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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