A Trip To The Museum...
10/12/2018
This week, the Fourth and Fifth Grade went to Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center to attend one of the museum's science labs. The main focus of the trip was science, but to prepare, the students spent time in Social Studies class taking a long look at Native American culture and history by studying, analyzing, and sketching various artifacts -- everything from masks to tools. The students did their best to look at each artifact through the lenses of the sevens aspects of culture: Language, Customs & Traditions, Government, Social Organization, Religion, Arts & Literature, and Economic Systems. Students were presented with four different artifacts and had to do their best, in groups, to determine what function each item served in different Native cultures. Later on, at the Anchorage Museum, students were met by museum representatives who walked the kids through the ways in which researchers use sound to track how ecosystems change over time. The presentation, Global Soundscapes, helped open students' eyes (or, in this case, ears) to the science of how sounds reveal evidence about our ecosystems. Students experienced everything from lessons about basic acoustics with interactive activities to amazing slow-motion footage of rhythmic instruments, vibrating vocal cords, and even the sounds of... believe it or not... raspberries! Students also took a look at how animal sounds occupy unique sonic niches in the rich, orchestral soundscapes of nature. They also explored the ways in which soundscape ecology is used to assess the health and biodiversity of the ecosystems of the world. Don't quite yet get what Soundscape Ecology is? Check out the link below for more information! Meanwhile, In Third Grade...This week, third graders got a more visual look at the value of doing multiple drafts. Students looked at identifying problems and issues with current versions, and then changing and improving them with later versions. The illustrations below, each created by the Third Grade class, helped students grasp the gradual progression and improvements that were possible over time with slow, diligent patience. The video below highlights some of the techniques that students used, and practiced, in order to improve their writing. Students faced on structure, order of events, and details to help readers picture each part of the story. Students were again asked to create complete 'flash draft' stories in less than fifteen or twenty minutes. These flash drafts contained a complete story with a beginning, middle and end. Once these were complete, students studied their drafts and discussed them, focusing on the structure, order of events and details to improve them. Once they'd discussed each other's stories, the students put their newfound drafting skills to the test when they worked to craft second drafts of the stories they'd created previously with their flash drafts. Brandon reads his first draft... Callum reads his first draft... Just For FunComments are closed.
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Jessica GrahamMs. Graham graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, and is currently working on her master's in reading. She enjoys hiking, traveling, arts & crafts, and playing the ukulele. Archives
April 2021
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