Electrifying

Electricity started with a trip to the computer lab where we made circuits on a PHET simulation. The children quickly learned that circuits need to create a full circle: a closed circuit. They also discovered what a resistor does. And that longer wires act like resistors. And that adding more light bulbs acts like a resistor. Not to say that these definitions are completely accurate but what great observations.

Throughout these electricity lessons, we have studied open and closed circuits, the inner workings of flashlights with an emphasis on conductors, insulators and simple machines, along with the flow of electrons creating an electric current. Now it's time to try out a real experiment. Can they test what they know and create a light of there own?

And so comes the moment of truth, the electricity tests. The paper to pencil test was given, corrected and returned on day one. However, it was day two that measured understanding. Could they build a novel item displaying their electricity understanding. Some students were asked to create a toilet paper roll flash light while others made a light up style as a buzzer. Both, groups of students were welcomed to the challenge with a motivational video and a set of criteria to follow. The buzz in the room was amazing. The children were excited to DO SCIENCE. 

Happy Dr. Seuss Day

In true Dr. Seuss style, enjoy our rendition of a scavenger hunt!

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Have scattered some clues

We have fluffy blue hair

And pop out of nowhere

Even though we are crazy, clumsy and messy too

Come to our school, we want to play with you

Go to each place and collect a new clue

The clue you will find; it’s clear what to do

Each item you find you must wear til you’re through

This place is where a lot of books are found;

A to Z you won't leave with a frown.

This place is where all the stories are at

up up up you can surely bet that.

It doesn't matter if you're small or TALL

All it takes is a walk down the hall.

This spot is nestled between two fourth grade rooms; these teachers are quite nice,

The basketed books in this closet should be as quiet as mice.

If you go to room S24

you'll see books and much more.

Announcements are made from here.

Mrs Conley speaks with cheer.

BAD KIDS,sick kids can be found;

In this place help is all around.

Thing 1 and Thing 2 can be heard ringing;

You may also find Mrs. McDonald singing.

At your next destination at the end of the hall,

You'll find kids creating paintings for the wall.

You may find an animal that has a big trunk.

You might see some children filled with spunk.

The weaving, the pottery, the self portraits too.

When you come to this room you won't be blue!

This is a place where you can take a seat.

And you'll find many things to eat.

You can eat delicious food.

Even pizza if you are in the mood.

A little factory where people bake.

Yummy foods like cookies and cake.

Eat and talk with all your friends too.

And this is where you'll find your clue.

It is where you run around.

And basketball nets do abound.

Do you hear the sound?

You'll see lines.

And lots of signs.

You'll make a sweat.

And become wet.

And you can energize.

On pull-up lines.

And this is where you look to find your surprise!

Come on down to the kindergarten hall

iPads are on and kids are having a ball

Near the staircase next to the printer

You'll find the best class you've seen all winter

When you look for the door

It's 102 plus one more

Explorers, Explorers and More Explorers

Throughout the late fall and winter, we have discovered that the conquerors weren't just the bad guys who ended great civilizations but also the time honored explorers. We've focused on the Aztec, Inca and Maya people and how these civilizations ended. Now,we leave the learning up to the children. The research is for the children to decipher. Students were given directions, examples and links to follow. Direct instruction was offered in short mini-lessons with the emphasis being on the children making their own discoveries. Take a gander at how they did!





Some other incorporated skills in this project included map skills, recognizing centuries, research and writing. The children were able to utilize these skills in a novel way to demonstrate their learning beyond their reading. In the end, the children became the teachers as they taught the rest of the class about their researched explorer.

This is such a proud moment for me as a teacher. Being able to allow the children to drive their own research and organize their own learning is a testament to all the teachers I have shared and continue to share your children with. Seeing how capable they are of the research and the technology indicates that these students can dive into their own inquiries and share their DISCOVERIES! They were able to multi-device by using their iPads and a desktop computer simultaneously. They each used only one sheet of paper for this whole project!








Be sure to check out the last step of the project. The children were asked to find out what else was going on at that time to get a feel for what the world was like. They each researched their own person, structure or event. This is always my favorite part; I really get to see what is interesting to each child.

How Do You Evaluate?

Describe how you use PBEMDAS to evaluate expressions and equations.  This week you need to write one equation that includes 6 of the 7 rules in the order of operations and explain step by step how you solve the problem.  You may use one of the math problems from this week's homework.  Remember to explain where you are in the steps and what you did to solve it.  Put your name at the end.

Please Let Us Explain

In ELA, we just finished being the experts. We set out to teach someone else how to do something. We wrote clear organized directions, listed our materials and included pictures to help another understand.

Our process was clear and organized.
As a class we made and wrote directions for "How to Make a Fortune Teller". We made, wrote, photographed and finally followed our own directions. This was our first edit. Then we gave the directions to another class to follow. We added in their suggestions also.

Now, it was time for the students to do their own. First thing is first, they needed to do the step and really slow down to look at what had been done. Second, the children had to use words that could be understood for another to follow the directions. And finally, they took pictures. this was repeated until the project was complete. Each student then had to follow their directions word for word. (Too funny!) As part of the process, they practiced their peer editing skills by playing the devil's advocate in trying to follow the directions without the pictures. Edits were made and good times were had by all.



Along the way, the children were able to take turns being the experts of either the item they made, some skill they acquired along the way or even a directional specialist. In the end, the children were all able to make a how to they were proud to show to all.

Finally, it was time to put our work into Google Drive. The students added their pictures into Drive from their iPads and typed their directions as well. This allowed for a one on one opportunity to see spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. Finally, a visit to the computer lab allowed the children to add the pictures and place them so that they support the directions. A perfect example of text features.

From there, the children created their blog posts which you can see by having your child log in from home.







Oh, and just in case you are wondering, here is how to make a fortune teller.

Wake Up Massachusetts

Latitude and Longitude Hunt: Oh My!

Ahoy there mateys!  Room 103 set out on their first live expedition. After practicing our tracking skills, reviewing latitude and longitude, performing several activities to determine coordinates and direction, room 103 set out to find Cap'n Cooksie's lost booty.  We used GyroCompass to determine our location and set out on our adventure.  Here's how it went.  The children were broken up into three groups - each set out on a different adventure. With maps and coordinates in hand, the children had to figure out our location and compare it to the location of the treasure. 

Next the children had to decide what direction we have to travel to head towards the treasure.  We stopped at major intersections along the way to calibrate and plan.  First stop the intersection at the library or the office!  The adventure continued to various stopping points around the building where we continued to practice our honing skills. East, West, North or South relied completely on their skills to compare their current location to that of the treasure. 

Were we able to pinpoint the treasure with coordinates?  But of course!  The treasure was found and the children (and I) were quite excited.

In the end, the treasure box was filled with weekend fun starting with the mustaches the children all wore home Friday afternoon.  So the pirate booty was full of good times, learning and imagination. What more could we all ask for?  Hope you had a great weekend!

News Flash

Dear Homeroom Parents,

As we return to school, we will be finishing up our review of latitude and longitude. Our next topic will be electricity. In my endeavor to be more hands on in my approach to teaching, I am looking to use household items to create an end of unit electricity test that revolves around application. I am looking for tin foil, batteries, small light bulbs, wire, and toilet paper rolls. If you could reply below any items you can send so everyone doesn't send the same items that would be great. Thank you and Happy New Year!

Check Out Our 103 Writers

Writing Surrounds Us!

As the year marches on, we have been taking a more structured approach to writing. This approach is becoming clearer and will become one of next endeavors. Here are the results of our writing efforts. Our beginnings revolved around personal narratives.

As the year moved on we started developing our ability to take notes, retell and summarize texts we've read in class.  This led to some great book summaries which were typed, drawn and finally narrated. Check out this completed Hatchet summary.

https://docs.google.com/a/bpsk12.org/file/d/0B05rXJD6zG7dcjJLT3owbUdXZjA/edit

As we continue to develop our writing curriculum, we took a loved book and moved into some persuasive writing. This led us all to choose three items to take on a trip where we would need to survive in the wilderness. Then we had to convince the reader to take the items on their trip.

Our most recent persuasive piece was our letters to Santa. The goal was to ask Santa for three presents for Christmas. There had to be reasons for each item and some Christmas song lyrics had to be included. 

Enjoy our pieces and come back soon for how to do it!

Hour of Code

The children were eager to get right into their coding.

They were able to sit with friends but all was quiet as they 'coded' away.

I loved watching the complexity of their plans unfold.

It was amazing to see the children so eager to work toward their own accomplishments.

Even when things went awry, students were there to support one another.

This group here was softly talking about how far they had come since
last year.  Not in competition with one another but rather themselves.

All the children had fun, coded happily and had a fulfilling Friday! 

What Does the Constitution Mean?

• Why do people need government?
• Why did the US need to make a new government?
• What were some of the challenges the founding fathers faced?
• How is the Constitution organized?
• Why do we have a Bill of Rights? What are those rights?

Students had to create slides, type and create their own filmed videos to demonstrate their learning.  Can you figure out the video for each question?

Most Academic Halloween Door

Happy Halloween!

Whether it be the Founding Fathers, King George or Paul Revere, heads were rolling in Social Studies for this section of our homeroom Halloween door

In Math, students found the Distributive Property quite scary. You may notice some familiar facial expressions.

Finally, ELA had so many ideas we couldn't choose just one. They chose me as the evil teacher.  I am throwing commas, synonyms for said, quotation marks all while trying to eat details and main ideas. 

A great time had by all!  But the best part was having the children be able to reflect on their learning.  They really know what they are learning here with us at Francis Wyman!

Happy Halloween

Making Tools Work

Throughout the first two months of ELA, students and teachers alike have been employing the idea of making tools work for us. This has included ideas such as taking open book quizzes and tests for grammar, using grammar books when writing to correct grammar, spelling and capitalization issues, using Snappy Words as an internet resource to use better word choice in writing and more. The goal is to teach the children to be problem finders and solvers. Take a look at some ways we use tools and how we are making one classroom tool to help.