4th Grade Practices Creating Mandalas

As we are currently studying mathematical masterpieces, the 4th graders were introduced to mandalas this week.  The mystical properties of the circle, a shape that has no beginning and no end, are the basis of these art/math creations.  To get a feel for making mandalas, students went to different stations that included using apps to make mandalas, spirograph, and sand mandalas. Some of the apps they used were: Camera Kaleidoscope, Drawerings, and PicCollage.  I think that they would all agree that the sand mandalas are the most difficult – requiring steady hands and a lot of concentration!

 

3rd Grade Works on Saving the Coral Reefs

With their Genius Hour research completed, the 3rd graders have begun working on their presentation with the hope of persuading more kids to help save the coral reefs.  They decided to make a video game using Scratch programming that will teach kids facts about the coral reef and the things that damage it.  So far, the game has been a great collaborative effort from the students, and they are branching out this week to add some more details from home.

2nd Grade Builds Bridges

The 2nd graders learned about different types of bridges this week.  They did the “Bridge Challenge” on the Building Big website, which involved recommending types of bridges for different situations.  Then they built Beam Bridges with the K’Nex kits, and began working on some bridges of their choice once those were completed.

This Week in GT

I am a bit behind in updating each class post, so I am going to do a summary of all of our GT classes this week today!

Kinder – They worked on Inventor Thinking by making Leprechaun Traps.  We’ve set the traps out to see if we can catch any during Spring Break.  The students also played the Osmo “Monster” game.

1st – The students began their new rotations for studying the individual countries they chose to research.  They are analyzing statistics, programming a robot to travel around a map, and looking at fascinating photos of the countries.  They also worked on a St. Patrick’s Day sudoku.

2nd – 2nd grade GT finished up their limericks from last week, shared them, and illustrated them.  They also did some more Math Analogies.

3rd – The 3rd graders learned how to do Scratch programming, which they hope to use to create their final projects for Genius Hour.  They also learned the Order of Operations, and applied it to an algebra activity.  We read Billibonk, and discussed the habits of systems thinkers.

4th – We celebrated Pi Day this week!  With a few videos, a story about Sir Cumference, and a Pi Day Breakout to solve, the students are fully prepared to make 3/14 a great day during Spring Break!

5th – The students began to work on their “manifestos” using what they have learned about themselves throughout the school year so far.  We had some great conversations and excellent brainstorms.

 

1st Grade Learns to Program Geography

The 1st graders plotted the countries they have chosen to study on our floor map of the world this week.  Then they learned how to use Blockly programming to send our Dash robot to different locations.  Today was just a tutorial so that the students could be introduced to the coding basics.  We will be beginning stations next week, and each group of 3 students will have some geography coding challenges to complete when they get to that station.

5th Grade Identifies Interests & Passions

Since we are looking at character traits right now, the 5th graders took a self-assessment through Thrively online to determine what their main interests and passions are currently.  What is nice about this is that the students felt, for the most part, that the Thrively assessment was pretty accurate.  In addition to listing the top traits of each individual, Thrively offers suggestions for activities to pursue their interests.  It also gives “Pathways” to different careers so students can learn more about them. By identifying certain strengths in each student, Thrively will allow them to explore activities and ideas that will support their interests – giving them even more opportunities to experience our world in different ways.

My Own Thrively Profile!

4th Grade Creates Tessellations

After working on Genius Hour projects today, the 4th graders learned more about tessellations – how to make them, where they can be found in nature, and how mankind finds them useful and beautiful.

They aren’t quite finished with their tessellation art work, but I will share a few pieces of their products so far below.

In addition to studying tessellations, the students also did some challenging math called, “Algebra Antics,” where they learned more about the x and y axis and the order of operations.

2nd Grade Adapts Classrooms to Leprechauns

The 2nd graders worked on the “Adapt” portion of S.C.A.M.P.E.R., a creative thinking tool which helps people to generate new ideas.  For this activity, they had to Adapt a classroom for leprechauns.  They thought about not only the physical differences, but the curriculum changes.  For example, leprechauns might have to learn how to talk to humans, how to survive without getting stepped on, or how gold changes its value (I think I would like to know that one as well!)

The students also worked on limericks, but we are still refining them.  In addition, they did some more “Balance Benders,” which are really challenging all of us!

1st Grade Creates Substitutes for Pot of Gold

With field trips, assemblies, and early dismissal schedules, first grade missed a little GT time during the last couple of weeks.  We got back on schedule Friday.  To practice their divergent thinking, the students used the “Substitute” part of the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. tool to imagine what else they might like to find at the end of a rainbow besides a pot of gold.  You can see some of their responses below.

5th Grade Examines the Science of Character

The 5th graders watched a short video about the “Science of Character.”  It talks about how we need to recognize our own strengths as well as those of others – but that we can also develop strengths that we admire.

The students then answered some questions in Google Classroom based on the “Periodical Table of Strengths” to determine what character traits define them, the people in their lives, and the people they see as heroes. They also thought about the traits that they would like to work on in the future to become who they want to be.

image from: letitripple.org