5th Grade Works on a Music Video

 

This morning, 5th grade wanted to watch me dissect one of the sheep eyeballs that I had left over from 3rd grade. I’m starting to be an expert at cutting those up! (That’s something I never thought I would say…)

Then we worked on trying to make a music video using an app on the iPads and the song, “Hall of Fame” by The Script. I am in the process of getting permission from the band to use their song, and am keeping my fingers crossed that they will give us the go-ahead. I like the message of the song – to try your best to reach your goals, and to not depend on luck.

The students brainstormed what they could be doing during the video, and one of them came up with the idea of using picture frames around their faces to make it look like a Hall of Fame. So, each one wrote one of the professions he or she aspires to, and attached it to the frame. Then they worked in groups to come up with movements for the other parts of the song.

We are not quite finished. Hopefully we will have time after our Toyota field trip next week to complete it and polish it up.

5th Grade Learns More About Robotics

Thanks to Mr. Arteaga, who sponsors the Robotics team at Reagan High School, the students got to see and participate in a demonstration of one of the high school robots. All of the students got to drive the robot for a short period of time. Mr. Arteaga also talked about the value of studying robotics, and the number of diverse careers to which it can lead.

Here are just a few of the pictures that the students took with the iPads today:

We also had a couple of Genius Hour presentations today. Ian did an interesting animation project using Wideo, and Lloyd and Aiden presented a slide show on space. The notes that were used for the slide show are linked below the presentation.

Aiden’s Speech
Lloyd’s Speech

5th Grade Had a Very Productive Day!

I started composing this post, and realized that I have quite a bit to say!

We started the day by looking at a slideshow on how to be better presenters. You can find the slideshow on my professional blog here.

Then I showed the students this video, which was part of Apple Computer’s early campaign, “Think Different.”

It relates to one of my favorite Gandhi quotes, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” and I presented them with Spirit Sticks to remind them of this.

After this, the students continued to work on Genius Hour projects and Dream Team videos. Two more videos were completed today, which I will embed below.

We also worked on Hands-On-Equations, 6-Word Memoirs, and creating quotations using an app called Quipio.

I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but I am thankful we got so much done!

5th Grade Returns to Work

It’s been a stressful week of testing for everyone, and I was glad to finally have class again today!

The 5th graders are still working on Genius Projects, and we had a presentation today from Amy, Grace, and Julia on wallabies. They used Glogster to make their presentation, and I have embedded it below.

Amy was also able to complete her Dream Team video using Puppet Pals, and I think it came out great!

We also worked on Hands-On-Equations, and watched the video that you can find on my professional blog today here. I love Brad Melzer’s message to kids, “Dream Big. Work Hard. Be Humble.” That says it all, doesn’t it?

5th Grade Creates 6 Word Memoirs

We had a couple of Genius Hour presentations this week. Here is the slideshow about optical illusions that was presented:

We also began creating 6 Word Memoirs, short statements that tell the reader a lot about the author. A few of the students completed theirs using a combination of TypeDrawing and WordFoto on the iPads. Here are their finished products:

5th Grade Produces Dream Team Videos

The 5th graders have been creating “Dream Teams” – 4 people from history who inspire them to exhibit the character traits that are important to them. To present their Dream Teams, they have been working on introducing them on talk shows using the Puppet Pals app. So far, we have 3 completed videos that I would like to share with you. Keep your fingers crossed that they work because this is my first time embedding videos from Google Drive on this blog.

Please add an encouraging comment to this post so that our producers will know their shows are being watched – and our future producers will be inspired to complete their projects!

5th Grade Drafts Their Dream Teams!

The 5th graders had a few Genius Hour presentations today:

African Elephants

The Battle of the Alamo

Koala Bears

In addition, the students worked on their “Dream Team Scripts” on which they are planning talk shows where the host introduces their Dream Team of people who inspire them.  Some of the students have completed their scripts, and are already working on the next phase of creating their Talk Shows using the Puppet Pals app on the iPads.  I can’t wait until these are completed!

 

5th Graders Have a Fun Run!

Today was a bit hectic for 5th grade GT, as it was all over the school.  Between Fun Run and Valentine’s Day parties, we also had a changed schedule.  I was able to snap a few pics of the 5th graders at the Fun Run.  Excuse my horrible photography skills, as I was using my phone!  Before the Fun Run, I showed them this Pep Talk video to get them pumped.  In addition to the Fun Run, the students also got to read a bit more of The Giver, and to have a Socratic Dialogue about the ethics of euthanasia and genetic modification.  It was definitely a roller-coaster day!

5th Grade Makes Tumbling Tetrahedrons

For one of their Genius Hour projects, two of the 5th grade girls wanted to learn more about the “Tumbling Tetrahedra” project on the activities page of the Museum of Math.  For their presentation, they taught the rest of the class how to make them.

We also had an intriguing Genius Hour presentation today from Ian, who created a “Glog” about the mystery of Oak Island.  I have embedded his glog below. (Be sure to click on “Play” so you can see the video of his research.)