This week students created "Triangle-opes" and cinquain poems. We reviewed our Depth and Complexity icons: rules and multiple perspectives. Students had to follow instructions or "rules" on how to create a "Triangle-ope". What they discovered was that all of their pictures looked different, meaning they had their own perspective. This lesson could easily teach much deeper topics of sociology, politics, compassion & understanding, culture...but we didn't go there! Instead we wrote cinquain poems on these creative critters!
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This week we finished our last rain forest challenge. Students were allowed to choose the most interesting rain forest floor animal and do a little research on it. One part of the challenge was to find the actual measurements of the animal (length and height) and then draw it on butcher paper. As you know pictures never do the animal's true size any justice. For example the Harpie Eagle... Did you know that the harpie eagle's wing span measure 6 feet wide and he measures 3 feet tall. They can see 1 inch objects from 220 feet away. I could tell my kiddos all day long and explain how big that is, but they truly won't get it into they measure it out and see it for themselves.
This week, in ALPHA, your little one was a zoologist in training. In order to become official zoologists they had to successfully complete several challenges. They were required to work with others to better understand the importance of plant and animal adaptations in the different layers of the Rainforest.
Below is an example of a challenge: Emergent Challenge : Eagle Eye The harpy eagle is the rainforests top predator. They use their deadly, 5 inch talons to grab prey from the trees. With a wingspan that can reach over 6 feet, they can fly through the trees with great agility. One of the most impressive features is their eyesight. Harpy eagles can see 1 inch objects from over 220ft away! Eyesight is important to predators. For this challenge you will experience how important it is! Materials: eye patch or eye cover, bean bags, masking tape, 1 yard stick Directions: First, use the masking tape to create a 12 ft straight line on the ground. Use the yard stick to get the exact measurements. Then you and 1 of your teammates will stand on each end of the tape. Stand across from your partner and cover one eye with an eye patch. Your partner will throw the beanbag towards you making sure the bean bag crosses your body. Try to snatch it from the air. Now try the other eye. Any difference? Now use both of your amazing eyes. Which was easier? Why was one way easier? How does this help the harpy eagle and other predators? As, you can tell from this one challenge, students learned more than about the Harpie Eagle's great eyesight and how it can help them survive. I threw in some math, but more importantly, they were required to use creative problem solving skills as a team...this isn't always so easy for GT kiddos. They are so use to being leaders in the regular classroom. I'm sure their classmates really appreciate their leadership skills, but put them with a group of other GT kiddos and things can get a little hairy. I heard things like...."That's all wrong! You're doing it ALL wrong!" and "I know how to do it, let me just do it!" I couldn't help but chuckle a little...GT kiddos can be bossy pants!:) I don't blame them...they are use to knowing the answer and getting the task done quickly. I had to gently remind my little bossy pants to be leaders rather than bosses. Leaders work together, leaders listen, leaders share their point of view, leaders respect other's point of view, a leader is positive. Other challenges we completed this week were: Canopy Monkeys and Understory Frogs We will continue more challenges next week. We still need a couple more rolls of masking tape and lots of newspaper (we won't be able to complete one of our challenges next week without it) Thank you to the Schneider Family for the 2 rolls of masking tape! We really appreciated it! I want to begin by expressing how proud I am of all my kiddos/students and their research presentations. They all worked really hard and I'm super proud that they pushed through, even at the toughest times. Also, I want to thank all of you for your support during this time. I truly appreciate all of you who stayed connected with me throughout this process. It's always encouraging to know we're in this together. Thank you for spending lots of time working on this after school and on weekends. I know that some great conversations happened at home, because many of the kiddos would share new information they learned at home with you. You have no idea how much I loved listening to the excitement in their voice when they had something new to share with me about their research. So again, thank you for supporting your kiddo, their research and this program!!! The last 2 weeks in ALPHA we...
Please don't forget that all students are responsible for creating a "creative product". All products are due the week of Feb. 23rd. For ideas, please refer to the list of creative products provided below .
Week of Jan 5th -9th
Students learned the difference between thin and thick questions. Thin questions are easy questions, they're easy to answer and there is 1 right answer. Example: What is a chimpanzee's diet? Thick questions are hard questions, students must ponder and research to find the answer, there is more than one possible right answer. Example: What are the effects on the environment if a chimpanzee becomes extinct? All students officially started their research with finding basic information (thin questions) on their selected endangered species. Week of Jan. 12th - 16th This week all students started researching higher-level thinking questions. This is where it gets challenging. The reading level is higher and the vocabulary makes it harder to comprehend the article. I am working with all kids on a one-on-one basis, and helping them with understanding the text. Over all, the kiddos did really well! They are finding out some interesting stuff! All kids kids received a Research Project - Planning Pages packet. All pages need to be completed before we will begin creating presentations. Looking ahead in the ALPHA classroom... Jan. 19-23 - last day of in-class research (packet pages 3&4) Jan. 26-30 - write research notes in summary form and glue onto card stock (to be used for presentation) / maybe....begin creating visual presentation (PPT) in class Feb. 2-6 -Continue creating presentation Feb. 9-13 - Finish presentation Feb. 16-20 - Presentation and Creative Product are due Homework will be determined by you and your child. Please look at what your child accomplished in class and the above timeline to determine if work needs to be done at home. Information for pages 1&5 (thin questions was completed last week) page 2 and part of 3 were completed in class this week. Please, please, please remember that it is crucial that students bring their binder to class. All class work, until Feb 16th, is in their ALPHA binder right now. If they forget their binder at home, then they have nothing to work on in class. Thankful and Blessed Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the sweet gifts I received before the Winter Break. It was so nice of you to think about me during the holiday season! Since, I wasn't here the Friday before school led out, I didn't receive my gifts until we got back from the break. It was such a nice surprise to walk back into a class to find many lovely gifts waiting for me!!!! It was like Christmas morning all over again!!! I truly appreciated and loved it all! You all have wonderful, sweet kids and I love being their teacher. Again, thank you, I feel blessed!!!
This week all students will receive research information and requirements. 1st & 2nd Graders are starting their research on endangered species. For homework they will need to use Symbaloo (found under Student Blog) and the list I provided in the research packet to help them decide which endangered species they would like to investigate. Please check binders for this information:
Also, I placed a 2014-2015 Research Packet PDF document under Parent Links just in case the one I provided gets lost on it's way home!;) Please refer to the top portion of the packet, which I boxed in green. Due the Week of December 15th:
This week students learned...
We will begin independent research after the Thanksgiving Break. Students will be required to independently research an endangered species. I will upload a Symbaloo Webmix on the Student Blog to help them find an endangered species. This is not homework! Students are not required to choose an animal before they come back from the break!!! But, if at some point next week, your child is bored, then I encourage you and your child to use it to start looking for an endangered species to investigate. Please remember your child will do most of their research in class, so it's important to remember these things:
I hope everyone has a safe, pleasant, restful and blessed week!
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