Category Archives: Uncategorized

EY and Conferences

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Hello! Here are some updates from EY

Conferences:

I will be at PL on Wed from 5:45-7:45

Swanson on Thursday from 10-12

Please email if you would like to set up a phone conference.

Battle of the Books- I am doing my slides checks each time that we meet. I am excited to see the work done by the students, and I am also thrilled to see that there are so many children that have already read several books and completed activities! I attached the graphic organizer link here if you want to have a visual at home to help keep the kids organized. They all have one and they are keeping it in the EY folder.

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Screen Shot 2014-10-13 at 7.53.12 AM Snapple Facts

We learned how to use Haiku Deck a few weeks ago. It is a great way to showcase what the students have learned. The students explored Snapple facts, and conducted research to determine if the “facts” were true or false. You can ask your child to share this presentation with you-they are fun to see!

 

 

 

Each child took a Spelling bee qualifying test. The contestants will be released on Wednesday of this week. There will also be qualifying tests given in the next few weeks for the following events: Trivia Contest and  Geography Bee

Screen Shot 2014-10-13 at 7.45.18 AMI have made sure that all children can log into KHAN and know how to navigate the site. The math portion of Khan is wonderful, but there are also many other learning areas that the children can access.

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I am so in love with Wonderopolis. Please check it out.                                                        This site is so fun to explore and the children have unlimited learning all in one spot.

Enjoy the long weekend coming up! Please drop me a note with any questions and comments.

Jenny

 

 

Creative Problem Solving Seminar

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questionmarkQuestion:  What do you get when you bring together 90 young creative minds?Answer: A group of engaged learners demonstrating critical and creative thinking skills while collaborating, working as a team, and solving problems!

At the end of August, third through sixth grade students at all 10 elementary buildings were invited to submit a “Choose Your Own Adventure” story.  Over 100 stories were submitted and 90 students were invited to attend the Creative Problem Solving seminar at the Westside Community Conference Center.

As students came in, they were given a VIP name tag with a group name on the back.  You can read more about the group names on our wiki page.

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The first challenge of the day was to build the highest structure possible given 15 index cards, 2 straws, and 5 mailing labels.  The structure had to be on the yellow piece of paper taped to the table.  The challenge?  Hands could not enter the yellow area!  Students were given 2 straws, a fork, and 4 popsicle sticks to use as tools.  The result was a lot of communicating, problem solving and creative thinking!  Our judges (5 former Destination Imagination participants from WHS) measured the final height of the towers.  Check out what the kids built!

Next, the students rotated through five stations that put their communication and teamwork skills to the test.  Throughout the challenges, students were given tickets for displaying good teamwork and communication skills.  Students also earned tickets for their creative designs and solutions.  Tickets were placed in sacks for a chance to win a variety of prizes.

Here is a brief synopsis of each station:

  1. Random PVC parts are on the floor.  How fast can you construct a 3D figure using all of the parts?
  2. How accurately can you recreate a Lego structure after only looking at it for 2 minutes?  This station required students to pay attention to details and communicate effectively.
  3. How fast can you raise a hula hoop up from the ground, over someone’s head, and back to the ground?  Oh, and by the way, only using spoons!
  4. What are some alternate uses for a pool noodle?  A 5-gallon bucket?  A seat cushion? Teams scored points for original and creative ideas.
  5. How quickly can you pass a ball around the group making sure every person’s hands touch the ball?

The afternoon was spent working on an Explain Everything (app installed on all iPads) video.  Students were given a brief introduction to the app and a link to some additional resources.  Students were able to choose any topic for their video.  Some chose to explain the basics of a favorite sport and others chose brainteasers.  Most students didn’t have enough time to finish their video, but we encouraged them to use their E/I time back at school.

Overall, it was an exciting day and truly inspirational to witness the creative and innovative problem solvers of Westside Community Schools come together!

The Fall Festival

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You are in charge of the Fall Festival at your school.  What attractions will you offer to fit the theme (and keep costs reasonable), and how can you get students, parents, and the rest of the community excited about this upcoming event?

Go to this website and check out this challenge.  Be sure to use the student resources at the bottom of the page.

http://pblproject.com/page.aspx?pageid=PBL-ww-Fall-Carnival

You can create a flyer for your festival or a commercial that you record!  Use your imagination and create an exciting day for your school and community!

Share your product with your EY Coordinator!  We would really like to put some examples in our student showcase!

Build a Whole New World

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The mysterious door opened and none of the children were prepared for what was on the other side…

Words like these are what make fiction books so hard to put down.  We are taken to amazing new worlds that allow us to experience a journey with our minds as well as our senses.  The Author Kate Messner does just this – builds new “worlds” for her readers in the fiction stories that she writes.  Watch the video below on creating fictional worlds.  After watching, explore the “Think” and “Dig Deeper” sections.

http://ed.ted.com/on/AQtELfQR#watch

Some research has even shown that certain parts of your brain are stimulated (or woken up) when you read fictional stories.  So not only are they fun to read, but great brain food too!

Hopefully this challenge will inspire you to take up your pencil and begin your own journey of “world-building”!  Leave a comment and tell us about an author or book you’ve enjoyed reading.  Tell us about the fictional world that author created.

Exploring “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

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Read the poem below. Think about the meaning, then listen to several others read the poem. Notice the differences in the way it is read. Take notes on your observations.

The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Click on these links to listen to others read the poem:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-road-not-taken/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie2Mspukx14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUaQgRiJukA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spXtePd4Whk

 

After watching the videos, think about the meaning of the poem.  What do you think Robert Frost was trying to say to the audience?  What themes do you hear running through the poem?  Record yourself reading the poem on your iPad using the Voice Recorder app.  After you have read the poem, summarize what you think he meant.  You may want to write yourself a script to read with your response to the poem.

PKI STEM Seminar

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Thank you for your interest in the STEM seminar.  

On Friday, September 5, fourteen students visited the Peter Kiewit Institute for a UNO/UNL College Visit Day.  In order to qualify for this seminar, students completed an online STEM-related activity.  Over 60 students completed the activity which tells us there was a high interest in this area.  We are looking into providing another opportunity in the future.

View Tweets from the seminar at: https://twitter.com/WCSEY66

Zacarro Math

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The Zacarro units are perfect math anchors for the Envision Math topics.  Each Zacarro unit has teaching pages that will instruct the skill.  There are also leveled practice problems.  You can assign the levels that fit the child and/or the student can always choose
to do a harder level if he/she would like.  You can use the Zacarro Math units in the following ways:

  • Students can work on them when they are done with the classroom assignment
  • They could be used as a station in guided math
  • They could serve as lessons for the highest group when working with the teacher

There should be one Zacarro binder in grades 4, 5, and 6 at each elementary school.  If you are unable to locate the binder, please contact your EY coordinator.

4th Grade Envision Math topic alignment to Zacarro units

5th Grade Envision Math topic alignment to Zacarro units

6th Grade Envision Math topic alignment to Zacarro units