Here is the link to Pigs will be Pigs by Amy Axelrod. Tally the coins and dollars the pigs found while going through their house and then find the total.
http://www.teachertube.com/video/interactive-read-aloud-video-pigs-will-be-p-274915
All posts by lspady
Talented and Gifted Academy of Omaha
Talented and Gifted Academy of Omaha (TAG Academy) is an original start-up company offering services to area talented youth. The Academy was created to provide challenging enrichment opportunities for kids in areas such as robotics, computer technology (3D printing, coding, video game making, graphics, and more), higher order thinking, creativity, problem solving, performance arts, and studio/visual arts that do not currently exist in the metro area as an extracurricular option for motivated learners.
You can read more about TAG Academy and the courses they offer on their web page. Also, check our their March flyer by Clicking Here.
Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the company described here. The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.
Coding Bliss
Girls Only!
Coding Bliss is a monthly coding workshop for girls. The goal is to make coding fun and accessible to young women in the community.
The event is held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 5-8 pm.
Check out more details at
https://www.meetup.com/Coding-Bliss/?_cookie-check=JuUu1AxDvk-WCS2X
Agenda:
- 5-5:30: Networking
- 5:30-6:00: Guest Speaker (Sandi Barr-Founder of Omaha Coding Women)
- 6-8:00: Coding Workshop-Introduction to HTML (led by Shonna Dorsey-co-founder of Interface Web School)
Pixel Art in Hopscotch!
Another great video tutorial has been posted by our friends at Hopscotch. This video will show you the basics of creating pixel art. Once you’re finished with the tutorial, you’ll be well on your way to creating more images like the ones below.
When you’ve created your own pixel art, take a picture and share it with the EY Coordinator at your building and we’ll post it on our Student Showcase Wiki.
Happy Pixelating!
Check out what the following Westside students created.
50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They’re 12
As a mother of 4 active boys, I often struggle to find balance with family time, church, homework, sports, and the day-to-day things that just pop-up. I recently took my boys to Kearney to stay in a hotel where they could swim and go down water slides. This was their incentive (OK…maybe it was a bribe) for reading their books and finishing the projects for Battle of the Books.
What I realized in the months leading up to this was that I have 4 boys with very different attitudes and preferences when it comes to reading. We downloaded a couple of the books to my iPad which my 3rd grader seemed to enjoy. My 1st grader is in-between picture books and chapter books and isn’t quite independent yet. My 5th grader prefers non-fiction books about cars and sports, and my littlest one just wants someone to read to him.
This list of 50 Books Kids Should Read Before They’re 12 came in my email the other day from Common Sense Media and I thought it would be a great list to share with parents who may or may not know of some age-appropriate titles for their kids. Check it out and leave a comment below. What are some “must reads” for kids in your opinion? Do you have any advice for motivating kids to read?
Don’t Forget to Submit Your BOTB Keynotes!
Remember that your Battle of the Books Keynotes are due this Thursday, February 19th. You can find directions on how to submit your Keynotes here. You will receive a confirmation email letting you know that your Keynote was received. Once all Keynotes have been submitted and reviewed, you will receive more information about the Battle of the Books event on March 13th.
We can’t wait to see you all in March!
What’s Been Going On?
Is it really mid-February already? Where has the time gone?! It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog post, so this one will encompass the past couple months. I post more frequently on Twitter if you want to check us out there. You can follow @lynnspady, @wcsey66, and/or @Westgate66.
We spent the beginning of 2nd quarter looking at the basics of circuits. This video explains the the basics of an electrical circuit and this video explains the difference between series and parallel circuits. We looked at schematic drawings and studied the symbols for various components in a circuit.
images taken from http://www.clker.com/clipart-11203.html
After studying the drawings and symbols, it was time to move into Snap Circuit Kits. Students also created a series and parallel circuit using actual light switches. Check out some of the pictures and videos below!
Finally, students put their circuit skills into action by building a Bot Bot. They earned components (LEDs, motor, coin battery, etc.) for their robot by completing current events. Check out their creations below!
Students will spend the remainder of 3rd quarter creating their very own Super Awesome Maker Show modeled after Sylvia’s Show. Stay tuned!
Science Olympiad Recap
Question: What do you get when you gather 110 students interested in science and allow them to think creatively, problem solve, experiment and collaborate?
Answer: Learning at its best!
The 2nd Annual WCS Elementary Science Olympiad was a huge success! Throughout the day, students participated in a variety of events that challenged their thinking.
The Zoo School facilitated a Wildlife Safari event where students practiced their observation and inference skills. The Barge Building event challenged students to create a foil structure that would float in water and support the most pennies. Mystery Powders had students identifying substances based on their reactions to different liquids. Other events included Rock Hound, Straw Tower, Mystery Boxes and Edible Vehicle.
It was a great day thanks to the organization of Sheree Person-Pandil and John Thomsen from ESU #3. We also had 9 amazing WHS students who shared their love of science by helping out at each event and facilitating a Science Bowl.
It’s so great to offer these types of opportunities to our students. Seeing the level of engagement and enthusiasm from the students is what makes our job so rewarding! Thank you to everyone involved in making this day a success! Click on the link below to watch a short iMovie trailer of the day.
Nebraska Association for Gifted Parent/Community Presentation
“The Pivotal Role of Parents/Families in Advocating for Your Child’s Giftedness”
Each year in conjunction with the annual spring conference, the Nebraska Association for Gifted sponsors a parent/community presentation. This year, the presentation will take place on Thursday, February 26 at the Kaneko Center at 1111 Jones St.
Details
- Thursday, February 26 from 7:00-8:15 pm
- Kaneko Center 1111 Jones Street in the Old Market
- Public is welcome with a $25 admission/family unit (fee is suggested, but not required)
Click here for a flyer with more information about the presentation.
Poetry Seminar
On February 24th, there is going to be
a poetry contest for you and for me.
Write a poem of your own,
and perform it into the microphone.
Submit your original rendition
for a chance to attend the poetry competition!
Who: Poetry Lovers in grades 3 – 6
Where: Underwood Hills
When: February 24th, half-day seminar
What: Write an original poem of your own, read it into the voice recorder on your i-pad, follow the instructions in the link below to submit your poem to your school’s EY coordinator by Wednesday, February 11th.
https://ey.westside66.org/wiki/pages/h3d9U7k6u/Poetry_Out_Loud.html?target=