What have we accomplished?
Quadrilateral robots! |
Genius Hour Links |
We did it! We have earned our 100 compliments!
GENIUS HOUR!
April 2015:
Genius Hour is happening in our classroom! 2015 Passion Project Ideas:
|
What is Genius Hour?
Genius Hour is time set aside in class for students to study a new idea or skill that they choose and are passionate about. They will have to research something, create something, and present something. These are the only rules.
Goals of Genius Hour:
Genius Hour is time set aside in class for students to study a new idea or skill that they choose and are passionate about. They will have to research something, create something, and present something. These are the only rules.
Goals of Genius Hour:
- To promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking.
- To allow students an opportunity to discover/investigate one of their passions and reflect on/share their learning with others.
Walk Through the Heart and Circulatory System!
March 2015:
The students were able to visualize how blood runs through the body by walking through the heart! Students started in the lungs and held red signs to indicate that they were oxygenated blood cells. They then traveled through the valves (two students holding their arms out together like a bridge) and in and out of the heart. Once the delivered all of the oxygen to the body, they grabbed a blue piece of paper to indicate that they were now deoxygenated blood cells. They returned back to the heart, made their way through the heart, and then returned to the lungs where the whole process started all over again! They had so much fun with this activity and really learned how the circulatory system works! |
Small Steps Author Peg Kehret Responds to our
Class!
The questions the students had for Mrs. Kehret
Did you ever find out how you got polio or who you got it from? Did you stay in touch with Dr. Bevis? What kind of pain were you feeling? How did you feel about going around in your walking sticks? If you had to get an iron lung, what do you think would have happened? What were your thoughts when you got told you had 3 types of polio? Did you have kids and has anyone else in your family ever had polio? How challenging was polio? What was it like staying in a hospital for months? On a scale of 1-10, how bad does polio hurt? Have you still not heard about Tommy and if he ever got out of the iron lung? Do you think having polio made you stronger or weaker in general? Did you every think your polio would never go away? What would you do if you could never have gone home? What was the hardest part about having polio? |
March 13: We had just finished reading the amazing and inspirational book Small Steps and the students had a few additional questions that they wanted to ask Peg Kehret, the author. So, I reached out to her and got a response! Here is what she wrote:
Hello, 5th Graders: I’m happy that you liked Small Steps. I kept in touch with my roommates after I left the hospital. When Small Steps was published, I had a polio reunion with Dorothy and Renee. One of our former nurses came, too, and we spent a whole day remembering our times together. I talked to Alice by phone while I was writing the book, but she died of cancer before it was published. I am now the only survivor from Room 202. I only needed the walking sticks for a few months after I left the hospital. Then I was able to walk on my own. Alice and Dorothy remained in wheelchairs. Renee was able to walk with braces on her legs for many years but eventually needed a wheelchair again. Because of post-polio syndrome, I now use a cane when I’m away from my house. I also have a motorized scooter that I use when I have to walk long distances. Dr. Bevis is doing well. I have not seen him but we correspond. I never found out what happened to Tommy. Because I don’t remember his last name, I have no way to trace him. I asked Dr. Bevis about Tommy, but he didn’t know, either. Having polio made my body weaker but my spirit stronger. I don’t give up easily! Post-polio syndrome continues to make life challenging. I recently got an electric scooter to use when I need to walk long distances. No one else in my family got polio. I have two adult children, four grownup grandchildren and one great-grandson, who is three. I have published fifty-three books. My favorite of my own books is my memoir, Animals Welcome: A Life of Reading, Writing, and Rescue. My newest book is Dangerous Deception. Your friend, Peg Kehret |
Shark Tank success!
March 9, 2015: The students have finished making and presenting their inventions/innovations! They did an awesome job and sure have some money making ideas! Awesome job class!
|
Inventors
Bungee Lounge: Hailey, Jack, and Morgan Stuffy Wipers: Cami, Adriana, and Madison Scenties: Jared, Dominic, and Rhynon Handy Holder: Sarthi, Krish, and Eric Slot Cup: Donovan and Emilio 3 Section Bottle: Emily and Sophia Super Soars: Natalia, Sami, and Christina Money Brush: Karolina and Julia Easy Sports: Xander, Julian, and Kyan |
welcome to the shark tank!February-March 2015
The students are becoming inventors and innovators for a re-creation of the hit TV show, "Shark Tank!" They will be required to create or innovate a product, create an advertisement, and present their new business/product to the "sharks!" The product/business that receives the most funding will have their product displayed for the school to see! Who knows? Maybe one of their products will be the "next big thing" and make millions! |
We're moving west! January 2015: The students are participating in a simulation where they pretend to be pioneers traveling west from Fort Independence, Missouri and heading towards Oregon in search for a better life and new land!
"Playing settlers starting for Oregon in 1846, students determine which supplies to carry west, keep diaries, make trail decisions, and write reports to gain credits that move their wagons across a map. Fate cards interject problems such as weather, wagon breakdowns, wild animals, and even death." (InterAct) The students have received identities and have been working cooperatively with their wagon trains to make decisions related to real decisions pioneers had to make on their journey west. Who will make it to Oregon first? |
New gumball machine!January 2015
Students who have mastered their math facts on Xtramath will get to receive a gumball from our new light up singing gumball machine! If students find the special "Dubble Bubble" marked gumballs, they will receive a special prize! |
Literature circles have begun!
Purple Group: "Saturday Boy" by: David Fleming
Blue Group: "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by: E.L. Konigsburg Green Group: "Bridge to Terabithia" by: Katherine Paterson Pink Group: "All the Wrong Questions: Who Could That be at This Hour?" by: Lemony Snicket Orange Group: "Among the Hidden" by: Margaret Peterson Haddix |
We won the school's Door decorating contest!!
December 2014: The school had a door decorating contest and our class won! We will be having a hot chocolate and cookie party with a "special guest reader" on Monday! The scene was inspired by Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" The students did such a great job creating the ornaments and snowflakes for our display!
Stocking stuffers!December 2014: The students have just finished making their holiday stocking that will get stuffed with positive comments or compliments from their classmates!
|
Brand new books for our library!November 2014: I was able to get about 30 free and brand new books for our classroom library from Scholastic! Special thanks to the students who purchased books from the recent catalog and made this possible!
|
Chromebooks have arrived!November 2014: As a teacher on donorschoose.org, I asked for two brand new Google Chromebooks for our classroom and I recently got the project funded! The Chromebooks have just arrived and I cannot wait to surprise the students on Monday! Thank you to all the donors who helped make this possible! :)
|
Zebra on the Loose! newspapersNovember 2014: The students have just completed writing their informational newspaper articles on "The Zebra on the Loose!"
|
We are Thankful for...November 2014: With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, the students reflected on what they were thankful for.
|
"Shake it off" Music Video!September 2014: The "Shake it Off Fractions" music video was a success! We had a popcorn and juice viewing party with Mr. Z!
|
#Character "Selfies!"
September 2014: The students took "Selfies" of the characters in the book "Verdi" and "Owls in the Family" and had a fun time doing it!
|
Gilberts PD Thanks Us!September 2014: The Gilberts Police Department thanks our class for sending letters on 9/11.
|
Gumball Math Facts!
September 2014: The students earn a "gumball" every time they complete a skill (division, multiplication, etc.), using XtraMath.com.
|