Actions in ALP

Welcome to Target 2012!

We are excited about resuming our Target classes this coming week 1/30-2/3. We will be welcoming some new faces and starting new units. Please note the changes to the schedule below!!

Monday: 4th Grade

Tuesday: 3rd Grade (New Day)

Wednesday: 2nd Grade

Thursday: 5th Grade (New Day)

Friday: 1st Grade

 

 

What is Engineering?

Mrs. Shaw's son, Ryan, is a senior at Virginia Tech, majoring in engineering. He helped our 4th and 5th graders with their bridge breaking and provided some information on careers in engineering. In case you missed it, here is his presentation.

Download What is Engineering

Week Ending December 23, 2011

Fourth and Fifth Grade

Wow! We had an awesome time watching all the hard work of the bridge building companies come "tumbling down". It was exciting to see just how many pounds the bridges would hold. A huge thank you to Ryan Shaw, Mrs. Shaw’s son, for coming and helping us with the breaking of the bridges. He also taught us what it takes to be an engineer.

After breaking the bridges, we all enjoyed our toothpick snacks followed by our end of unit movie, “Bridge to Terabithia. Thank you to Mrs. Proper (5^th grade room mom) and Mrs. Kilpatrick (4^th grade room mom) for organizing the snacks. Also, thank you parents for sending in the snacks.

To All:

Because of testing, ALP will not meet again until the week of January 30, 2012.

Thank you for all your kind words and gifts during this holiday season.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season. See you next year!

Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. Hutto, and Mr. Brown

Week Ending December 16, 2011

Fourth and Fifth Grade

Before the students began working on wrapping up the construction of their bridges, they worked on constructing their critical thinking skills by completing a logic puzzle about Santa’s reindeers.

After working hard to complete the logic puzzle, each construction company worked diligently to complete the construction of their bridges. Each company, also, completed their proposal of why their bridge should be the one chosen to be built at Morgan Falls Park. We are looking forward to the presentations next week.

Next week, we will also determine whose bridge is the strongest. Expectations are high. Designs are varied and it will be interesting to see which is the strongest.

Homework: Make sure each team member is ready to present their company's proposal.

Second and Third Grade

We started our day by testing creek water. Students worked in groups to test the water sample for one of the chemical test. Then each group shared their results with the rest of the class. After all the information was dispersed, we were able to conclude that our river is very healthy.

Next, students shared above and beyonds for this quarter. We have some real scientist on our hands. Lots of good information and research was shared. 

We finished our day by making an edible bug treat and watching the movie “A Bug’s Life.”

Homework: Enjoy your Winter Break! We will see you again the January!!

Week Ending December 9, 2011

Fourth and Fifth Grade

Because of Checkpoint Testing and a fifth grade performing arts trip on Tuesday, December 6, we meet a half day with both 4^th and 5^th grades on Monday, December 5.

The students had time to discuss their bridge proposal presentations and continue working on building their bridges.

We will be back to our regular schedule next week.

Homework: Journal Entry

Third Grade

We began our day with a logic puzzle called “Holiday Cookies.” Students enjoyed working to solve who decorated each cookie shape and what they decorated it with. We are definitely getting better at using our convergent thinking skills.

Next, students completed an activity called Dragonfly Pond. In this activity, we learned about the effect people have on wetlands. Students represented different interest groups and considered their viewpoint as they were creating a town around a small pond. Students had to decide where to position houses, businesses and farms in order to best suit the needs of their interest group. At the end of the activity students shared their ideas and presented their Dragonfly Pond community.   

We practiced our divergent thinking skills by SCAMPERing a net. To SCAMPER you must substitute, combine, add, make larger or smaller, put to a different use, eliminate, and rearrange.  Students had a lot of creative ideas to make a net more useful.

Homework: Optional above and beyond are due next week

**Note: Next week will be our last ALP day before Winter Break (12/15).

Thank You

Mrs. Hutto and Mrs. Shaw wish to extend a big thank you to all our students who sent birthday wishes our way. The gifts were great and the personalized cards were very special. We are so lucky to have the best students ever!

Week Ending December 2, 2011

Fourth and Fifth Grade

The day began with a crossword puzzle to test the students’ vocabulary skills about bridge terminology. The students did an outstanding job with this activity and showed what they have learned about bridges throughout the unit.

The students worked in groups with clue cards to determine the length of the longest suspension bridge. Group members could not see each others cards. They had to  listen to each group member share their clue and then decide which ones had necessary information and which ones could be ignored. Most groups worked together and were able to arrive at the correct answer.

This week, students again were busy constructing their bridges. The big day is almost here and the bridges are really beginning to take shape.

More time was spent reading articles about the controversy surrounding the building of a bridge at Morgan Falls Park. While reading, the students continued to fill out a graphic organizer that listed various opinions about the building of the bridge and the reasons people used to support their opposing opinions. The completed graphic organizer should be used to help the students complete their homework.

Because of a fifth grade performing arts trip next Tuesday and checkpoint testing, we will meet with both fourth and fifth grade students for half a day on Monday, December 5. There will be no ALP on Tuesday, December 6.

Homework: Bridge Proposal

2^nd Grade

Our day started with a convergent thinking activity called “Mad Chemist.” Students used their deductive reasoning skills to solve the puzzle.

Next, students completed an activity called Dragonfly Pond. In this activity, we learned about the effect people have on wetlands. Students represented different interest groups and considered their viewpoint as they were creating a town around a small pond. Students had to decide where to position houses, businesses and farms in order to best suit the needs of their interest group. At the end of the activity students shared their ideas and presented their Dragonfly Pond community.    

Finally, students discussed dilemmas. We talked about what a dilemma is and how we arrive at solutions. We learned that the best way to solve a dilemma is to weigh the pros and cons. We practiced our new strategy with a lifejacket dilemma. Students worked through a scenario where someone forgot to bring the lifejackets on a fun-filled boating trip. Students had to brainstorm possible solutions. Some possible solutions were go back home and get them, stay near the shore and fish from the dock, or go on in without a lifejacket. Students listed the pros and cons for each and decided which solution was the best.

Homework:  A Wetland Dilemma   

3^rd Grade

We started our day with a convergent thinking activity that gave the students clues about some forest children. The students had to use the clues to figure out each child’s favorite food, animal, and plant.

Next, students discussed dilemmas. We talked about what a dilemma is and how we arrive at solutions. We learned that the best way to solve a dilemma is to weigh the pros and cons. We practiced our new strategy with a lifejacket dilemma. Students worked through a scenario where someone forgot to bring the lifejackets on a fun-filled boating trip. Students had to brainstorm possible solutions. Some possible solutions were go back home and get them, stay near the shore and fish from the dock, or go on in without a lifejacket. Students listed the pros and cons for each and decided which solution was the best.

Students returned to their classrooms after specials.

Homework:  A Wetland Dilemma    

 

 

Week Ending November 18, 2011

Fourth and Fifth Grade

It was a busy and productive day. We began with a challenging logic puzzle called "The Thanksgiving Pageant". This allowed to students to strengthen their convergent thinking skills and coherently communicate their reasoning orally as they shared their thinking with the class. 

Companies are making great progress on the bridges. Everyone is learning the value of working together. Many bridges have the deck up and are in the process of putting the sides together. We are excited to see the completed structures (and then, of course, the breaking of that structure).

Time was spent reading articles about the controversy surrounding the building of a bridge at Morgan Falls Park. While reading, students fill out a graphic organizer that listed various opinions about the building of the bridge and the reasons people used to support their opposing opinions.

Mrs. Shaw’s and Mrs. Hutto’s classes worked on a writing assignment as a follow up to the research about “Galloping Gertie” last week.

Homework: Mrs. Shaw’s and Mrs. Hutto’s classes- Finish RAFT writing.  Mr. Brown’s class- Journal Entry #3.

Second and Third Grade

We began our day by completing a Thanksgiving logic puzzle. Students had to match up first names with last names and match each person with their favorite food using several clues.

Students shared their homework “Focus on Water.” Each student discussed their results and shared their illustration. Students were able to elaborate on their watershed by describing the flow of water and some possible pollutants it might pick up.  

Next, students took a pre-test on the parts of an insect. We have a lot of background knowledge on these little critters. Then, we learned a little more using an interactive website called “Let’s Talk about Bugs.” http://urbanext.illinois.edu/insects/01.html  Students learned all about the parts of an insect and what each part is used for.

The next activity put students in groups of three and each person was assigned to create a specific part of the insect. Then students merged their parts to create a new bug. Students were allowed to name and describe the characteristics of their new critter.

Insects use their antennae for tasting, smelling, touching and hearing. We asked what a day would be like if your arms were antennae. Students were able to come up with several of examples of how everyday activities would be different with antennae arms.

Students were given another attempt at Hot Chocolate River. Some classes were able to make it all the way across while other classes are still trying to make it.

Homework: Enjoy your much deserved Thanksgiving Break!!

 

 

Week Ending November 11, 2011

Fifth Grade

Fifth grade did not meet this week since Tuesday was a teacher workday. We look forward to getting back to building our bridges next week.

Fourth Grade

The day began with the students completing “Baffling Bridge Connections.” Students had to think of different, unusual, and creative connections to join words to a bridge. For example, A subway is like a bridge because… This activity was used to continue to developing the students’ divergent thinking.

Students watched a short video clip about “Galloping Gertie” This is the nickname of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The students researched about the bridge collapsing and worked on a timeline of the events leading up to its collapse.

Companies continued with bridge construction. It is fun to see how each group is going about the process and working together. We believe that all employees are finding the construction more difficult than they thought it would be.

We were very pleased with the reflections in the Bridge Journals. Hopefully, this next week’s will be just as good.

Current events continue to be a time when lots of good thinking happens. Students amaze us with their insight and ideas about topics presented.

Homework: Journal Entry #2.

Second and Third Grade

This week we started our day with a Veteran’s Day quote fall. In this activity, students use their knowledge of consonants and vowels to decipher words to discover a quote. This week the quote was “This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” Students contemplated the meaning of this quote in a class discussion.

Next, students made a watershed. We crumpled up paper to make our ridgeline and then added everyday pollutants such as oil (black marker), litter (orange marker), insecticides (hot chocolate) and several others. After our watershed was polluted we watched as it rained (spray bottle) and witnessed all the pollutants wash into the river. Students completed this activity by reflecting on the impact we have on our environment every day and how it will affect us in the future.

Students were then able to truly be stewards of the environment by making posters to inform others about how pollution travels into rivers and convince people to make an effort to keep our rivers clean.

Students finished their day by watching a video that reiterated facts about watersheds and our impact on the environment.  

Homework: Focus on Water- Due the 11/16-11/17

 

Week Ending November 4, 2011

Fifth Grade

The day began with the students completing “Baffling Bridge Connections.” Students had to think of different, unusual, and creative connections to join words to a bridge. For example, A subway is like a bridge because… This activity was used to continue to developing the students’ divergent thinking.

Students watched a short video clip about “Galloping Gertie” This is the nickname of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The students researched about the bridge collapsing and worked on a timeline of the events leading up to its collapse.

Companies continued with bridge construction. It is fun to see how each group is going about the process and working together. We believe that all employees are finding the construction more difficult than they thought it would be.

We were very pleased with the reflections in the Bridge Journals. Hopefully, this next week’s will be just as good.

Current events continue to be a time when lots of good thinking happens. Students amaze us with their insight and ideas about topics presented.

Fifth grade will not meet on Tuesday, November 8. It is a teacher workday.

Homework: Journal Entry #2.

Fourth Grade

The day began with students building their convergent thinking. Working on a Halloween logic puzzle, the students were able to analysis the puzzle, make inferences from the clues given and through a class discussion they explained their thinking. 

In order to prepare for the beginning of each grade's new Hands on Equation level, a review test was given of the previous level. Students were excited to get their hands back on the manipulatives and solve problems. 

The day continued with companies writing order forms and checks to purchase welding material (glue) and lumber (toothpicks). Once those arrived at the construction site building began on the bridges. It was a real learning experience to see just how careful and exact you have to be when gluing toothpicks together to follow a design plan. All bridges are in their infancy and work will continue.

Students displayed their Sur Le Pont drawings that were completed for homework. Students walked around the room and wrote comments to compliment the work of others students. Then, they went back to their own drawing and commented on what they could do to make theirs better after viewing their classmates drawings.

Homework: Each week the students will be recording in a Bridge Journal details and reflections from the day's construction. Inside the journal there are specific questions that need to be addressed in the reflection.

Note: Fourth grade students were given a list of optional activities to complete for “Above and Beyond” credit. Students need to do only one project from the list to get credit for nine week period. These projects are not due until December.

Second and Third Grade

Our day began with a convergent thinking activity call “Word Boxes”. Students used clues to come up with three letter words that shared letters.

Next, we shared our “My Life is a River” projects. Students were asked to explain their tributaries and describe what that person or event had added to their lives. Students were able to make great connections about their lives and even predict how their lives and rivers may change in the future.

Students used divergent thinking skills to brainstorm “things that float”. After coming up with everything from beach balls to dead fish, students were asked what floats in hot chocolate?  Marshmallows, of course, were the immediate responses. Students were then introduced to activity call the “Hot Chocolate River”. In this activity, students work as a group using the evaluative thinking process to move from one side of the river to the other.  The river is twenty feet wide. The river is too hot and too deep to touch or swim through.The students had to keep a body part on the marshmallow or it would float away. Also, students were not allowed to pick up a marshmallow once it was placed in the river. If a student touched the hot chocolate with their hand or foot the whole group had to start back over. Students were given several attempts and then returned to the classroom.

Finally, students discussed watersheds. We completed an activity called “Go with the Flow”. We discussed what a watershed is and how to determine its boundaries. We also analyzed maps of our own watershed.

2^nd Grade-Completed an activity called “It’s Okay to be Different”. Students thought about special characteristics that make them different, and created a page in a book.

Homework: Focus on Water Reflection Piece—Due 11/16 or 11/17

***Note: Third Grade students will meet on Friday next week (11/11).