Edible Atoms

In science today, we watched a brainpop video about atoms and then drew a diagram of an atom in our science journals.  Then students got to create edible atoms using marshmallows!

Cooperative Learning

     Students got to sign up for clock partners today!  This is a cool tool that allows students to partner up with four different students in our room and we will meet with those partners throughout the year, several times each week.  Two of the partners I chose for them based on their learning styles and inventories given during the first week of school.  The students got to choose two partners as well!  We will use our first clock partner tomorrow for a science/reading task where students will read and reflect.

Storyworks

This year, we are using the Scholastic resource called "Storyworks" and it is amazing!  It has a curriculum guide that explains what topics will be covered during each monthly issue and we will be getting them throughout the entire school year.  We are using it for our ELA block and it is directly linked to the KY Core Standards.  We got our first issue today!

Kickball at Recess

Today at recess, the kickball came out and boy did they have fun!

Excitement at Recess

This week during recess, there was a house being torn down across the street.  The kids were glued to the site!  I had to take a picture because it was just too cute and exciting!

Even and Odd Scavenger Hunt

Today during math we had an even and odd scavenger hunt where students worked with a partner to find different objects in the room that would be even or odd.

Morning Assembly Mini Lessons

This morning during our school morning assembly, Studio 214 presented a mini lesson with two presenters on how to use a couple Web 2.0 tools.  (Our spelling menu is what we do in place of a spelling packet each week.  It has ten-twelve options for students to complete and they choose one.  There are several options of technology applications for students to choose from.)  Briley presented his Voki (www.voki.com) and Cyrus presented his Blabberize (www.blabberize.com).  It cuts off at the end of Briley's presentation for some reason- I'm not sure what happened... :(  They did a great job speaking in front of so many people and I was so proud of them!

Paris led our class in a song that we use for a "brain break".  Research shows that if students focus for a few minutes and then take a break with movement, they will learn more and think more clearly.  Research also shows that when you move and cross your limbs across the center of your body to the opposite side, it activates different hemispheres of the brain and you think better also. (I LOVE brain research- I can't help it!)  This song is called "What-a-lee-acha" and it is silly, but it is funny and covers all the bases for taking a quick break and activating those hemispheres!