Rainbows and Transformers and Snakes Oh My!
11/22/2020
The second annual Balloon Parade was a smashing success! The second graders joined the third and fourth graders in planning, creating and handling these awesome "balloons" for a parade for the rest of the school and parents. Inspired by the book Balloons Over Broadway, students learned about the history of the amazing parade that happens every Thanksgiving. This project is not only a fun way to keep learning in the week before Thanksgiving Break, but it includes so much authentic learning for students. Alignment to Standards The Next Generation Science Standards provided the backbone for this challenge. K-2-ETS1-1.Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. K-2-ETS1-2.Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem. K-2-ETS1-3.Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs. Design Process Students worked through the steps of the design process using project pages to help guide them. They did research before the project started, made sure that they understood the complete challenge and parameters and set off to put their great ideas into action. Creativity & Critical Thinking There was no shortage of creativity flowing during this process. Students had amazingly creative ideas for their balloons and even more amazingly creative ways to pull off their ideas as they not only had to figure out how to get their 2 dimensional idea into a 3 dimensional object but how to support it as well. Critical thinking was at an all time high as students persevered through design challenges that arose and reworked original designs until they succeeded in their attempts. Welcome to My Town
11/7/2020
Student voice and choice dominated this project as the second graders became mayors of their own towns in the new state of Secondgradia. Intended as a kickoff to our new PBL project "2nd Grade Store", this activity hit upon many different standards in social studies, science, and math, as well as the always important skills of critical thinking and creativity. The "mayors" made decisions as they planned their towns around existing landforms of volcanoes, rivers, glaciers, mountains and much more. They had to take into account certain restrictions during their town planning, such as no airports near neighborhoods and certain rules such as having a freeway that had to run from one side of town to the other and the mandatory purchasing of a town hall. The rest was up to them. They were given a project planning sheet and a budget of $12,000 to plan and create their town. Hearing the reasoning behind what they purchased and where they placed it was very entertaining and well-thought out. We may have some future city planners in our class! respeThe final piece of this project was to play "The Game of Life" in which random situation cards were pulled and all of the mayors had to follow what was laid out on the card. Some cards benefited everyone - "Your highway has been voted most scenic. Pay yourself $25 for every highway square you own." Some cards benefited only some - "The Oreo cookie company wants to start putting Oreos in bakeries across the nation. Pay yourself $200 if you own a bakery." Other things were decided by spinners and coordinates - "Earthquake! Spin to see where it's at. You've lost whatever is in that area." Students waited anxiously as the spinners landed on coordinates (ie. F4) and cheers and groans filled the room as they located the correct spot on their maps.
This activity started conversations that led into current events discussions appropriate to second grade as the presidential election occurred simultaneously. They talked about how hard it is sometimes to make decisions for groups without knowing what might happen. They practiced respectfully hearing the opinions of others as they discussed why they placed things a certain way or why they didn't purchase certain facilities. They agreed that people in leadership positions have a hard job to do and lots of choices to make. Discussions were also started around the differences between goods and services and how cause and effect can have impact on supply and demand. The second graders will continue to expand their knowledge of these ideas as they begin to plan, create and run their own booth in the annual "Second Grade Store." Stay tuned for more about this much anticipated project in the weeks to come! |
Marcella HitchcockMs. Hitchcock teaches second grade, is a mom of two, an avid reader, lifelong learner, and a seeker of sunshine! Archives
March 2021
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