3rd Grade Does a Tough Math Challenge

I was so proud of the third graders today!  I gave them a new type of math problem in which they had to guess two numbers using a series of clues that I revealed one by one on the front screen.  They had to use a lot of different math skills to figure out how fast the heart rates/minute are of men and women.  Using their iPads to eliminate digits, the students were still stymied after 45 minutes of working on the problem.  But they did not give up!  We took a break to go to lunch.  As usually happens when you take a break from a tough problem, they returned from lunch with renewed energy.  I don’t think it took more than 10 minutes for both groups to figure out the answer during the second try.  They were so excited when they got it, that they asked for another problem.  I told them that they will have to wait until next week for that!

We also finished up Billibonk and the Thorn Patch, and the students were assigned to find pictures related to the story (about systems thinking) that we can input into our iPad word game.  They used Google Presentation to share their pictures and words with me, and I will create the game so it will be ready for them next week.

And, we had a little time to spend in B.O.S.S. HQ near the end of the day – making circuits, drawing, and trying to finish up our B.O.S.S. HQ sign.

 

4th Grade Does a Little Doodling

Today’s blog post was written by Mahli.

Today in G.T we read more of Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. We also talked more about the question “ Is violence  ever right?”. Still most of us said in some situations, but others said no. Later,we worked on our genius hour project and practiced a lot. Then at the end of the day we went over rules for the B.O.S.S.HQ ( Building of super stuff). People in level 3 got to go in B.O.S.S HQ and played with things like 3D Doodler, Little Bits, and got to draw. While level 3 students were in B.O.S.S HQ others not in level 3 were on a programing app called Hopscotch. Their mission on Hopscotch was to make a program that would spell their name, some succeeded while others didn’t. Today in G.T. was very fun.

Note from Mrs. Eichholz:  Another activity that we tried today was “Newspaper Blackout Poetry.”  It was very challenging, but some of the students created some great “Found” poems using newspaper articles, and I wanted to feature them here.  Click on the picture to enlarge it.

5th Grade Has our 1st Genius Hour Presentation of the Year

Today’s blog post is by Aubrie.

Today in G.T. we spent a lot of time on Genius Hour. We did the (extremely) evil challenges as well.

We also read ‘The Giver’, and discussed the chapters we read.

Lastly, we did Maker’s Studio, now called ‘B.O.S.S. HQ.’, which stands for Building of Super Structures. Only people who were on level 3 (we rank ourselves based on the number of Class Dojo points we have), (which means that you have 21 points and up),could do it. In B.O.S.S. HQ., we got to paint the sign reading:B.O.S.S. HQ., use mini electronic ‘robots’ called Little Bits, and use the newly-acquired 3Doodler pen, which can melt plastic and make 3-dimensional pictures!

See you next week!

B.O.S.S. HQ is Now Open!

This post was co-authored by Mahli and Athasi.

Today in G.T we read “Tuck Everlasting “by: Natalie Babbitt and took a vote to see how many people would still drink the magic water that makes you live forever, and very few of us raised our hands . After that, we did some hands on equations which is  pre algebra. Also we revised our Genius Hour projects to meet the criteria that we talked about last time and many of us started our projects. Then, students who were on level three got to choose either to paint the sign to our maker studio, which  is called  B.O.S.S. HQ  (Building Of Super Stuff) or create hands on programs with little things called Little Bits. For those of us who were not on level three, tried some challenges on the iPad using the programming app “Hopscotch”.  Also, report cards went home today, along with our G.T folders, full of the cool stuff we do in G.T.At the end of the day Emmett showed us some things under the microscopes at the Genius Bar. There was also a question on the Genius Bar that said,” Should you always listen to the opinions of others?” A lot of us said no, but a few of us said yes.Today in G.T was a good day to show the creative side of yourself.