Science ExpeditionWe are building background knowledge for our expedition by exploring an "unknown substance" which we are using as a vehicle to hone our scientific thinking. This week one big idea and one guiding question were reveled, which are: Big Ideas:
To begin answering the question we tooled around with a loose version of the scientific method and some of "its" process': question, S.W.A.G., observations. Curious about the meaning of S.W.A.G.? Ask your 6th grader. We started off by distinguishing the difference between subjective observation and objective observation. What's the difference between subjective and objective observation? Check in with your child for an explanation. When we return from Voyage we will continue investigating scientific method and the differences between a systematic observation and an experiment? Below, the crew explores dry ice, which, I was able to consistently refer to as Object #1, or "unknown substance", for two full days before I gaffed and spilled the beans. So it goes. Now that they know the mysterious substance is dry ice they must still figure out how to prove it is what they claim it is. One scientific habit that we identified is that scientist take notes. To better understand how scientist have historically recorded their thinking we checked out a variety of ways curious minds from the past and the present process their thinking and communicate ideas via the scientific notebook. The images below portray students exploring science notebooks excerpts through a silent conversation. Zoom in and take a look at the students posted notes. Little MathematicsMath may look slightly different for some and quite the same for others. This year some of the crew will be working with *Ms. Amanda, our schools math specialists, while the majority of the crew will work with me. On Wednesdays the whole crew embarks on a journey to solve a math riddle or logic problem. Each problem demands systematic thinking and organization. The crew will work together to fill their tool box with problem solving strategies. Sometimes we will fail. Yet, we will always succeed in gaining insight into how to better approach future problems. For students I will primarily be working with our first unit is Prime Time. In this unit we explore relationships among factors, multiples, divisors, and products. This includes:
The kids took the pre-test for our first investigation. Ask your child to tell you about "The Factor Game", factors, multiples, prime numbers and composite numbers. * Ms. Amanda will be communicating directly with families in regards to student progress and course specifics. Below, crew work on their first logic problem and a handful of us set off and explore factors within the Prime Time unit. LiteracyIn the images below you'll notice a few literacy based things goin' on: the exploration of fables, reading with first grade buddies and organizing the classroom library. The "fable" list within the photos was generated through student observations. Reading - We are exploring fables and searching for "the life lesson" or moral. Why? It's an accessible and fun way to apply comprehension tools, such as "think aloud", "generating questions", and summarizing. Writing - Each crew member will take what they've learned from our fable research and apply to their own short fable. Students will each set personal writing goals and choose one goal to focus on while they generate a fable. We will also explore figurative language, expanding detail and creative ways of expressing the mundane. Team BuildingIt looks like play, and it is. Team building is an essential component to the success of voyage and classroom projects positive outcome. If kids can learn to work together to solve complex problems than the joy that learning together can bring is illuminated. So, we team build to develop communication, cooperation, creativity and critical thinking skills. Below are a few pics from the weeks team building activities: Helium Pole, Group Lift and the underside-of-lava-proof-raft-is-melting- Tarp Flip. Voyage PrepThis past week was full of lots of discussion around Voyage. "How many miles do we hike? Cotton socks are cool, right? Do I have to go to the bathroom in the woods or can I use the park outhouse? Will it rain?..." All great questions that ideally were answered clearly. Below are a few pics highlighting gear check, list of things to discuss, loading backpacks, choosing patrol names and growth zones. Take a look at the growth zones pic (last photo). The pink X's are locations that each student placed themselves in relationship to their personal level of comfort around a certain voyage related event. Most X's fall in the comfort zone yet a few landed in the growth zone and one or two exist on the cusp of, or deeply in, the panic zone. This could be a good tool to guide a discussion with your child about where their heads are one day before departure. Please see Ms. Deborah's blog post for Love and Logic date and time updates. Important Dates:Fall Voyage: 8/20-8/23
Day of Rest: 8/24 No School: 9/3 No School: 9/21 Fall Break: 10/8-10/22 No School :11/6 Thanksgiving Break: 11/21-11/23 Below are few images that capture the first few days of school. The pictures highlight a few intentions: team building, problem solving, acclimating to classroom space, play and teaming up with our first grade buddies, Mr. G's crew. The purpose of the first few days of school is to create a place that all involved want to take part. It's essential that we begin by generating a space that nurtures belonging, safety, trust, expression and curiosity. As we move through our days and weeks we will continue to play, solve problems and build a caring classroom culture, yet we will shift away from predominantly "team-building" exercises and gravitate towards more academics--the intention is to transfer our burgeoning skills to solving real-classroom, real world problems. Important Dates: Gear Check: 8/16/18
Fall Voyage: 8/20-8/23 Day of Rest: 8/24 No School: 9/3 No School: 9/21 Fall Break: 10/8-10/22 No School :11/6 Thanksgiving Break: 11/21-11/23 A Few Nuts and Bolts
Storm Dismissal - Orange FlagIn the event of stormy weather or unsafe dismissal conditions (lightning) we will have an orange flag storm dismissal. The following procedures will be in place:
1. An orange flag will be placed on the stop sign out front of the school. 2. Your child's teacher will send an email letting you know about the orange flag dismissal. 3. You will need to come into the school building and sign your child out from their classroom. -Our crew will be in the library *Please note: Children must be signed out and while it is often convenient to ask a friend to grab your child, we can only release students to you or people on your emergency pick-up list. Please make sure that you have updated this information at the front office. If you have small children or a caregiver who will be picking up your child, and unloading from the car provides an additional risk, please let your child's teacher know so that Ms. Deborah or another staff member can escort your child(ren) to the car. Do NOT park in the kiss and go lane unless you have been "approved" by the front office as needing your child(ren) escorted to the car. 4. Walkers will not be released until it is safe for them to be dismissed. 5. Children who ride the bus will be escorted to the bus for departure. If you have any questions about orange flag dismissals, please be sure to contact your child's teacher or the front office. Greetings Families, For a quick over view of what's to come check out the dates below. For those new to Renaissance a Day of Rest is a day-off from school immediately following our return home from voyage. Important Crew Dates:August
Listening Conferences: 8/6 & 8/7 First Day of School: 8/8 Picture Day: 8/10 Back to School Carnival: 8/10 Fall Voyage: 8/20-8/23 Day of Rest: 8/24 |
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