's performance. I truly appreciate it matching student needs and I think parents will appreciate knowing exactly what their child knows or needs to know. Check it out! Our class code is: HYSMRJZK if you need to set up your account at home. |
REMIND 101
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Elementary Books Read Aloud Online
Here are a few links for online books that are available to various reading levels that John Wolf from Indiana Literacy Liaisons shared.
Children's Storybooks Online Many wonderful free childrens books are available to read at Children's Storybooks Online. Stories span age ranges from preschool to young adults.
SillyBooks Animated children's books, music, puzzles and children's games that teach young children to read and write.
Storynory Storynory has published a new audio story every week since November 2005. Our lead storyteller is Natasha whose lovely voice will charm and beguile you. We draw on fairy tales by theBrothers Grimm or Han Christian Anderson. We seek out unusual stories from around the world.
Storyline Online Streaming video program featuring famous people reading children's books aloud.
Signed Stories Hi! This is your website. It’s got lots of great books to see in sign language and subtitles. Hearing family and friends can listen to the stories too. You can all watch together! We’ll add more books. So keep coming back to see what’s new. Tell your friends … click on the windows… explore…and have FUN!
Just Books Read Aloud This site was specifically compiled to be ad free, clutter free, let children follow links to unintended locations free. The site is also JAWS compatible for visually impaired parents and students.
Here are a few links for online books that are available to various reading levels that John Wolf from Indiana Literacy Liaisons shared.
Children's Storybooks Online Many wonderful free childrens books are available to read at Children's Storybooks Online. Stories span age ranges from preschool to young adults.
SillyBooks Animated children's books, music, puzzles and children's games that teach young children to read and write.
Storynory Storynory has published a new audio story every week since November 2005. Our lead storyteller is Natasha whose lovely voice will charm and beguile you. We draw on fairy tales by theBrothers Grimm or Han Christian Anderson. We seek out unusual stories from around the world.
Storyline Online Streaming video program featuring famous people reading children's books aloud.
Signed Stories Hi! This is your website. It’s got lots of great books to see in sign language and subtitles. Hearing family and friends can listen to the stories too. You can all watch together! We’ll add more books. So keep coming back to see what’s new. Tell your friends … click on the windows… explore…and have FUN!
Just Books Read Aloud This site was specifically compiled to be ad free, clutter free, let children follow links to unintended locations free. The site is also JAWS compatible for visually impaired parents and students.
