I Had Written a Science Play

My week ahead will include being observed teaching science to my fourth and fifth grade combo class, incorporating my Science Play about electricity. I have a script I wrote a few years ago, that covers the electricity content in our fourth grade text book. I copied the style of Bill Nye, the Science Guy, with expert lines, experiments, jokes, dancing and singing. Since this fourth grade play was already performed for the school this school year, students will get to review the iMovie clips, the written script, and the science textbook. Fifth graders will get to see footage from their play that was presented the year before, while reviewing electricity concepts they will be tested on for the CST Science test in May. The experiments will be revisited, and students in the BYOD classroom will be asked to research related articles and perform new experiments. Writing up the scientific method in little green experiment booklets will be part of the review.

I was asked to include the iMovie clips from the Science Play for the observation, and tying these into test prep seemed the best way! 

What is Pi?

This was a little discovery of what Pi is activity, that my class did on 3/14! Some of the fourth graders knew that Pi is 3.14, and some had memorized beyond that, but I was pretty sure they didn't know what Pi means. I explain in this educreations video what we discovered on Friday, March 14!

http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/pi-day-activity-for-discovering-what-pi-is/18708465/?ref=app

Khan is more than MATH

Well, it's been a while since I've been on KhanAcademy. I had set up a class page on khan which I can say, fizzled out. Parents mentioned that it was difficult to access, so I have students who are early finishers in math class, go on KhanAcademy without signing in.  I have observed my students utilizing the computer programming and coding features on KhanAcademy.  Fascinating stuff! Today I watched Sal Khan's TED talk, and was re-inspired to get my class going on it! I sent out invites to parents again, and am hoping for a smoother start this time. As I was searching and navigating through the KhanAcademy site, I found science movies about planets and gravity. Seems like I'm just touching the iceberg of what is included! 

Missions and Forts Turned out Well!

My class had three weeks to complete their California Missions (4th graders) and Spanish forts (5th graders) assignment. They were required to make a physical model, poster, or Minecraft model. Students also wrote a report about their mission or fort. I have rubrics for both, and so far everyone has at least +15/15! Students included church, courtyard, kitchen, garden, pastures, graveyard, padres' rooms, workrooms, storage rooms, tannery, Native American houses. Students added their own extra features like fountains, prayer circles, stables, pianos and organ, holy water, Bibles in the pews. Just an incredible job done by all of the students! Parent comments are all positive about the learning experience participating in the Mission/Fort assignment! I love the results I'm seeing!