Three weeks and counting. . .

a group tests its city plan

Last week we conducted our final land and water experiment. Students first created a simple slope with a town of houses on the bank, then rained. Each group of homes was washed into the water. Students were then charged with designing and building towns--using all that they have learned about land and water this year--to keep their towns safe and dry. What a spectacular endeavor. Students spent two sessions planning, first creating individual plans for cities, then coming together with their groups to choose the most innovative and trustworthy pieces of each plan to design a master plan for the group. Students then designed their cities, using, hills, slants, rocks, mountains, drainage systems, bridges, dams and barriers. After documenting each pre-rain city, students rained on their cities once again. Students found terrific success as well as some challenges in the execution of their plans, with two of four cities surviving, and the other two with water damage. Students enjoyed viewing one another's projects both before and after the rain. Most students observed strategies of which they had not considered, and all wanted to conduct the experiment again to use the good ideas they saw. Students will spend one session this week completing their last lab reports.

group 2: before the rain

group 2: after the rain

Simultaneously, students have begun a study of animal classification this week. A highlight of this work is learning about and constructing dichotomous keys. Stay tuned for more information in the next couple of blog posts.

This week students are wrapping up their colonial research projects, putting the finishing touches on them and preparing their presentations. Each individual or pair will present during one of two sessions next week, either Tuesday, 5/15 around 2:00 p.m. (the exact time will depend upon how many people are presenting) and Wednesday, 5/16 at 8:30 a.m. If you are able to attend, please let me know which day/time you prefer by this Friday so that I may plan accordingly. Students will be presenting to their peers as well as any visiting parents, so there will be a healthy audience for both sessions. We hope to see you next week!

We have begun a study in math of geometric solids and weight.  Students are learning about standard and metric systems of measurement as well as about properties of geometric solids. Included in the unit is a pass through of adding and subtracting both positive and negative numbers, once again. The unit 11 assessment is scheduled for next Friday, May 18th.

I mentioned last post that our portfolio share will be on Tuesday, May 29. We have since been scheduled for 8:20 that morning in the computer lab. No RSVP necessary for this one--just show up ready to shed tears! Each student will be stationed at a computer ready to share her/his digital portfolio, and after you view your child's work, you may stick around to enjoy other students' portfolios as well. If you are unable to attend this session, portfolios will be available at anytime during the day. Let me know and I will do my best to accommodate you. Please know, too, that you will get copies of these portfolios during the last week of school.

Upcoming important events:
May 11: MD visit (for students only), 9:45 a.m.
May 15: Colonial Project share 1: 2:00 p.m. (may be earlier if many wish to attend this time)
May 16: Colonial Project share 2: 8:20 a.m.
May 18: Splash Day
May 21: Lowery Park Zoo trip
May 25: Moving Up Ceremony, 8:45 a.m.; (student only)bowling trip; 2:00 p.m. ice cream party (parents invited!)
May 29: Portfolio Share, 8:20 a.m.
May 30: last day of school--half day